Home > Krakow > Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Half-Day Trip from Krakow
USD $45.00
Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Half-Day Trip from Krakow
Krakow, Poland
Take a sobering tour of the World War II Auschwitz-Birkenau complex on a 6-hour trip from Krakow. Travel by coach to the UNESCO World Heritage compound and explore the twin concentration camp with a guide as you learn about the Nazi Holocaust and how the camps functioned. Explore the poignant exhibition halls, and see the barracks, gas chambers and other buildings at Auschwitz I. Then, view the watchtowers, crumbled buildings and memorials at Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Your guide will explain everything you see with care and sensitivity.
Choose your preferred departure time when you book, and begin your experience with a pickup in central Krakow or from your Krakow hotel.
Board your coach and as you travel, watch an onboard documentary that explains the history of WWII and the Nazi Holocaust. Learn how approximately 1.1 million people — mostly Jewish, Polish and Russian prisoners — were killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau from 1940 onward, until both camps were liberated by the Allies in 1945.
After roughly 1.5 hours on the road, arrive at Auschwitz and set off on a guided tour of both the UNESCO-listed Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau sites. Enter the Auschwitz I compound through the gates inscribed with Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Sets You Free), and discover how it quickly turned from a Nazi detention camp for Polish political prisoners into a center for mass murder.
Explore the main buildings — some still intact and some in ruins — and walk around the exhibitions that chart the fates of many of those detained here. View the dormitories and gas chambers, and see the factory areas where prisoners were forced to make munitions and other products for Germany’s war efforts. While the facts of what happened here are shocking and distressing, your guide will explain everything in the most sensitive way possible.
After viewing Auschwitz I, take a short break to collect your thoughts and then visit nearby Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Here, see what remains of the watchtowers, fences and barracks as you hear about the appalling conditions endured by those held here. Witness the remnants of the gas chambers and crematoriums that were destroyed by the fleeing Nazis, and then visit the deeply poignant memorials to the victims to spend time in memory of those who suffered and died here.
After approximately three hours, travel back to Krakow where your tour ends at your original start point.
This was a terrific tour, although it is to a very somber place. The guide was tremendous and we were able to see quite a lot, and were provided with a lot of history of the events that occurred in Auschwitz and Birkenau. Highly recommended tour - an absolute must see if you are visit Krakow.
Review by: JERONIMO V, April 2018
Everything went fine. But JACEK, the group leader was outstanding. He shows knowledge, but above all, shows emotion._br/_ TOP!
Review by: Arron E, April 2018
A really well organised trip from start to finish. Easy pick up location and very informative. A hard day but a must - take a packed lunch.
Review by: Trine P, April 2018
Very interesting tour and a lot to reflect over. The Cracow tour did a very good job and I would highly recommend them.
Review by: Keith E, March 2018
A good tour of a sobering place that started with an informative bus ride from Krakow to the camps. After arriving we were handed over to the on-site guides to make our way through this very crowded museum.
Review by: Linda B, March 2018
very well organised
Review by: Colin K, March 2018
Very moving, interesting, thought provoking tour.
Review by: Julia C, March 2018
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Pat S, March 2018
The trip was very informative ,interesting and very sad. Our tour guide Sylvia was excellent very knowledgeable and friendly as was Rueben the coach guide. We really enjoyed the trip and glad we went , I would recommend to annyone
Review by: Lindsey H, February 2018
This is a MUST! Only thing was it was hard to hear the tour guide at times when she didnt speak into the microphone. But besides that, if anyone gets the chance to take this tour, jump on it and dont miss out on this opportunity!
Review by: sandersonskc, February 2018
EXCELLENT INFORMATIVE BUT SENSITIVE
Review by: Cathleen R S, January 2018
Everyone should take this tour. Very educational about a sad tragic place. The guide was superb
Review by: Debrah M, January 2018
It's a sad journey back in time however, I don't think humans will learn from such horrific times which probably is the saddest.
Review by: alexander t, January 2018
This is not a trip to review with gushing adjectives, do this trip, experience the emotions, take in the shocking realties and understand the historical value of this memorial site and go away enlighten.
Review by: vickynicolev, January 2018
Definitely recommend visiting Auschwitz but I would recommend either doing in a smaller group or a full day as we felt very rushed and missed a lot and just time to comprehend the atrosities that took place. This also ment also lack of info from guide and difficuilt to ask questions.
Review by: john, December 2017
This tour is our second visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau - and there are still things that we missed initially on the first visit - we still think that all people should be coaxed to visit Auschwitz - to see the facts and not the rubbish that it never happened.
Review by: Michael T, December 2017
From start to finish I was in tears. The tour was so emotional and the tour guide made you feel like you could imagine what happened. The guide was very well prepared with information and knew lots about the camp. I wouldn't say it was very suitable for people in wheelchairs or struggling to walk as the ground was uneven and most buildings didn't have wheelchair access
Review by: yannie1388, December 2017
The tour was amazing! Very well organised and I would choose same tour if I had to do it all over again._br/_ Thank you!
Review by: Wayne R, December 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Jim F, December 2017
A harrowing experience, but one I'm glad I did. Our guide Michel Bomzat was both passionate and very knowledgeable and he certainly added to the tour.
Review by: DOUGLAS S, December 2017
An incredibly moving experience. Sadly, it showed humanity at its worse. Despite the horrors, I would highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Antony B, December 2017
Very moving
Review by: Scott B, December 2017
It is hard to describe this tour as great because of the content and the location visited but it truly was a good tour. We were so glad we did this tour, the bus was convenient pick up and drop off, timing was as described also. Thanks to Viator for offering this tour because it is so important that many see this.
Review by: dennis, December 2017
Outstanding from start to finish and great value._br/_ This is an emotional day and it's nearly impossible to believe this really happened - but it did!!_br/_ Cannot recommend highly enough and if you're in Krakow - you must go!!
Review by: Lisa M, November 2017
Natalia was a fantastic guide, and she made everything very real for us in an informative and sensitive way. I learnt a lot, and would recommend taking this trip to anyone who is interested in history.
Review by: Keith F, November 2017
Our guide was very informative, she showed us all the sites and we learned so much. Would recommend the tour.
Review by: gbencini, November 2017
This was a tour I have been wanting to take for many years. Finally I made it. During the coach ride from our Hotel to Auschwitz, the Viator representative accompanying us gave us some information regarding Auschwits-Birkenau. We were then shown a video film of well prepared. This was a tour which I shall never forget. thank you.
Review by: Patricia B, November 2017
The guide was not very good ,you were rushed you did not have much time to look. Also she gave you 15 minutes for lunch .when I ask could we go to the toilet when we got to Birkenaiu she shouted at me as if I was a child . For me this just spoilt it for me and my friend
Review by: Deborah M, November 2017
The tour guide was excellent.
Review by: Deborah M, November 2017
The tour guide was excellent.
Review by: Stephen A, November 2017
Bus driver had NO command of English language and it was raining like there was no to-morrow, and buses were not that well labelled, so many got wet even before the tour started. In fact part of the tour, after we were totally and fully drenched was called off. Advised weather like this never seen before but apart from the weather the visit itself was less, way less than i expected. The venue was way to busy and facilities lacking due to the numbers being crammed thru' this place. I think the group was too big for the tour and, I think many were there just to be there, if that makes sense. The tour guide was excellent though. If I ever went back, don't think I would, i'd go for the smaller more one on one tours they do there, but suggest this venue will always be too busy.
Review by: Christina T, November 2017
Perfect length and history of tour. It was quite crowded when we went so did not get a full appreciation of all the artifacts left there but not a reason for skipping this.
Review by: Paul L, October 2017
Great guide, great tour._br/_ The only negative was that we could have done with more time to wander around.
Review by: lchanger, October 2017
A good way to visit this site. We'll run, stress free.
Review by: Jennifer K, October 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Andrew M, October 2017
Everyone should visit Auschwitz at least once._br/_ We went with Krakow Tours and everything, from the hotel pick up to the drop off was very well organised. On the trip to the camp not sure it should be called a museum, you are shown an uncompromising film that doesn't hide the horrors that took place in the camp._br/_ Upon arrival at Auschwitz we had a short break before picking up our headsets and being introduced to our guide Anna. Anna was clearly passionate to get the real message of the atrocities across and was very knowledgable on the full history from the initial creation of the barracks before being taken over and converted. The scale and numbers are difficult to comprehend .. even now._br/_ The tour covered the main areas of Auchwitz but there were a number of other exhibits you could return and see._br/_ After a short break and coach ride, we arrived at Birkenau where you are immediately met with the iconic image of the railway lines going through the arch gateway. Not much still exists of this camp as every effort was made to try and erase the horrors that occurred, however just to experience the scale of the site is incredible.
Review by: Mr R H, October 2017
We found the tour well organised by Kraków Tours. A very moving and sometimes distressing experience as we anticipated it would be. The guide had just the right delivery for this tour.
Review by: ddpadg, October 2017
An important tour for all. Extremely emotional and difficult. The logistics were outstanding. Well organized. Good handoff to the museum guides who shared the information so sensitively yet clearly and matter of fact. Walking including on gravel and small tight steps prevented my partner who was recovering from a broken foot to do much of the tour. She had to exit Auschwitz and sit right out front. No seats inside as we had been told. Time provided for bathroom breaks. One small blip required us to wait an hour to depart for 3 persons who went on different language speaking tour. Not sure what happened- if people went for a drink or their tour was that long behind us. Reason for sharing this is stay flexible. It's a big group and there are back to back tours at these museums. Again highly recommend - the reality of what we can do to one another removes any naïveté about us humans.
Review by: JULIE H, October 2017
Excellent tour. Very emotional, but everyone should go and this was very well-organised with an amazing guide.
Review by: Caitlin R, October 2017
Amazing experience - everyone should visit in their lifetime. Our tour guide was great and very knowledgeable. A few tips for the tour: you cannot take large bags in with you, only small bags are permitted no backpacks etc. If you have a larger bag you can leave it on the bus. You cannot take food inside with you. There is only a quick break between the end of the Auschwitz tour and the Birkenau tour, so not much time to grab a snack. You are driven on the bus from Auschwitz to Birkenau, so I would recommend bringing some snacks with you and leaving them on the bus to be eaten on the short trip between camps. Bring some small change for the toilets, as they charge to use them. We visited in September and it was drizzling and very cold, would recommend a small folding umbrella and lots of warm layers I wore jeans and three top layers and was still a little cold.
Review by: Matthew B, October 2017
Overall real quality tour. I debated between self guided and an organized group tour and was not disappointed in my choice. The guide really provided a ton of valuable information and stories that I would not have had anywhere else. Very informative but didn't feel too rushed. Huge positive is the free time at Birkenau to explore and reflect on your own.
Review by: Shirley B, October 2017
An interesting experience and a feeling of the history and what terrible things happened in the camps. We just felt that we were rushed through at times and not given time to read the notices etc.
Review by: Devin B, October 2017
This was amazing and humbling experience. Our tour guide was extraordinary! She was very knowledgeable, gave us very moving stories and her English was splendid. Unfortunately I do not remember her name, but I hope your company going to pass this positive review to her.
Review by: julie.roberts9, May 2017
The visit to the CampMuseum is a very sombre experience and out tour guide of the facilities was exceptional!!! _br/_ The Half-Day Trip is of sufficient duration for the experience._br/_ I do, although it may sound unkind, recommend not bringing along small children purely from a behavioural nature and impact on others experiences._br/_ My logistic guide that provided the transport could be more 'switched on' in his sometimes vague instructions and lack of observation 'care factor' of his travellers.
Review by: philbrown38, May 2017
Excellent tour and guide, not to be missed so enlightening
Review by: Gillian G, April 2017
Best tour to make people remember their humanity so this atrosity is never repeated. Very poignant, emotional day as it should be. Organised excellently start to finish. Information from tour guides is second to none. Wear walking shoes, warm clothes due to outdoor nature, (a good reminder also).
Review by: Michael M, April 2017
The trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau ran like clockwork from pick up to drop off. Our guides, both on the bus and the lady who did the guided tour through the concentration camps were both excellent. _br/_ The visit was something I always was interested in doing and it is not something one could ever say that they enjoyed, but the harrowing history of what took place in these two concentration camps has to be told and I certainly feel more informed for having taken the tour and seen the site at first hand. The tour and the museum were something that I will never forget and I cannot imagine going to Krakow and not doing this tour. _br/_ There is a lot of walking and comfortable shoes such as trainers are a must as there are a lot of steps into and out of the various buildings.
Review by: David S, April 2017
An extremely moving experience that I will never forget. If you are visiting Krakow, this is a tour that you should make time for. To see and visualize the sheer size of Auschwitz I and Birkenau in person is something that can't be captured in a book or movie. The exhibits are excellent and help you to better understand the horror of the atrocities by the Nazi's upon all those who were brought to these death camps. Our guide, Olga, was very knowledgeable and made the trip interesting and memorable.
Review by: dnkdummy, April 2017
This tour was number one on my list. Meeting site for the bus went well and all went as scheduled. So very glad to have witnessed this.
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