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Now my next question. I received so much help with my last question regarding getting to the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow. We have decided we'd also like to go to Auschwitz-Birkenau while we are staying in Krakow. It is possible to do the Mine and also the concentration camps in one day? Again, we don't want to join an organized tour but find our own way there. All suggestions and tips will be appreciated.
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Getting to Auschwitz from Krakow
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I suppose it would work from a time perspective - you can take a bus to Auschwitz. But I would strongly recommend NOT trying to to fit both on the same day. Auschwitz-Birkenau is a very big site, and can easily take most of a day. Plus, I found it emotionally extremely draining, and really could not have coped with visiting the salt mine afterwards, and would have found the contrast jarring if I had done the mine first.
We were able to see both in one day- we had a rental car.
If you're driving, no problem aside from logistical. Auschwitz is due west of the city, the mine is SE. Both are relatively close kms.-wise.. 50 kms. to Ausch...10 to the mine. Easy driving both ways.
stu
I have done both visits in one day and found the visit to the salt mine a welcome lightning of my mood after the visit to Auschwitz. Where i ended thinking to myself Why!!!. I would certainly suggest the morning at Auschwitz, we joined an English speaking guide on a tour of both sites and found the explanations enlightening and informative. We had a private driver for the say and he took us to a very pleasant restaurant just by the entrance to the salt mines.
buses krakow - auschwitz. they stop in front of the museum.
http://web.pksoswiecim.pl/index.php
click auschitz schedule
You can either take a bus from Krakow to Auschwitz or you can take the train, and then walk or take a bus for a few stops to the camp. I did the latter on the way there and took the bus back to Krakow the whole way. The train goes through a lovely birch forest. The stop is Osweicim (sp?), and if you ask for "mu-zay-um Os-veen-cheem" once you get there, everyone will give you directions.
I think Auschwitz will take up most of your day. After the English tour, you can stay on and linger on your own, which is worth doing. It's not a place that should be rushed through. The tour is very worthwhile, but if there are others going on in different languages on the same time, it can get a little hectic, especially inside the bldgs at Auschwitz.
I stayed on at Birkenau, then took a cab back to Auschwitz and re-visited some of the bldgs. with the exhibits and photos.
I agree with thursdaysd. I think the contrast either way would be a bit much if you did both on the same day.
I stayed in Krakow last July and went to Wieliczka Salt Mine in the morning and Auschwitz-Birkenau in the afternoon.
It was a long day, but I was by myself (fast walker) and traveled with a pre-arranged shuttle bus and guided tour (so didn't need to get there on my own). I was glad that I went on this trip.