How easy is it to visit Auschwitz?

swingaloo

Just out of the blue when I asked my nephew 'If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?' he told me he would be really interested in visiting Auschwitz as they have been learning a lot about it at school.

I have seen various websites about tours and looked at flights but wondered if anyone on here has actually done it and could help me with the logistics.

I have looked at flights from Liverpool with Ryanair but would like to know the following-

How easy is it to get to and from the airport at Krakow?
Is it easy to find somewhere to stay?
Is it viable to go for perhaps 3 days and do a visit to Auschwitz on the second day or does distance prevent this?
Is it very expensive for hotel and tour?
There seem to be a lot of tours available- can anyone recommend a good one (or warn me off a bad one).

Thank you all for any help.

markwilkinson

Mr Wang is the man to listen to on this subject, hopefully he will be along soon to help you.

claire16c

Just wondering how old is your nephew? Because learning about it at school could be very different to visiting it - even for adults.

swingaloo

Thank you for the replies.
My nephew is 11, I know he is young and I am aware that there may be aspects neither of us are really prepared for. However, when talking to him I was amazed at the insight and knowledge he seemed to have. I was really stunned when he said he thought he would learn so much more from a trip there than going somewhere like Disneyland.

Pont

I went 2 years ago. Cheapo flight into Krakow (from East Mids), central hotel (very good value - no euro). Didn't do an arranged tour but decided to go our own way. Trip to Auschwitz from Krakow railway station to Oswiecim, took ages, but interesting as got to chat to 'locals' on the train and got their perspective on the nazi era.

I see no reason why an 11 year old shouldn't visit Auschwitz - you know if they're mature enough or not. However, as an adult, and having taught WWII history for many years, nothing quite prepares you for the horrors of walking under those gates.

Don't forget that Auschwitz 2 - Birkenau - is close by and should be visited at the same time to get some sense of the enormity of what went on at this most horrific time.

martindow

This might be a useful site to look at

http://www.seat61.com/Poland.htm

Most of it is concerned with rail travel from the UK to Poland but there is also a section on how to get to and from Auschwitz (Oswiecim)

Katiehound

I was going to suggest that if you think he wouldn't cope with Aschwitz then perhaps a trip to the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam would be a step in that direction.
I have been to Bergen Belsen- many years ago- it was an unnerving experience as a young adult. Since then to a couple of japanese pow camps and only last month to a war grave in Algiers.... it is a very emotional experience.

mick_vandick

We booked our hotel (Eden Hotel in the Jewish Quarter) through https://www.staypoland.com. They were very good.
One thing i would advise with Auschwitz is to get there early to beat the crowds. Also, it gives you more time to get to Birkenau and back to pick up your bus back to Krakow. Depending on what time of year, the last bus back from Birkenau can be quite early as it starts to get dark.
There are some really helpful people on the Krakow forum on Trip Advisor so i would check that out. There are forum threads that will tell you all you need to know about getting the bus there and back and lots of other info. They were a massive help to us.
While you are in Krakow and just for something nicer (not sure that the right word, but what is?) to see, the salt mine is worth a visit.

pickpocketlocket

Also worth a look at the Imperial War Museum, some interesting (and very moving) exhibits on the subject.

hxm

I think the official guidance is that it's not suitable for children under the age of 14 to visit Auschwitz. I went there last year when I had a holiday in Krakow and I would say the advice is about right. If the boy is showing an interest, that's good and a trip to the Imperial War Museum is a good suggestion plus some suitable (not really harrowing) reading material. I would delay making the trip until he is a little older.

Hobsons_Choice

Only just seen this post - coz we returned from Krakow today!
Getting to Krakow from the airport is very easy: out of the airport, turn right and follow the road round, get on shuttle train which will deposit you at the central railway station...minutes walk from loads of hotels (we stayed at the Europejski over the road from the station). Taxis are very cheap to anywhere in Krakow.
It's a compact city, everything worth seeing is walkable - make sure you visit the Oscar Schindler museum and allow at least three hours!
Krakow is very good value for money eating out etc (still using the zloty and I pray that won't change in the near future, I'm looking to go again soon).
Auschwitz: if you have only three days in Krakow (I personally go for four and still keep returning) you can use the bus, take an organised tour or a private taxi - taxi with driver who will wait for you, see you through the procedures and take you to the second camp at Birkenau. We were offered this for about £50. Don't use the train, the bus is much quicker!
As someone said, use the Trip Advisor Krakow forum, they're very helpful - and have a lovely time with your nephew.