Visiting Auschwitz / Krakow

[cambsno]

Going to Poland in Sept. Will get to Krakow around midday so plan to head to the Schindler factory and a wander round the town. Next day a visit to Auschwitz - normally I prefer to do things off my own back, get to the destination and get a ticket / guide tour directly. But there are a number of tours that include transport. Has anybody done one and any recommendations if you have?

 

[the black fox]

Not that one but have been to Wrocław , a lot of people have a grasp of English but lots don’t , and most street signs and bus labels are in crylic writing so can be hard to decipher .. a very likeable and interesting country though .. I also found it very good and cheap for camera shopping if required ..

 

[stevetiler]

We did the Auschwitz and Birkenau tour a few years ago , we were staying in Krakow and booked it with the hotel direct when we got there , we had a mercedes people carrier , lunch and entry to both camps with a private tour guide , there were four of us and it was around £25 a head ! It was an all-day trip and was smooth as silk . Place was quite upsetting at times but glad we went .

 

[JasonPC]

We've been to Krakow four times, it's a beautiful, friendly and photogenic city.

We took a regular bus from the city centre bus terminal when we went to Auschwitz. Some have Auschwitz on the destination sign on the bus, most have Oświęcim. It's around a 70 minute bus ride and drops right outside the memorial car park. There was a free shuttle bus between the two sites of the memorial, I'd imagine that's still the case. Birkenau is an incredibly sad place to visit. We went in winter and there was hardly anyone else there and it was bitter cold.

The train station is a fair distance from the memorial so I'd avoid that mode of transport.