Krakow in April

[Jamescrs]

Travelling to Krakow in mid April for a long weekend with the Mrs, It will be my second trip to Poland, albeit I only spent a day in Krakow and first time for the wife there.

I'm relatively comfortable with the city itself and what to see but this time we want to visit Auchwitz and possibly the salt mines, does anyone have any experience of getting there from Krakow and the best way to do it? I'm tempted to hire a car at the airport and drive there but would an organised tour be better?

Thanks

[UnclePat]

Plenty of tour companies will collect from Krakow and transport you to Auschwitz and the Salt Mines. Can’t remember who we used though. Both are very worth doing and take about a half day each.

[loskie]

I went as a solo traveller,
Don't hire a car

I took a day guided tour to Aushwitz and went independently to the salt mines on a very clean, very modern, very cheap and on time train.
Aushwitz trip was bought from one of the many agent near the big square,

I thought the salt mines would be touristy crap but it is fantastic.

Enjoyed a stroll around the town and a couple of drinks in a wee local bar before getting the train back to Krakow. All very simple, relaxing and straigtforward.

I did enjoy Krakow.

Edited by loskie on Saturday 7th January 17:37

[pidsy]

Used thousand miles for a trip to Auschwitz in October - thoroughly recommend them. Think it was £36 inc pick up from hotel and entry.

[Jamescrs]

Thanks for the advice all, seems like the concensus is its easy just to get one one of the organised tours locally.

[RUNAMOK]

I would also recommend using a tour company to see Auschwitz - pickup in the city and everything sorted, for little cost. The only thing I would add is that we decided not to do the salt mines on the same day and thought if we had we'd probably be exhausted. Auschwitz is a long tour and is obviously very mentally tiring too. We didn't actually end up going to the salt mines in the end. But we did do a fantastic free walking tour of the jewish quarter. Great city!

[HTP99]

We did Auschwitz and the salt mines via a tour, we were picked up from the hotel in a mini bus, Auschwitz is a must, however the salt mines was just very meh, we weren't the only ones that were unimpressed.

[Mick Dastardly]

I used this company 4 years ago, my son and his girlfriend used them just last week, and both times they were excellent.

https://krakville.com/

[loskie]

RUNAMOK said:

I would also recommend using a tour company to see Auschwitz - pickup in the city and everything sorted, for little cost. The only thing I would add is that we decided not to do the salt mines on the same day and thought if we had we'd probably be exhausted. Auschwitz is a long tour and is obviously very mentally tiring too. We didn't actually end up going to the salt mines in the end. But we did do a fantastic free walking tour of the jewish quarter. Great city!

I'm surprised you thought that of the salt mines. I did them(independently) on a different day to Aushwitz and as said earlier thought they would be crappy and touristy but was pleasantly surprised

[happie33]

as others said
defo do auswitch one day as guided tour —- we actually booked a taxi for the day whom waited for us ..
the day is very mentally draining —- we actually didn’t talk on the way back to the city trying to process everything.

then on another day do the salt mines - we took the train —- so simple and paid at the entrance
too thought the mines would be meh but found it so interesting.

triple check you aren’t going at the easter weekend —- if so —- book an organised tour asap !!!

[pidsy]

Take the time to walk over the pedestrian bridge with all the padlocks and walk through the original ww2 Jewish ghetto to go to the Schindler museum.

[loskie]

jewish quarter good to wander yes. My favourite part

[pidsy]

Eswaria

Spend plenty of time there.

[Jamescrs]

Thanks again for all the tips everyone much appreciated.

I've been to the Jewish Quarter previously and found it very interesting, will be going there again with the wife on this trip.

[stuarthat]

Don’t just go to one camp, go to both also the salt mines are very good.

[pidsy]

stuarthat said:

Don’t just go to one camp, go to both also the salt mines are very good.

Our trip covered both camps - 2hrs with your guide at number 1 then back in the minivan to go to camp 2 and meet at the gates half hour later - then 1.5 hrs with the same guide there.