Rain in Krakow - Auschwitz in the rain?

Always take long-range forecasts with a grain of salt;) But the Auschwitz camp consists of a series a small buildings in a fairly compact area, close together. So if it is raining it's a short walk to the next building. But second camp, Burkenau, is much larger and requires a lot of outdoor walking. From the main entrance to the large memorial centerpiece at the opposite end of the camp is probably a half-mile walk...completely exposed to the elements.

Unless you get there before 9:00 am (or maybe 10) you are required to do a guided tour at Auschwitz. The first camp you do walk around a bit outside, but many exhibits are indoors. As the previous poster said, the distance to Birkenau is about half a mile, but there is a free shuttle that you can take there. At this second, much larger camp, the tour doesn't take you inside many buildings. Many of the wooden barracks have not survived and the tour does not take you through the brick barracks still standing, although when the tour ends you are free to go into some of these. The tour guide carried a large umbrella and I would recommend just wearing the appropriate footwear and rain jacket or umbrella.

If I traveled all that distance to see Auschwitz I definitely would not let rain stop my plans. If nothing else, you'll probably get a tad better impression of the miserable conditions that the occupants were forced to endure...although miserable rain pales in comparison, doesn't it?

I agree with Tim about getting a little better perspective by touring in the rain. When I went, it was an absolutely beautiful spring day; it really was a strange juxtaposition – the blue sky and wild flowers of the lovely Polish country-side against the horror of what had happened there. It made it difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that I was walking through the site of such an atrocious period in history. The tour guide took great pains to explain that the camp would have looked much different at the time; there would have been mud or snow year round that inmates had to walk through wearing one-size-fits-all clogs which caused horrible, painful sores. If anyone limped or showed that they were experiencing pain, they were usually killed immediately for showing weakness. That story really put things into focus for me. As for Krakow itself, just be sure to wear water resistant shoes, and have an umbrella and light jacket handy. Krakow is gorgeous rain or shine, plus there are plenty of little cafes and pubs where you can wait out the rain.

I also saw Auschwitz & Birkenau on a beautiful sunny day, and I had the same feelings Penny describes. It seemed very incongruous that such a terrible place should be surrounded by pretty green countryside, under sunshine and blue skies. It was also a bit disconcerting for me to see the camp "in color" after all my life having seen it only in black-and-white films.

I agree - don't let rain stop you. It will only drive home the horror of the place. When I was there, it was the middle of summer and unbearably hot. I got the same kind of impression - how awful it must have been during a long hot Polish summer, with no water or anything. In fact, I didn't even want to drink from a water bottle that I had in my backpack. I waited until I was back on the shuttle bus to take a drink. My visit there was one of the most intense things I've ever experienced. It remains seared in my mind and I really think anyone who has the opportunity to go there, should make the trip.

I am in agreement, don't let the rain deter you from visiting Auschwitz. It is an important place in history and humanity to remember. That was the point I was trying to make in my above post. When I was there it was September and a bit drizzly and then opened to beautiful blue sky. It was haunting. Krakow is lovely, however, rain or shine!

I have a picture of myself standing under an umbrella by the "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign. I don't recall getting particularly wet that day. And as another poster noted, you sort of walk from building to building. One caveat- although I didn't visit there, I think Birkenau (Auschwitz II) is mostly outside.

We visited Dachau in February, miserable, damp day but I thought it was appropriate to be there on such a day. It helped to put it in a little perspective. Don't let any weather stop you from doing what you want.

Thank you everyone for your comments. We just arrived in Krakow this morning and it is a beautiful sunny day although rain is forecast for the next few days of our visit. I would never consider skipping my visit to Auschwitz. I was merely trying to organize the things we wanted to do here while taking the weather into account. I'm can't say I enjoy walking around in the rain normally, but as many of you have suggested, it might add to the experience.