Auschwitz short break

Krakow is a really good city for a break. It is easy to get to from the airport with the train, there is plenty to walk around and see in the city itself and a big selection of restaurants and places to eat.

I have never been to Auschwitz in about 6 trips through or to Krakow for a few days (family visits and trips to the mountains at Zakopane). I was quite upset and low just after Schindlers factory. I think in the “high” season you can just travel up by train and visit or find a guide at Auschwitz which may be cheaper or more flexible for you but in the “low” season you need to be on a guided tour.

The other tip I learned quickly is to not change any or much cash in the UK but to take cash and use one of the many currency exchanges in the city (but not the ones you on the main tourist streets! we usually use one called Grosz which is just off the main square) These places look more iffy than they should but last time I got 5.25 zlotys to the £ as opposed to 4.8 zlotys in the UK which was a bit better than even my travel credit card.

Cash is still really important for some places over there especially with tours and activities, some will not take card. Even if you want to use you card mostly it is still worth taking some sterling cash with you as it is easily changed if you need it. Last time we went to Zakopane we nearly got caught out on a day trip to Slovakia as the wanted cash, but a quick exchange to Zlotys in the nearby exchange meant we could go on the trip.


My recommendation for a good unfussy meal is a place called Szalone Widelce (Crazy Forks) The food is good and the portion sizes are fairly big. I really enjoy the giant pork chops!
 
I went with my wife while visiting friends in krakow a few years back. Their advice to us was to get a taxi from krakow and go in solo without bothering with a tour. It’s a really well put together place with information everywhere. Glad we went our own way and kept away from the masses. We were there in mid December.

The taxi was really cheap as well, around a tenner and the driver just slept in the car outside until we were ready to go back.
 
It’s a bit jarring to Auschwitz but…

… Energylandia is a theme park with two world class rollercoasters - it’s very close by.

 
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Have been to Krakow a few times, have no issues in recommending it wholeheartedly.

It can serve as a short trip, or as a base for a much longer trip.

2 days you can cover Auschwitz and the Salt Mines as others have recommended. Just walking around the city there is so much history to take in, the Schindler factory, Jewish Quarter, the areas where the Ghettos were etc. Would try not to do both Auschwitz and Salt Mile in a single day (there are tours offering it, but a lot to take in a day, and Auschwitz my be quite emotionally draining, and there are two Auschwitz camps to look around).

If you end up with longer, the Mountains and Zakopane are also well worth your attention which are close-ish. The link between Krakow and Warsaw is ok if you wanted to visit Warsaw for a day or two as well (most airports that fly to Krakow will likely fly to one of the Warsaw airports too for route back).
 
I've only been on one guided tour in Mauthausen so far and it made me really sick to my stomach with the detailed descriptions and narratives.

I would skip it. I have heard a lot of positive reviews about Krakow. Thank you, I will think about going there too.
 
Goodie said:
I went with my wife while visiting friends in krakow a few years back. Their advice to us was to get a taxi from krakow and go in solo without bothering with a tour. It’s a really well put together place with information everywhere. Glad we went our own way and kept away from the masses. We were there in mid December.

The taxi was really cheap as well, around a tenner and the driver just slept in the car outside until we were ready to go back.
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Guided tours don't have to be with the masses. I was on a minibus tour with about five or six people in total which was fine.

I'm not generally a guided tour person either, in fact Auschwitz is one of the very few places I've had a guided tour of.
 
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