This trip to Berlin & Krakow includes a visit to Auschwitz and is unmissable for groups studying the Nazis & the Holocaust.
School trips to Poland are most popular among history and religious studies groups who are learning about the Nazis and the Holocaust.
Not only will you have the challenging, yet hugely important experience of visiting Auschwitz, you can also visit the beautiful city of Krakow to explore what life was like for the Jewish population of Poland before, during and after the Nazi occupation.
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Why visit Poland?
Gain a deeper understanding of the Holocaust
A school trip to Poland is one of the best ways to help students really understand what life was like under Nazi occupation, and why history cannot be allowed to repeat itself.
Located in the heart of Central Europe, Poland played a key role in WW2. Its invasion by Nazi Germany on 1st September 1939 led to France and Britain declaring war on Germany two days later.
By 1941, the Nazis had occupied the whole country. The Nazis set up six extermination camps in Poland, including Auschwitz. Jews from all over Europe were transported to these camps to be murdered. Ethnic Poles were also subject to Nazi persecution and it’s believed that around 6 million Polish citizens were killed during WW2, including 90% of the country’s Jews.
Your students will learn about how the country’s Jewish population lived before WW2, and how they were persecuted by the Nazis. You can also explore the role of Catholicism in traditional Polish culture.
Experience intricate history and culture
Although you may arrange a school trip to Poland to learn about its more recent history, the country’s history spans over 1,000 years. During that time, Poland made a huge contribution to Western civilisation in many fields, including art, music, philosophy, literature, science and politics.
All of this makes Poland a fascinating destination for a school trip designed to deepen your students’ intercultural understanding.
Make sure you don’t leave Krakow without taking some time to visit the spectacular Wawel Castle. Once the home of the Polish monarchy, the castle is now one of the country’s best art museums. Here your students can learn more about the history of Poland from the medieval period to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and over 100 years of Austrian rule after the Third Partition of Poland in 1795.
Another highlight is a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which was in operation from the 13th century right up until 2007! Your students will be awestruck by the incredible workmanship of the miners who carved out sculptures and even four whole chapels from the rock salt.
Browse our trips
The Nazis & the Holocaust School Trip to Berlin & Krakow
The Nazis & the Holocaust School Trip to Krakow
A trip to Krakow can include visits to Auschwitz and Schindler's Factory, as well as a meeting with a Holocaust survivor.
£531PP
School Religious Studies Trip to Krakow
In Krakow, your students will learn more about the tragic consequences of religious hatred.
£549PP
Activities in Poland 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. Spread over nine levels, it has 300km of galleries for your group to view.
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. Your group can take a guided walking tour of the area.
The Main Square (Rynek Glówny)
The Main Square (Rynek Glówny) is the natural centre of Krakow. The centrally located Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) has, despite the odds, survived to this day.
Where to visit in Poland
Auschwitz
A trip to Auschwitz will help the next generation ensure that history never repeats itself.
Although a very difficult experience, visiting Auschwitz will help to humanise the victims of the Holocaust for your students. They'll gain a deeper understanding of how the Nazis industrialised murder and they'll understand why it's important to fight prejudice and hate.
Krakow
Trips to Krakow are immensely popular with history groups studying the Nazis and the Holocaust!
In Krakow, your students will learn about the history and culture of the city's Jewish community. You can include a day trip to Auschwitz to help them understand the horrors experienced during the Holocaust.
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07 Oct 2022
Planning a school trip to Krakow and keen to keep costs down? Check out these free things to do!
28 Feb 2023
Thinking about a secondary school trip but need some inspiration and support? Don't worry, our school travel experts are here to help with a collection of the best ideas for your group.
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.
Read moreOur Education specialists
Laura Lucas
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
Laura Martin
Language Sales & Product Manager
Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.
FAQs
I can't see the destination I want to travel to in Poland, can you still help me?
Yes, just get in touch and let us know where you'd like to go.
We can then have a look at the options available for you. We've got great relationships with our suppliers in Poland, so we're sure we'll be able to help.
Do you offer travel insurance?
We do. Travel insurance is an optional extra and you can find out more about it in our travel insurance resource (which includes the policy documents and FAQs).
If you decide against arranging this insurance through us (which is absolutely fine, by the way), please just remember you must have suitable travel and medical insurance to cover your group.
How far ahead should I start planning my trip?
As a general rule, we recommend that you start planning your trip 12-18 months before you want to travel. This gives you plenty of time to get it approved and launched to students and parents.
Planning early will mean you have a greater choice of accommodation and travel options - and it will make paying for the trip easier for families, as they'll be able to break it down into smaller, more manageable payments.
You can check out our trip-planning timeline for a better idea of the process and when you should expect to be doing things.
If you are looking to travel sooner than this, it is possible. It will depend on availability and you may find prices are a bit higher, but get in touch and we can see what's possible.
Can the trip itinerary be adapted to my curriculum and requirements?
Every single trip we arrange is tailor-made, so yes, the itinerary can be adapted.
Our Tour Advisers and Itinerary Coordinators are all experienced school travel specialists. They'll work closely with you to make sure your itinerary supports your learning objectives. They'll be able to offer suggestions and advice to make sure you make the most of your time.
So, when you're browsing through our school trips, just remember that the itineraries and activities you see are there for inspiration only - your own itinerary can look as similar or as different as you want.
Equally, we've suggested trip durations based on what groups usually request - if you want to go for a shorter or longer duration, just let us know.
What accommodation options are available in Poland?
We can offer a range of accommodation in Poland. Your Tour Adviser will have a chat with you about your requirements and budget and then we'll come back to you with our suggestions based on what's available for your chosen dates.
We'll only offer accommodation that we believe is suitable for school groups, as we know the accommodation is such an important element of the trip. Our membership of the School Travel Forum means we've put in place a pretty rigorous Safety Management System - you can take a look at this for more details on the measures we've put in place to make sure accommodation is safe and suitable for you.
Let's chat!