A lot of reviews are recommending to go on your own to Auschwitz-Birkenau . The main reason for this is that they have the sense that the groups are rushed through the sites. We had to do this tour and be back in Krakow at the latest 1600 Hrs. To achieve this we felt it best to book a tour company and we tried [--]

Their local escort in form a polish lady picked us up at the hotel at 0930 and off we went. She drove well in a fresh car and gave us an insight in polish life as we used the time for questions during the little less 1,5 hours the driving took. A bonus by going like this was to see, from a distance, the IG Farben factory and an ammunitions factory both parts of the main camp. After arriving she got us in a group with one of the official guides at the site. It all begins with a film and then you start the tour with the guide.

During the tour she made sure we go to see the most important parts at his horrid place always avoiding clashes with other groups and in a flexible manner take us through Auschwitz. We had picked the tour due to our lack of time and we did not feel rushed during the tour.

After the tour in Auschwitz there is a 15 minutes break and you can grab a sandwich. The best place for this was the café just right of the entrance to the ticket office. Avoid the kiosk in the ticket office as the lines were long.

After the pause the guide from Auschwitz-Tours take you to the back of Birkenau thus entering at the back with no other visitors than the group. The official guide from Auscwitz is also there to continue the tour at Birkenau. By entering in the back very close to the gas chambers you understand you are walking on ashes from all those children, men and women killed. The guide in a pedagogical way uses the pictures we had seen in the morning in Auschwitz from the selection place and reminds us all that we are now walking at the same spot. By doing this the guide manages to make us all reflect and think off all those being sent to the chambers. She almost instantly kills the perception that those who were of use where kept alive. Due to the terrible conditions it was only a question when you would die.

After seeing the sites the questions we had was how was it possible for Pol Pot to kill so many people in Cambodia in the late 70:s and how was it possible in Rwanda in the 90:s and how was it possible….

We have just come back from Krakow and visited Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, which is a must for everyone.
We got the train from Krakow, which cost 11 zloty each (approximately £2) about 1½ hour trip on a very busy train but it got in spot on time.
We then followed the information at the desk, which said get, the bus (numbers 2,3,23,24,) we got the number 3 (big mistake) this bus is a circular route and it takes you on a 45 min route around all the housing estates only to drop you off about 50yds from a bus stop we could have got off the first time round.
We got to Auschwitz and walked around on our own which I think was better as the tours all seemed to be rushing round. We stayed there for about 1½ hours and then tried to get the shuttle bus to Birkenau but we had just missed it so we got a taxi (cost 15 zloty) the taxi driver told us lots about the surrounding area which was great, we got there with about 1 hour left before it shut, looking around the camp brought all the info in the museum to life.
We got a taxi back to the train station (20 zloty). And the train journey was much quieter.
We made the mistake of not allowing enough time to look around the 2 sites if I go again then I would go earlier. But as I said I think everyone should go here at least once in their life.

read some reviews before going and was unsure if i wanted to go or not . my partner did want to go,so we went on our second day.we booked through our hotel. it took us about an hour and 30 mins from krakow to camp. there were lots and lots of people so we were told to ensure we stayed with our group. it was something i knew very little about before going and i was shocked to think that not that long ago such things happened. it was an eye opener all right. i would recommend anyone to visit. most independent visitors were alot older than myself and partner (were in our 20's) but there were lots of school groups.
it is extremely interesting and im not into history what so ever. i seen one jewish lady coming out of a room crying before i went in to the first room. you get to see all the jewish peoples shoes, suitcases, hair. the guide ws very good and spoke good english. the weather was so warm and old people were sweating like mad i dont know how they got round as there is alot of walking.

there are 2 camps, camp 1 is about 2 hours long and camp2 is an hour long. the conditions the people lived in where horrific, they were straved, gassed,shot and worse. the toilet conditions are an eye opener, about 60 holes beside each other, where they only got to go once a day.

the tour is a long tiring day but recommended. i have rated it 5 star excellent (although this seems wrong saying excellent in same sentence as aushwitz)

The other reviews on trip advisor were spot on and extremely helpful. I will add mine anyway as you cant have too much info...

My main purpose of 4 day trip was to visit Auschwitz and if time the salt mines. In order to get a full day at the museum I got to the main bus station at about 7:45am, unsure when buses/mini buses would go to Oswiecim (where Auschwitz is situated). Taxi was 15 Zlots--£3 for a trp across city. There are pretty regular trains also - but I went from a previous trip advisor review. At the bus station there is a ground depot where I simply looked for Mini buses to Oswiecim - which i believe are v.regukar. The platform changes but they are easy to spot and have a big sign in the window. Just get on and pay 7Zlot (£1.20 ish) the trip is about 1-1 1/2 hrs but through lovely countryside and towns. When you are dropped off make your way to the museum...2 minute walk.

I had 2 days so for the first day I spent doing my own thing - no guide. Youi can oick up a leaflet guide (3Zlot) which is good and informative) - it took me about 3, 31/2 hrs to look round then I found bus stop to Birkenau. I know you can walk (2-3 km) but was v.hot so decided to get bus.

These run about every hr---and are free. Where you are dropped off make a note of buses back-again about every hr. Birkenau too 3-4 hrs to go round and is incredible. I found it as intersting as Auschwitz 1. If you are returning to Krakow you have 3 options. The train, bus or mini bus. the bus stop is directly in front of the camp, across the car park, takes around 1 3/4 to get back i think. i opted to go to where the mini buses drop people off, wait for one to come along-no longer than 5 minute wait - and hop on. 7Zlot back. ( I bought a single ticket each way as wasnt sure how i was getting back. The second day I did exactly the same but went with the tour. This was 26Zlot (£5) and was v.informative. It did miss loads out and lasts about 4 hrs - it is a bit rushed and doesnt cover many of the things i'd experienced on my own.

If you are doing it this way spend your first day on your own-then do the tour, it allows you to ask questions that arose on your first day. The guide did point out a few (important) things i'd missed at Birkenau ( its so huge I didnt even know they where there). You could pretty much visit both camps in a day- i took my time and read everything, looked at everything. Its an amazing (if thats the right word) experience
I wouldnt bother with the film they show--nothing really of interest...old/ and b&W> I bought one of the few english books--Photography of Auschwitz, which contains stills from the film.

As i had a spare day i decided to visit the salt mines. Excellent and worth doing. I caught a mini bus from outside the Royal Hotel---they go every 3/4 hr - a list is on the bus stop - situated nr the Wavel Castle (big hotel-easy to find). Cost is 71Zlot (£14).
The bus drops you at the mine -about 1/2-3/4 hr trip. You can pay on the bus or pre-book through leaflets/hotel. Once you are at the mine you are jsut left to your own devices, so a quick word of warning-don't join the 1 1/2hr queue!! - as i did. no one told me i didnt need to queue with the ticket from the bus---just show it to the guy at the entrance and go in and wait for the english tour. fantastic place---you wont be disappointed. The lift at the end is not for those with clausrophobia by the way. Plus--its not cold down there so you will be ok in shorts if its hot outside.
When I came out--after about 2 hrs ish, i hadnt a clue how to get back. So, with slight experience i waited in the spot where the mini bus had dopped me, because i'd been queing for so long i thought that i may have missed a bus back---but because they run every 3/4 hr from krakow, low and behold one turned up...so go and enjoy......