virginiafish

Any recommendations for a private guide that can take us from Krakow to Auschwitz I & II, drop up off so we can self-guide (we are not interested in the group tour) or is certified to take us on a private tour?

Elizabeth_S

We were there a couple of weeks ago (stayed by the main gate) and had an excellent private guide

Jacek Bribram
[email protected]

Perhaps he can arrange transport for you - worth asking.

We loved Kraków. The golf cart tour was a great way to get an early overview of the neighbourhoods - recommend it too

BigRuss

What do you mean "self-guide"? In Auschwitz (which you refer to as "Auschwitz I"), you cannot. Even if you travel there on your own, the visitor center only allows you on the grounds with a guide. I don't know if Birkenau (aka Auschwitz II) has the same restriction (unlikely, but check).

greg

First you need to find if slots are available. I don't know where you are heading there, but for example, for August,
http://visit.auschwitz.org/rezerwacj...iac=2017-08-01

One without a guide is labeled: "Tour for individuals without an educator"

You notice that such slots are before around 9:20am and after 4:00pm. For visit during mid day, you might be in a tour group.

The reservation acquisition for "Tour for individuals without an educator" is free. You get a barcoded tickets pdf file which you can print at home.

Realized that even with a direct transfer, it takes 75 min from Krakow without traffic and more like 90 min with moderate traffic. So if you can get a 9am reservation, you still need to leave Krakow by 7:30am.

If the "private" guide's only role is to transport you from Krakow to Auschwitz, then is it not same as hiring a taxi? There is a scarcity of taxi at Auschwitz. If you take this route, book a taxi as a round trip from Krakow or plan on taking a bus or train back to Krakow.

Birkenau had no such restriction last month. In fact, there wasn't any kind of ticket checking to enter the camp ground.

HappyTrvlr

I hoghly recommend that you use the Auschwicz guide! Ours was incredible and led an English spoken tour. We and a British couple were the only native English speakers on the tour. We never would have had the experience we did on our own. There are many tour operators who will take you out to Auschwicz -Birkenau and back to Kramow, booking you a time slot for a guided tour. Your hotel can book it all for you in advance.. if you go your own, how were planning to go to Birkenau, 15 min ride away, which is a must see?

virginiafish

Thanks for all of this help! Elizabeth, did Jacek work at Auschwitz or was he a guide certified to take tours through? We will have to think this through more and thankfully have all of these insights.

Elizabeth_S

Jacek is an "Official Guide" who is certified to take people through (and gets your free tickets for you) but I don't believe he is an Auschwitz employee. We paid him separately (via the hotel)

I thought he did an excellent job of planning our visit - our tour with him was for 4 hours. We met at the hotel near the the Auschwitz site. We spent a few minutes talking about his recommendation as to how to do the tour.

We started by taking the bus over to Birkenau and walked a lot of the (large) site. I think we saw much more than the average person does just walking around the site near the entrance.

Then we took the bus back to Auschwitz and toured that site. After that Jacek arranged a cab driver to take us through the town of Oświęcim - that was a very interesting addition to our visit.

Happy to answer any questions.

virginiafish

Thanks!! We will get in touch with him shortly.