School Trips to Auschwitz-Birkenau
A school trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau is a powerful, poignant, and thought-provoking experience, complimenting a variety of GCSE, AS, and A-Level subjects.
In 1940, the once quiet town of Oświęcim was taken over and transformed into Auschwitz; the largest Nazi concentration and death camp. Today, the camp stands to remind and educate visitors of the tyranny and persecution that occurred during the Holocaust.
Learning Experiences on School Trips to Auschwitz
Guided tours of the two Auschwitz sites will give your group an invaluable insight into the horrific events and conditions. Students will be able to consider a number of key themes across a range of subjects. History students can witness crucial evidence of the Holocaust itself, along with overarching Nazi ideology and persecution.
Psychology students on a school trip to Auschwitz can reflect on elements of human nature and behaviour: social influence, obedience, tyranny, power, conformity, and dysfunctional behaviour. Religious studies students may focus on themes of religious persecution and discrimination, and the experiences of Jewish communities under the Third Reich.
School trips from Auschwitz to Krakow
Auschwitz is a one-hour coach journey from Krakow. This vibrant city is rich in Polish culture, history, music, and architecture. But despite its charm, Krakow still stands as a stark reminder of what Jewish communities faced under Nazi power. Related visits around Krakow include:
- Krakow Under Nazi Occupation Museum
- Kazimierz and Podgorze
- Galicia Museum
- Meeting with a concentration camp survivor or relative
- Auschwitz-birkenau memorial
- A visit to the Jewish museum and synagogue
Get in touch today to discuss your school trip to Auschwitz. Call our team of travel experts on 0845 293 7970.
Auschwitz trip FAQs
How long is a tour of Auschwitz?
General school tours of Auschwitz can take up to three and a half hours depending on the tour that you are on. This includes a tour of both Auschwitz 1 and Auschwitz 11-Birkenau.
What time does Auschwitz open?
Auschwitz opens at 07:30am every day
Last enterance times:
- January - 15:00
- February - 16:00
- March - 17:00
- April & May - 18:00
- June, July & August - 19:00
- September - 18:00
- October & November - 15:00
- December - 14:00
Visitors may stay on the museum site for up to 90 minutes after last enterance.
Is photography allowed in Auschwitz?
You can take photographs inside Auschwitz, but it;s very important to remain respectful at all times. There are certain places and exhibitions in Auschwitz where you are not permitted to take photos - these are clearly marked with signs. It's also important to note that selfies are not permitted while inside.
Is there a dress code when visiting Auschwitz?
There is no dress policy for visitors. It's recommended that you wear comfortable footwear as a tour to Auschwitz requires a lpt of walking. It's also important to note that you will be outside for the majority of the tour, so you should dress appropriately for the weather conditions. The climate in poland is continental and Winter is extremely cold, with temperatures dropping below freezing. We strongly recommend wrapping up warm when visiting during the Winter months.
Can you take backpacks to Auschwitz?
The maximum size of bags and backpacks that you can carry in the Auschwitz museum is 30 x 20 x 10cm. This is roughly the size of an A4 piece of paper.
If your bag exceeds these requirements, then you will be asked to place it in storage for the duration of the tour.
As from the 1st April. the policy of groups arriving has changed. Students are required to present a form of photo ID on arrival and the visit can only be nooked 12 weeks before departure.
Is there an age limit to visit Auschwitz?
There are no rules regarding age on a tour of Auschwitz, however it's recommended that no children under the age of 14 should visit.
Can you take food and drink into Auschwitz?
You are permitted to bring food and drink into Auschwitz. There are also some options to buy food there, however food provisions are very limited for groups. It's important to note that you are not permitted to take food and drink into the Auschwitz museum.
Browse our selection of school trips to Auschwitz
History
A history school trip to Krakow covers evidence of the wartime experience of the Jewish population in ghettos such as Podgorze and Auschwitz-Birkenau. This will enable pupils to develop a thorough, rounded picture of the experience of Jewish communities and discrimination in central Europe during the 20th century.
To find out more about this trip, click here.
Psychology & Sociology
Psychology school trip pupils can consider the topics of conformity and obedience in Nazi Germany, possible psychological profiles of those involved and even discuss actual experiences with a concentration camp survivor, or relative at the Galicia museum.
Religious Studies
A religious studies school trip to Krakow will provide an in-depth study of the Jewish community in the city, one of the most important centres of Jewish life in pre-war Europe.
This is a thought-provoking religious school trip to Krakow that your pupils are likely to remember for many years to come.
Planning your first school trip?
If you're planning your first school trip, our essential guide will take you through each step of the process.
- Choosing your destination
- Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
- Promoting your tour in school
- Confirming your booking
- Tailor-make your tour
- Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
- Quick reference timeline
- Pre-tour checklist
Additional support, resources & information:
Tour planning service
Tour planning service
With NST, you’ll get your own dedicated, knowledgeable Tour Co-ordinator who’ll work with you from start to finish. You’ll benefit from their unrivalled destination knowledge, and their experience gained from working with many other groups too. They’ll tailor-make your itinerary from scratch and take care of everything for you:
- Pulling together an itinerary that runs smoothly
- Planning the right balance of visits every day with realistic timings
- Pre-arranging and pre-booking your visits, entrance tickets, passes and meals
You’ll receive your final itinerary a full 4-weeks before you travel too.
FREE school trip promotion pack
FREE school trip promotion pack
We’ll support you and provide everything you need to advertise your school trip around school and to parents. Our free school trip promotion pack consists of:
- Parents’ letter & permission slip template for you to complete
- A3 posters to promote your trip around school
- PowerPoint presentation templates which you can tailor to your own needs
- Parents’ leaflets covering how NST manage safety, financial protection and details of our travel insurance
- Online parents’ video which showcases the benefits of taking a school trip
For selected destinations, we’ll provide a trip launch web page using video footage and imagery. This web page is provided by a weblink and can be shared with pupils and parents in many ways.
Risk assessment support including preview visits
Risk assessment support including preview visits
Risk assessment plays a vitally important part in the planning and organisation on any school tour.
Our risk assessment guide aims to help you understand more about your obligations and how you can more effectively manage group safety on your next educational visit and provide you with risk assessments for your trip.
Planning first school trip
Planning first school trip
Organising your first school trip can appear to be a daunting process. If you're planning your first school trip, our guide will help to take you through each step of the planning process, answering frequently asked questions and providing tips and support along the way. Our helpful guide covers the following:
- Choosing your destination
- Gaining approval from your Local Authority and/or your Head
- Promoting your tour in school
- Confirming your booking
- Tailor-make your tour
- Completing your risk assessments (including a sample risk assessment)
- Quick reference timeline
- Pre-tour checklist
Get live updates on your group's tour location
Get live updates on your group's tour location
Locate My Trip uses GPS technology and is the easy, convenient way for your school to follow your location whilst on tour. Specifically designed to provide reassurance to both parents and teachers, NST will know where your group are 24/7. If your schedule needs to change, we’ll put plans in place to keep your tour on track.
With Locate My Trip your group can also share photos and videos with the school and parents, via a secure link, to keep them updated on your experience whilst you’re away.
Watch our short Locate My Trip video here.
Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager
Your online school trip organiser - My Tour Manager
Save time and stay on track with your school trip admin with our online orgnaniser - designed to help busy teachers like you.
With My Tour Manager, you'll be able to download FREE resources and access trip paperwork online and in one place. Your personalised checklist details what you need to do and by when, plus you'll receive fortnightly reminders too.
What's more, you can take all your trip documents on the go whilst on your tour with our app, My Tour Manager-On-the-Go.
Find out more and watch out short My Tour Manager video here
Free classroom resources
Free classroom resources
We've created a range of free resources and educational posters to brighten up your classroom!
Take a look at our downloadable posters here
Brexit & your school trip
Brexit & your school trip
How will Brexit affect my school trip?
While the political situation remains uncertain, ABTA has identified actions travellers may wish to take in advance to help avoid unnecessary future disruption.
This information only covers areas where travellers can take reasonable action or put plans into place now. Areas where the situation is still unclear are not included, but the information will be updated once clarified.
Click here for a summary of the latest advice from ABTA, more information can be found here.
If you're travelling with NST and have any specfic questions. please contact your Educational Travel Advisor.
Speak to one of our school travel experts
Our team of school travel experts have unrivalled destination knowledge and experience so they can help to bring your tour ideas to life and might even suggest options you hadn’t already thought of too! So get in touch today and we'll help to create a bespoke, budget-friendly tour itinerary to meet your specific learning requirements.
Why choose NST...
Here's why thousands of teachers choose NST each year...
- Unrivalled knowledge
Your dedicated Tour Co-ordinator will use their unrivalled local knowledge and expertise to create a tailor-made, curriculum-linked itinerary to meet your group’s exact needs.
- Making it easier for you
With our online school trip organiser, travel app, free classroom posters and trip launch resources to support your in-school promotion.
- Free group leader inspection visits
We offer a free inspection visit to your chosen destination to support your risk assessment planning.
- Value for money
We’re committed to bringing you the best possible value trips to help make every penny count.
- More than 50 years’ experience
With over 50 years’ experience, with NST you can rest assured that your group is in safe hands.
- Risk assessment guidance
Our risk assessment guidance will help you to manage group safety on your next educational trip.
- Peace of mind
Your group’s location can be followed with our trip tracking device - Locate My Trip - plus you’ll have 24/7 support from us whilst you’re away.
- Offsetting carbon emissions
For every trip taken, we'll plant a Maya nut tree in Peru to support reforestation, local communities & biodiversity. Plus, we'll offset an additional tonne of CO2 to guarantee carbon emission reductions.
Looking for protection on your next school trip?
Booking with a school travel company is the best way for you to protect parents’ money and give yourself peace of mind.
Don’t forget – if your school arranges transport, accommodation and other services directly, you’ll be liable under the Package Travel Regulations – meaning you’ll have all the responsibilities of a travel company, both legal and financial.
Financial protection from the moment you book
NST are fully bonded:
- ABTA
- ATOL
- IATA
Managing safety on school trips
For your protection, NST's independently audited Safety Management System covers:
- 24-hour emergency cover
- Audited accommodation & transport
- Excursions & school visit assessment
- Group leader preview visits to assist with risk assessment planning
We're LOtC Council’s Quality Badge assured
The Department for Education advises schools to always look for the LOtC Quality Badge when choosing a school travel provider.
Students are safe on Auschwitz school trips
There is no need to worry when you book an Auschwitz school trip with NST. With our safety management system you have 24-hour emergency cover on all of your trips incase anything goes wrong giving you peace of mind.
