A trip to Krakow can include visits to Auschwitz and Schindler's Factory, as well as a meeting with a Holocaust survivor.
£399PP
3 days, 2 nights
Krakow is Poland’s best-preserved city, having largely escaped the destruction that most other large cities in the country experienced during the Second World War. This makes it a brilliant setting to learn more about Polish history and culture.
Furthermore, school trips to Krakow are the ideal choice for history and religious studies groups studying the Nazis and the Holocaust.
School groups will learn more about what happened to the city’s Jewish community in the early 20th century. First, they were forcibly moved into the city’s ghetto to separate them from the rest of the city’s residents. And from there, they were transported to one of the Nazi extermination camps, such as nearby Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Your students will discover more about this period in Krakow's history through various visits, including a day trip to Auschwitz.
More broadly, your students can explore the history of the Jewish community in Poland from the Middle Ages up to the early 20th century and beyond.
Our experts know the city very well and will work closely with you to create a Krakow school trip that satisfies your specific requirements and learning objectives.
Browse our trips
The Nazis & the Holocaust School Trip to Krakow
School Religious Studies Trip to Krakow
In Krakow, your students will learn more about the tragic consequences of religious hatred.
£399PP
3 days, 2 nights
The Nazis & the Holocaust School Trip to Berlin & Krakow
This trip to Berlin & Krakow includes a visit to Auschwitz and is unmissable for groups studying the Nazis & the Holocaust.
£629PP
6 days, 5 nights
Why choose Halsbury?
We build your trip around you
Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.
Contact usWe’re trusted for a reason
We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.
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Tours Sales & Product Manager
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Senior Tour Consultant
Meet our travel specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your educational trip the best it can be.
Why visit Krakow?
Understand the scale of the Holocaust
Your students will, of course, have the opportunity to visit Auschwitz on your school trip.
They will learn more about what happened here and how the Nazis industrialised murder. They will also have the chance to find out more about some of the individual victims.
This will be a sobering yet unforgettable experience and the best lesson they could ever receive on why tolerance is so important and why hate cannot be allowed to take over.
Discover Polish culture and history
Although Poland’s capital was moved from Krakow to Warsaw in the 16th century, the city’s famous Wawel Hill, home to the royal castle and the 14th-century cathedral, continued to be the focus for royal coronations and funerals. This is well worth a visit on your school trip to Krakow, to learn about a different era of Polish history.
Another must-see is the Wieliczka Salt Mines. The highlight of your visit will, without a doubt, be the Chapel of St. Kinga, which is all carved out of salt, from the altar to the statues and even the chandeliers!
Explore Judaism and Catholicism in Poland
Before the Second World War, Krakow was an important cultural and spiritual centre for European Jews and the city still boasts some fantastic examples of sacred Jewish architecture. Before the outbreak of war, there were estimated to be around 80,000 Jews living in Krakow.
Most were forcibly removed from their homes and forced into ghettos before being murdered in extermination camps, such as Auschwitz. By the end of the war, less than 6,000 Jews remained in the city.
In addition to learning about the Jewish community in Poland, your students will also have the opportunity to explore Catholicism. Poland is one of the most devoutly Catholic countries in Europe and Krakow is famous for its numerous churches.
Learn more
20 Jan 2020
Fighting Fake News with School Trips
On Holocaust Memorial Day, we take a look at how important it is to equip students to spot fake news and #StandTogether to fight oppression and prevent an 'us vs them' attitude.
07 Oct 2022
The Best Free Activities for School Groups In Krakow
Planning a school trip to Krakow and keen to keep costs down? Check out these free things to do.
19 Jun 2026
The Best 4-Day Itinerary for School Groups Visiting Krakow
This 4-day itinerary gives history and religious studies groups a powerful, carefully balanced way to explore Jewish life in Poland, the Holocaust and the impact of Nazi occupation.
Activities in Krakow that your school group will love
Auschwitz Concentration Camp
Visiting Auschwitz can be a disturbing experience, but, for your students, it's also essential to understanding 20th-century history and the darker side of human nature.
Schindler's Factory
At Oskar Schindler's enamel factory in Krakow, students can learn about life in the city under Nazi Occupation.
Galicia Jewish Museum
At the Galicia Jewish Museum, your group can explore powerful exhibitions and take part in educational workshops.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
This deposit of rock salt has been mined since the 13th century.
Wawel Royal Castle
Beautifully situated on a hill overlooking the River Vistula, Wawel Castle was the capital residence and burial place of Poland's medieval kings.
Kazimierz (Jewish Quarter)
The medieval Jewish quarter of Kraków became the city's ghetto between 1939 and 1941.
The Main Square (Rynek Glówny)
The Main Square (Rynek Glówny) is the natural centre of Krakow.
Why Teachers Trust Halsbury
Over 40 years’ experience.
From making the most of your time to supporting you while you’re away, our experience means your trip is in safe hands.
Trusted by over 900 teachers every year.
And 98% of them rated their trip as ‘good’ or above last year*.
Financially protected school trips.
We’re members of ABTA, ATOL and ABTOT, so you know your trip is in safe hands.
We take safety seriously.
As an Assured Member of the School Travel Forum, we have a robust Safety Management System in place.
Risk assessments made easy.
Our LOtC Quality Badge and Safety Management System make the risk assessment process quicker and easier.
We’re safeguarding champions.
We work with Patronus Safeguarding to ensure all safeguarding concerns are recorded and managed clearly and consistently.
Quality trips designed to deliver real impact.
Our experts will work closely with you to design a trip that meets your learning objectives (and we hold the LOtC Quality Badge).
24/7 support while you’re away.
We’ll be just a phone call away while you’re on your trip, ready to step in if the unexpected happens.
Free inspection visits.
Enjoy two nights’ free accommodation on an inspection visit so you can complete risk assessments.
Our smart digital portal makes trip admin easy.
Collect passport and dietary information quickly and simply with our My Trip Zone.
*Customer satisfaction survey January 2025 – December 2025
FAQs
What's the best way to get around Krakow?
Krakow itself is very walkable, so for visits within the city, you’ll often travel on foot. There is also a tram if you prefer not to walk. For excursions outside the city (like Auschwitz-Birkenau or Wieliczka Salt Mine), we’ll arrange a private coach for you.
How long should we spend in Krakow?
Most groups will spend 3-4 days exploring Krakow. A 4-day itinerary gives you time to visit Kazimierz, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Wieliczka Salt Mine, Schindler’s Factory and the Galicia Jewish Museum without rushing. You could choose to combine your trip to Krakow with a tour of Berlin, in which case durations of 5-6 days are more common.
Can we combine Krakow with another destination?
Yes, many history groups studying the Nazis and the Holocaust choose to combine Krakow with Berlin for a five or six-day tour.
Can I run a cross-curricular school trip to Krakow?
Yes, Krakow works really well as a destination for both history and religious studies. Please don't hesitate to contact us for further information on how your cross-curricular school trip to Krakow might work.
Which other visits aside from Auschwitz would you recommend?
Most groups on our school tours to Krakow visit Auschwitz, which is approximately a 1.5-hour drive from the city. But aside from Auschwitz, we also highly recommend a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter and visiting Schindler's Factory Museum, Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wawel Royal Castle, and Rynek Glówny, the main square.
Are there any free things to do in Krakow?
Yes, you can do some sightseeing from Wawel Hill, and you can soak up the atmosphere at the main square, Rynek Glowny and the Ghetto Heroes Square.
How will we get to Krakow?
Most groups fly to Krakow, as several budget airlines (Ryanair, Easyjet and Wizz Air, for example) fly there from UK airports.
You can travel by coach, but it is nearly a day’s drive from the South of England. If you do want to go by coach, you could potentially spend the last night of your trip in Prague or Dresden, to break up the journey a bit and see another European city.
What’s the best time of year to visit Krakow?
You can visit Krakow at any time of year (just bear in mind that winter temperatures can dip well below freezing, while summer temperatures can go above 30 °C, so make sure you pack accordingly).
Let's chat!