A history school 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.
Read more about school trips to Poland
Why visit Poland?
To 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 1 st 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.
On a religious studies school trip to Poland, your students will also 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.
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 a number of 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 of any school trip to Poland 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
Your school 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
At this site, chosen by the SS for no other reason than its convenient location at a railway junction, some
Schindler's Factory
Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945 is on display at the former administrative building of Oskar Schindlers Enamel Factory at 4
Galicia Jewish Museum
The exhibition 'Traces of Memory' is a photographic tribute to a vanished world, a powerful acknowledgement of Poland's Jewish heritage.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
This deposit of rock salt has been mined since 13th century. Spread over nine levels, it has 300km of galleries
Wawel Royal Castle
Beautifully situated on a hill overlooking the River Vistila, Wawel Castle was the capital residence and burial place of Poland's
Kazimierz (Jewish Quarter)
The medieval Jewish quarter of Kraków became the city's ghetto between 1939 and 1941, and a film set during the
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
Where to visit in Poland
School trips to Auschwitz
School trips to Auschwitz can be one of the most profound, unforgettable experiences of students’ young lives.
Auschwitz concentration camp was a huge complex of concentration and extermination camps operated by the Nazis in occupied Poland. An educational visit to Auschwitz is certainly not an easy experience but it is vital in order to really understand 20th-centuryhistory.
As well as deepening their understanding of the history of the Holocaust and Nazi-Occupied Europe, a school trip to Auschwitz will also help your students to better understand the dangers of prejudice, racism and hate.
School trips to Krakow
School trips to Krakow are the ideal choice for both history and religious studies groups studying the Nazis and the Holocaust.
Our experts know Krakow very well and will work closely with you to tailor-make an itinerary that satisfies your specific requirements and learning objectives.
Learn more about Poland school trips
Read some of our latest blogs covering school trips to Poland.
18 Jan 2021
Your Virtual School Trip to...Berlin and Krakow
Since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020, school groups have been unable to travel and have this important experience of bringing 20th century history to life for them. So, while you’re unable to travel, let us take you and your students on a virtual school trip to Berlin and Krakow.
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.
25 Feb 2020
Miriam, our Hotel Reservations Manager, has just returned from a visit to Krakow, where she inspected the hotels we work with in the city.
09 Oct 2018
The Ancient Legends of Krakow by James Wylie
James, one of our experienced Itinerary Coordinators, tells us about some of the ancient legends of Krakow.
11 Jan 2018
The historic city of Krakow is a fantastic choice for both history and religious studies groups. Find out why.
Why Halsbury Education trips?
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
Tom Moorhouse
Tour Consultant
Gaynor Mayor
Education Sales & Product Manager
Laura Martin
Language Sales & Product Manager
Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Lou Della Rocca
Tour Consultant
Gail Biggins
Tour Consultant
Judit Eleod
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
Michelle Hallam
Tour Consultant
Caroline Hill
Tour Consultant
Gayle Flude
Tour Consultant
Jodi Swift
Tour Consultant
Will Jehu
Tour Consultant
Vanessa Barbosa
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.
Can we have a guided tour of Auschwitz?
All of our Auschwitz tours include a guided tour of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Students wear headphones and are lead around by a knowledgeable guide, which allows them to fully take in their surroundings.
How long does the tour of Auschwitz last?
Tours of both Auschwitz sites, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, take around three and a half hours.
Is there a dress code when visiting Auschwitz?
Auschwitz does not have a dress code policy for visitors, however, we recommend that you wear comfortable footwear as the tour involves a lot of walking. The majority of the tour will take place outside and so we recommend you dress appropriately for the weather conditions.
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. But it will depend on availability and you may find prices are a bit higher - but get in touch and let's see what's possible.
Can the trip itinerary be adapted to my curriculum and requirements?
Every single trip we arrange is tailor made, so absolutely yes.
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.