Auschwitz tickets

[mrsconradfisher]

Appreciate it’s not exactly holiday related but figured someone on here might be able to help.
We are visiting Krakow in April for my DS’s 21st Birthday…yes I realise it’s not exactly the usual 21st location but that’s what he wanted to do!
Im trying to book tickets to Auschwitz when I’m there however when you go on the website to book tickets it just says “website under maintenance” and has done for the past few weeks. The whole point of us going is to visit Auschwitz so I’m reluctant to book flights etc without securing tickets first. I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong or anyone has got any bright ideas of what I can do…

Don't book a tour with a third party they are large groups and take ages you often just queue with no guaranteed admittance, we drove there in our hire car having booked a small group private tour direct (8 people in total) much better experience not full of people just there for insta selfies
The website goes down but keep trying, early morning was fine for me. Also make sure to visit the salt mine, really interesting and a pleasant ambient temperature even mid winter! I remember Auschwitz being bitterly cold

Im on the actual Auschwitz museum website. There is a link to book tickets but when you click on the link it says “undergoing maintenance”. I’ve tried every day at various times for the past week or so. I’d read the same thing about the ridiculous pick up times hence why I was trying to book them direct. We were just going to get a public bus, I realise it’s about 1 1/2 hours from Krakow.
Unless I’m totally on the wrong site…

How did you book the small group tour?

Don’t think I’m brave enough to hire a car but we are quite good at getting around on buses. I know trains are a no go as they don’t go directly there (there is some irony in that statement).

The site is down , look again tomorrow or better Monday once things are likely to be back open

I went for my 18th and will remember it for the rest of my life! I had plenty of time to party at university and throughout my twenties. Definitely go to the salt mines too if you have time

We booked ours for February directly on the visit Auschwitz website, (we booked an English speaking tour) we’re lucky that DH is happy to drive and we’re going on to Zakopane for a few nights afterwards, a long way of saying that when we did book, via the website, it was very simple and easy to do.

We booked directly through Auschwitz the option was available for self guided or small group tour . It was a few years ago but I think it was doable by bus. The driving was really fine (and hire was very cheap) if you change your mind!

Thank you for sharing! I fully appreciate it’s not the usual 21st birthday location but it’s incredibly meaningful for us to go. We are also taking my 15 year old as well, he is incredibly sensible and really feels like he wants to come. I hope they remember it forever as well.

I asked to visit the WW1 graveyards in Belgium for my 16th, each to their own!

OP - we also booked through a tour, one that picks you up at accommodation and drops you back. I wouldn’t do a combined tour as it’s too much in one day (salt mines and Auschwitz). Another time we went on the local bus but it was a bit more challenging, though I was only 21 so not as familiar with travelling abroad.

Apologies, @mrsconradfisher - I didn’t mean to be rude or make fun of him. It was just the dramatic deviation from the standard 21st birthday celebration that tickled me. I hope you manage to get the tickets sorted.

Thank you! Will take my driving license etc just in case.

I asked to go to Anne Franks house for my 18th Birthday but we had no money and I had no passport so I’ve never been. That’s next on my list.
History is so incredibly important, the youth of today will never fully understand the impact of what happened unless they see it with their own eyes.

It’s fine honestly! I do understand it’s slightly unusual…I promise you he is a very normal 20 year old at a Sports Uni who coaches football and has plenty of time for partying!

You’re in the right place but its just undegoing maintenance I’d say. Keep checking and I intend to book a self guided tour for when I go.

Absolutely - hugely important experiences to add into the world context of kids growing up. I remember a post on here saying they didn’t want their teen to learn about Aushwitz because it was too upsetting - we pointed out that was the point. She should be upset.

I will warn you, last time we went (that makes it sound like a hobby, it’s not, just circumstances mean I’ve been 3 times) we found many visitors very disrespectful. Lots of ‘live streaming’ and selfie taking. We also had a group of teenage Jewish kids wearing orthodox clothing who we think may have been sent to try and ‘educate them’ who spent their time on phones rapping and editing videos of each other in various areas which was difficult to tolerate. The time before was very different so I don’t know if it was just an unlucky group or if times have changed people’s response.

I took the bus there. It was really simple. I can’t remember which number it was but it was very simple.
As others have said, book direct to avails being cancelled due to overbooking. We booked one of their guided tours.

Thank you! DS is very good at navigating public transport…I just trust him and tag along!

I probably wouldn’t go with a tour unless it’s a very well known company and highly rated…I’m following a krakow Facebook page at the moment having just come back from a trip there over Christmas. The amount of tours that get cancelled are insane, and all at the very last minute so people were then unable to go and visit Auschwitz at all because general admission tickets were also gone.

It is always better to get tickets and do your own trip there in my opinion (having done both) as it can be very emotionally tolling and having to keep up with a tour group isn’t always fun.

Keep trying the website, it was working when we booked tickets in November.

Hope you manage to get some :)

That’s shocking. I’m not even sure if it’s right to take a photo…even that feels wrong.

Thank you, I’m going to keep trying. I’ve found a couple of tour groups with excellent reputations (Krakow Direct and Krakow Together) so will try those if I don’t have any luck,
Thats my fear, it’s the one reason we are going and it’s going to be awful if it gets cancelled.

We went last year. We booked through our hotel when we got to Krakow. It was absolutely rammed, literally crazy busy and I get what some pps have said about people vlogging and taking endless photos and showing a bit of disrespect tbh. It was also a very loooong day! It is a good hour and half from the centre of Krakow.

DH hated it and said it sensationalised the tragedy. I was moved by it and won't ever forget it. Definitely worth the trip imo.

I went last year and booked through Viator who are I think owned by trip advisor? They picked us up at the hotel, drove us straight there with a small group of about 15 people, no waiting outside just given the tickets and through to wait in the security line. It was really well organised and I would recommend.

@mrsconradfisher the train station is about 30 minutes walk away and I think she is a shuttle bus. If you download Citymapper app you can check routes on there as it has Krakow.

Ah thank you! I knew it was a distance away but didn’t realise there was a shuttle bus. I think our hotel is near the station so that might be easier assuming I can actually book the tickets!

Accurate though.
I have actually been to Dachau so maybe I am not in a position to judge but we were in the area , we didn't fly there specifically.
I suppose if its done respectfully with no selfies etc (unlike the Dutch arsholes with many children we saw at Dachau) then its not an awful thing to do but I am a tad surprised someone has requested this for their 21st