The Polish government has decided to close all cultural institutions, museums, schools, and universities in the period between March 12th and March 25th, it will be impossible to visit Auschwitz Concentration Camp in the mentioned period.
How much time is needed in Auschwitz?
As of now, we do not know if the museum will open again after March 25th or they will be forced to keep it closed for a longer period of time.
Would you like to go to Auschwitz on a day excursion from Krakow? How much time is needed for such a visit? Is it a full-day program, or can it be combined with other activities on the very same day?
As you might know, we can easily help you arranging day-trips to Auschwitz from Krakow with groups on English. This is one of the most popular programs in Krakow, and it is one nobody visiting the city should be without. Maybe you don’t want to visit Auschwitz (which is fully understandable), after all, it is a brutal and terrible place. But still, we are all drawn to the place, and it is such a dark place from the history of man, that we still need to see it and remember it. And yes, that is why visiting Auschwitz is something everyone should do, even if they like the idea of it or not.
How much time is needed in Auschwitz? Source: Pixabay
But, how much time is needed in Auschwitz?
Most groups tours going to Auschwitz from Krakow last for around 6 hours. This is including the transportation day from Krakow with a bus to the Auschwitz 1, then to Auschwitz 2, before heading back to Krakow once the program is finished. As a result, you spend around 3,5 hours in the actual camps. This is ideal if you come with a group as it will take you through both camps and you will get to see the most important places.
But, if you are heavily interested and want to discover the Concentration Camps on your own, you might want to spend even more time in the camps. How come? If you want to really look carefully at the places, while reading in a local guide book, and taking a deep dive into this dark spot in human history, more time is simply needed. Maybe you should count on spending around 5 hours in both camps.
It all comes down to how much time you would like to spend in the camp, and for how long time you can ponder upon the place and stay in its atmosphere.
But, if you come with a group, you will most likely spend a total of 3-4 hours in the actual camps, and the rest of the time will be spent traveling from Krakow to Auschwitz and back.
But, how old should one be before visiting the Concentration Camps? That is a brilliant question and I will write more about it in another article sometimes soon. But, my private opinion is that as people start to learn about it in school, and/or start meeting with anti-Jewish propaganda around the world, that is when time is getting ready for paying this place a visit!
The Schindler Factory is a popular place to visit during trips to Krakow. They have a very interesting permanent exhibition, but they also have temporary exhibitions on display.
In the period between September 13th (2018) and July 7th (2019), you can check out their newest temporary exhibition which shows the lives of seven Poles during the German occupation. Have you ever wondered what life was like during the Nazi reign in Krakow and in Poland?
The seven people on display all took part in the Polish Home Army, the dominant resistance movement in Poland. The Home Army swore their allegiance to the Polish government in exile.
As you visit the exhibition, you will get a much closer experience and look at what life really was like during this period. Some of the topics covered are family upbringing and childhood, experiences from the beginning of the war, everyday occupation, emerging friendships, ideological approach to the fight for independence, service in the Home Army, horror resulting from the Gestapo arrest and the bestial interrogation, shorter/longer stays in the concentration camps, fighting in partisan units against the rulers, and unfortunately, the deaths of colleagues, friends and loved ones.
The exhibition will be held in the Oscar Schindler factory. The address of the factory is Lipowa 4 (ul), 30-702 Kraków.
Are you interested in other activities in Krakow? Would you like to join in on a guided trip to Auschwitz or a group trip to the Salt Mines? You can read more about these and other activities in our Krakow Guide.
