Auschwitz & salt mines...one day?
 

We are spending about two and half days in Krakow the beginning of July. I would imagine a day needs to be put aside for Auschwitz but husband disagrees and believes we can do Auschwitz and salt mines in one day....wouldn't this be too much for one day?

I was thinking of giving a day for Auschwitz and walking around Krakow when we return, find dinner, etc. The following day, get up early for the salt mines (guessing that might take half the day with transportation there and back) and then see the sights of Krakow the last half of the day. Would this be sufficient time?

Thank you for any suggestions!

We did them in one diy, but we had a car. How are you planning to get there?

WIELICZKA ...opens at 8AM closes at 6PM. Tours by reservation! No Monday. OSWIECIM ... Opens at 8AM closes at 6PM...

Your plan is much better. We went to Auschwitz and the salt mines last summer on two separate days and I have a really hard time imagining doing both on one day. It would be physically and mentally exhausting.

Thank you all so much!! I believe we are going to rent a car in Krakow and just go from there:-)

While I'm normally one for renting a car and doing it on my own, we actually did both these trips from Krakow by excursion bus.
In the long run we were glad we did. Auschwitz in particular was very well done -- not a hint of "tourism" or "souvenier shopping" involved. A very articulate guide spoke to us on the bus and we arrived with a very sobering understanding of what we were to see. There was very little "guiding" within the actual compound as it should be. We were left to "feel" and react on our owns. The tour also then went to Birkenau, which was quite interesting and equally sobering.

The Salt Mine tours are only given in English several times per day and are hard to book. You must get there in advance to do so. But again we took a "tour bus" from Krakow, so we went right in with a guide and the experience was very good. Since you only tour the mines with a guide anyway,we felt the only difference was we also got a bus trip out and back and instant access for very little more than the regular admission price would have been.

I believe there are also tour companies from Krakow that do both in one day, but I'm not sure. If so, I'd hope you can do the Salt Mines first. I was too overwhelmed the rest of the day after Auschwitz to have enjoyed the Salt Mines.

I've been to the salt mines & we were able to do the entire tour in the morning. I think it's a good idea to do Auschwitz on a separate day. Do the salt mines in the morning & spend the rest of the afternoon touring the city. You could even stop by the castle... Have fun!!