Historical sites can be a powerful and educational experience, to explore them. Auschwitz was one such place that holds a great amount significance as it was the Nazi concentration and extermination camp during World War II. If you are in Berlin and you’d like to visit Auschwitz, you could wonder what is the cheapest way to get there. In this article we explore some of the best affordable travel options so you can plan your visit as efficiently as possible.
1. By Train
By far, the most common and most accessible means of transportation from Berlin to Auschwitz is by train. The train to Auschwitz (Oswiecim) departs from Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and you can catch it direct. It’s a journey that normally takes around 7-8 hours and tickets cost around €50, though from November to April, prices can rise a bit closer to €60 for economy flights, and this increases even more depending on how much advance you book.
Tips:
Train schedules and ticket prices are available on the Deutsche Bahn website.
Booking at the earliest can help you sweeten down the prices.
Think about traveling off peak hours or in the weekday for slightly better prices.
2. By Bus
If you’re traveling from Berlin, bus is another affordable option to travel to Auschwitz. Between the two cities there are several bus companies that have routes. The trip lasts about 9-10 hours, and starting at around €25, it’s cheaper than the train.
Tips:
So visit FlixBus and PolskiBus websites for bus schedule, and fare.
Keep in mind also that you will have longer travel time than if you took the train.
Save yourself a night’s accommodation costs and consider the overnight buses.
3. By Flights
To fly quicker you can fly from Berlin to Krakow, which is, actually, the nearest major airport to Auschwitz. The two cities are connected by several low cost air carriers offering travel time from around one hour and 30 minutes. Just take a bus or the train from Krakow that takes about 1 hour to reach Auschwitz.
Tips:
If you want to check the best flight deals, go to websites like Skyscanner or Kayak.
Always make sure to compare prices and check what it costs from Krakow to Auschwitz.
Keep in mind that there will be travel to and from airports in Berlin and Krakow.
4. By Car
But for those who can’t unplug or travel without a car, renting a car to get between Berlin and Auschwitz is also an option. The distance between Jerusalem and Bethlehem is about 540 km and will normally take about 6-7 hours, but of course you can drop this by driving quickly.
Tips:
Find the best price of a car rental by comparing it with different car rental companies!
If you’re travelling in a group, consider sharing the cost of the fuel and tolls too.
Before you visit Auschwitz, check out parking options near Auschwitz.
Final Words
Going to Auschwitz is a solemn and necessary experience, so trying to visit Auschwitz from Berlin at the lowest price possible could assist you in assessment your journey. The cheapest option might not be the most convenient or fastest, you will however have to remember this. A visit to Auschwitz will no matter what way you choose to travel will be very insightful in one of the darkest periods in human’s history.
Table of Contents