A Day of Deep Reflection at Auschwitz and Then Discovering Katowice

Before departing for today's trip, it's advisable that you organize some food to bring with you – a packed lunch from items at the local grocery store, for instance. This is because food selection at Auschwitz is rather limited, over-priced, and not of great quality.

It's been a short drive from Kraków, and you might not have had breakfast too long ago. However, as previously stated, food options at Auschwitz are rather limited and many complain that they are rather over-priced for what they are.
So stop off at this cute restaurant for a quick bite to eat. Perhaps grab a pastry or a light brunch and wash it down with a nice latte. It'll be a few hours before you settle down for further replenishment. The cakes and smoothies are particularly highly rated, but there are ample savory options too.

So, the main show for today is Auschwitz. You can either take a guided tour or muse about the place yourself. Guided tours are recommended to get the most out of the experience, as the guide will be able to tell you the history of every inch of the place. Tours are starting frequently at the main assembly point, and you can easily join the next available.
Auschwitz 1, as it's known, is the original camp. It's the spot which has the famous sign 'Arbeit Macht Frei'. This part of the camp is home to the museum and most of the administrative buildings. Here you'll see the famous buildings where the Nazi doctors carried out their experiments, walls of personal belongings collected from the inmates, torture chambers, execution walls, a gas chamber, and living quarters.
This part of the tour involves less walking than the second part. All of the buildings are close together and a great deal of interesting things to see and learn is in this complex of buildings. It's where you'll really need to be focused and concentrate on what you're learning.
Allow 90 mins or 2 hours to really see everything in Auschwitz 1. After you're finished, crack open your packed-lunch you brought with you from Kraków or roll the dice with the less-than-impressive restaurant at the site.
You can book a guided tour that suits you and your language preferences here.

Auschwitz 2 involves more walking. This part of the camp is home to the famous archway which the train line goes straight through. This is where the famous selection process would take place by the Nazi officers, who would decide who would live and who would die. In this part of the tour you'll see a train carriage that brought inmates to the camp, you'll see the remnants of all of the gas chambers, and you'll see the huts/barracks where the inmates lived and died.
Again, expect this part of the tour to take another 90 minutes, and be ready for a lot of walking.
After 3-4 hours spent at Auschwitz, you will not only be physically drained, but also mentally and emotionally drained from the impact of what you're seeing and learning.
Re-check this link as it also includes opening times.

After your afternoon at Auschwitz, it's time to get back to the modern world and relax a little. On arriving in Katowice, check in to the grandest hotel in the city, the 27-storey Courtyard by Marriott. The rooms are plush, and comfortable and boast an incredible view of the city. Freshen up your body and mind for an hour or so before heading out for a gentle walk and exploring.

The market square, or Rynek, as it's called by the locals, is a nice space to relax for a while. It's a very open-plan and has been updated in recent years to have a few novel attractions like a water feature, palm trees, neon signs, and plenty of comfortable places to sit and take in the surroundings as you watch trams cut through the square with a coffee or whatnot.
They've really made an effort to make the space a place that both locals and visitors want to come and hang out.

Now, you must be hungry. That packed lunch at Auschwitz was a while ago and some hot freshly cooked food will go down as a treat. Aioli is a very picturesque restaurant right on Rynek square. The unique building that it's housed in adds to the square's aesthetics itself. The food is fresh, and the menu is quite varied. Enjoy a pasta dish, a burger, or a steak. Whatever you fancy. The burger and fries come particularly recommended!

Okay, it's time to walk back to the hotel. But you don't need to retire to your room just yet. You've got some time to take in arguably the most impressive restaurant/bar in the city. At the top of your hotel, is 27 Pietro - or 27th Floor. It's an impressive sky bar restaurant with a panoramic view of the city. Enjoy a glass of wine or two while you take in the view and chat about what you've seen today.

Retire to bed. Enjoy the plush hotel suite that this 4-star hotel offers. The beds are comfortable, and the showers are relaxing. The breakfast in the morning is something waking up for too!