Visiting Auschwitz/Birkinau was top of the list for me when visiting Krakow. I visited Dachau over…read more10+ years ago which was the very first concentration camp but Auschwitz-Birkenau was a scale larger and meant for extermination. It certainly was eye opening, upsetting at times and unimaginable in horrors. Booking online ahead was important to secure an English tour on a date/time that worked for my schedule. Note there were two tours available: (1) normal took 3.5 hours or (2) 6 hour educational. I booked mine about one month ahead of time (March visit for me) but tours could sell out sooner depending on the season. After booking, recommendation was to arrive min. 30 minutes prior to allow time to clear security. No large backpacks were allowed (though inconsistent in applying the rule) and had to be checked in across the street. I suggest taking the Lajkonik bus from Krakow (22zl each way) which dropped us off right in front of the main museum entrance. It was a better option in my opinion versus taking the train and then having to walk (20+ minutes) or taxi. Return buses can quickly fill up so book a seat online for a time slot at least 1/2 hour after your tour ends (to give you enough time to get back from Birkenau). However, if you miss your scheduled bus or want to leave earlier then the online ticket cannot be reapplied. Tours left every fifteen minutes which seemed a bit rushed initially as some tours started backing up or speaking over each other. However, after the first half hour the spacing finally improved and it was a better experience. Our guide was an excellent source of information and really helped us understand the importance of every stop along the way. Photos without flash were allowed but the guide will inform when it's not allowed. The total tour was 3 hours, 30 minutes across both camps. ~2 hours to complete Auschwitz, a break and bus ride in between, and ~1 hour to complete Birkenau. I could say more but it's a must to experience for yourself.

All the stories you know come to life when you visit this site. Be prepared for things you couldn't…read moreimagine and things you didn't know. One of the reasons I wanted to goto Poland. I'm so glad I made it here. Our tour guide was awesome . You could feel her passion on all the events of this time and she left us with many thoughts to dwell on. The one that sticks in my head is that even though this was called a concentration camp, it actually was an extermination site. This is a all to real part of history. The largest mass killing in the history of mankind. This site is basically a memorial to those who died. A must see site if your ever close. Truly humbling .

The equestrian statues always impress me the most. They just look more regal in my eyes. This one…read morecommemorates the 500th anniversary of the 1410 Battle of Grunwald. Unfortunately, the original statue of 1910 was destroyed during the invasion of Poland. There are still pieces of the original statue in the Museum of Kraków. I saw what appeared to be the a head from the statue at the Oskar Schindler museum, although I'm not sure if it's replicated or the original. It's placed in the perfect place. It's just outside the Barbican near the start of the Royal Route that leads to the castle. It's certainly difficult to miss seeing it when walking towards the Academy of Fine Arts. It's right there on Matejko Square. There is a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of it. It's a place of victory and remembrance. This is also where you can get a beautiful picture of the Barbican towers. It was a memorable visit.

Because there are so many beautiful monuments in this neighborhood, you might actually miss it…read moreamongst the city life. Don't let it fall into your background. Appreciate it!

There's no way that you can stay in Kraków and not see Wawel Castle. It's the heart and soul of the…read morecity. A national treasure! The castle grounds, cathedral, and royal residences are all very impressive. You can spend as much time as you want up there taking in the views of the city and the castle complex. There's no admission fee to walk around the castle grounds. It's a small fee to enter the cathedral to see the exhibits, royal tombs, and the bell tower. There are separate fees to enter the residences and the museum. I didn't see any combo tickets offered to see everything. However, I believe you can purchase them online if you know exactly what you want to see on the day of your visit. We just bought our tickets at the cathedral ticketing office. There wasn't much of a wait in the afternoon on a weekday. We actually visited twice during our stay since our hotel was nearby. The first time was during a walking tour of Old Town. We decided to go back a 2nd time on our own to see the cathedral & gardens. It was a beautiful sunny day.

Beautiful castle grounds and a great place for the kids to run around. Amazing architecture over…read moremany periods on top of each other. Visit the church.