Auschwitz-Birkenau Day Tour from Krakow

This was my first solo trip to Poland. I was debating whether to go until the day before, but then I thought I might not get another chance, so I looked for a tour. Of course, there were no openings anywhere the day before, and I was about to give up when I found this tour on Klook! I was incredibly lucky because there were tours departing every hour from 7 AM to 2 PM. Immediately after booking, I received the voucher with the meetup location, which was across the street from the Mercure Hotel. I was picked up at 9 AM. On that day, I was the only person on the tour. I got into the car, and the driver took me to Auschwitz, which was about a 1.5-hour drive. The driver was very careful. Upon arrival, the driver handed me a paper ticket, and I went to the counter. There, I received a sticker with the guide's language and time. Mine was for the 10:45 AM English session. I said goodbye to the driver before the security check. We could communicate via WhatsApp. When I informed him that the tour was over, he came to pick me up right away. The tour was a group of about 20 people, and we walked through Auschwitz and Birkenau. We traveled between Auschwitz and Birkenau by free shuttle bus. After visiting Auschwitz, there was a 15-minute break, which was when we could use the restrooms. The women's restroom was very crowded, so it was a tight squeeze. I was the only solo participant on the tour, and coincidentally, I was also the only Asian person. The guide explained everything in a consistently calm and factual manner. There were no dramatic presentations or videos. However, what happened there could be understood from the pictures, photographs, artifacts, and remaining buildings. Taking photos and videos was allowed, but there were some restricted areas, so I recommend listening carefully to the guide's instructions and visiting with respect. Since there's a lot of walking, comfortable shoes, rain gear, and water are essential. It was early July, but it was cold, so I also recommend bringing a jacket. On the way back, the driver asked where I wanted to be dropped off (perhaps because I was alone?). He dropped me off at the same kiss-and-ride spot as the pickup, and I explored the Old Town before heading back. If you're coming all the way to Poland, I highly recommend visiting. You can definitely go alone; in fact, I think going alone allows you to engage with the experience more sincerely without unnecessary chatter.

It just provide you a driver to take you there and then return to the starting point after the tour. The entrance fee is free and you can order it online and go there by yourself. This place is absolutely you must visit during your life.

I suddenly decided I wanted to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau the day before, and I was able to go even with a last-minute booking. The tour seemed to be for a very small group, and I was able to fully experience it. The only slight disappointment was that the meeting time, which was originally scheduled for 7 AM, changed to 6 AM due to Auschwitz booking arrangements (?). Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience despite booking it the day before.