A visit to the Auschwitz‑Birkenau State Museum can be a difficult but deeply important component of a team‑building day. This place of remembrance offers powerful opportunities for reflection that can bring participants closer through a shared experience and conversations afterwards. With careful planning you can combine this serious part of the day with gentler activities and calm places that help restore the group’s emotional balance — a thoughtful way to organise a meaningful day for your team.
The Auschwitz‑Birkenau State Museum includes two main areas: Auschwitz I (the smaller museum section) and Auschwitz II‑Birkenau (the large ramp and camp fields).
Travel from Kraków to Oświęcim typically takes around 1–1.5 hours by car or bus; allow extra time for traffic and short breaks when planning transfers.
A guided visit to both parts usually lasts about 3 hours in total (approximately 2 hours at Auschwitz I and 1–1.5 hours at Birkenau, plus transfer time between the sites).
The State Museum at Auschwitz was established after the war through the efforts of former prisoners and is a protected site; it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1979.
Sample full‑day programme: depart Kraków in the morning (meet at 7:30), arrive in Oświęcim around 9:00, guided tour of Auschwitz I (approx. 2 hours), short break, transfer and walk around Birkenau (approx. 1–1.5 hours), return to Kraków in the afternoon. For team groups it’s valuable to plan time for a calm, moderated conversation after the visit and a short reflection session.
If you want to ease the emotional intensity of the day, consider an evening cultural programme in Kraków: dinner in Kazimierz, a walk along the Planty, or a visit to a cosy café where participants can talk in a more relaxed atmosphere.
For groups with more time: an option is to include the Wieliczka Salt Mine in the afternoon. Combined with transport this can be a long day (about 10–12 hours) and requires advance organisation.
Oświęcim and its surroundings have lesser‑known places that fit well with a reflective visit: small local history museums, quiet cafés on the market square, and parks where participants can quietly collect their thoughts after a hard tour.
On the way back from Oświęcim you can stop at scenic viewpoints or family‑run restaurants serving regional dishes — a good moment for a shared meal and conversation.
In Kraków I recommend ending the day in the intimate Kazimierz district — there are many cosy cafés and restaurants that help participants emotionally decompress after a visit to a place of memory.
Entrance tickets and guided visits with a museum educator are scheduled at specific times; for groups it’s best to reserve slots well in advance and confirm transport details.
Transfers from Kraków take about 1–1.5 hours; for the group’s comfort book an air‑conditioned coach or a comfortable minibus and plan for at least one short stop en route.
For people with reduced mobility allow extra time and check availability of facilities in advance — the museum publishes accessibility information and it’s important to verify specific needs ahead of the trip.
Auschwitz‑Birkenau is a place of remembrance — visitors should maintain solemnity, silence and respect for the victims. Team leaders should briefly prepare participants for the nature of the visit.
Avoid jokes and loud comments on museum grounds; after the tour encourage the team to hold a calm conversation, share impressions and, if appropriate, reflect together with the guide.
Prepare participants for the emotional nature of the visit: warn in advance those who may need extra support or a moment alone to recover.
Too tight a schedule. Mistake: packing too many attractions into one day. Solution: leave buffer time for travel, stops and emotional processing of the experience.
Insufficient information for participants. Mistake: not preparing the group for the seriousness of the site. Solution: send a short briefing before the trip with rules of conduct and the planned schedule.
Unsuitable transport. Mistake: booking a vehicle that’s too small or not planning breaks. Solution: choose comfortable transport and schedule at least one break during the journey.
In Kraków plan a post‑return group meal — places such as Pod Wawełem, Mleczarnia in Kazimierz, or cosy restaurants on Kanonicza Street offer atmospheres conducive to conversation after a full day.
For groups you can order set meals or lunch boxes served on the coach — a convenient option if your programme is intensive.
If you prefer local flavours on the way back, look for small family restaurants in Oświęcim that often serve homestyle dishes at reasonable prices.
Do tickets need to be reserved far in advance? It’s safest to reserve early, especially for larger groups; the museum limits visitor numbers during set time slots.
How long does the whole trip take from Kraków? Example: depart in the morning and return in the afternoon; a full programme with transfers can take most of the day (around 8–10 hours), and combined with Wieliczka up to 10–12 hours.
Is the visit suitable for younger participants? Decide case‑by‑case — the site has a difficult, moving character. For groups with teenagers discuss the tone and content of the narration with the guide beforehand.
The combined area of both museum sections is large: Auschwitz I is the smaller exhibition area while Birkenau is an expansive field that recalls the scale of the tragedy — together the museum covers hundreds of hectares safeguarded as a place of remembrance.
The Memorial was formalised after the war; commemorative and institutional actions began in the first decades after the end of hostilities, which influences how the site is managed and protected to this day.
Before the trip: send participants a short brochure with the schedule, rules of conduct and practical information (what to bring, expected duration, emergency contact for the organiser).
On the day: divide the group into smaller contact subgroups, appoint people responsible for latecomers and give them organisers’ phone numbers.
After the visit: plan a short debrief — even 20–30 minutes for calm sharing of thoughts can greatly increase the trip’s educational value.
If you’re organising a team‑building trip and want it to be thoughtful, safe and well planned — a carefully arranged visit to Auschwitz with additional calm activities will allow participants to reflect and bond as a team.
If you would like help planning such a day, I can assist with friendly, professional guiding and logistics. On Małgorzata Kasprowicz’s page you can find contact details and information about private guiding services.
Share this article with colleagues or on social media if you think it will help — and if you’re planning a trip, consider booking private guiding with Małgorzata Kasprowicz (contact details are available on her site).
