Krakow: Plaszow Concentration Camp Guided Walking Tour

Explore Płaszów Camp with an expert guide and learn about its history through stories of loss, survival, and moral courage. This guided walk places the site in proper historical context, including its connection to Oskar Schindler and the lives he helped save.

Unlike many historical sites, Płaszów contains few preserved structures. Its wide, open spaces and silence define the experience, creating a setting for remembrance and reflection rather than exhibition. The absence of buildings underscores the scale of loss and invites a respectful engagement with history.

Tour Highlights

• Take an in-depth guided walk through the former Płaszów Camp

• Visit key memorial sites and honour the victims of the camp

• Learn about Oskar Schindler and the fate of prisoners transferred to his factory

Itinerary

Ghetto Heroes Square

• Duration: 15 minutes (Walk-by)

• The route passes through Ghetto Heroes Square in the Podgórze district, a place closely connected to the history of the Kraków Ghetto. Redesigned in 2005 as a memorial space, the square is marked by rows of empty metal chairs symbolizing forced displacement and absence—one of Kraków’s most powerful commemorative sites.

Płaszów Camp

• Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

• Admission: Free entry

Established in 1942 on the grounds of former Jewish cemeteries, Płaszów evolved from a forced-labour camp into a concentration camp. More than 35,000 prisoners were held here, and thousands lost their lives.

During the guided visit, you will trace the former layout of the camp through surviving locations such as the Grey House, the roll-call area, remnants of camp infrastructure, mass graves, and the Monument of Torn-Out Hearts. The story of Oskar Schindler forms an important part of the narrative, as many prisoners registered in Płaszów were later transferred to his factory—an act that saved more than a thousand lives. With few physical remains, the quiet landscape encourages careful listening, remembrance, and thoughtful reflection on one of the darkest chapters in Kraków’s history.

Logistics

Meeting Point: Apteka pod Orlem, Plac Bohaterow Getta 18, 33-332 Kraków, Poland. Meet your guide in front of the entrance of Apteka Pod Orlem. Look for the guide with the “Former Concentration Camp Plaszow Guided Tour” sign.

End Point: Henryka Kamieńskiego 57, 30-644 Kraków, Poland

English Contact Number: +48 727 001 040 (Available via Phone, WhatsApp, and Telegram)