Krakow: Plaszow Concentration Camp Guided Walking Tour
Podgorze, Krakow
Discover Plaszow camp with a local guide: few remains survive, but Schindler’s story and a unique space for reflection bring history alive.
This guided walking tour of Plaszow Concentration Camp in Krakow suits visitors interested in history and Holocaust remembrance.
Highlights
- Take a comprehensive tour of the Plaszow Concentration Camp
- Remember the victims of the Holocaust at the camp's memorials
- Learn where the Schindler's List film was shot
- Route paced to allow time for reflection
Description
Plaszow Camp was established by Nazi German occupiers in October 1942 on the grounds of two Jewish cemeteries in Krakow. Initially a forced-labor camp for Jews from the liquidated Krakow ghetto, it later included a penal-labor section for Poles from July 1943. In January 1944, it was redesignated as a concentration camp and served as a transit camp for Hungarian Jews being sent to Auschwitz. Over 35,000 people were imprisoned here and approximately 6,000 were murdered. Executions occurred at several sites within the camp; today, mass graves and memorials mark the area.
Your expert guide will piece together the camp's history using surviving landmarks, including the Grey House, ruins of the pre-burial hall, traces of the Jewish cemeteries, the roll-call square, and paths paved with gravestone fragments. The tour includes stops at major memorials such as the Monument of Torn-Out Hearts, and explanations of how the camp was divided into living, hospital, administrative, and industrial zones.
Oskar Schindler plays a key role in Plaszow’s history. Through his enamelware factory, he secured work permits for Jewish prisoners registered through Plaszow, protecting them from transportation to death camps. Later, he arranged their transfer to his wartime plant in Brunnlitz, saving over a thousand lives. His actions are integral to the story told here.
Plaszow differs from sites with preserved buildings by offering open ground, silence, and space for contemplation. With few physical remains, it is a site of memory rather than spectacle, providing an intimate place to confront history and honor the victims.
Includes
- Expert local guide
- 2-hour guided tour
- Single tram ticket
Important Information
- Please arrive 10 minutes before the tour starts. Late arrivals cannot join and tickets are non-refundable.
- Group tours are conducted in one language only; select your preferred language when booking.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
We recommend booking in advance and wearing comfortable walking shoes. The tour is best visited in daylight hours for safety and ease of access.
