Visiting Auschwitz with mobility issues

I can answer your question about a public tour company that will directly transport you from Krakow to Auschwitz: KrakVille Tours (it's a strange name): https://krakville.com/. I used them in 2015. However, there are numerous other companies in Krakow offering tours. You'll see a lot of advertising in Krakow offering tours.

I believe you can take the shuttle from Auschwitz 1 to Birkenau even if you take a self-guided tour based on what I saw over my two visits to Auschwitz, but that's a guess.

Consult Rick Steve's most-recently-update guide for Central Europe as he provides good detail on transportation options.

A visit to Auschwitz is quite sobering and moving.

There are companies that exist solely to facilitate travel for people with physical disabilities of all types. I discovered them while trying to arrange a trip to the Holy Land for my husband. I have no idea if there’s a company in Krakow/Poland that does this, but it would be worth a look.

Thank you all for your advice and quick replies. I just got an email back from auschwitz.org
( [email protected]) and it looks like we cannot make reservation for self-guided tour online. Just like we have to notify them via email to reserve a wheelchair, we have to give them details of when we plan to visit and per the reply, they will do the booking. I will try this way and will report back. I am also going to try to research travel companies that cater more to people with mobility issues--I am new to these limitations so it takes a mind shift. If you had a good experience with one would love to try them too. Thank you again everyone!

As qq indicates above, self-guided entry is available online, and these sessions are only available at the end if the day - from 4 pm in October..

Found this notice regarding self-guided entry on the Museum's ticketing website, showing that they have had to make adjustments due to over-tourism and apparent fraud by unscrupulous tour operators:

https://www.auschwitz.org/en/museum/news/changes-of-some-entry-regulations-at-the-memorial-from-may-2025,1758.html?_gl=1*1jzmoqe*_ga*NTA2NDk2NjYyLjE3NTE4MzIxMTE.*_ga_ES4EZDDBMD*czE3NTQxNjAyMDEkbzYkZzEkdDE3NTQxNjAyOTkkajU4JGwwJGgw

Keep in mind that it's a relatively long trip from Krakow, so to preserve your strength, you may want to consider a private transfer - I believe there are references to a few drivers in thr RS guidebook.

Yes, you can use the shuttle with self guided tour, but check how late they run in October. I know they run past 7 pm right now.

Note that Auschwitz 1 is not easy to explore with a wheelchair as the barrack buildings have steps to enter as well as staircases to explore each floor. I saw people on wheelchair stranded outside the barracks as a result. Auschwitz 2 is easier to get around on a wheelchair as there are fewer buildings that you can enter, but be warned that the surface is rough for a wheelchair to move easily. I saw someone pushing their elderly family member or friend on rough surface parallel to the train tracks to the way to the memorial on the other end of the camp from the entrance.

Bus from Krakow does drop you right in front of the museum in Auschwitz 1 and is quite convenient. Just be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the bus departs so you can board the bus and get a seat. They don't do seat reservations and appear to oversell tickets.

Hi, just chiming in to say I emailed the accessibility contact on Auschwitz Museum website and got no response. I will be ambulating with cane after a recent fall and injury.

Tour, the 6 hour study one, is this morning, in a few hours. I'm going to give it a try. And if I "plotz" I'm going to use unanswered email as a cornerstone to my defense. I feel like they would do what they can to keep things orderly and running well.

And wow, didn't realize what a challenge accessibility was til it effected me ..

At the time of my visit to Auschwitz, which was seven years ago, I had read some buses went all the way to the camp but some did not. Mine did go near the visitor center, so I cannot say for sure that all did not. However, I'd check that carefully.