We will be in Krakow in May 2024 and intend to do a guided tour of Auschwitz. In looking at the official Auschwitz - Birkenau website, I am a bit confused about which ticket/tour I need to book. My two friends and I will be arriving to Auschwitz by private driver. Per the website, our choices seem to be: 'General tours' (2.5 h or 3.5 h) or 'guided tour for individual visitors' (3.5 h). It is not clear to me what the difference is between a general tour or a guided tour for individual visitors. I don't want to buy the wrong tickets. Are general tours for people that are a part of a 'group' tour through a place like Viator? Can anyone help? Thank you so much.
Posted by
58 posts
Hi!
Curious on this question/topic.
I plan on visiting Auschwitz because its important for everyone to remember. I visited Dachau several years ago because my Uncle was sent there from Natzweiler and moved to Allach where he was liberated. He was originally deported to Siberia. I've known many survivors who were in Auschwitz...most are gone now but its right to honor them if I can.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1167 posts
It is explained a bit better here - you can then use the link provided to go to the ticket sales website:
https://www.auschwitz.org/en/visiting/guided-tours-for-individual-visitors/
The distinction is that individuals can only access the camp unaccompanied during certain hours later in the day - for most of the day you must be on a guided tour. The tickets for unaccompanied access are free.
So you most likely want the visit with a guide educator. There is some redundancy on the ticketing website that makes it appear more complex than it actually is.
Posted by
OP
Wisconsin
32 posts
Thank you for your replay. The links you provided in your post were helpful. It looks like it breaks down into:
Visit for Groups - Groups with Museum educator for organized groups or individual who wish to have a private tour
(I am thinking that by 'group' it means people who signed up for a tour with Viator, etc.)
and
Visit for Individuals - Individuals for whom a group tour with a Museum educator is organized on site......or for those who want to visit without a guide. It looks like these are the tickets I would purchase as we intend to hire a private driver to get to the site.
I think I am safe purchasing three tickets at 110 (zloty) for one of the English tours. Thank you again.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7869 posts
Krislyn, just to be certain you understand, your transportation has little to do with which ticket you would want. Even if you are on Executive Travel with a fluent, talented guide, sitting next to your Mercedes driver, that person is NOT permitted to guide you around the interior of the two camps. Only proprietary Auschwitz guides are allowed to conduct people around, and enter the barracks that have a "museum" component.
Posted by
3 posts
Thanks for this thread. We are also visiting in early May, and will be staying in Krakow. Does anyone have a group tour from Krakow you'd recommend? (If I'm reading right, this is basically transportation, as the actual guided tour is conducted by someone with the museum, I believe?) Thanks so much.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1167 posts
@wah.jennifer:
I'll be there in April, I looked at the four tour services mentioned in the RS guidebook and settled on Discover Cracow. Looks like they use a mini-bus rather than a full-sized bus. Hopefully it will work out. 31 Euro per person, meeting the bus at their central pick-up point.
Posted by
3 posts
@MarkCW - thanks. Look forward to hearing how it goes for you!