There are so many interesting places that I have backpacked through down the years that I will never ever find time to write about them all. In and around the Polish city of Kraków, there is a sheer abundance of things to see and do, places to go, pierogi to munch and beer to sinkpack. I was here first in winter time so on the way, dropped by Poznan for Grzane Piwo (hot beer) and a spot of sightseeing.
On my 2015 overland adventure from Poland to Ukraine and Chernobyl, I then also stopped off in historic Kraków – city of Kings (and actually…a dragon!).
At the time I was some 130 countries deep into my journey yet Kraków had eluded me despite 3 visits to Poland at that point! I checked into the Mosquito Hostel and organised some tours in Krakow such as Auschwitz/Birkenau (an eerie German Death Camp). In the city itself, I visited the Old Town, plus Kazimierz (Jewish Quarter). I won’t overload this post with photos though as I am writing about Schindler’s Factory, but you get the idea. Kraków has intense history and thrives in the modern day. It’s a superb, touristic city.
Since then, I have been to Krakow over 20 times, most recently in September 2024. On that first visit though, I toured the excellently insightful Schindler Factory. Before you visit though, be aware of the queues so get a “skip the line” ticket and you can go straight in – book it online here – Schindler’s factory tickets.
Here are my thoughts and advice on my visit to Oskar Schindler’s Factory.
What Is Oskar Schindler’s Factory?
Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory is a historic museum in Kraków, Poland that occupies the actual factory once owned by Oskar Schindler during World War II. The Germans invaded Poland, but there was enormous strength within, and this museum will help you to understand all that.
A few brief points on it –
- Originally established in 1937 as an enamelware and tin products factory, it was taken over by Oskar Schindler after the German invasion of Poland.
- During the Nazi occupation of Kraków (1939–1945), Oskar Schindler employed mostly Jewish workers, helping protect them from deportation and death in the German concentration and extermination camps — a story which of course was made world-famous by Steven Spielberg’s film Schindler’s List. As a non-film buff, even I have seen that one!
- In 2015 on my visit, and today the administrative building of the former factory houses a museum (a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków) with a major exhibition titled “Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945.” The displays use artifacts, documents, and recreations to tell the story of life in Kraków during the war and the Holocaust.
Booking Your Tickets/Tour In Advance
Back in 2015 it was less popular and less busy, but since then Kraków and Poland has boomed in tourism, so please book things in advance if you can. If you go to the Kraków Booking website, you can buy your tickets for Schindler’s factory tour in advance so that you can actually have a Guided Tour, in English – perfect. This will allow you to understand everything easier and clearer.
Getting to Oskar Schindler’s Factory
I walked there myself, though the Kraków public transport system is excellent, so you can arrive by tram or bu.
- The museum is at Lipowa 4, 30-702 Kraków, Poland, in Kraków’s Zabłocie district, southeast of the Old Town.
- Zabłocie was historically an industrial area and today is part of the city’s cultural quarter.
- From Kraków’s main centre you can walk (about 30–40 minutes for long-term whackpackers like me) or use public transport — trams and bus numbers such as 3, 9, 19, 24, 50 stop near Plac Bohaterów Getta (Ghetto Heroes Square), which is a short walk from the museum.
- Kraków Zabłocie train station is also nearby (about 5 minutes backpacking it).
Inside the museum you’ll find:
- Exhibits on the daily realities of Nazi-occupied Kraków.
- Schindler’s Office.
- Old Mock Streets from back in the 1930s.
- Personal stories of Jewish residents and workers saved by Schindler.
- An interesting yet sad fact about Polish football club Gornik Zabrze.
- Historical artefacts, photos, documents, and reconstructed scenes of wartime Kraków life.
In short, it’s a major historical site and educational museum that gives deep insight into Kraków’s wartime history as well as the humanitarian actions of Schindler and those he protected. For humans of the world, this brings a peace. It certainly brought a peace to me, before I met my friend Ania for dinner in the city of Kings.
In and around Krakow, you can also tour the Bochnia and Wieliczka Salt Mines, as well as Lanckorona, or even a trip to the mountain region of Zakopane to admire the views (below) at Morskie Oko.
So what are you waiting for? Get the next flight, train or bus into Krakow and start exploring this gem!