Majdanek Lublin – Private Guided Tour of the Concentration Camp

The Majdanek State Museum occupies the site of a Nazi German concentration and extermination camp established in October 1941 on the southeastern outskirts of Lublin. What makes Majdanek extraordinary – and different from any other Holocaust memorial site in Europe – is that it was never hidden. It stands not in a remote forest, but within the city boundaries, visible to residents who passed it daily.

Majdanek operated between 1941 and 1944. Approximately 130,000 prisoners from nearly 30 countries passed through its gates – among them Polish Jews, Poles, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Russians, and citizens of numerous other nations. According to the latest historical research, close to 80,000 people perished here, the majority being Jewish victims (approximately 60,000).

Unlike Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was partially dismantled by the retreating SS, Majdanek was captured relatively intact by Soviet forces in July 1944 – it was the first major Nazi concentration camp to be liberated. As a result, it is one of the most complete and authentic concentration camp memorial sites in existence. The original barracks, gas chambers, crematorium, and watchtowers remain. The Mausoleum at the camp's far end holds the ashes of victims.

Our 3-hour private guided tour of Majdanek follows the full Historical Path, marked by 17 glass information panels documenting the camp's most significant locations. Here is what you will see:

• Monument-Gate: The symbolic entrance to the memorial, a monumental gate structure representing the suffering of prisoners

• Former prisoner camp boundary: Walk along the perimeter where the camp's fence once stood, with your guide explaining the camp's layout and structure

• Administrative area: Original SS buildings and administration blocks, offering insight into how the camp was managed

• Prisoner barracks: Walk through reconstructed camp roads built by prisoners using gravestones from Jewish cemeteries. The permanent exhibition inside the barracks includes prisoner testimonies, a harrowing collection of shoes belonging to victims, and documentation of living conditions

• Gas chambers: The remains of the gas chambers where victims were murdered. Your guide provides context and testimony from the 17 witness panels, referencing specific locations throughout the grounds – including accounts from both survivors and SS guards

• Crematorium: The original crematorium in the camp's economic zone, where your guide explains the historical procedures and provides personal testimonies from those who witnessed them

• The Mausoleum: The tour concludes at the Mausoleum – a domed structure containing the ashes of victims. It is a place of silence and reflection, often the most emotionally significant part of the visit

Throughout the tour, your private guide adapts the pace and depth of the commentary to your group's interests and emotional needs. This is not a rushed visit – it is a guided encounter with history.

Majdanek can be visited independently, but the experience of a private guided tour is fundamentally different. The site covers 90 hectares with 70 original buildings. Without a guide, it is easy to miss the most significant locations or to walk through without understanding the full weight of what you are seeing.

What our private guided tour of Majdanek offers:

• Expert local guide who specialises in the history of Majdanek and WWII Lublin – not a generic tour guide reading from a script, but a historian who knows this site in depth

• Entirely private – your group only (up to 10 people). No strangers, no fixed group pace, no compromises

• Emotional intelligence: visiting Majdanek is demanding. Your guide provides historical clarity and empathy, ensuring the experience is meaningful rather than overwhelming

• Available in English, Polish, and German

• Flexible pace – the tour adapts to your group. Some spend more time in the barracks exhibitions; others need longer at the Mausoleum. There is no rush.

Many visitors to Poland choose between Auschwitz and Majdanek. They are not interchangeable experiences – each has a distinct character.

Local guide perspective: Majdanek's location within a living city creates a particular kind of historical confrontation that Auschwitz, set in open countryside, does not. Residents of Lublin could not claim ignorance – the camp was there, visible, a few minutes' walk from daily life. This fact gives a Majdanek visit a different moral and historical dimension that many visitors find even more disturbing than the scale of Auschwitz.

Majdanek State Museum – Opening Hours (2025):

• Tuesday–Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (May–September) / 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (October–April)

• Monday: Closed

• Entry to the grounds is free; individual exhibitions have a small fee (approx. 10–23 PLN)

Address: Droga Męczenników Majdanka 67, 20-325 Lublin, Poland

Getting there from Lublin city centre:

• Tram or bus: Lines 23, 28 from ul. Krolewska – approximately 20 minutes

• Taxi / ride-share: approximately 10–15 minutes from Lublin Old Town

• Car: Free parking available on-site on ul. Droga Męczenników Majdanka

Getting there from Warsaw:

• Fast train Warsaw Centralna → Lublin Główny: approximately 2 hours (PKP Intercity). Trains run frequently throughout the day.

• From Lublin station to Majdanek: taxi (~15 min) or public transport (~20 min)

Q: How long does it take to visit Majdanek?

A: Our private guided tour of Majdanek lasts 3 hours. This is the recommended minimum to cover the full historical path: Monument-Gate, barracks and exhibitions, gas chambers, crematorium, and Mausoleum. Independent visitors can cover the main route in 2–2.5 hours, though most find they want more time in the barracks exhibitions.

Q: Do I need to book a guided tour in advance?

A: Yes – we require at least two weeks' notice to arrange a private guided tour. This allows us to confirm guide availability and send you a payment link. For peak season (May–September), booking further in advance is recommended. Entry to the memorial grounds does not require advance booking, but the quality of the experience is significantly improved with a private guide.

Q: Is Majdanek suitable for children?

A: Majdanek contains authentic Holocaust-era structures and graphic historical content. Children under 14 are generally not recommended. For older teenagers (14+), a visit can be an important educational experience when guided with appropriate sensitivity. Please contact us to discuss your group's needs.

Q: Can I visit Majdanek without a guide?

A: Yes – entry to the Majdanek State Museum grounds is free and does not require a guide. The site has 17 glass information panels in Polish, English, and Hebrew along the Historical Path. However, a private guide brings depth of historical context, witness testimonies, and emotional intelligence to the visit that significantly transforms the experience.

Q: What languages is the tour available in?

A: Our private guided tours of Majdanek are available in English, Polish, and German. Please specify your preferred language when booking.

Q: Is Majdanek the concentration camp near Lublin that appears in 'A Real Pain'?

A: Yes – the 2024 Jesse Eisenberg film 'A Real Pain', which won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Kieran Culkin), features a visit to Majdanek as a central scene. The film brought renewed international attention to this memorial site. The phrase 'majdanek lublin a real pain' has appeared in search data following the film's release and awards recognition. If you saw the film and want to understand what you witnessed on screen in person – this tour is designed for exactly that.