If you’re planning a trip to Berlin and are interested in visiting the Auschwitz concentration camp, you may be wondering about the most cost-effective way to get there. Auschwitz, located in Oswiecim, Poland, is approximately 450 kilometers (280 miles) east of Berlin. Fortunately, there are several budget-friendly options available for travelers. In this article, we will discuss the cheapest ways to travel from Berlin to Auschwitz, helping you make the most of your visit without breaking the bank.

1. Traveling by Bus

There are a number of ways of getting to Auschwitz from Berlin and one of the cheapest is by bus. This transport route has many bus companies which provide economical fares for the journey. For instance, FlixBus currently offers direct services from Berlin to Krakow just as Krakow is near the Auschwitz camp. To get to the memorial one can use a local bus or a train from Krakow. Bus tickets can be bought online in an advance basis, which means that bus prices are variation fixed in order to have a better control and assurance of its availability.

Tips:

If you are wanting to travel by bus, it is recommended that you make your booking prior in advance to enjoy a discount.

Try to book your journey during the low risk hours/ days of the week to find cheaper rates.

See the timetable of frequency of the bus and adjust the timing to fit your visit.

2. Taking a Train

This is also relatively cheaper than the other methods, people can take a train from Berlin to Auschwitz. Deutsche Bahn, the German national railway company runs train services to Katowice, a town close to the camp. Local transport can be used again to get to Auschwitz from Katowice. Prepurchased PointPoint or discounted (non_refundable) tickets are one more way to pay less while booking train tickets.

Tips:

Try searching for Sparpreis tickets which are cheap but are available in a fewer number by Deutsche Bahn.

Try to book two tickets for the trip by taking the first ticket from Berlin to Katowice and the second ticket from Katowice to the camp.

Please refer to the train timetable and it would be very wise if you schedule your arriving at the centre during those hours.

3. Join an Organized Tour

However, should you not want to make arrangements yourself getting in an organized tour may be the best thing. Many companies organize such tours from Berlin as transportation, guide services, and entry to the museum is provided. Though sometimes may cost slightly more than arranging a trip on your own, it provides a full package and hence no need for planning.

Tips:

Search the internet to find the various tour operators offering the services which interest you and the charges they charge for their services.

Make sure you read the reviews as well as the reputation of the operators before making the trip.

Ensure that the tour also has an information and knowledgeable guide.

4. Hitchhiking and Carpooling

However, if you are very much on a low budget and do not mind taking other types of transport, then you could opt for hitching a ride, or even carpooling. Ride-sharing services like BlaBlaCar and apps sign up drivers with available empty seating capacity in their cars with everyday passengers desperate to share the same ride at a pre-negotiated cost cover towards fuel consumption. Another fun way of travelling is hitchhiking, but this may at times take longer to find a decent driver to offer a lift.

Tips:

Be wise and be wise when it comes to hitchhiking or sharing cars.

Before setting out on a journey, ensure you are clear with drivers and tell them more about the journey embarking on.

It is adviseable to inform someone of your travel plans for security reasons.

Regardless of the type of transportation you decide to use, it is possible to advise you on how to organize the trip to Auschwitz. There is a limited number of visitors per day, and it can get busy some days and particularly during the busiest tourists visited months. Taking a prior look at the opening hours of the attraction and booking your admission tickets will ease your journey.

The trip from Berlin to Auschwitz does not have to be costly. And by choosing these options and thinking about where to go and how to get there ahead of time, you can see the historical place on a tight budget, remember the victims, and get to know this part of history.