Prague to Auschwitz/Krakow - safety?

Hi,

This question arises from ignorance of Eastern Europe, so please don't misinterpret it as insinuating anything about the region or countries in question. I will be in Prague for a week in September. While there, I would really like to take a train to visit Auschwitz and Krakow.

My question is regarding the safety of train travel, staying in the area and walking around. The issue is that I am of South Asian origin. Is my ethnicity of concern regarding travel in this area? I have read about problems that people of darker skin color have faced in East Germany, for example, and I want to make sure that I am not going to be foolhardy making this trip alone.

IMO trains in poland are safe. When you get on a train, try to sit in a cabin with normal looking people in it already - avoid sitting alone. I've travelled from prague-wroclaw and prague-krakow on trains before and felt quite safe. As for your skin colour, i believe you should be fine in the big cities, but don't be surprised if you face a little discrimination here and there.

Thanks for the reply! A bit of discrimination I can deal with, as long as I don't get my head bashed in by a skinhead, or anything like that. :)

try not to have a purse in crowded areas. but if you have to, wear it over your shoulder and head..

I think people are more likely to be curious (so they'll stare) than discriminating - outside of the big cities you simply don't see many black or Asian people, and in smaller villages everyone notices a stranger so are always a bit suspicious.

Thanks, folks! That is very reassuring! I am looking forward to the trip. :)

I don't know about discrimation - but you can expect people to stare at you sometimes - as if they have never seen darker complexion

there are a lot of stories about robberies on the night trains. if you want to be on the safer side you can take a day train.

krakow is safe but don't artifically stand out (regardless of your skin color).

e.g. don't dress like a freak, definitely don't try to be a hero if you're being teased by people that you know you shouldn't mess with.

basically krakow's goons tend to look for 'hippies' rather than one skin or another. they just have a knack for teaching them a lesson on 'how to be a man'. many brits (who are as white as a sheet) get bitten up just because they give a 'sissy' vibe.

Krakow looked safe enough for me to consider going back for a second stay tomorrow. On the other hand I DID almost get killed coming back to Krakow from Auschwitz in flooding where my car actually got picked up and moved by flash floods and I had to do some creative driving to get back to krakow safetly. More on that when I get to my real computer in the USA

When you reach Auschwitz you should take a bath in the local facilities.