Schindler's Factory is one of the most important sites in Krakow for understanding the history of World War II and the experiences of the city's residents. For school groups a half‑day trip is ideal — it gives enough time to see the museum exhibition, hear specific human stories and take a short memory route around the neighbourhood, while not overwhelming younger pupils. As a licensed guide I run these trips regularly and design the program to be accurate yet accessible and empathetic for pupils of different ages.
A half‑day trip balances learning and comfort: less moving around, more time for conversation and questions, and the ability to tailor content to the class — from younger pupils (more visual, shorter) to high‑school students (more historical context and source material).
If you are planning a school visit to Krakow and want the Schindler's Factory stop to be a thoughtful, moving experience, it’s best to reserve in advance — especially during the tourist season and on school days when the museum operates scheduled group entries. As a guide I can help with the whole ticket‑reservation process and logistical planning.
This article gives a practical description of a half‑day program, organizational tips and ideas on how to prepare students — all in a friendly, informal tone. I hope it makes organising the trip easier and that the visit will be rewarding for teachers and pupils. :)
Note: this text is prepared for school groups using the ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com offer and the guiding of Małgorzata Kasprowicz — other offers or guides are not discussed here.
A half‑day trip (usually 3–4 hours) led by me is flexible, but below is a sample schedule that works well in practice:
- Meeting and short briefing (5–10 minutes): we set rules of conduct, outline the day and I answer the pupils’ first questions.
- Touring the exhibition at the Oskar Schindler's Factory Museum (60–90 minutes): the tour focuses on the most important exhibits and stories, adjusted to the group's age. For younger classes I shorten the format and emphasise stories about specific people; for older students I discuss social‑historical context and primary sources.
- Short walk around the area near the factory (20–30 minutes): memory sites, fragments of the former Podgórze Jewish quarter, squares and points that help understand the exhibition's context.
- Time for questions, reflection or a mini‑workshop (15–30 minutes): group exercise, short educational task or moderated discussion — depending on age.
Variations: if the group prefers, we can shorten the museum visit and spend more time on the outdoor route, or concentrate exclusively on the indoor exhibition. Everything is agreed in advance so the program supports the school's timetable.
My tours are based on authentic stories, exhibits and photographs — always with the audience in mind. I aim to keep the narrative vivid and human; I avoid excessive detail that might be too heavy for younger pupils. With older students we also address more difficult topics: mechanisms of exclusion, everyday life under occupation, and individuals’ moral choices.
In the museum I show everyday objects, photographs, documents and multimedia fragments and explain how they help read the city's history and its inhabitants. Pupils get an opportunity to see the realities of those years and understand that statistics represent real human lives.
On the walk we link elements of the exhibition to the urban space — this makes the history more tangible. I always encourage questions and involve pupils with short tasks that reinforce knowledge and develop empathy.
Important: because of the weight of the topics I ask teachers to prepare pupils briefly before the visit — together we will decide which contents will be discussed and how to balance them so younger participants are not frightened.
For classes with integration needs or special requirements please inform me when booking — I will adapt the tour style and pace.
Tickets to the Oskar Schindler's Factory Museum are often sold as timed entries, and larger groups require group reservations. It’s therefore worth acting in advance — teachers usually reserve tickets and a guided time a few weeks before the planned date, especially during the school year and tourist season.
As a guide I help with the reservation procedure: I advise on the best arrival times, inform about group limits and suggest an optimal division of hours (e.g. earlier in the morning or later before noon to avoid crowds). Remember that:
- you will need to provide an approximate number of participants and the pupils’ ages,
- most museums have separate rules for school groups, including reduced‑price tickets and free entry for some supervisors (check during reservation),
- entry times can be limited — booking ahead minimises the risk of changing plans.
If you are arriving by coach, agree in advance on a drop‑off point and any parking or waiting arrangements. Organisationally it’s also good to have an attendance list ready and assign supervisors to smaller subgroups — this helps during the visit and breaks.
Prices and conditions vary depending on the museum's policy and the season. Schools usually receive reduced rates and some supervisors may enter for free — details are best confirmed when booking tickets. When planning the budget consider: museum ticket costs, possible guide fees (the ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com offer includes school group rates), transport and any meal costs.
When it comes to group size, classes of typical school size (20–30 pupils) work most smoothly. For larger groups I usually propose dividing into smaller teams that I guide in rotation or give shorter educational tasks. That way everyone has better access to exhibits and can hear explanations comfortably.
Please also remember formalities: parental consent for the outing, a contact phone number for supervisors and information about pupils’ health needs. This makes organisation easier and ensures a safe visit.
If you have questions about price or availability, contact me through ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com — give the date, number of participants and programme preferences, and I will prepare a specific offer.
I do not list detailed price tables here because tariffs change frequently — it’s best to arrange specifics directly and I will help match the offer to your school’s budget.
To make the visit more meaningful I recommend a short class preparation. A few simple ideas:
- A brief introduction in history class: context of World War II in Poland, what occupation meant, who Oskar Schindler was — adapted to the pupils’ age.
- A short homework task: ask pupils to read a short biographical note or watch a carefully chosen clip — this increases engagement.
- Question cards: prepare 3–5 questions pupils can look for answers to during the tour (e.g. "Which objects tell us about everyday life at that time?").
- Post‑visit activities: a short reflection in writing, drawing or group projects — this helps process emotions and structure knowledge.
For younger classes I suggest simpler tasks and more time to talk about feelings. For older students: source analysis and a short discussion about ethical choices of people in those times. I can provide ready educational materials matched to the group's age.
A few practical tips to improve the comfort of the trip:
- Clothing and footwear: comfortable shoes, as we do some walking; dress in layers appropriate to the season — December and January are cold, summer is usually pleasant in the city.
- What to bring: water, a small snack (if a break is planned), a notebook for interested pupils, and school ID cards if needed for reduced tickets.
- Phone and first aid: have a contact phone for the supervising teacher and basic first‑aid supplies.
- Behaviour: remind pupils that the Oskar Schindler's Factory is a place of memory — please keep quiet and show respect for exhibits and other visitors.
- Duration: plan about 3–4 hours for the half‑day programme — exact times will be agreed in advance to avoid queues and crowds.
- Accessibility: if anyone in the group has mobility or sensory needs, tell me at booking time — we will adapt the programme and pace.
If something goes wrong (e.g. weather or transport delays), I have experience quickly adapting the programme and finding alternative solutions so the group can still get the most from the visit.
Talking about the Holocaust and occupation can trigger strong emotions. My guiding approach addresses this in the following ways:
- I warn that some content may be difficult and ask teachers to prepare pupils in advance;
- I tell stories through the lives of individual people and objects, which helps empathetic understanding without sensationalism;
- After the visit I suggest short reflective exercises that help pupils name emotions and process the experience.
After the trip it’s useful to hold a class discussion led by the teacher, give a short reflective writing task or propose a project — for example researching biographies of people introduced in the museum. Such follow‑up consolidates knowledge and develops critical thinking skills.
If you would like to arrange a half‑day school trip to Schindler's Factory led by me, please send an enquiry through the contact form on ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com. When you contact us, include: the proposed date, an approximate number of pupils, class/age, preferred time of day and any special needs of the group.
After receiving your enquiry I prepare an offer that includes: a proposed day plan, durations of each element, an estimated guide fee and tips about booking museum tickets. I also help with organisational contacts with the museum if needed.
I aim to make the trip both educationally valuable and comfortable to organise — I answer all questions before the visit and tailor the programme to the class’s needs. If you'd like to discuss details, I'm available to talk.
I warmly invite you to explore Krakow with an emphasis on education, empathy and memory — Małgorzata Kasprowicz, ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com. :)
PS. If you want to extend the programme to a full‑day trip, I can prepare an expanded option with additional points (other museums or themed walks) — just write and I will propose a plan suited to your curriculum and school budget.
Address and arrival: the museum branch is located at ul. Lipowa 4 in the Zabłocie district of Krakow. Plan transport and a drop‑off point in advance if arriving by coach.
Booking lead time: it’s wise to reserve a few weeks in advance during the school year; for larger groups or peak season book earlier when possible.
Accessibility: the museum and neighbourhood have some accessibility provisions but details depend on individual needs — tell me when booking so we can plan the best route and pace.
Recommended age: the visit can be adapted for a wide age range. For younger pupils the content is simplified and more visual; for older pupils we add historical context and primary sources.
Nearest public transport: Zabłocie is well connected by tram and bus — check local timetables for the best route from your school or hotel.
What to do afterwards: Zabłocie and nearby Kazimierz offer cafés and lunch spots suitable for school groups. If you need suggestions or time estimates for meals and transfer between points, I can advise when arranging the programme.
If you have any other questions or special requests, please include them in your enquiry on ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com and I will prepare a tailored plan for your class.
