Kraków Trip Overview
The comprehensive two-day trip is mostly devoted to the history of Oskar Schindler in Krakow.
This German entrepreneur, who saved 1,200 Jews during World War II by moving prisoners to his own factories, is known mainly thanks to the book “Schindler’s Ark” and the film “Schindler’s List”. We will try to present his profile from the Krakow fragment of life, against the background of the terrible events that took place in Krakow at that time. Walking through the Old Town and the Kazimierz district, we will visit the most popular places known from the film, we will visit the former enamel factory belonging to Schindler to see an interesting exhibition devoted to the times of the German occupation. We will go by tram to the Płaszów district where the Nazi concentration camp was located, to which Jews from the Krakow ghetto were sent, also known from the film.
Finally, a visit to Wieliczka awaits us – here is one of the largest and most beautiful salt mines in Europe, which must be visited.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Kraków, Poland
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Kraków Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Kraków, Małopolskie, Poland
The comprehensive two-day trip is mostly devoted to the history of Oskar Schindler in Krakow.
This German entrepreneur, who saved 1,200 Jews during World War II by moving prisoners to his own factories, is known mainly thanks to the book “Schindler’s Ark” and the film “Schindler’s List”. We will try to present his profile from the Krakow fragment of life, against the background of the terrible events that took place in Krakow at that time. Walking through the Old Town and the Kazimierz district, we will visit the most popular places known from the film, we will visit the former enamel factory belonging to Schindler to see an interesting exhibition devoted to the times of the German occupation. We will go by tram to the Płaszów district where the Nazi concentration camp was located, to which Jews from the Krakow ghetto were sent, also known from the film.
Finally, a visit to Wieliczka awaits us – here is one of the largest and most beautiful salt mines in Europe, which must be visited.
Itinerary
Day 1: Oskar Schindler’s Footsteps in Krakow with Plaszow CC
Stop At: Floriana Straszewskiego, Kraków, Poland
We will start the trip at Oskar Schindler’s apartment by recalling the profile of a German entrepreneur who found himself in Krakow during the war and, as a result, contributed to saving over a thousand people from inevitable death.
See Oskar Schindler’s apartment on Straszewskiego Street, learn about the history of this place, recall film scenes in which this place appears, distinguish real events from director’s fiction.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Poselska, Kraków, Poland
We will go through the Old Town and Kazimierz, stopping in places related to or with the silhouette of a real Schindler, places that fans of the film Schindler’s List will surely know as the locations of the scenes from this film, as well as the places where the fate of the inhabitants of the occupied Krakow. Here is one of the stops. It was on Poselska Street that the scene was shot of the SS control of a manned patrol of a tight group of workers from the Schindler factory and of the execution of one of the workers.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Wawel Royal Castle, Wawel 5, Krakow 31-001 Poland
It was where that the military residence of Governor General Hans Frank was. Admiring the wonderful palace courtyard, we will have the opportunity to hear about German regulations in the city during the occupation.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Szeroka Street, ul. Szeroka, Krakow Poland
„Schindler’s List” film set (the main scenery of the film – scenes from the life of the Jewish ghetto took place here). You will hear about the fate of the Jewish inhabitants of Krakow under the German occupation.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Marshal Jozef Pilsudski Bridge, Krakow Poland
„Schindler’s List” film set (here the scene of the deportation of Jews to the ghetto in Podgórze takes place)
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: The Ghetto Heroes Square, Plac Bohaterow Getta, Krakow Poland
Plac Bohaterów Getta was renovated in 2005, sparking significant controversy over the design. Laid out with 70 large well-spaced metal chairs meant to symbolise departure, as well as subsequent absence, the entire square has essentially been turned into an odd, but iconic memorial to the victims of the Kraków Ghetto.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Plaszow Concentration Camp, Jerozolimska, Krakow Poland
After lunch, we will go by tram to Płaszów to see the authentic site of the former concentration camp (also known from the film about Schindler). In front of us are the remains of the camp railway station and warehouses, the building of the officers’ club, the site of the camp gate, administrative buildings and barracks, the ruins of the Jewish pre-funeral hall, the camp torture house, the camp commandant’s villa, the place of execution and the Płaszów Camp Memorial Site.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch: 2 course menu without drinks
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Schindler’s Factory Museum in Krakow & Salt Mine in Wieliczka
Stop At: Muzeum Krakowa, oddzial Fabryka Emalia Oskara Schindlera, ul. Lipowa 4, Krakow 30-702 Poland
At the beginning, returning to the memories of the previous day, we invite you to visit the interactive exhibition located in the building of the former Oskar Schindler’s enamel factory. Thanks to a professional guide and meaningful museum artifacts, we will move for several dozen minutes to the reality of Krakow from 80 years ago. The exhibition is a story about Krakow and the fate of its Polish and Jewish inhabitants during World War II, about the Germans – occupiers and the factory owner – Oskar Schindler, whose fate is recalled by Steven Spielberg’s film from 1993.
Walking along the cobbled streets, you will enter a hairdresser, photographer, authentic photoplastic, take a tram, watch a movie about the life of the city behind the windows, go through the narrow labyrinth of the ghetto with a Jewish apartment in it, and then, together with the inhabitants, to the camp in Płaszów.
Touch the history, feel the emotions of the inhabitants of the war period thanks to modern multimedia.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Wieliczka Salt Mine, Jana Mikolaja Danilowicza 10, Wieliczka 32-020 Poland
After lunch, we will visit the famous salt mine in Wieliczka. It is definitely worth a visit! Ballroom, concert hall, art gallery, shrine – all made of salt and located underground. The tourist route through the Wieliczka Mine passes by chambers and drifts, salt and wooden chapels, brine lakes, and around you there are breathtaking views. The walk resembles an expedition not only deep into the Earth, but also into the depths of history. Mining machines, tools, traces of manual salt extraction – all this fits into the story of people and the place that they have created over the centuries. The sacred places of the mine, including the delightful chapel of St. Kinga, create a unique, unique in Europe, and perhaps in the world, underground pilgrimage route.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch: 2 course menu without drinks
No accommodation included on this day.
