Getting to Auschwitz
Nov 27th, 2005, 10:38 AM
#1
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Getting to Auschwitz
I want to stay two days in Warsaw. Can I take a train down to Krakow and stay in a hostel. How would I get to Auschwitz, Bus? Can I go through a hotel even though I’m not staying at one? Also I was wondering if I could take a train from Krakow to Prague.
Does anyone have any suggestions
Does anyone have any suggestions
Nov 27th, 2005, 11:53 AM
#2
Have you attempted to use the "Search this forum" box above?
Try inputting "Auschwitz Krakow bus", or substitute taxi for bus.
Try inputting "Krakow Prague train"
Then, if not satisfied, refine your question.
Try inputting "Auschwitz Krakow bus", or substitute taxi for bus.
Try inputting "Krakow Prague train"
Then, if not satisfied, refine your question.
Nov 27th, 2005, 12:14 PM
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Hi there,
You can take a train from Krakow to Auschwitz. However, Auschwitz is how the germans called it during WWII. The actual name of the town is Oswiecim. The train schedule is very limited to Oswiecim, and I suggest that you take a tour bus or just a bus or even small vans go to this town from Krakow and back. You can catch the bus or vans at the vicinity of train station in Krakow. Sorry, don't recall the price. Once you arrive in Oswiecim, you can walk to camp or take a public bus or a taxi. It's a bit of a walk, so a bus or taxi will be your best choice, and it's not expensive.
Regarding your question about a train to Prague from Krakow. Yes, you can take the night train. My wife and I took the night train from Prague to Krakow a few years ago, and there were also night trains going back.
have fun!
Carlos
You can take a train from Krakow to Auschwitz. However, Auschwitz is how the germans called it during WWII. The actual name of the town is Oswiecim. The train schedule is very limited to Oswiecim, and I suggest that you take a tour bus or just a bus or even small vans go to this town from Krakow and back. You can catch the bus or vans at the vicinity of train station in Krakow. Sorry, don't recall the price. Once you arrive in Oswiecim, you can walk to camp or take a public bus or a taxi. It's a bit of a walk, so a bus or taxi will be your best choice, and it's not expensive.
Regarding your question about a train to Prague from Krakow. Yes, you can take the night train. My wife and I took the night train from Prague to Krakow a few years ago, and there were also night trains going back.
have fun!
Carlos
May 9th, 2007, 01:52 PM
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Today was a day that I had been waiting for, ever since I arrive in Europe. You see; I’m a Polish Jew who had family living in Warsaw in 1939. So today was big day for me. I really didn’t know what to expect.
I woke up and got some breakfast and headed out for the town. I had already been to the old Jewish neighborhood; so I just walked around taking pictures. I finally got enough strength to walk over to the train station, and I bought a ticket to the town where Auschwitz is located. It took about 90 minutes to get there. From the town I walked to the Camp. I walked into the building a bought a pamphlet with background information. I then joined a tour group that was just about to start. I popped in the black and white film I brought from home and started taking pictures. I have to say that the pictures you see of the camp don’t do it justice. Auschwitz was an old Polish barracks that was used as a death camp. It’s smaller, there weren’t many buildings, and, it’s a lot more preserved then Birkenau. It wasn’t until the bus took you to Birenau, that you were able to see and feel the full extent of the Nazi war machine. Throughout the experience I felt completely numb. I didn’t feel angry or sad. I remember walking around like I was a robot. I couldn’t speak or have any facial expressions, especially standing on the railroad tracks where the families were split up. I think that hit me harder than seeing the gas chambers.
It wasn’t until I returned back to civilizations that I realized where I had just been. It was like I regained consciousness and everything I just saw hit me all at once. It was just too overwhelming. All I wanted to do was to sit down on a park bench and cry, and that was exactly what I did.
I woke up and got some breakfast and headed out for the town. I had already been to the old Jewish neighborhood; so I just walked around taking pictures. I finally got enough strength to walk over to the train station, and I bought a ticket to the town where Auschwitz is located. It took about 90 minutes to get there. From the town I walked to the Camp. I walked into the building a bought a pamphlet with background information. I then joined a tour group that was just about to start. I popped in the black and white film I brought from home and started taking pictures. I have to say that the pictures you see of the camp don’t do it justice. Auschwitz was an old Polish barracks that was used as a death camp. It’s smaller, there weren’t many buildings, and, it’s a lot more preserved then Birkenau. It wasn’t until the bus took you to Birenau, that you were able to see and feel the full extent of the Nazi war machine. Throughout the experience I felt completely numb. I didn’t feel angry or sad. I remember walking around like I was a robot. I couldn’t speak or have any facial expressions, especially standing on the railroad tracks where the families were split up. I think that hit me harder than seeing the gas chambers.
It wasn’t until I returned back to civilizations that I realized where I had just been. It was like I regained consciousness and everything I just saw hit me all at once. It was just too overwhelming. All I wanted to do was to sit down on a park bench and cry, and that was exactly what I did.
May 9th, 2007, 03:12 PM
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Wow, that was powerful.
I too am planning a trip to Warsaw and Krakow later this year, and already am steeling myself for the visit to the camp. I am hoping this visit will be a relief somehow, as this has "bothered" me all my life, with my father injured in the war, and the movies, the war-crimes trials, and most of all the terrible black and white images burned into my brain.
Thank you so much, gawr, for sharing this with us.
I too am planning a trip to Warsaw and Krakow later this year, and already am steeling myself for the visit to the camp. I am hoping this visit will be a relief somehow, as this has "bothered" me all my life, with my father injured in the war, and the movies, the war-crimes trials, and most of all the terrible black and white images burned into my brain.
Thank you so much, gawr, for sharing this with us.
May 9th, 2007, 04:09 PM
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Thanks, gawr. I had been anticipating this part of your trip report. Visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau does leave one numb. It is overwhelming trying to wrap your brain around the vast expanse that is Birkenau. Thank you for sharing your experience.
May 9th, 2007, 07:07 PM
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gawr0008, what you wrote so powerfully about your visit to the camps, brought my trip there all back to me. When I went there, it was winter, and by the time we got to the barracks, it was pouring rain, very windy, and the sun was quickly setting. The people from my tour didn't want to get wet -- can you imagine! they went all that way, and didn't want to get wet!
While they were all huddled in one of the watch towers, I went downstairs. The wind broke my umbrella. My army boots that I was wearing were getting stuck in the mud, as I approached on of the barracks. I was completely alone with all the spirits there. And you could feel them. It was one of the most powerful experiences I ever had in my life. And I was actually GLAD it was such terrible cold and rainy weather, or I would never have gotten to be there in that very special place all by myself, just me and the spirits of the past. I would go there again, if I could. That place is overwhelmingly powerful and spiritual.
While they were all huddled in one of the watch towers, I went downstairs. The wind broke my umbrella. My army boots that I was wearing were getting stuck in the mud, as I approached on of the barracks. I was completely alone with all the spirits there. And you could feel them. It was one of the most powerful experiences I ever had in my life. And I was actually GLAD it was such terrible cold and rainy weather, or I would never have gotten to be there in that very special place all by myself, just me and the spirits of the past. I would go there again, if I could. That place is overwhelmingly powerful and spiritual.
