Day Trips from Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and also the most important city in the country. The city's attractions include its cultural, architectural and historical heritage, but it's also a great place to use as a base for exploring the nearby highlights on half-day or full-day organised and self-drive tours.

Some of the best things to do in Warsaw's outskirts include visiting the concentration camps located on the outskirts of the Polish capital, such as Majdanek or Treblinka, or even in other cities, such as Auschwitz-Birkenau. You can also delve into Poland's medieval heritage in Malbork, one of the country's most beautiful villages.

Excursions to Majdanek Concentration Camp from Warsaw will offer you the opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the most shocking sites in the history of the Holocaust. Majdanek, located just outside Lublin, was established by the Germans during World War II and operated from 1941 to 1944.

Unlike other concentration camps, Majdanek was not camouflaged and was located close to a city, functioning as a normal prison, which today allows a unique experience for visitors who wish to understand the magnitude of the crimes committed during that time. During these tours you can explore everything from the prisoner barracks to the gas chambers and crematoria.

Also, in the internal museum of the Majdanek Concentration Camp you will find visual testimonies such as the piles of personal items confiscated from prisoners and photographs that capture the brutal reality and provide poignant reminders of the human tragedy that took place at this site. These tours usually also include a visit to the memorial built in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

This concentration camp, as one of the best preserved in Poland, also provides an educational and emotional experience that seeks to preserve the memory of those who suffered and perished at Majdanek. In addition, during these tours you can also get to know the medieval beauty of Lublin.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 245 euros per person.
• Duration: about 10 hours.
• Disadvantages of these tours: the journey from Warsaw is long.

If you want to see one of the medieval wonders around Warsaw, you can opt for an excursion to Malbork. There you can visit Malbork Castle, also known as Mariemburg Castle, which is an iconic monument built by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century. As part of a fortified complex, it now bears witness to the rich medieval heritage of the region.

During these experiences you can explore the architecture of the castle, including the inner courtyards, the defensive towers and the Great Hall. The castle museum also offers a deep dive into the history of the Teutonic Knights and their role in the Baltic region. There you can also discover exhibits including armour, ancient weapons and historical artefacts, providing a detailed insight into medieval life in the castle.

A visit to Malbork will also allow you to explore the surroundings of this fairytale castle and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the town. There you will discover picturesque landscapes along the river Nogat and the charm of the cobbled streets. These excursions will therefore allow you to take a trip back in time to discover the secrets of this site of vital cultural and military importance in the region during the Middle Ages.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 338 euros per person.
• Duration: about 16 hours.
• Disadvantages of these tours: they are very extensive experiences, which might not be compatible with a short stay in Warsaw.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp is the most visited site in Poland and you can discover it from Warsaw on your own or on an organised tour. These experiences will allow you to face one of the darkest chapters of world history on the outskirts of Krakow, where this extermination camp, one of the largest of the Second World War, led millions of people to their deaths.

During the visit you can explore the barracks, gas chambers and the remains of Birkenau, where the Final Solution was carried out. The on-site museum and memorial includes a display of artefacts, photographs and testimonies that illustrate life in the camp and honour the memory of the victims. The experience is deeply moving and seeks to convey the devastating impact of Nazi persecution and genocide.

Kraków, the former capital of Poland, is another notable destination that is often part of the itinerary of travellers visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau from Warsaw. With its medieval charm, Market Square, Royal Castle and rich history, this site offers a striking contrast to other surrounding Polish cities.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 235 euros per person.
• Duration: about 14 hours.
• Disadvantages of these tours: they tend to be very shocking experiences, so they are not recommended for impressionable people or those with health problems.

If during your trip you want to see another concentration camp, but in an area close to the Polish capital, you can opt for Treblinka tours, which will allow you to discover a site that played a grim role during the Holocaust. Treblinka was one of the most lethal extermination camps established by the Nazis during the Second World War and is located less than 100 kilometres from Warsaw.

During your visit you can tour the memorial site, which includes monuments, plaques and remnants of the original facilities. The museum offers a detailed insight into the history of the camp and the atrocities that took place there. Visitors can explore the remains of the gas chambers and barracks, while listening to moving accounts from survivors who have recorded the brutality they endured as prisoners at Treblinka.

The Treblinka Concentration Camp tour experience is deeply moving and reflective, allowing visitors to reflect on the human tragedies that occurred here during the Nazi era. You should note, however, that the original structure that remains of this site is very precarious, as the Germans, during the retreat, dynamited much of the site.

If you want to experience the site in more depth you can also visit the Pawiak Prison Museum, which is considered one of the best museums in Warsaw and which was, in many cases, a stepping stone for prisoners before being transferred to Treblinka, being operational for a little over a year between 1942 and 1943, a time that was enough to turn this site into a scene of terror unheard of until then.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 179 euros per person.
• Duration: between 4 and 5 hours.
• Disadvantages of these tours: although the plan of the concentration camp is recreated and many of the structures were reconstructed, little remains of the original buildings of this site because they were dynamited by the Germans during the retreat from Poland.

If you want to visit one of the most beautiful destinations in Poland, but one that is not usually part of the main tours in the country, you can choose to visit Torun on a private tour from Warsaw. This city, located about 180 kilometres from the Polish capital, is noted for its medieval architecture and well-preserved Gothic buildings, such as the Church of St. John and the Clock Gate.

On the other hand, Torun is known worldwide for being the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus, the astronomer who formulated the heliocentric theory of the solar system and who, with his postulates, caused the Copernican turn. You can discover his legacy in the Copernicus House Museum, a very complete exhibition in which you can find objects from the mathematician's work and also many of his personal items, such as his desk.

On these private tours, which usually last between 10 and 12 hours, you will have the opportunity to explore the historic centre of the city on your own and also visit some of the main buildings of this destination. You can also sample the local food and take a stroll along the banks of the Vistula River, which separates the old and new parts of the city on both sides of the river.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 359 euros for groups of up to 3 persons.
• Duration: 10-12 hours.
• Disadvantages of these tours: they are full day tours but half of the day will be spent on transfers to and from Warsaw.

You can book any of these tours in advance online or book them once you are in Warsaw. However, keep in mind that many of these experiences are among the most popular in the city, so if you are planning to visit the Polish capital during the summer or during the high season months, I advise you to book them before you arrive in Warsaw.

On the other hand, as these are full day experiences, it is more advisable to book them if you are going to be in Warsaw for 3 days or more, otherwise I advise you to stay in the capital and get to know it in depth on one of the best tours of Warsaw.

These tours usually not only provide an in-depth understanding of the historical events that took place at these sites, but also aim to raise awareness of the importance of memory and the preservation of humanity, whatever the global context.

At Treblinka, Auschwitz-Birkenau and Majdanek, you can experience a profound historical reflection and discover in the remains of a Nazi extermination camp, gas chambers and barracks a first-hand testimony to the horrors of the Holocaust and the Second World War.

In Majdanek, located just outside Lublin, you can also find exhibitions and memorials to one of the best-preserved concentration camps, so you can also pay your respects to the events that took place there.

Firstly, if you want to visit any of these sites you should bear in mind that they are among the most visited in Poland, so I advise you to book in advance. This will allow you to secure your place on each of the experiences and get better rates, as prices are dynamic and can increase for last minute bookings.

On the other hand, during excursions it is essential that you adopt a respectful and reflective attitude. Many of these sites, such as Treblinka, bear witness to human tragedies and acts of profound violence, so it is important to maintain a considerate tone and avoid inappropriate behaviour, especially with regard to photography at Auschwitz.

I also advise you to prepare your visit by learning about the history of each site. Knowing the historical information will allow you to better understand the context of what you will see and get the most out of the educational experience.

Warsaw's proximity to various tourist sites around the city makes logistical planning easy, so you can combine these daily tours with some of the Polish capital's best nightlife experiences on your return or with other activities in the city.

Similarly, the efficient interconnection between the centre of Warsaw and the nearby concentration camps or Malbork Castle will allow you to discover more sites in less time, so you can get the most out of your visit during your tour.

Opting for a guided tour offers a number of advantages. On the one hand, you will have access to detailed information about the individual sites and historical contexts, which will enrich your experience and prevent you from overlooking important details. A guided tour will also ensure an efficient and convenient organisation of the itinerary, maximising the time available for the visit.

Bear in mind that Warsaw's surroundings tend to generate logistical complexity when it comes to transfers, so on a guided tour you can relinquish the organisation of the means of transport and the schedules of each of the movements and simply focus on enjoying the experience.