44903EAS
- There are 2 possible routes from Kraków: the shorter cross-country route (780, 62km) on poor windy roads, or via the A4 (70km)
- Driving time from Krakow on both roads is around 1h20
- The visit of Auschwitz-Birkenau lasts 3 hours
- Lunch requires some planning
- Make sure the group are dressed respectfully
- Group members should leave their personal headsets on the bus
You first visit Auschwitz (also called Auschwitz I). Give 10 minutes for the group to visit toilets (paying) in the basement of the Museum and tell them to meet you in the lobby. You go to the ticket desk and present your voucher and meet your guide. When the group is back, collect headsets as the guide uses a microphone. Leave your group’s Whisper headsets in the bus. You will not have time for the movie.
After the visit of Auschwitz your guide will lead you back to the exit. Give your group time for toilets, the bookshop and to buy snacks (there is a shop in the lobby). Arrange to meet the guide again at Birkenau (Auschwitz II) – realistically this should be 30 minutes after the tour of Auschwitz I finishes. There will probably not be time for lunch between the two visits.
Birkenau is 2km from Auschwitz. It is quite clearly signposted. The guide usually travels there alone, but you can offer to take him/her on the coach with you. Birkenau is the site of the familiar and iconic watchtower at the end of the train tracks and 4 of the 5 gas chambers/ crematoria. Most of the barrack-blocks and buildings have been destroyed. The ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria are located next to the international memorial, at the opposite end of the vast territory of the camp. Visiting them will take an additional 30 minutes, but it is well worth it.
There are additional pay toilets at Birkenau, next to the watchtower entrance and there is also a small, but well stocked shop with books and postcards.
As a morning visit, ideally the group should bring snacks or buy them at the shop at the Auschwitz Museum. They must be aware they will not be back in Kraków until mid afternoon, if they want a proper “sit down” lunch. Alternatively, if people are hungry and cannot wait, after the visit of Birkenau you could double back on yourself to Auschwitz, where there is a set of pizza and other fast food type restaurants (plus one higher quality restaurant) across the main road opposite the main bus park. As an afternoon excursion, they can get snacks as above and will have dinner in Kraków.
Note that the cafeteria at the Museum of Auschwitz does not offer a large selection of food. It is also not recommended to go into Oświęcim town as there are limited lunch possibilities.
There is a lot of outside walking during this visit.
Even if everyone may know what they will see, be prepared for people getting very emotional. Do not rush this visit as some people may well need extra time to reflect, and this may include you!