The 12 Day Trips from Krakow Worth the Early Start

1.Auschwitz-Birkenau Day Trip with Tour Leader

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 5,452 reviews · from $37Our pick

Travel from Krakow to Auschwitz and Birkenau by bus or minivan with an English-speaking tour leader, entry passes, and a phone-based guidebook. You’ll visit Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau independently, with about 1.5 to 2 hours at each site. Guides such as Marcel, Jacob, and Miroslaw are praised for clear instructions and helpful context.

“Guide was excellent, fun and easy to work with and had interesting content added to the official educator’s tour”

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2.Day Trip: Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,282 reviews · 10 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $151

Leave Krakow early for guided visits to Auschwitz I and Birkenau, then descend 64 meters into Wieliczka Salt Mine. Expect an 11-hour day, round-trip transport, museum guides, a documentary, and an optional lunchbox. The day is tightly timed, but it covers two major sights in one outing.

“Very well organized. Kept us informed about where to meet and what to expect. I worried after reading about other people having their trips cancelled from other companies, but had no need to fret.”

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3.Zakopane, Funicular, Cheese, and Highland Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,489 reviews · 9 hours · from $22

Travel from Krakow to Zakopane in a comfortable van with an English-speaking guide such as Dawid, Lucas, Marcin, or Piotr. Visit Chochołów, taste smoked oscypek and local alcohol, see the Wielka Krokiew ski jump and Jaszczurowka Chapel, then ride the Gubałówka funicular for Tatra views before free time on Krupówki Street.

“The driver, Dawid, was excellent. Answered all of our questions and was just lovely. He was a great driver and his car is very comfortable. If we hadn’t have already booked our other tours, we would have definitely booked them with Dawid’s company. I would 100% recommend (and I am fussy!)”

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4.Krakow to Zakopane: Funicular, Tasting and Thermal Baths Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,189 reviews · 11 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $53Top rated

Travel from Krakow to Zakopane with transport, an English or Spanish guide, a highlander cheese and vodka tasting, Gubałówka funicular tickets, free time on Krupówki Street, and three hours at Chocholowskie Thermal Baths. Hotel pickup is available, though the day can stretch to 12 hours in busy conditions.

“Beautiful experience with multiple activities throughout the day. Very friendly and attentive guide.Auto-translated”

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5.Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,071 reviews · 11 hours · from $30

Travel from Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine with Royal Cracow. Expect museum guides, an English-speaking tour leader, reserved entry, headset use at Auschwitz, and plenty of walking. The day can run longer than 11 hours, with departure times changing between 6:00 and 10:30 AM.

“Our driver Radek and the guide was both very good but I only think that there should be bigger brakes in between Auschwitz and Birkenau so that you can have a little more time and not have the feeling that you must do everything in a haste like you are working in deadlines”

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6.Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 731 reviews · 11 hours · from $30

See Auschwitz-Birkenau with an English-speaking guide or licensed guidebook, then explore Wieliczka Salt Mine with a local guide. Expect an early start, 11 to 12 hours on the road, many stairs, and plenty of walking. Drivers such as Pawel, Margaret, and Małgorzata are often praised for keeping the day on track.

“We had a brilliant day małgorzata was great help and done everything for us”

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7.Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp Complex Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 456 reviews · 7 hours · from $83

Travel from Krakow to Auschwitz and Birkenau in about seven hours with private transport and an Italian-speaking guide. See prisoner blocks, personal belongings, documents, photographs, gas chambers, crematoria, and memorials. Pickup details arrive by WhatsApp the day before, and an early start may help you enter Auschwitz with little waiting.

“Organizzazione perfetta, trasferimento puntuale e confortevole su bus da turismo. La guida è stata esaustiva raccontando i punti salienti della storia purtroppo è a noi nota. La visita è avvenuta in una giornata fredda e nervosa, il che ha reso ancor meglio l'idea, (si fa per dire) di quanto sia stata difficile ed insostenibile la vita dei deportati. La visita è un'esperienza che nella vita tutti dovremmo fare almeno una volta.”

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8.Zakopane, Gubałówka, and Thermal Baths Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 317 reviews · 11 hours · from $25

Spend 11 hours traveling from Krakow to the Tatra Mountains with a live guide such as Andrei, Antoni, Bohdan, or Filip. You’ll visit wooden Chochołów, ride the Gubałówka funicular, get 2.5 hours in Zakopane, and finish with three hours at Chocholow Thermal Baths. Pickup, transport, tickets, and tastings are included.

“Fabulous day today from start to finish loved doing the different activities. From stopping off cheese and vodka shot tasting to the village of zakopane to the thermal baths, Bohdan and the team were amazing and made the trip smooth and enjoyable. Bohdan explained everything along the way and was great, a shout out to andri Antony and the driver fabulous.”

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9.Zakopane and Chochołowskie Bath Full Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 212 reviews · 11 hours · from $15Best value

Spend 11 hours exploring Chochołów and Zakopane from Krakow, riding the Gubałówka cable car, tasting sheep cheese, and relaxing in Poland’s largest thermal complex. English-speaking guides such as Kuba, Jacob, and Mido are praised for clear advice and good humor. Expect a busy but well-paced day, especially in winter and on weekends.

“Very good service, our tour guide Kuba was super friendly and really helpful. Would highly recommend”

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10.Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 84 reviews · 11 hours · from $131

Travel from Krakow by air-conditioned vehicle to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine. Licensed guides lead both visits, while an English-speaking driver such as Jacob or Greg handles the road and timing. Expect an 11-hour day, serious walking, 800 mine steps, and a moving contrast between wartime history and underground salt art.

“Had a great day visiting the top attractions. The bus driver Jacob was friendly, organised and fun you felt like he would do anything to endure you have an enjoyable day. Both the Salt Mines and Auschwich tours were very well organised and informative there was plenty of opportunities for photos and questions. All in all we were extremely happy with our day and the 5* service received.”

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11.Dunajec River Gorge and Zakopane: Full-Day Trip from Krakow

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 57 reviews · 7h 30m · from $265

Travel from Krakow to the Dunajec Gorge for a 2.5-hour highlander-led raft trip, then continue to Zakopane and ride the rail car up Gubalowka. English-speaking drivers such as Marek, Greg, Philip, and Gregory have added local insight, restaurant stops, and flexible help along the way.

“Philip our guide was great and was with us every step of the way to help, advise and translate as and when required. There was just Annie and myself on the tour so we had the luxury of a limousine to ourselves and of course the services of Philip on a one to one basis. We had a really nice day, we learnt a lot from Philip about life in Poland, he was so knowledgeable, he is a credit to the tour group. I highly recommend this trip. Thank you Philip”

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12.Ojcow National Park: Full-Day Trip from Krakow

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 29 reviews · 7 hours · from $153

Travel from Krakow into Ojcow National Park on a seven-hour private, English-language tour. Visit Grota Lokietka cave, walk forest paths to Krakow Gate, see Ojcow castle ruins, and tour Pieskowa Skala Castle. Guides such as Matthew and Krzysztof add lively local detail, while hotel pickup, transport, and admissions are included.

“Absolutely fantastic trip! We were lucky enough to have Matthew as our guide and he made the trip even better. The range of activities, from walking through the National Park, the trout farm and visiting the castles, Matthew had endless knowledge and kept us well informed and entertained. Can’t recommend enough!”

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