Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

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.

Great experience. Please remember to bring an umbrella and some fan during summer. The second part of the tour has no shade at all

It was great that the meeting point was easy to find. The gathering place was also easy to understand. It was very valuable to visit such an important historical site for learning about ancient history. The guide was also very clear and easy to follow.

Patryk is a fantastic driver! Very considering and responsible in driving everyone back to their original hotels.

Very informative tour with a great tour guide, Krzysiek, who was with us from meeting point till the end. Communication was timely and well organised.

if you have a limited amount of time in Krakow, this tour is well worth it. I had 3 days in town and this one tour hit 3 items I wanted to do. If you have a bit longer, id recommend spreading the tours out. After Aushwitz, doing Birkenau right after was very heavy. The information was heartbreaking and somber- by the time we got to the Salt mines, I was already so tired. Highly recommend this tour. Staff was very friendly, punctual and accommodating. These tickets also get you to the front of every line, which is a plus!

We booked on Klook with KrakowDirect. The driver MATT was fantastic. The Salt Mines were great and the guide there was really good. Auschwitz was an experience, and the guide was good for Auschwitz I. Unfortunately for Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the weather suggested it was going to rain, and she clearly didn’t want to be out for it (even though the other tour guides were continuing). As such, she cut the trip short and only took us to the women’s barracks, cutting the tour time down to a meagre 20-30mins. Twice she asked if we all just wanted to leave and not do the tour, several of us objected and asked about going by ourselves, and she said it was up to us. We did go alone, which meant we had to experience the monument without the guide’s knowledge and insight.