Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mines in one day

Is it possible to visit Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine in one day? This is a challenge that everyone with limited time in Kraków faces. This short post summarises the key elements to help you plan your visit effectively and make the most of your getaway. We will focus on three key elements: the time it takes to visit both sites, their opening hours, and the different ways of getting to each site and travelling between them. This will help you plan your itinerary efficiently and make the most of your limited time.

Time Needed to Visit Auschwitz and Wieliczka

Both sites impose certain restrictions on the duration of your visit, and both are best visited with a guide. This means you have very little flexibility to shorten your tour or adjust the schedule once the it begins.

The Salt Mine in Wieliczka can be visited only with a guide. The minimum walking time for the main tourist route is two hours, but it’s safer to assume three or even four hours. The Mining Route (less visited and lacking the attractions of the Tourist Route) takes about three hours. Therefore, you’ll need at least six hours to walk both routes.

The guided tour of Auschwitz lasts either 3.5 or 6 hours, depending on the option you choose. During this time, you will visit both camps, but you’ll need to allow some extra time (e.g., for the return from Birkenau to the starting point). You can also visit the Auschwitz camps independently—but only in the afternoon. If you are visiting on your own, you might shorten the time of your visit, although less than 2.5 hours (including the 10-minute shuttle bus ride between the camps) is in our opinion unrealistic.

Visiting Hours

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is open year-round from 9:00 to 17:00. However, group tours start at fixed times, and the availability of slots can vary depending on the season. For example, in January 2025, the last groups enter at 14:00 (Polish-speaking) or 14:15 (English-speaking).

The opening hours of Auschwitz also vary seasonally. The gates open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 2:00 p.m. in December and at 7:00 p.m. in summer. As mentioned above, you cannot enter the camp independently before 2:00 p.m.

How to Get to Auschwitz and Wieliczka

The easiest way to visit both sites in one day is by car, either your own or a rental. There are car parks at all three locations (Wieliczka, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau), and the journey time is relatively predictable. Therefore, we will not focus on this option. Instead, let’s concentrate on public transport.

By Train

The fastest train from Kraków Główny to Oświęcim takes about 50 minutes. The journey from Kraków Główny to Wieliczka takes just over 20 minutes. So, simply reaching the ticket offices from Kraków Main Station will take you at least 80 minutes (to Auschwitz) or 30 minutes (to Wieliczka). The main challenge, however, lies in travelling between Oświęcim and Wieliczka or vice versa. You will need to change trains in Kraków Główny, with a total journey time of approximately 2 hours, including walking time to the ticket offices, bringing the total to about 2.5 hours.

By Bus

There is little point in taking a bus to Wieliczka, as it takes around 40 minutes—twice as long as the train. However, this option may be worth considering if you need to return to Kraków or reach Wieliczka outside of train operating hours.

On the other hand, taking a bus from Kraków to Oświęcim can be a more practical choice. Lajkonik Bus offers direct services from Kraków to the gates of Auschwitz, with a journey time of approximately 1.5 hours according to the timetable. In Kraków, these buses depart from the Municipal Bus Station (MDA), located next to Kraków Główny train station.

However, there is a timing issue: the first bus does not arrive at the gates of Auschwitz until around 8:00 a.m., which is half an hour after the site opens. Realistically, the earliest safe entry time is around 8:30 a.m., while 8:15 a.m. seems too tight and risky. In practice, as we will outline below, relying on the bus may not be the most efficient option if you plan to visit both sites in one day.

Example Route

This route is based on timetables and opening hours in January 2025. Always check current schedules before your visit.

Stage 1: Kraków–Oświęcim, train. Departure: 6:00 a.m., arrival: 7:02 a.m. [Timetable here]. Walk to the Main Gate of Auschwitz: [25-minute walk].
Stage 2: Guided tour of Auschwitz, start: 7:30 a.m., end: 11:00 a.m. Return to Kraków by bus at 11:30 a.m.
Stage 3a: Auschwitz–Kraków, bus departure: 11:30 a.m., arrival: 12:55 p.m. [Timetable here]. Quick transfer to the train.
Stage 3b: Kraków–Wieliczka, train. Departure: 13:08 p.m., arrival: 13:31 p.m. [Schedule here].
Stage 4: Arrival in Wieliczka: 14:00 (Polish group) or 14:15 (English group).

Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine in one day: Conclusions

If possible, travel by car—it saves significant time and stress.

You might have better luck during the high season. In June, for example, entry times for Wieliczka Mine extend to 16:00 and 16:15, making the itinerary more feasible.

However, it’s not possible to complete both the Tourist Route and the Mining Route in Wieliczka and still visit Auschwitz in one day. Similarly, attempting the six-hour in-depth Auschwitz tour and then heading to Wieliczka is unrealistic. For such a comprehensive experience, plan for two days to fully explore both sites.