Are you a tourist that plans to visit Krakow in the nearby future? If so, then you’ve probably already heard or read bits of advice that say you should travel a little further outside the city and visit other places located in the south of Poland. Of course, one of these must-see locations is Auschwitz – former Nazi concentration camp where millions of people lost their lives during World War II. Remember that your visit to Birkenau can be organized by a guide or you can go on your own. But which is better – Auschwitz guided tour or not? Let’s find out.
Choose your version of touring
It is well known that Auschwitz Birkenau is one of the most memorable places tourists can visit while travelling to Poland. That is why it is no surprise that the museum prepared various options of sightseeing the grounds. While booking Auschwitz tour, you can easily choose whether you want to be guided by a professional or explore the museum by yourself.
Joining the museum tour
It is safe to say that the Auschwitz Museum is mostly visited by foreign tourists. And thanks to that prominent international interest, the institution is adequately prepared to receive visitors from all over the world. As a result, the museum provides tours with guides speaking many languages like English, German, Italian, Spanish, French and Russian. What’s more, it is possible to organize a tour in the native language as well. Choosing an option with a guide is certainly beneficial because it’s a person that knows the history of the camps the best.
Visiting with a guided tour
One of the options is visiting Auschwitz Birkenau as part of a group that is organized by a Krakow tourist agency. This is a great choice for everyone who wants a door to door transportation and guide that really knows the Museum. The big advantage of this solution is the fact that a person that travels with a group can guide the tour not only in the Museum but also during a trip leading to the institution and during the journey between the different camps.
Sightseeing individually
Of course, you can also choose to visit the Auschwitz Museum on your own and don’t hire any guides. But you should remember that the museum includes Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau and Auschwitz III-Monowitz – three camps are located at a distance from each other. The area is quite large and navigating it alone can be chaotic for someone visiting it for the very first time. You will also probably need to purchase the paper guide that will help you learn about the history of the Nazi camps.
All the options have their advantages, but while deciding whether to choose Auschwitz guided tour or not, you should ask yourself what is most important to you – learning the most about the Auschwitz Birkenau history, or exploring the museum at your own pace and having the time to reflect on what you just witnessed.
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