Auschwitz, then Kraków

The plan

• Morning — Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum. Book guided tour tickets weeks in advance. Private transfer or organized bus from Kraków (~1.5 hr each way). A heavy but important morning. The Memorial does not recommend attendance for children under 14; older teens going should expect a difficult, sober experience.
• Afternoon — Back to Kraków, lunch. Then choose:
  • Wawel Castle & Cathedral — the historic heart of Kraków, on Wawel Hill.
  • Kazimierz — the historic Jewish Quarter, now full of cafés and galleries. Schindler's Factory Museum is nearby (and tells the story of WWII-occupied Kraków in detail).
  • Wieliczka Salt Mine (alternative day-trip if Auschwitz is skipped) — UNESCO site, underground chapels carved entirely from salt.
• Evening — Last night dinner somewhere memorable in Old Town. Pierogi, anywhere. Kraków's Old Town at night is wonderful.

Pace note

The morning is emotionally heavy. Plan something gentler for the afternoon — Kazimierz cafés, a slow walk around the square, or a rest at the hotel before dinner.