History Trips to Krakow

About the Destination

Krakow is one of Europe’s most historically significant and visually stunning cities. Poland’s cultural capital and former royal seat, the city survived World War II largely undamaged, preserving one of the most complete medieval city centres in Europe. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of Poland’s glorious past and its darkest chapter with equal power and dignity.

The city’s remarkable Old Town, with the vast Rynek Główny (Main Market Square), the soaring Wawel Castle and Cathedral, and the beautiful Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, provides fantastic educational opportunities for students. Just an hour’s drive away, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is one of the most important historical sites in the world, offering a deeply moving and essential educational visit.

Krakow is also an affordable and welcoming city with a thriving student population (it is home to Poland’s oldest university, the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364). This trip is ideal for students studying History, WWII, Politics, Architecture, Religious Studies, and Sociology.

Why UniLife for Colleges

We've been supporting hundreds of groups and thousands of students with travel since 2018. Every trip is managed end to end by our team, with a dedicated Account Manager supporting you throughout. Fully compliant, safe and bespoke to you. You'll be in safe hands.

Risk Assessment Support

We provide a comprehensive destination risk assessment template for your trip that meets all college approval processes.

Dedicated Account Manager

You get a dedicated Account Manager who works with you from your first enquiry right through to the end of your trip. No being passed from pillar to post.

Flexible Payment Plans

Students pay individually through our online system. A deposit secures the trip, with the balance due in flexible instalments.

ATOL & Insurance

All our trips are fully ATOL protected and include comprehensive group travel insurance as standard.

Staff to Student Ratio

We can advise on staff-to-student ratio requirements and help you plan your group numbers accordingly.

24/7 Support Line

Our emergency support line is available around the clock throughout the trip for complete peace of mind.

Trip Highlights

Krakow Old Town

Krakow’s medieval Main Market Square is the largest medieval town square in Europe and the beating heart of the city. Dominated by the magnificent Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), the Gothic St Mary’s Basilica, and the remains of the Town Hall Tower, the square is lined with outdoor cafés and restaurants and is always animated by street performers and local life.

Auschwitz-Birkenau

Auschwitz represents one of history’s darkest chapters. Originally the Polish town of Oświęcim, it was transformed into the Third Reich’s largest concentration and death camp during the Second World War. Today, the museum stands as a powerful testament to the Holocaust, offering students insight into how prejudice escalates and how systems of dehumanisation are created.

Kazimierz & Podgorze

Krakow’s historic Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz, is one of the best-preserved Jewish districts in Europe, with seven historic synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery, and a vibrant cultural scene. The area gained worldwide recognition through Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, and nearby Oskar Schindler’s Factory is now a powerful museum about the Nazi occupation of Krakow.

Itinerary

You will begin your first day travelling to Krakow, followed by a transfer to your accommodation and time to settle in. In the afternoon, students will take part in a guided walking tour of the city centre, introducing the city’s history and cultural landmarks. The day will end with a group dinner at a local restaurant.

The morning will be spent following a guided tour of the Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz) and the former wartime ghetto (Podgórze), exploring key sites connected to the city’s Jewish heritage and Second World War history. This will include a visit to Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, offering insight into life in occupied Kraków and the experiences of the local Jewish community during the war. In the afternoon, students will visit the Galicia Jewish Museum, which documents and preserves the history and culture of Jewish life in the region.

A full-day visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, including a guided tour of the former concentration and extermination camp sites. The day will conclude with dinner at the accommodation.

Check out of the accommodation and begin the journey home. Depending on departure times, there may be a short period for final exploration. This will mark the end of the trip.

What's Included

Core Inclusions

✈️ Return Flights from UK
🏨 Highly Rated Accommodation
🚌 EU Airport Transfers
✅ ATOL Financial Protection
🙋 Dedicated Account Manager
🚶🏽 Private, Guided Walking Tour of Central Krakow

Optional Extras

🕯️ Guided Visit of the Galacia Museum
🏰 Wawel Castle & Cathedral Entry
✡️ Guided tour of the Jewish District, Wartime Ghetto, and Schindlers Factory
🏭 Day visit and tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau
🏛️ Krakow under Nazi Occupation Museum
⛏️ Wieliczka Salt Mine Day Trip
🎳 Bowling Night

FAQs

Krakow provides comprehensive insight into Jewish life across the entire 20th century. The well-preserved districts of Kazimierz reveal how one of Europe's most vibrant pre-war communities lived and flourished. Memorial sites and ghettos like Podgorze document the wartime experience, while a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau completes this rounded understanding. Through multiple museums and historical sites, students explore how this community was targeted under Nazi rule and how these events fundamentally shaped modern European history.

Our recommended sites are: Galacia Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau visit Kazimierz (Jewish District) Schindlers Factory Podgorze (Wartime Ghetto) Krakow under Nazi Occupation Museum Krakow Walking Tour These interconnected sites enable students to understand pre-war Jewish flourishing, persecution, and Nazi occupation comprehensively. Kazimierz and Schindler's Factory reveal daily community life; Podgorze shows wartime confinement; Auschwitz demonstrates systematic genocide. Walking tours and museums contextualise these experiences, ensuring students grasp how Krakow's history shaped understanding of 20th-century Europe.

We design customised itineraries that match each group's learning style and pace. Rather than rigid historical routes, we blend independent exploration, guided visits and Museum entries to give you maximum flexibility, keeping your students engaged. Our aim is to ensure all your students are intellectually and culturally stimulated, ensuring every single student benefits meaningfully from the overall experience.

We arrange accommodation in centrally-located hotels and hostels with excellent transport links to major points of interest. Each venue is selected for comfort, security, and proven experience hosting student groups, ensuring convenience without compromising on care or quality.

Every group we work with has a dedicated Account Manager to tailor the trip to your needs. They'll support you throughout the booking process with all the information you need, and provide you with all the relevant documents for the trip. They'll also arrange trip briefing calls with you prior to departure to go through the trip, documents and to answer any questions you may have.

All of our trips are fully risk-assessed and our suppliers adhere to our health and safety standards. Please note that, unless an aspect of the trip is explicitly mentioned in the 'What's Included' section of your trip page, it does not fall under our health and safety policy and therefore participants partake in any additional activities at their own risk. We ask all groups to also to be mindful of their own safety and to inform their Account Manager of anything that they feel could be a potential hazard or concern.

We will ensure that all potential additional costs are clearly listed in the trip documentation. We'd also recommend all students bring a small amount of funds for their own purchases such as food, snack or souvenirs, in either the form of local cash (PLN) or a debit card.

All groups will be advised on the Visa process prior to booking and if ETA/ETIAS need to be completed. Please note, all visas and ETA/ETIAS documents will need to be completed by the individual travellers and/or their parents/guardians, as UniLife cannot complete this process on their behalf.

Travel insurance can be included in the trip price, but is not included as standard. Students MUST have valid travel insurance for their trip and medical coverage in the instance of an accident.

Unfortunately, we can't provide refunds for the trip deposit. However, if one of the group has to cancel or can no longer attend the trip, it may be possible to transfer the ticket to another student, subject to the airline or ferry name change fees.

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Based on a group of 30 students

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Trip Details

Destination: Poland
Duration: 4

Speak to a member of the team

0115 850 0441

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History Trips to Krakow

History Trips to Krakow

About the Destination