Best day trips from Krakow

With a glorious medieval town square, an immense food scene and many fascinating historical districts, Kraków is the cultural capital of Poland. But venture out of the city for a day and you’ll add even more context to your travels, while also experiencing other aspects of local life.

Whether it’s a trip to the harrowing grounds of Auschwitz, Nazi Germany’s largest concentration camp, or hiking though the Niepołomice forest, these five day trips give travelers a real peek into Polish culture.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum

Why go: To understand the history of Kraków and the Nazi war crimes

Little has changed at Auschwitz-Birkenau – the largest extermination camp ever created by the Nazis – since it was liberated by the Soviets troops in 1945.

The black, wrought-iron sign that reads “Arbeit macht frei” (“Work sets you free”) still hangs above the entrance gates of Auschwitz I. It was the lie that would have greeted some 1.1 million Jews, Poles and Roma before they were murdered here, many in specially built gas chambers using the chemical agent Zyklon-B. Before the Nazi invasion, Poland was home to more than three million Jews, the largest population in Europe. By the end of the war, numbers had fallen to between 180,000 and 240,000.

Exhibitions detailing prisoners’ daily life are scattered around the site, giving a harrowing look into the heart of the concentration camp. While some prefer to self-tour, multi-language tours are the best way to see both sites, with added context and real stories provided by the guides. These leave every 15 to 60 minutes from the museum entrance. If exploring independently, allow at least 90 minutes to cover both camps. A free shuttle bus runs between the two.

How to get to Auschwitz from Kraków: 

Located 66km (41 miles) west of Kraków in Oświęcim, you can reach Auschwitz by car in less than two hours. Buses are your best public transport option – they depart from the MDA bus station and go direct to the Auschwitz I museum doors. Eleven daily trains also run direct from Kraków; the trip takes about an hour and 50 minutes, and the train station is 2km (1.2 miles) from the museum.