Hello!
We want to go to Auschwitz following a RS Tour that ends in October. We are looking for a reputable tour company to get us from Krakow to an Auschwitz tour. (We know only guides from Auschwitz lead the tours and the tour companies really only provide transport and tour tickets to Auschwitz.). We have seen mixed reviews on tour companies and the RS tour book doesn’t recommend any particular company.
If anyone has recently used and been pleased with a tour company, please let me know. Conversely, if anyone has had a less than desirable experience, I would also be interested in hearing about that.
Thank you.
Posted by
SoCal
1901 posts
I really don't see the purpose of hiring a tour company; substantial cost for few benefits IMO. The train will get you easily from Kraków to Oświęcim, and it's an easy walk (though perhaps a long one) to the tourist center for the camp. Taxis are readily available at the Oświęcim train station for those unable to walk or who prefer not to.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1665 posts
Here is a recent travel forum discussion regarding transportation to Auschwitz:
I believe that if RS mentions a company in the guidebook, you can assume that it's reputable.
I used Discover Cracow and have no complaints. Note that it's a long day just dealing with the logistics - never mind the emotional toll of the visit.
In terms of getting there on your own via train or bus, if you have experience with local transport in Europe, then you might want to look into it. Just bear in mind that you will have to book your tour directly with the Memorial, and then be responsible to get yourselves there in time to make the tour. In addition, you would have to use the Memorial buses to get to Birkenau and back.
If you decide to arrange your own transport, you'll have the advantage of using your RS tour guide as a resource - they could give advice regarding train or bus from Krakow, and perhaps more importantly, traveling the last mile from Oświęcim. Here is info re local transport from the Memorial website:
https://www.auschwitz.org/en/visiting/getting-to-the-museum/
If you decide to go with a tour company, I'd suggest that you meet the bus or mini-bus at the appointed pickup point, as many of the complaints I've seen are due to issues with hotel pickups. In my case it was at the "kiss and ride" stop just outside Krakow Glowny, which was easy to get to via tram.
If you're going to do any independent travel in Poland, even while on the tour, I'd recommend downloading the Jakdojade app to your phone - use it for trip planning and fares for local transportation within Poland.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
2131 posts
I would book with a tour company. Discover Cracow is good. The minimal additional cost, 20-25 euro, is well worth it. It saves a lot of time door to door.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
7323 posts
My husband went to Auschwitz on his own, no problems. A tour company does little for you beyond providing the transportation. Make sure to get Auschwitz tickets online in advance.
There is a bus to Auschwitz that leaves from the train station area. Couldn't be easier. I do all trip planning, logistics and navigation, but my husband who has limited experience with that aspect of travel and speaks no Polish, had no difficulty getting there on his own.
IMHO, your money is better spent getting a guided tour of the old town area or Kazimeirz.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1665 posts
There is a bus to Auschwitz that leaves from the train station area. Couldn't be easier. I do all trip planning, logistics and navigation...
What would be REALLY helpful in that case is to provide precise details for taking the bus - location of bus station [it's "behind" the train station, yes?], which bus line and number, link to timetable, and where it drops you - is it the Memorial, or just to Oświęcim? And then the timing so you leave early enough to meet your scheduled entry time.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
7323 posts
@Mark, sorry, I have a lot on my plate. I didn't have time to look up those links. That information would have been enough for me to track down what I needed to know. An alternative would be to not respond at all. A couple days ago, I posted rather extensive info, and the post was deleted. I guess, if the OP was interested in how we did our logistics, they could ask additional questions. It's fabulous, when folks post links, yes, but I'll point out that when I asked for help for Swidnica, I was told a bus, by a small shop, diagonal and behind the Wroclaw train station. We found it.
Posted by
OP
21 posts
We really appreciate all your advice and comments. I honestly think we could manage to go on our own ( although bus info is still a bit limited) or we could go with a tour company for worry free travel, especially if we meet the tour company at their designated spot instead of at our hotel.
Thanks for the help!