How best to get to auschwhitz from Krakow?

[ideallyno]

Just that really. We need to find the best way to get there from Krakow centre. Has anyone been before, and can advise?

Thanks!

We visited in September and went as part of a tour (I think technically you have to have a guide) and the bus picked us up in Krakow centre then also took us between Auschwitz and Birkenau.

I’m sure I books it directly through the Auschwitz memorial website.

A taxi. They pick you up earlier meaning you get there before hoards of people, although you won't have a guide. They will wait for you then take you to Birkenau, if you want. You have the same taxi for the whole day.

We used Hello Cracow this year for airport transfers, Auschwitz and Salt mines. They were excellent and we got a good discount for booking

Watching as also planning to visit.

We booked a tour once we were there. Included the salt mines on the same day, which are fabulous

Different answers when googling… can you take bags in with you?

Taxi. Cheap and cheerful.

You can take the train then a 20 minute walk through suburbs or take a 5 min taxi. Public buses will take you direct to the site, although there aren't many. I think most people book with tour companies.

There is a bus just off the main square.

Guided tour - wish I had done this. Or taxi - make sure they come and pick you up.

Definitely not the bus, which is what I did. They aren't that often and I couldn't find the stop to go back. A group of lost people then fought for a passing taxi to get home.

We did it as a tour. Also recommend a tour of the salt mines. Both times we picked up by bus.

Same here. Superb service

Following as I am debating going from Prague

I've just got back. Train from krakow main station took just over an hour, cost approx £3. Easy 10min walk down a straight road across from the train station closest to auschwitz, about a mile I think. Book a guided tour online before you go as there was a queue! Any questions let me know..

We scattered some of my aunts ashes in Auschwitz (she wanted part of her to be with her family). We got a cab from Krakow and it was easy to book but there is a bus you can get too. We opted for the cab as we didn’t want to be taking ashes on the bus! We also go super early to the camp when we visit and are normally there for 7 as we don’t like being part of a tour or anything. I’m not sure if the camp is open to the public at that time but I’ve seen others around and it’s very quiet.

Edited to add, the first time I went I was very shocked at how many people visited each day. We’d gone to take some of my aunts ashes back and I honestly don’t know what I expected, I suppose I thought it would be like an untouched museum in the middle of nowhere but it’s not like that.

You'll be mugged ( not literally) by people offering the tour.

We didn't go as I cried my eyes out at the old new synagogue in Prague and that's just a list of people who died.

You'll be mugged ( not literally) by people offering the tour

This is the part that shocked me, however I completely understand they need to keep the museum going.

I couldn’t have coped with a tour and we had to get through a LOT of red tape to take some of my aunts ashes back. There is so much of Auschwitz that people don’t see, so many records of those that perished, so much work goes on behind the scenes.

Train & book tour online from the official website.
Lots of people getting let down by tour companies at the minute, canceling or changing pick up times etc.

Back to the bag question… can you take a bag in with you?

We got a local bus.

Yes you can take a bag but it’s airport style security checks.