saltmine tour krakow

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KRAKOW SALT MINE TOUR

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Krakow salt mine tours to a unique centuries-old polish landmark, private car salt mine tours with a shared or private guide.

Our Private Salt Mine Tour from Krakow takes approximately 4 hours . We offer door-to-door pickup and drop-off , private, modern car and friendly, English-speaking drivers/tour leaders . The ride lasts for about 30 minutes each way. In the Salt Mine, you can either join a regular/shared guided tour or book a private guided tour . Private guided tours need to be booked at least 8 days in advance. The sightseeing takes about 2.5 hours . We will set up the pickup time based on the hour you have requested and fit it into the entry time options to the Museum to make It as comfortable for you as possible. You can also book Salt Mine and Auschwitz Birkenau or  Salt Mine and Schindler’s Factory in one day to experience more in one tour. After the trip, we will drop you off at your hotel or any other destination in the city centre.

Our special bonus for this Tour

If You decide to book our Tour, we have got something extra for you. Each day at 19:00, we organise an Evening Walking Tour , which you can join completely for free. It starts at the Jan Matejko Square under the “Grunwald Monument”. You will meet our professional city guide there, who will show you the best of Krakow Old Town. You will walk down the Royal Route and finish under Wawel Castle near the Dragon Monument. It takes about 1 hour. You can participate in this tour on any day of your visit in Krakow.

Shared Salt Mine tours from Krakow

Our Shared Salt Mine Tour from Krakow takes about 4 hours . We provide a modern, comfortable Mercedes Benz vehicle and a friendly English-speaking tour leader . We will schedule the pickup time according to the requested hour, as we aim to optimise the minibus route through the city to ensure maximum comfort for you. The journey to the Salt Mine takes about 30-40 minutes each way. A shared guided tour of the Salt Mine takes about 2.5 hours. You can also book Salt Mine and Auschwitz Birkenau or  Salt Mine and Schindler’s Factory in one day to get the most out of your holiday. After the tour, we will drop you off in Krakow city centre.

Early booking deals - 20% off

€ 53 book now

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Let's see Wieliczka Salt Mine with Krakow Direct

Organized guided tour from the city of Krakow to the Wieliczka Salt Mine is very popular. Book a guided tour and visit the tourist route in the world-famous salt mine. An English-speaking guide or another of Your choice will tell you the interesting history of the place, answer questions of even the most inquisitive tourists and at the same time take care of your safety and transport from/ to the city of Krakow.

If necessary, you have the opportunity to take advantage of free cancellation for group tours up to 24 hours before departure. You do not lose anything, and the tours are organized all the time, so you can go with us another time. Together we will visit one of the most beautiful places in Poland, and our qualified service will take care of all your needs, tickets and transportation from Krakow.

The interesting history of the Wieliczka Salt Mine

It belongs to the unique and one of the oldest salt monuments of Poland. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the oldest existing salt mines in the world and was established in the 13th century. Nowadays, salt is no longer mined in Wieliczka, but this original underground complex has been preserved in excellent condition, which makes it a world-class monument. The Wieliczka Salt Mine was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List for its breathtaking underground chambers carved entirely out of salt. An organized tour from Krakow to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the most popular day trips and attracts over a million tourists each year. It is impossible to miss such an attraction when visiting Krakow.

Joint sightseeing tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow

Our joint Krakow salt mine tour takes about 4 hours. We provide a modern, comfortable Mercedes Benz car and a friendly, English-speaking tour leader. We make an appointment with you to pick you up at a pre-arranged time. The journey from the centre of Krakow takes about 30-40 minutes each way. The tour of the Salt Mine in English takes about 2,5 hours. You can also book organized combination tours. Krakow Direct offers guided tours , including the Salt Mine and Auschwitz Birkenau or the Salt Mine and Schindler’s Factory, in one day to make the most of your vacation. Of course, it will take more than 4 hours, but you do not have to worry about anything. After the tour from Krakow, we provide safe transportation to your hotel or accommodation in the centre of Krakow.

What’s more, in the event of unforeseen events or the need to cancel, you can take advantage of a free cancellation by informing us in advance. You lose nothing, and your guided tour from Krakow with Krakow Direct can be taken at another time.

Attractions for children in a Wieliczka salt mine tour

Discover solilandie – a tourist route for children.

While in the mine, during these 4 hours, we recommend that you take the whole family on a trip to the mysterious Solilandia – a land that was once discovered by accident by one of the miners working underground. According to legend, it is home to the Soliludki, the dragon Solizaurus, who you must be on your guard against, and the good spirit of the mine – the Treasurer. The locals believe that the Wawel Dragon from Krakow also came from this dragon family. During a visit to Solilandia, children will learn the habits of the Gnomes and enter a wonderful fairy-tale world. They must, however, carefully look around and creep on tiptoe so as not to awaken the evil dragon. Our guide is already experienced in this and the organized group will feel safe.

Playground underground in Wieliczka salt mine – the chamber of Wincenty Witos

An underground playground located in the Wieliczka salt mine is a great attraction for all the youngest visitors. In the Wincenty Witos’s chamber, a relatively young attraction was built with the smallest visitors to the mine in mind. Children can listen to stories told by Kryształek – the salt lamp which shows the history of the Mine and the miners working there, grab the telephone to hear about the ways of communication between them, or turn the crank and thus turn on the light at different levels of the Mine. This helps them understand more about the whole history and the work that was done there. While looking into a watchmaker’s magnifying glass, they will see a salt crystal magnified. After all, salt is not at the centre of our interest every day. What’s more, they will have a lot of fun using the interactive wall, creating art in the drawing corner and playing at various stations, such as salt, minerals or listening to fairy tales.

Playing together on an underground playground in a salt mine is a great adventure, perhaps even the adventure of a lifetime. After all, not every child has the opportunity to play 125 meters underground. By choosing an organized trip from Krakow to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, you can provide your kids with such wonderful experiences and memories.

Culture crystals in Wieliczka salt mine- beautiful St Kinga’s Chapel, slat mine to marry and world heritage site

The rich salt vaults host various types of events for visitors. The salt mine conducts comprehensive cultural activities, organizing concerts of classical and sacred music, exhibitions, dance tournaments, martial arts tournaments, as well as soccer matches. Interestingly, even bungee jumping has taken place here, others have flown in a basket balloon, thus gaining an entry in the Guinness Book of Records, and Mateusz Kusznierewicz, a multiple worlds and European champion in the Finn class, has sailed on the underground salt lake. The underground salt lake itself is an amazing spectacle, which is really worth seeing with your own eyes. In St. Kinga’s Chapel, many couples have said the magical I do. Perhaps someone of you will also decide to get married in Wieliczka Salt Mine? The chapel there is open to anyone interested. You can come here on Sunday for a holy mass and once a year for a Pasterka mass. It will surely be an even more magical moment.

Participation in the play

The underground salt lake, st. kinga’s chapel, and the whole unique space.

Wieliczka’s underground space delights not only tourists but also filmmakers. The corridors here have become part of the scenery of numerous Polish productions, including the famous film “Sexmission” about the last two men in the world ruled by women.

Time for rest – overnight stay in the Slovakian Chamber

If you like your visit to the Mine very much, you can stay here longer than other visitors. There is an attraction waiting for you which is even more fun than the pyjama party. It is an overnight stay underground. You will open your eyes with amazement, but in the Wieliczka underground there are no impossible things. In the Słowacki Chamber, exactly 125 m under the ground level, a recreation complex was created, where you can find comfortable beds, a TV room, games, a reading room, a restaurant, and convenient sanitary conditions. Staying overnight underground is an incredible attraction for the whole family. It will send shivers down your spine. Just don’t forget to bring your pyjamas.

Why you should choose a Wieliczka salt mine tour with Krakow Direct?

Extreme sports, weddings, concerts, playing in the underground playground, spending the night, and even licking the salt wall… And how would you like to spend your time in the Wieliczka Salt Mine? Our organized tour with an English-speaking guide will provide you with as much excitement and knowledge as all these attractions. What’s more, the salt mine tour with Krakow Direct provides you with safe transportation back to Krakow city in our luxury fleet, as well as the possibility to take advantage of a free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.

Interesting facts about Wieliczka salt mine

Here are 5 of the most impressive and interesting facts about the Wieliczka Salt Mine that attract crowds of tourists and children’s tours from all over the world.

Basic facts about the Salt Mine

Wieliczka Salt Mine has a total of over 300 km of galleries, which is equal to the distance from Wieliczka to Warsaw. The tourist route itself, however, is 3.5 km long and includes 20 chambers, about 800 stairs and goes down to the third level of the mine – 135 meters below the ground level. The deepest level is 327 meters underground.

Most of the mine is made of salt alone

Although the scaffolding supporting the entire construction is made of wood, most of the tunnels along with walls, floors, roofs, and beautiful crystal decorations and statues were carved only in salt. Especially worth seeing is the chapel of St Kinga.

Wieliczka Salt Mine was inscribed on the UNESCO list- a world heritage site

Since 1978 the Wieliczka Salt Mine has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the official name ‘The Royal Salt Mines of Wieliczka and Bochnia’. It is one of the first 12 sites inscribed on the world list and is also one of the oldest salt mines in the world. According to official data, the oldest document confirming its existence dates back to 1044.

Underground, in the salt mine, hides more than you can imagine

Wieliczka salt mine tour provides many interesting attractions that make the visit more interesting. There is Europe’s only underground church – St. Kinga’s Chapel, where to this day masses are held on the occasion of St. Kinga’s name day, Christmas pastorals and weddings of young couples. You can also find there the world’s largest mining machine made of wood, crystals from crystal caves and many, many other attractions adorning the tourist route, delighting all visitors.

Salt Mine tour – interesting events

Contrary to what might seem impossible, in 2014 the first underground balloon flight took place in the highest chamber and lasted more than 4 minutes. In addition, it earned a record entered in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest number of participants in the polonaise dance and the largest lasagna. As you can see, people’s imagination and possibilities know no boundaries. It is not without reason that millions of tourists come on organized trips from Krakow to Wieliczka to see this monument with their own eyes. The Wieliczka mine has also hosted bungee jumping, soccer matches, and even windsurfing on an underground salt lake.

Practical information for tour participants

The temperature underground is 14-16 degrees C so it is better to take warm sweatshirts with you and replace flip-flops and sandals with comfortable shoes suitable for walking on stone and salt ground.

Our knowledgeable guides usually take breaks during their guided tours, when you can use the toilets free of charge. For parents with children, there are facilities such as baby changing facilities and highchairs in the underground Miners’ Inn and restaurant at the Grand Sal Hotel. If you have any questions to our guide, feel free to ask. He is not only excellent in Polish but he is also English speaking.

Do not worry that on the way back you will have to climb hundreds of stairs again. The trip will end in an elevator that will take you back to the surface. And we’ll take care of your safety and quick return to Krakow.

It is worth getting acquainted with the regulations of the Mine beforehand and listen to the guide attentively. What is interesting, in many places underground Wi-Fi is available.

After the tour of Salt Mine – come back to Krakow

The meeting point after the guided tour is at a previously agreed place with our English-speaking guide. The transport takes about 30 minutes from the meeting point to the centre of Krakow or directly to your hotel.

If you are interested in a salt mine tour from Krakow with Krakow Direct, just call us. You can book in advance  Salt mine tour from Krakow or in an emergency, use free cancellation. Just let us know up to 24 hours before the guided tour, and you can use free cancellation without any consequences.

Other trips with Salt Mine from Krakow city centre with KrakowDirect

Our company specializes in transfer services. We organize daily tours of the Salt Mine in Krakow and guarantee high quality at the best prices . Wieliczka Salt Mine tours with KrakowDirect are available in private or shared options.

If you are interested in a longer tour than just the Wieliczka Salt Mine, please check our website for other options. We also offer guided tours to Auschwitz Birkenau and Salt Mine, Salt Mine and Schindlers Factory . But not only salt mines are in our minds. Check the suggestions of an organized tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Schindlers Factory . Each tour is a day trip and includes comfortable transportation, safety, tickets and amazing excitement at great prices per person.

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Salt Mine (Wieliczka) Tour

Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow remembers the times of the Middle Ages. It one of the world’s oldest salt mine in the world . This is the only mining facility in the world functioning continuously since the Middle Ages to the present, allowing the evolution of mining technology in different historical periods. Wieliczka Salt Mine is about 260 km of excavation on 9 levels , the first of which – the level of Bono – goes to a depth of 64 meters , while the latter lies 327 meters below the surface. Total length of sidewalks, connecting about 3000 excavation (sidewalks, ramps, service chambers, lakes, wells, shafts), exceeds 300 km. The tourist route is 2,5 km , consists of 20 chambers located at depths from 64 to 135 meters .

Wieliczka Salt Mine is located around 15 kilometres from the city center of Krakow (about 30 min drive). The best option to get to Salt Mine is to book a door-to-door tour with us. Driver will pick you up in the morning from your accommodation or if you wish there is a option to go there afternoon . Salt Mine in Wieliczka should definitely be on your “to do” list during your visit in Krakow.

Package deals

You can book a package Salt Mine tour and airport transfer Krakow to your hotel and back. If you are looking best offer please contact with customer service KrakowDiscovery .

Door to door pick up

Our driver will pick you up from the hotel or apartment and he will takes you directly to the Salt Mine(Wieliczka).

Salt Mine in Wieliczka – 2,5h

We help you to arrange a ticket for a tour there. Regular ticket with (English, Spanish, Italian, French) guide cost 93zl per person or 73zl reduce ticket. The tour in the Mine will takes about 2,5 hours .

After visiting Salt Mine our driver will take you back to Krakow, wherever you wish.

Tour details

Choose tour type to get details information

Offer include:

• Guided tour in the Salt Mine
• Admission fees
• Meeting in appointed place
• Transport to and from (eg. to Salt Mine and return)
• Door to door service
• Private car just for yourselves
• High quality, friendly and helpful English-speaking driver’s
• Assurance of safely and professionalism

Show prices in PLN/ EUR

4-6 persons

All prices presented in the table above are in Euro/Zloty per person. Price includes English guided tour and all admission fees are includes in the price.

27 EURO / person

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• Krakow Tours & Trips

Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour from Cracow

The Tour Includes:

Return shared transportation from Cracow city center meeting points with a bus or van

English-speaking driver

Licensed Tour English-Speaking Guide

Entrance Tickets

Guided Tour Itinerary

Tour details.

Explore the miracles of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a unusual underground maze and a cherished Polish treasure. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it's an experience you won't want to miss.

A must-do adventure in Cracow, this salt mine offers an unforgettable journey into history and nature's wonders. As the world's largest mining heritage site, it boasts a rich legacy waiting to be discovered.

Moreover, immerse yourself in the mine's beneficial microclimate, renowned for its health-enhancing properties. Don't pass up the chance to explore this unique place during your visit to Krakow.

About Wieliczka Salt Mines

As you may know, salt has healing properties, so take a deep breath and feel refreshed during your visit.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine, dating back to the 13th century, is one of the world's oldest salt mines near Cracow. Descending almost 327 meters underground, it stretches over 287 kilometers. During your two-hour guided tour in English, explore 20 salt chambers and learn about medieval salt extraction and famous visitors from the past.

Besides admiring magnificent timber constructions, an underground salt lake, chambers, and majestic corridors, your sightseeing tour will also have a positive effect on your health. Get ready for an amazing trip to Wieliczka Salt Mine!

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site alongside Auschwitz Birkenau Museum, don't miss the opportunity to explore both.

Check out the Auschwitz Tour for more details.

Other Options

• Wieliczka Salt Mine Ticket (Skip-the-line)   and How to reach Wieliczka Salt Mine individually.
• Wieliczka Salt Mine With Private Transport

Terms & Conditions

Cancellation with refund is possible up to 24hours before the tour

• Please arrive at the designated pick - up point at least 5 minutes before departure time. 
• Minor delays (circa 20 minutes) are possible due to traffic conditions in Krakow. 
• Please be advised that due to availability of guides at the Salt Mine the time of the tour might change - we will inform you about this up to the day before. A time change does not qualify for a refund.

Wieliczka Salt Mine Regulations

• Please mind that the tour begins with climbing down 380 steps and the regular tour does not include the lift that takes you down
• Please, wear comfortable shoes - the tour requires a lot of walking
• The temperature in Salt Mine is around 14 degrees so please take a jacket with you

Your pickup time depends on the place of departure. The pickup time will be generated after you choose pickup location and it will appear on your voucher. It is always recommended to call/write our Support Center and confirm the pickup time - just to be on the safe side :)

It takes around 30 minutes to get to the Wieliczka Salt Mine

The entire tour from pickup to drop off takes approximately 4,5 hours. The sightseeing itself takes around 2,5 hours. 

Discover Cracow offers another variation of the tour - Wieliczka Salt Mine Ticket , so you do not need to book the whole tour with transportation. You can choose only the ticket and join us in Wieliczka.

The regular Salt Mine tour does not include the lift to get down. After the tour, the group is taken by lift to the surface.

• If you are staying in the Old Town or Jewish Quarter Area and you  don't mind using our meeting points  - pick the  Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour . You will save some money by choosing this option!
• If you want to travel to Wieliczka Salt Mine by yourself (by train or bus) and you don't need transportation from Krakow , but you want to book your ticket in advance and skip the line at the Salt Mine - pick the  Krakow Salt Mine Ticket .  The meeting point is super easy to find, you will join our group and skip the queue!

I hope that explains everything :) Oh, and one more thing: the sightseeing of Wieliczka Salt Mine in all those options is the same (the difference is only the transportation, the guided tour of Salt Mine doesn't differ).

Unfortunately, it is not possible - the car might change in the meantime so it is possible that you will be taken back to Krakow in a different car. You can leave your belongings in a cloakroom inside the Mine.

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• Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour

About the Salt Mine Tour

The chapel of Saint Kinga in Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the wonders of Poland. Hand-carved one hundred years ago by a group of highly gifted miners, it is an awe-inspiring thing to behold. It would be a great shame to miss it if you’re coming to Krakow, and besides, there are many other attractions to be explored here too, including underwater lakes, as well as ancient, smaller chapels – the mines here date all the way back to the thirteenth century. Although there are so many interesting features about Wieliczka that you will discover on a guided tour, here you can read about 5 of the most amazing facts about the salt mines .

Tour information

We will drive you direct to the mines, which saves you having to mess around with buses or trains. We will pick you up straight from your hotel. Once there, we’ll see to it that you can join an English speaking tour of the interior. Of course, after the tour of the mines, we’ll drive you back to wherever you would like to be dropped off in Krakow!

As always, our tours are original and free of overcrowded buses! We’ll make sure you know all the info and that you won’t miss anything along the way. All of our guides are locals with great personalities and they really know their stuff. They’ll make sure each and every tour is perfect!

Prices and Group Bookings

Price per person (up to 10 people) – 199 PLN

For groups over 10 people, the price is negotiable

What’s included in the Price?

8-seater van transport with hotel pickup/drop off, entrance fees included. On site join others for larger group tour guided in English by someone licensed directly with the Salt Mine Museum..

Time of the tour

Pickup between 3-4pm / return by 8pm

On site tour approx. 2.5h

Different Tour Times possible – just ask!

Minimum of 2 persons per tour. Prices include all entrance fees and taxes. Price provided is for English language tours. For tours in other languages, enquire for availability and pricing.

Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour Reviews

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Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour

Discover amazing Salt Mine

• Sightseeing Tours
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7 centuries

of rich history

about 245 km

of hollowed out corridors

tourists have explored the mysteries of Wieliczka

Sharing tour

We provide six, eight or twenty seater minivan or minibus, comfortable and air-conditioned.

Private tour

We offer a private comfortable car with a private English speaking driver only for you.

Special offer

We provide comfortable coach for group more than 20 people for school trip or business group.

Salt Mine Tour

Get infomarions about Salt Mine Tour

We will arrange for you the Salt Mines Guided Tour from Krakow. An English speaking driver will pick you up from the Hotel/Hostel/Apartment between 7-9am. The way by car/minibus from Krakow to Auschwitz takes about 40min drive. An English guided tour starts between 09:30-11:00am (to be confirmed) . The guided tour takes about 2h walk. Back to Krakow between 1-2pm (to be confirmed)

Offer include:

Tour plan description:, pick-up time from hotel/apartment/hostel.

An English speaking driver will pick you up from the Hotel/Hostel/Apartment between 7-9am (the final pick-up TIME will be send via email). He will be waiting for you at the reception desk (Hotel) or outside of the main entrance to apartment (Apartment).

Transport from Krakow to the Salt Mines

The way by car/minibus/bus from Krakow city center to the Salt Mines takes about 40min drive.

Guided tour of the Salt Mines in English with a licensed museum guide. The guided tour takes about 2h walk. Headsets to hear the guide clearly are provided.

Transport from Salt Mine to Krakow

Back to Krakow between 1-2pm. Our driver drops you off at your hotel/apartment/hostel.

Door to door pick up

ur driver will pick you up directly from your hotel, apartments between 7:15 to 9:20am (pick up time to be confirm) . He will be waiting for you at the reception desk or outside of building (apartments).

We will arrange for you the Salt Mines Guided Tour from Krakow. An English speaking driver will pick you up from the Hotel/Hostel/Apartment between 7-9am. Sharing with other people in the minibus. The way by car/minibus from Krakow to the Salt Mines takes about 40min drive. An English guided tour starts between 09:30-11:00am (to be confirmed). The guided tour takes about 2h walk. Back to Krakow between 1-2pm (to be confirmed). “ All admission/guide fees included in the price. Back to Krakow between 1-2pm.

• English Speaking Guided Tour
• Admission fee
• Transport to and from (eg. to Auschwitz and return)
• Door to door service (van,bus will be exclusively at your service)
• High quality, friendly and helpful English-speaking driver’s assistance
• Assurance of safety and professionalism

All prices presented in the table above are in Zloty/Euro/GBP per person. Included all admission/guided fees.

Please note that max. size handbags brought into to Salt Mine is 30x20x10cm.

We will arrange for you the Salt Mine Guided Tour. An English speaking driver will pick you up from the Hotel/Hostel/Apartment between 7-9am (to be confirm) An English guided tour starts between 09:30-11:00am. The fee is 93zloty each per person. An English guided tour takes about 2-2,5h walk. We will book for you all tickets in advance. After visiting Salt Mine our driver will take you back to Krakow. Our driver & car will be just for you.

• Meeting at appointed place (eg. at your hotel, apartment etc.)

We are experienced shuttle company

Experienced drivers

Our drivers are career professionals with the skills and experience to meet your company’s high performance standards. All our drivers speak English, are friendly and promise you excellent service, delivered professionally and with a smile.

Legitimate transport company

Our company has all the required documents for transport. Our certificates allow us to organize trips and trsnfers in Poland and abroad.

Licensed tour operator

We are fully licensed company recommended by Tripadvisor what confirms our qualifications and reviews. We have certificates confirming our a passengers’ transportation license also we are associated in the “Krakow Chamber of Tourism”

High performance standards

Guarantee of excellent and reliable service. We are number one choice for top quality transfers and tour. Our most popular day trips are available on group or private. With us you can save your money and trouble.

English speaking drivers

Our English speaking drivers are always friendly, helpful and courteous. They know the ins and outs of the city of Krakow and are always willing to share their knowledge with you and give you some precious tips for your stay in Krakow. Always on time!!

Excellent offer

We will offer you extra discount if you book more than one tour with us. We will give you 10% discount for additional trips it`s mean second will be included 10% off. We’ll set all the details of special offer for you during the confirmation contact and get even 10% off. So don’t wait, book at one or more trips and save your money

Our company specializing in organizing trips to Auschwitz-Birkenau camps, Salt Mine in Wieliczka, Zakopane, Shooting Range and many others as well as Krakow Katowice Airport Transfers. „Auschwitz tour - Krakow Trip” is fully licensed company recommended by Tripadvisor what confirms our qualifications and reviews.

• Krakow Attractions
• Wieliczka Salt Mine

St. Kinga's Chapel

• Wieliczka Salt Mine Photos
• Plan Your Visit
• Skip the Line Tours
• Guided Tours
• Krakow to Auschwitz Birkenau Tours
• Oskar Schindler's Factory Tours
• Energylandia Amusement Park
• Wawel Castle
• Zakopane Thermal Baths
• St Mary's Basilica
• Chocholow Thermal Baths
• Rynek Underground Museum Tickets
• Plaszow Concentration Camp
• Be Happy Museum in Krakow
• Nowa Huta Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Things to do
• Festivals and Events

Wieliczka Salt Mine guided tours

Headout is a brand trusted by millions of guests worldwide offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction.

Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine with Skip-the-Line Tickets

• The UNESCO-listed Wieliczka Salt Mine will have you discover an underground 700-year-old world of 23 chambers composed of different salt compositions and saline lakes.
• With your expert multilingual guide, learn about methods of salt extraction, mining tools and devices, and the various ways of transporting salt from the mine.
• Admire the 300-year-old religious and historical statues made by miners from salt in St. Anthony, Janowice, and Holy Cross Chapels.
• While on your tour, you can taste the raw salt from the walls! A truly sensory experience.
• The Chapel of St Kinga will mesmerize you with its unique atmosphere and figures such as Pope John Paul II and a copy of Da Vinci's ‘Last Supper’ — all delicately carved in salt.
• Salt chandeliers, smooth yet made-of-salt flooring, and even a multimedia spectacle are other highlights in this Chapel at the heart of the mine.
• Guided tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine
• Expert guide (available in multiple languages)
• Skip-the-line entry
• Access to Tourist Route
• Booking fees
• Access to Miner's Route
• Access to Graduation Tower
• Tip: As the temperature underground reaches 17–18°C, the best way to dress is in layers.
• This tour is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Ukrainian & Russian.
• The route includes around 800 stairs, 380 of which are at the start. So, make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes.
• Telecommunication signals will not reach you in the Mine. However, a designated place is available to use free WiFi and make phone calls.
• In exceptional cases, some of the chambers of the Tourist Route might be excluded from the guided tour.
• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine with Meeting Point Pick Up from Krakow

• Enjoy skip-the-line access and bypass waiting queues at the 800-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the most unique attractions in Poland.
• Travel by a comfortable AC bus after a convenient pickup from the meeting point.
• With an expert guide by your side, learn about all the myths and legends of one of the oldest salt mines in the world.
• Explore the vast 327-meter underground labyrinth that dates back to the 13th century.
• Marvel at the fascinating salt artwork as you walk through 22 chambers carved in salt. See the salty underground lake, chapels, and salt monuments here.
• Expert guide (English, German, Italian, French, Spanish)
• Round-trip transfers from Krakow with pick-up from meeting point
• Tip: The microclimate of the mine is great for people with asthma and allergies.
• This tour is not entirely wheelchair accessible.
• Temperatures can drop to 14 degrees, so make sure to wear warm clothing.
• Wear comfortable shoes as there is plenty of walking involved.
• Bringing luggage to the mine is not allowed with the exception of hand baggage. Hand baggage is considered to be luggage of maximum dimensions 35cm x 20cm x 20cm.

Skip-the-Line Combo: Wieliczka Salt Mine + Schindler's Factory

• Explore two of Poland’s attractions with the help of these pocket-friendly tickets during this guided tour!
• Visit the world's oldest salt mine, Wieliczka Salt Mine, acclaimed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• From an expert guide, learn about ancient mining tools, salt extraction methods, and transportation (available in various languages).
• Explore saline lakes and beautiful salt statues beneath 135 meters.
• Start your journey back to Krakow under Nazi occupation with your expert guide.
• Enter without waiting in line by taking the skip-the-line entrance into the factory! Know more about Oskar Schindler’s life from the Enamel Factory, recreating the city's WWII events.
• Visit the photographer's shop, take the tram, and walk through the crowded streets of a Jewish ghetto.
• See where the events depicted in Steven Spielberg's film "Schindler's List" occurred in the now-famous Schindler's factory.

Weilickza Salt Mine

• Skip-the-line entry to Wieliczka Salt Mine

Schindler’s Factory

• Skip-the-line entry into Oskar Schindler’s Factory
• Small tour group
• The excursion is not wheelchair accessible. Some of the underground workings of the Tourist Route are adapted for people with limited mobility.
• In exceptional cases, some of the chambers of the Tourist Route might be excluded from the excursion.
• Service animals/guide dogs are allowed.
• Tip: Take note of the preserved machinery, tools, and materials to get a sense of the working conditions during that time.
• This experience is wheelchair accessible.

Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine with Round-Trip Transfers and Lunch

• Explore the Wieliczka Salt Mines, the only facility in the world that is operational since the Middle Ages.
• With round-trip transfers arranged, you can enjoy a hassle-free transportation experience in an air-conditioned minibus.
• A UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can catch sight of the original excavated holes, shafts, and chambers at the salt mine.
• Delve into the history of the salt mine with a local professional guide by your side during the tour.
• Take a thrilling ride from the depths of the mine to ground level on an original elevator used since the middle ages.
• Purchase some memorable rock salt souvenirs at the store present outside the attraction.
• Sate your appetite with a lunch box included in your ticket, offering vegetarian and meat options.
• Note: The tour includes pick-up services from the hotels located in the center of Krakow. If your hotel location is in an area beyond this or in an area with limited traffic/accessibility, then you will be picked up from the nearest possible pickup place. The exact location and pickup time will be provided to you by the tour operator at least a day before your scheduled tour.
• Pick-up from the hotel or from the nearest possible pick-up point
• Private transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
• Service of an experienced driver/English-speaking tour manager
• Entry tickets
• Tour with a professional guide (English, Spanish, French, German, or Italian)
• Audio equipment rental
• Food: Lunchbox with ham or Cheese Sandwich or Hummus Sandwich Fruits, Chocolate
• Drinks: Water
• Photo permission (10 PLN fee paid on the spot)

This ticket has the following options you can choose from:

• English Guided Tour
• Spanish Guided Tour
• French Guided Tour
• Italian Guided Tour
• German Guided Tour

Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine's Miners’ Route with Skip-the-Line Entry

• Experience the thrill of a miner's life with this unique guided tour, taking you deep into the heart of the Wieliczka Salt Mine with skip-the-line tickets.
• Accompanied by an expert guide delve deeper into the history and culture of the mine with exclusive Miner's Route access through tools and equipment used by miners.
• Weave through exclusive hidden tunnels, and undertake exciting tasks like measuring methane levels.
• Inclusions like safety training, use of professional mining equipment, and a certificate of completion ensure an authentic mining experience.
• A choice of English or Polish guided tours, grants in-depth access to the Miner's Route.
• Expert English/Polish-speaking guide (optional)
• Tip: Keep an eye out for the intricate salt sculptures carved by miners throughout history.
• Please note that the maximum depth you can reach is 101m where telecommunication signals will not reach you.
• It’s recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
• There are no toilets available underground.
• Note that you take part in the tour in the company of other individual tourists, the Mine is responsible for assembling a group.
• As the temperature underground reaches 14-16ºC, the best way to dress is in layers.
• Photography is allowed.
• The following are not allowed on this tour: open flames, electric torches, smoking cigarettes (including e-cigarettes), and animals.
• This experience is restricted for guests aged 10 and below and those with disabilities.

Combo (Save 10%): Krakow Card + Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine Tickets

• Get access to 37 museums and attractions with the Krakow City Pass and enjoy skip-the-line entry to Wieliczka Salt Mine with this money-saving combo ticket.
• Discover the best of Krakow with the Krakow City Pass, providing access to 37 museums and attractions.
• Enjoy unlimited public transport for 2 or 3 days, allowing flexible exploration of the city at a cost-efficient rate.
• Explore the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO-listed site, with skip-the-line entries and expert guides available in multiple languages.
• Unearth the extraordinary history of the mine with insights into salt extraction techniques and marvel at the awe-inspiring salt sculptures and chapels.

Krakow Card

• Access to 37 museums and attractions
• Unlimited travel on buses and trams
• Validity of 2 or 3 days (optional)

Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine

• Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine
• Access to the tourist route
• Temporary exhibitions
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Entry to Wawel Cathedral and chambers
• Other modes of transportation
• Tip: If you have limited time, prioritize visiting the museums that close early before exploring the ones that have slightly later closing times.
• Museum/attraction opening times are subject to change.
• The card is valid only on city buses and trams (day and night).
• The last admission to exhibitions is typically 90 minutes before closing time.
• Some museums are closed on Mondays.
• The card's validity depends on the number of days chosen at redemption.
• Choose the day of redemption when exchanging the voucher for the card.
• Tip: Wieliczka Salt Mine offers a variety of edible salt products, including different types of salt, flavored salts, and salt-based condiments, which you can purchase as souvenirs.
• The tour is available in English, French, German, and Spanish.
• Dress in layers as the underground temperature is around 17-18°C.
• The guided tour is not wheelchair accessible, but some parts of the Tourist Route are adapted for people with limited mobility.
• No telecommunication signals in the mine, but designated areas provide free WiFi and phone access.
• In exceptional cases, some chambers of the Tourist Route may be excluded from the guided tour.
• Service animals/guide dogs are permitted.

Top things to do in Krakow

Excavated in the 13th century, the 800-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the oldest operating mines in the world. Commercial salt mining stopped in 1996 but the caverns left from the excavation have changed over the years and developed into a tourist attraction that you should visit on your trip to Krakow. The complex maze of passages, an underground lake, chapels, halls comprising salt chandeliers, statues, and sculptures are a few highlights of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is now a Polish Historic Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

One of the best ways to explore an attraction like this one is to go on a guided tour. Here’s a comprehensive travel guide on the Wieliczka Krakow Salt Mine tours!

Which Wieliczka Salt Mine guided tour is best for you?

Skip-the-line guided tours

Duration:  Flexible  Suited for:  Travelers on a tight schedule Ticket price:  from zł98 Why go for it?

• Skip-the-line tickets ensure you spend less time waiting and more time exploring the beautiful salt mine.
• No need to worry about long queues – breeze through the entrance and immerse yourself in the mine's captivating history.
• It is an economical option that guarantees you won't break the bank while still enjoying a guided tour.

Recommended tours:  Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine with Skip-the-Line Tickets

Combo tours

Duration:  Flexible  Suited for:  History enthusiasts exploring multiple sites Ticket price:  from zł204 Why go for it?

• Combine your Wieliczka Salt Mine adventure with a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Schindler's Factory, or Krakow Old Town for a comprehensive historical journey.
• Streamline your itinerary with a combo tour, ensuring a seamless transition between two extraordinary sites.
• Opting for a combo ticket often comes with discounts, providing excellent value for money.

Recommended tours:  Combo: Auschwitz-Birkenau & Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour from Krakow with Optional Lunch  |  Skip-the-Line Combo: Wieliczka Salt Mine + Schindler's Factory  |  Combo: Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour & Visit to Krakow Old Town

Krakow Card combo

Duration:  Flexible  Suited for:  Exploration of multiple top attractions Ticket price:  zł300.49 Why go for it?

• The Krakow Card Combo allows you to personalize your itinerary, including a guided tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine, providing flexibility during your trip.
• Gain access to various attractions with a single card and avoid the hassle of booking multiple tickets.
• Enjoy the perks of the Krakow Card, offering discounts on various attractions and services across the city.

Recommended tours:  Combo (Save 10%): Krakow Card + Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine Tickets

Guided tours with transfers

Duration:  4 - 4.5 hours Suited for:  Travelers seeking hassle-free transportation Ticket price:  Starting at zł203.22 Why go for it?

• Guided tours with transfers ensure a smooth and worry-free experience right from pick-up to drop-off.
• Enjoy the convenience of being picked up directly from your hotel or a designated meeting point, eliminating transportation concerns.
• Engage with an informative guide during transfers, gaining insights into Krakow's rich history before reaching the salt mine.

Recommended tours:  Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine with Meeting Point Pick Up from Krakow  |  Guided Tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine with Hotel Transfers from Krakow

Why take a guided tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine?

• Expert guide:  Guided tours are the best way to explore this salt mine and learn more about how it came into existence, along with an expert tour guide. 
• Skip the queues:  With a guided tour, you can bid farewell to long queues and hello to a quick entrance. Spend more time exploring the salt chambers and less time waiting.
• Navigate the labyrinthine tunnels effortlessly:  The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a vast underground labyrinth, and it's easy to feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland. A guide acts as your trusted navigator, leading you seamlessly through the twists and turns. 
• Enhanced educational experience:  A guided tour transforms your exploration into a dynamic learning experience, providing context to the geological formations, art installations, and the daily lives of miners. It's a crash course in salt mining with a dash of entertainment.

Highlights covered on your Wieliczka Salt Mine tour

Krakow Saltworks Museum

Founded in 1951, the Krakow Saltworks Museum is located at a depth of 135 metres on the third level of the salt mine. It is the largest underground museum in Europe that houses several fascinating artifacts, old mining equipment, a geological exhibit, and historic and scientific information about the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Check out the Renaissance Horn of the Diggers’ Brotherhood, the most valuable and precious artifact in the museum dating back to 1534. 

Stanislaw Staszic Chamber

Located at a height of 36 metres, the Stanislaw Staszic Chamber is the tallest structure in the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It houses several drink machines, gift shops, and a museum. Due to its height, the chamber played host to an underground hot-air balloon flight as well as an underground bungee jump. The event even made it to the Guinness Book of World Records! Balloonist Krzysztof Rekas managed to float 410 metre underground seven feet off the cavern floor.

St. Anthony, Janowice, and Holy Cross Chapels

The salt mine is home to several chapels since Polish miners were quite devoted and, therefore, created several places of worship to pray at during the day. The three chapels of St. Anthony, Janowice, and Holy Cross boast several beautiful altars and salt sculptures depicting historical, religious, and mythological figures. St. Anthony Chapel was built in Baroque style while the chapel of Janowice is filled with legends and stories about the discovery of Princess Kinga’s engagement ring.

The St. Kinga's Chapel is dedicated to the patron saint of salt miners, Saint Kinga, and consists of tiered chandeliers made of salt, a carved floor, a three-piece halite crystal altar, and reliefs depicting events described in the Scripture. Breathtaking murals of The Last Supper , Christ Falling Under the Cross , and Doubting Thomas adorn the walls of the chapel. All these works of art are made entirely of rock salt.

Underground Salt Lakes

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is home to several underground saltwater lakes. The Weimar Chamber is the most popular of them all for being the saltiest water body in the world with a teal hue due to the presence of huge amounts of sodium chloride. The chamber has witnessed several romantic proposals in the backdrop of the beautiful lake. You will also find a sculpture dedicated to the writer Goethe here.

Wieliczka Salt Mine history >

What to expect on a Wieliczka Salt Mine guided tour?

Your tour guide will tell you all about the salt extraction methods, ancient mining tools, and everything else that you need to know about the salt mine. Once you meet your tour guide at the entrance, you will be taken straight inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine and shown all the important attractions inside it. Explore the chapel of St. Kinga as well as the St. Anthony, Janowice, and Holy Cross Chapels. Visit the Stanislaw Staszic Chamber and the several salt lakes underground. There is so much to see inside one of the oldest mines in the world and booking a Wieliczka Salt Mine tour with a local guide is the best way to do so.

Visitor tips

• Book your tickets in advance: Given that the Wieliczka Salt Mine is a popular attraction, we suggest booking your tickets in advance online.
• Visit in the morning: The best time to visit the mine is in the early hours when the attraction opens or late in the day before closing time.
• Wear comfortable footwear because the tour includes 800 stairs and the passageways inside the mine are quite uneven.
• Carry a jacket as the temperature inside the mine is a few degrees lower than the surface temperature.
• Visit the souvenirs shop: Buy yourself rock salt souvenirs from the store outside the attraction.

Frequently asked questions about Wieliczka Salt Mine tours

There are a variety of Wieliczka Salt Mine guided tours catering to different preferences and budgets. The prices range from zł98 for a basic  guided tour with skip-the-line tickets  to zł335.72 for a  combo tour that includes a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau . 

You can book a Wieliczka Salt Mine guided tour online.

The best tour depends on your preferences and interests. If you're short on time, the  skip-the-line option  is a fantastic choice. For history buffs, the  Auschwitz-Birkenau combo  or the  Schindler's Factory combo  provides a comprehensive experience. Travelers seeking convenience may prefer the Wieliczka Salt Mine tour with hotel pick-ups.

Opting for a guided tour enhances your  Wieliczka Salt Mine  experience. Knowledgeable guides provide insights into the mine's history, geology, and the fascinating stories behind its chambers and sculptures. Most tours also include convenient features like skip-the-line access, transportation, and even combo options for a broader exploration of the region.

The duration varies depending on the chosen tour. On average, a standard guided tour lasts about 4-4.5 hours, providing ample time to explore the underground wonders, including the stunning chapels, sculptures, and saline lakes. Combo tours, combining multiple attractions, may take longer, so check the itinerary for specific details.

Yes. The Wieliczka Salt Mine guided tour is worth it because it’s the best way to explore this iconic and complex heritage site and learn all about its history.

Wieliczka Salt Mine tours cater to an international audience, offering multilingual guides fluent in languages like English, French, German, Spanish, and more. Check the tour details to ensure your preferred language is available for a more personalized experience.

Yes, many Wieliczka Salt Mine guided tours include skip-the-line access, allowing you to bypass the queues and make the most of your time underground. This feature ensures a seamless and efficient visit, giving you more time to marvel at the mesmerizing salt formations and historical wonders inside the salt mine.

Cancellation policies differ for different tour options. Be sure to review the policy when booking and choose a tour that aligns with your travel plans.

Yes, Wieliczka Salt Mine tours are family-friendly and suitable for children. However, keep in mind that the underground environment might be challenging for very young children or those with claustrophobia. Consider the duration of the tour and the child's comfort level when making your decision.

About Wieliczka Salt Mine

Plan your visit to Wieliczka Salt Mine

Wieliczka Salt Mine timings

Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour

Quick Details

• Hour Glass Duration: 5 hrs
• Tag Type of activity: Entertainment Tours , Must See
• Departure from one of our pick-up points
• Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle
• Entry tickets
• The care of a professional museum guide
• Return to your place of departure

Explore the Impressive Wieliczka Salt Mine

Full of unique beauty and active continuously since the Middle Ages, the historic Wieliczka Salt Mine is visited by tourists every day, showing the most amazing works of art sculpted throughout the many centuries of laborious miners’ work. The underground Wieliczka Salt Mine boasts kilometres of walkways and ramps, magnificent chambers, lakes and breathtaking salt statues.

We also come across modern technology along the route to educate those eager to learn more about the mine. The smell of salt wafting through the air, therapeutic microclimate, impressive chambers, wooden structures and perfection to the tiniest detail — the charms of the Tourist Route attract and enrapture over one million visitors travelling every year from different parts of the world.

The tour starts at the Danilowicz Shaft, where you meet your guide. They tell you everything you want to know about the history and secrets of the mine. Descend the 380 stairs to the first level of the Mine situated 64 metres underground. The entire route consists of some 800 stairs.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine was one of the first among 12 sites from all around the world to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most frequently visited tourist sites in the world!

Please remember to wear comfortable clothes and footwear, and note that there is no lunch break included in the itinerary.

• When buying discount tickets, you must have a school/student ID, or in the case of children up to 12 years old, a document confirming the child’s age.
• Infant/child tickets are available only to families travelling with children.
• The mine tour begins with walking down 800 stairs underground and ends with a lift ride.
• The Wieliczka Salt Mine is located 135 metres (443 feet) underground, where the air temperature is approx. 14–16 degrees Celsius (57–61 degrees Fahrenheit). Therefore, you should bring warm clothes (e.g. sweaters, jackets).
• Wear comfortable sports shoes.
• Wish to have a private tour, hire private transportation, or choose another language or pick-up time? Need a quote for your group? Please contact us here .

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Wieliczka Salt Mine

About wieliczka salt mine.

Explore the underground splendour of Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland that transports you to a mystifying world of salt beneath the Earth’s surface. Situated near the city of Krakow in southern Poland, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is a bewildering labyrinth with infinite corridors, tunnels, walkways and chambers. It is a huge empire with 2500 chambers, nine levels of mining and galleries that run for 245 kilometres till a depth of 327 metres. It is even home to the largest underground St. Kinga's chapel . Our Wieliczka Salt Mine tours will edify your knowledge about the mining techniques, tools, extraction and transportation of salt as it take you inside the mine and Auschwitz -Birkenau Concentration camp.

You can see 300-year old statues made of salt by the miners at the St. Anthony, Janowice, and Holy Cross Chapels. This 700-year old salt mine had continuously been in operation from the 13th century to the 20th century and is now a world- renowned tourist attraction. The famous St. Kinga’s Chapel is sure to enthral you with its captivating atmosphere, sculptures of illustrious people like Pope John Paul II and a model of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper made of salt. The rich history and unique geology of Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland together make it a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site and the National Historic Landmark of Poland. It is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History of Wieliczka Salt Mine

The history of Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland dates back to as early as the 13th century when the first excavation was made. By then, the mine was proudly called Magnum Sal – the Great Sal as it was the largest source of salt in Poland. Today, the mine is one of the oldest salt mining sites in the world and a popular tourist attraction that has seen incredible developments in the mining techniques over the past 700 years.

Brine from salt water springs was boiled in clay pots to extract pure salt during Neolithic times. Old saltworking tools discovered in Barycz village in Central Europe near Wieliczka belong to the prehistoric period. The salt extracted was used as a preservative for meat and it later became a means of payment in trade to those who did not own this valuable substance. This secret of salt production by evaporation was passed on to the next generations in the following centuries.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, when salt water springs began to disappear, the search for brine started. Wells were constructed and saline water was brought to the surface after which it was boiled in pans to get pure evaporated salt. In the 13th century, lumps of rock salt were found for the first time while digging wells which instigated the idea of obtaining salt by mining. The first mining was done in the second half of the 13th century by local specialists with technical knowledge from Western Europe.

During this period, the revenue from salt extraction played a crucial part in the wealth of the nation’s treasury. Casimir III, who was the Polish king then, founded the Krakow Academy and Saltworks Statue from the high profits of salt mining. Around 350 people worked in Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland and the annual production of salt was 7000-8000 tonnes then. However, mining was still seasonal and was done only when agricultural works were not carried out. Visitors were allowed to enter the mine and Nicolaus Copernicus was the first tourist in 1493.

The period from the 16th to 18th centuries marked a dynamic development in the mining of rock salt as it was when the Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland moved to a year-round working pattern. Specialists from various fields were recruited and the first maps of the underground were created. The search for salt extended below the first level and by the 17th century it went till the third level. By 1724, extraction of salt by evaporation was stopped and only the mining methods were used. The number of visitors to the mine also grew steadily during this period.

In 1772, the partition of Poland took place and Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland came under the control of the Habsburg Monarchy. The new owners focused on the development of the mine but did not care for its security. Extraction of salt by gunpowder was formulated and hence production resumed in modern saltworks. Tourism was given importance and different attractions like devil’s drop, horse-drawn railway and boat rides on saline lakes were initiated to attract visitors. The number of tourists grew up to a hundred people per week by the start of the 20th century.

After World War I and repossession of independence by Poland, the Wieliczka Salt Mine came under the Polish administration. The names of excavations and shafts were symbolically changed during this time. Production of salt increased to 203,000 tonnes per year and trade became highly profitable. The mine became stabilised with further developments, expansion and tourist growth during the Interwar Period. Eminent personalities were invited to the mine and events were held for visitors to lure many tourists into coming here often.

Right before the start of World War II, a leaching process in which brine was obtained dissolving salt rocks with fresh water was discovered. The 1940s and 1950s were quite difficult for the Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland since there was an increase in production regardless of the cost and safety of the workers. The mine extended to nine levels but the idea of preserving the mine for future generations rather than industrial production came into existence. By 1978, mining techniques were stopped and production of salt by evaporation using wet mining commenced.

The mine, at present, has no live extraction but around 400 miners work here every day for safety reasons. They toil hard to preserve the mine for tourists by filling the post-excavation voids with brine and taking care of fresh water leaks. New attractions are put up in the underground mine while the existing chambers, corridors and chapels are renovated. The Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland has now become a famous tourist attraction that welcomes nearly 2 million visitors every year. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an official National Historic Landmark of Poland.

Explore The Mines

Endless Corridors : Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland is a complex labyrinth with endless corridors that are spread across nine levels. The underground galleries and corridors of the mine run for 245 kilometres in length and are located at a depth of 327 kilometres. However, only 2% of the underground passages are alone open to the public for visit.

Crystal Grottoes : The Crystal Caves, first discovered in 1860, are made up of Halite crystals and are located at a depth of 70 to 114 metres. These caverns with huge, long and pure rock salt crystals are currently inanimate nature reserves in Poland. Access to the caves is prohibited except for scientific and teaching purposes.

Chambers : Chambers of different sizes, shapes and characters are built on the sites where salt was extracted. There are nearly 2500 chambers but no two of them are identical. Some famous chambers of the mine are Michalowice Chamber, Weimar Chamber, Pieskowa Skala Chamber, St Anthony’s Chapel and St Kinga’s Chapel.

Mining sites : About 400 miners work daily in the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland for safety work. They fill the post-excavation voids with a mixture of sand and brine and also look for water leaks to protect the mine from fresh water effects. New attractions are put up for visitors along with Miner’s Route and Tourist Route for sightseeing.

Saltworks : Mining of rock salt was discontinued in Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland in 1996 but salt is still produced from the brine. The fresh water that dissolves the rock salt is sent to the Salt Water Disposal Facility, commonly known as ‘Saltworks’, on the surface. The salt water is heated and evaporated under low pressure to get pure evaporated salt.

Pithead Waiting Room : Pithead Waiting Room is the miners’ cloakroom that is found in the buildings on the surface of the Mine near St Kinga’s Shaft. Their clothes are found hanging from the ceiling from a height of 6 metres on hooks and chains. A briefing for the miners is conducted every morning at the Pithead Waiting Room.

Lamp Room : A Lamp Room in the Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland is where the miner’s pit token, lamp and carbon monoxide absorber are kept. There are two Lamp Rooms in the mine; one is for the miners while the other is for tourists who go on the Mining Route.

Geology of Wieliczka Salt Mine

Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland boasts of a unique geology with rocks sculpted in unusual, diverse and complicated forms. The history of salt deposit and mine formation date back to millions of years ago and were caused by natural forces. Today, there are different types of salt hidden deep in the mine which are left behind after excavation.

Around 13.6 million years ago, the cooling of climate, rock mass movements and subsidence caused the seabed of Miocene Sea to drop steadily. This created a reservoir with very high salinity in the Carpathian Foredeep as a result of which salt deposits were formed in the Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland. Slow precipitation of salt deposit along with caving in of seabed and erosion of coastal parts caused excessive deposit of gangue in the salt beds. These salt deposits extend for 300 km in length and 100 km in width which includes Wieliczka deposits that run for 10 km in length and 1.5 km in width.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland has an exclusive geological structure that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The tectonic activity of the Carpathian Mountains caused folding of the salt layers and shaped the deposit into an unusual structure. The two-fold composition of the deposit has two parts namely, upper lump deposit and lower bedded deposit. The lump deposit is made up of chunks of rock salt while the bedded deposit has different types of salt layers like fore-shaft salt deposit and eagle spiza salt.

Rock salt or halite that appears green due to the admixture of claystones is the commonly found salt in Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland. There are different types of Wieliczka salt which are easily identifiable for experienced miners but are difficult for tourists. You can witness the Typical green salt and stained-glass green salt in the lump deposit and fore-shaft salt in the bedded deposit. You can also see the different types of Spiza salt like Eagle spiza salt and the rare Cracking salt in the bedded deposit.

The underground landscape of Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland is even more beautiful because of various forms of Secondary crystallisation salts. As you walk along the sightseeing route, you can see different structures of salts from geological times to modern times. The crystallisation is associated with brine leaks and hence depending on the location of the leak, it can take a variety of forms. You can see spongy growths of salt called ‘salt cauliflowers’, narrow dripstone tubes known as ‘salt pasta’ and the less common salt stains and stalagmites.

Know Before You Visit Wieliczka Salt Mine

Essential Information :

Location: Daniłowicza 10, 32-020 Wieliczka, Poland

Timings: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM on all days of the week

Best Time To Visit :

The best time to visit Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland is during the spring season from March to May or during the autumn months of September to November as the weather is pleasant and favorable for exploring the mine. Since the mine gets colder during winter, it is better to visit the mine during summer, spring or autumn.

How To Reach :

By Train: Board a train at Krakow Glowny Station and a light at Wieliczka Rynek Kopalnia station from where the mine is just 500 metres away.

By Bus: Take the bus on line 304 from Dworzec Główny Zachód stop to Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli stop from where you can walk to the mine entrance in a few minutes.

What is special about the Wieliczka Salt Mine?

Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland is the oldest mine of its kind in Europe and boasts of housing 327 kilometres of tunnels spread over nine levels. The underground chapels adorned with church iconography, statues sculpted in salt and art galleries are the eye-catchy highlights of the Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland. Chapel of St. Kinga, which is located 101 metres below the Earth’s surface, is the world’s biggest church built underground.

Can I book Wieliczka Salt Mine tickets online?

Yes, you can book tickets to Wieliczka Salt Mine Poland online while enjoying the comfort of your home rather than waiting in long queues at the entrance of the mine. You can select the date and time of your visit as per convenience depending on the availability of the tickets.

What is the best time to explore Wieliczka Salt Mine?

The best time to explore Wieliczka SaltMine Poland is during early in the morning when the mine has just opened considering how long the tour around the mine takes.

Why is the Wieliczka Salt Mine important?

The Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland holds such a significance that it has helped shape the legacy of the Krakow region and the people who reside there. The discovery of rock salt was a huge development for the kingdom of Poland since it helped stabilize the economy of the country. The salt mine operated incessantly for 700 years and produced table salt continuously until 2007. It is a portrayal of the growth in mining techniques of Europe from the 13th to the 20th century.

Do we have to buy a separate ticket for kids before visiting Wieliczka Salt Mine?

Children below 4 years of age are allowed to enter the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland for free. However, other visitors are not allowed without the tickets.

The content and images used on this site are copyright protected and copyrights vests with the respective owners.

© 2024 www.visitwieliczkasaltmine.com All rights reserved.

How to Visit Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow (+Best Tours)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: March 16, 2023

No stay in Krakow would be complete without a visit to the impressive Wieliczka Salt Mine . With over 1.5 million visitors per year, the Krakow salt mines is one of Poland’s most popular attractions. It’s definitely one of the top places to see when visiting Krakow !

In this article, you can read all about visiting Wieliczka Salt Mines – why, where, and how. Find out!

Before we talk about the practical aspects of visiting Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow, let’s take a look at what makes it so special and whether it’s even worth visiting…

One of Poland’s oldest historical monuments, this salt mine near Krakow has been consistently operating since the 13th century . Filled with statues, chapels, and altars intricately carved out of the salt by miners after their shifts, it is an awe-inspiring monument to man’s creativity!

Registered on the UNESCO World Cultural and National Heritage list , the mine is not only valued for its artistic and historical value but is also popular among pilgrims.

The salt mine is vast in scale! It reaches 327 m below ground and features over 245 km (152 miles) of passages and chambers . Can you even imagine that?!

Some people visit the salt mine in order to see the stunning carvings and underground lakes, as well as learn more about the history of this unique and surreal environment. Others are more interested in what daily life was like for the mineworkers or want to learn more about its geological features…

The Wieliczka Salt Mine offers some very different experiences to its visitors. So, no matter what your interests are, you’ll definitely find a specially designed ‘route’ to suit you! Furthermore, you also have the option to do several of these experiences on one ticket – see below for more information.

What to Do at Wieliczka Salt Mine

As mentioned, there are several different routes that you can choose from. Take a look!

The Tourist Route

This route is the most popular way to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It allows you to experience the surreal beauty of the mine. You’ll see magnificent sculptures, chandeliers, murals, and 20 chambers… all carved out of salt.

If you choose this tour, you start at the Danilowicz shaft, where you descend 350 steps to 135 m depth under the ground. Working your way through 3 km (1,9 miles) of winding corridors, you will be confronted by one beautiful sight after another and learn more from your guide about the various legends associated with the mine.

The acoustics in some of the chambers are magnificent. This route, therefore, includes a light display over the tranquil waters of one of the underground lakes while listening to the music of Chopin.

The highlight of the tour is undoubtedly the visit to the Chapel of St. Kinga – the only underground church in Europe. It is decorated with breathtaking works of art carved from salt.

The route ends with an hour at the Krakow Saltworks Museum (admission included in your ticket). You are then brought back to ground level in an elevator (so no need to walk back up those 350 steps).

Practical information for the Tourist Route:

• You can book this tour here . The total time for this experience is 3 hours.
• Children of any age are allowed on the route, although it’s important to note that there is a lot of walking involved. The fact that there are no interactive exhibits – coupled with the length of the tour – may mean that this route is not the best for younger children.
• Comfortable shoes are essential as you will be on your feet for virtually the entire time, and you should dress warmly.
• Although the ground is relatively flat in the mine corridors, the descent into the mine can be quite challenging for some people, particularly those with knee problems. If you are registered disabled, then there is a shorter – 90 minutes – route available that uses elevators instead of the staircase. You would need to contact the mine and reserve a spot in a disabled group to take advantage of this route.

The Miners’ Route

This route is designed for those who want to experience what life was like for Wieliczka’s miners. So put on the working clothes and become ‘Slepry’ (novice miners) for a couple of hours.

Should you choose this option, you’ll enter the mine via the Regis shaft in the center of Wieliczka town. It is located separately from the tourist route and doesn’t connect with it at all.

You’ll be provided with a coverall, mining equipment, a safety lamp, a POG absorber (respiratory device) and a miner’s helmet. You’ll also be given mining tasks by your guide – also known as the ‘foreman’. These tasks – which include testing for methane and digging salt – give you an authentic feel of what life for the miners may have been like, and a greater understanding of the mine’s history and geology.

Practical information for the Miners’ Route:

• The route takes 3 hours and can be booked here . Make sure to be at the mine 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
• Comfortable shoes are a must, as you’ll be doing a lot of walking! Dress in layers because it might get warmer than expected when you’re moving a lot.
• Because this is quite an authentic experience, it does require some physical effort. You will need to be reasonably fit to enjoy it.
• Children under 10 years of age are not allowed on this tour. Kids between the ages of 10 and 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Pilgrims’ Route

A special route is offered for the faithful, accompanied by a priest and demonstrating the piousness of those who worked in the mine. This route includes prayer stops, specially prepared food, and a Mass at the end. It takes about 2,5 hours. For more information about this tour, please check the official website .

Graduation Tower

If you (or a member of your family/group) are not comfortable with the idea of going underground, then another option would be to visit the Graduation Tower.

This 22 m high observation tower is the perfect spot from which to admire the mine shafts and St. Kinga Park from above. The natural brine mist carried by air is said to be therapeutic for those with respiratory problems.

Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour

The most popular way to visit Wieliczka is by joining an organized tour from Krakow . There are many tour options – from small group tours to private tours, and also tours that combine a visit to Wieliczka with other places like Auschwitz or Schindler’s Factory …

Taking a guided tour is the best way to visit salt mines from Krakow because your local guide will take care of all the details upon your arrival at the mine. This can be very helpful as the upper area can be very chaotic at times, with lots of people and long queues.

Good to know: Guided Wieliczka tours from Krakow usually take 4-5 hours, including transfers. Organized tours do the ‘Tourist Route’.

In order to help you choose the best suitable Wieliczka tour from Krakow, here are some of the best options that we found:

• Most popular and best-rated guided tour
• Guided tour with hotel pick up
• Best-rated 2-in-1 tour: Wieliczka & Auschwitz
• 2-in-1 tour: Wieliczka & Schindler’s Factory

Good to know: Most tours include transportation to the mine as well as the entrance ticket, but please check the description carefully, because some only include one but not the other. The tours I listed above, normally include both.

Please note that none of the tours or tickets include a photography permit. If you want to be able to take pictures inside the mine, you’ll have to get an additional permit upon arrival. It’s not expensive, just an extra formality.

Practical Information for Visiting the Salt Mine

If you are visiting Wieliczka with a tour from Krakow, you don’t really need to worry about any practical aspects because the tour guides will take care of it all. Should you choose to visit individually, here are some things you may want to know.

Opening times

The mine is open year-round except for some religious holidays. Opening times also vary per season and per route chosen. The most popular – Tourist Route – is open (almost) daily from 7.30 AM to 7.30 PM in high season and from 8 AM to 5 PM in the low season. For more information, see here .

Entrance ticket for the Tourist Route foreigners costs about 100 PLN (+-26 EUR). You can pay in cash or by credit card. However, it’s best to buy it in advance. Otherwise, you risk having to wait in line for several hours. Children under the age of 4 can enter the mines for free, and there are discounts available for older kids, students, families, disabled visitors, and senior citizens. More info and ticket options and prices here .

Guided tour only!

You can only visit the mine as part of a tour group, led by a local guide. It’s not allowed to walk around the mine without a guide. Tours are available in many different languages and you will need to buy a ticket for a tour at a specific time. For a guided tour, you can also buy skip-the-line tickets here .

Multiple Routes

Another option is to buy a ‘Package’ ticket, which includes entry to both the Tourist and Miner’s Routes. Please keep in mind that this will be quite a lengthy experience and will take a good part of the day. To learn more about the Package Offer, please check the official website .

Clothing & Bags

The temperature inside the mine is around 17°C (62 F), so you’ll want to dress warmer. If visiting in summer, make sure to bring a warm sweater or a jacket with you.

Do not take any large bags with you. If you do, you can leave them at the luggage office located close to the tourist information center.

Food & Drink

There is a bar and restaurant located in the Drozdowicz Chamber of the mine, which gives you the unique experience of dining 125m underground. The cuisine is mainly traditional Polish food, seasoned to perfection with Wieliczka salt!

Other dining options include the child-friendly Grand Sal Restaurant, just around the corner from the Danilowicz shaft. This is a great choice in the summer when you can sit on the terrace and enjoy the beautiful views of St. Kinga Park. Alternatively, try the traditional Karczma Halit, located just across the street from the mine.

When to Visit

Wieliczka Salt Mine is an underground attraction and can be visited at any time of the year and in any weather.

It’s also a hugely popular half-day trip from Krakow and subsequently very busy! Although visitors are admitted in groups that set off several minutes apart, they have a habit of catching up with each other. This means that some of the sights in the mine can be very crowded and it can be hard to take photographs and to hear your guide.

There can also be significant queues for the elevator that brings you back to the surface, which only holds 8 to 9 people at a time. The elevator is open-sided and is usually filled to capacity. Although the journey back to the top only takes around 1 minute, visitors with claustrophobia find using the elevator very uncomfortable, so this is something to bear in mind before your visit.

Needless to say that it’s best to visit the mine during the off-season (November to March). The same counts for Krakow and Auschwitz – both extremely popular destinations that can get crowded in the warmer months.

TIP: If you are traveling in the high season, try to plan your visit to the mines early or late in the day, when there are not as many visitors.

How to Get to the Wieliczka from Krakow

The mine is located just 15 kilometers southeast of Krakow, so it’s fairly quick and inexpensive to visit and you have several options for doing so. Take a look!

Good to know: If you are using the Tourist Route, then you need to head for the Danilowicz Shaft which is located at the mine itself. If you are joining the Miners’ Route, then you need to head for the Regis Shaft, which is located in the center of town (a 5- to 6-minute walk from the mine).

As already mentioned, taking an organized tour is the easiest way to visit Wieliczka from Krakow. See the ‘ Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour ‘ section above for suggestions.

Take bus number 304, which leaves from the area of the shopping mall Galeria Krakowska. You need to get off the bus at the Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli stop, which is just a 5-minute walk from the mine. The bus leaves every 20 minutes and the journey takes about half an hour. Wieliczka is in Zone II of the city’s urban transportation, so you need to buy a ticket that covers zones I and II.

Take a train to Wieliczka Rynek from the main Krakow Railway Station. Get off at Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli (if you are going on the Tourist Route), or the next stop (if you are going to the Regis Shaft). The train leaves once every 30 minutes and takes 20 minutes. The mine is just a 10-minute walk from the station.

Minibusses are a popular means of transportation in Poland. You can get a minibus in the direction of Wieliczka Rynek from the Main Railway Station in Krakow. Get off at the Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli stop, which is located at the crossroads of Dembowskiego and Daniłowicza streets. If you are visiting the Regis Shaft, get off at Wieliczka Rynek, which is one stop later.

If you choose to drive, you will need to budget for parking. Try to use the car park on the hill near the mine entrance. You will pass other car parks before you get to this one (and will often be encouraged by staff to park in them), but you may then be in for a long walk to the mine!

Uber is not permitted to operate within the Old Town of Krakow, but if you use the Uber app, you can easily locate the nearest point at which you can be collected and taken to Wieliczka mine.

Where to Stay

Most people visit salt mines as a day trip from Krakow, so there is no need to look for a hotel in Wieliczka. However, it’s also a popular destination in itself. While there is no accommodation available inside the mine, there are quite a few nice hotels nearby .

One of the most peculiar options is the nearby underground health resort ‘Kopalnia Soli’ (Health Resort Wieliczka Salt Mine). It offers treatments to help with respiratory disorders, but also physiotherapy, massage, and kinesiotherapy… Please see their website for more information.

Turówka Hotel & Spa looks like a much nicer alternative to me. With a beautiful spa and wellness zone as well as a swimming pool, this hotel is a great place to be if you are looking for a relaxing stay near Krakow. It’s perfect for those who don’t like the hustle and the bustle of the city but want to be close to all the main attractions in and near Krakow.

So, this is our guide to visiting Wieliczka Salt Mines. Hope that it helps you plan an unforgettable visit.

Have a great time!

More tips for your trip to Poland:

• Krakow Weekend Itinerary – how to see the best of the city and its surroundings in 2 to 3 days.
• Auschwitz Tour – an essential read before visiting Auschwitz.
• Krakow Tips – things you should know when planning a trip to Krakow for the first time.
• Zakopane Day Trip from Krakow – what to expect and Zakopane tour review.
• Best Things to Do in Krakow – all the top sights.

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Judith Lukowski

Sunday 2nd of August 2020

Is salt from the mine safe to consume. I bought some during my visit last year and just need to be assured it meets our USA FDA standards .. Thank you

Hi Judith, it's hard for me to say as it depends on which salt you bought. I just checked their online shop and they have lots of products under the 'kitchen salt' category. So if it's any of those, yes, it's meant for consumption. And whatever food is approved for human consumption in Europe, in general, is much stricter controlled than in the U.S. So you should be just fine, assuming you use normal quantities of the salt.

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About this trip

Visit one of the oldest working salt mines in the World – Wieliczka’s Salt Mine. Book Salt Mine Tour from Krakow.

During the trip, You will visit one of  the oldest working Salt Mines in the World – the Wieliczka’s Salt Mine , which has been producing table salt for over 700 years! On tour from Krakow  Your English speaking guide will take You up to 140 meters underground for a 2,5-hours journey through over 2,5-kilometers long tourist route full of chambers with amazing carvings and statues and large collection of mining machines and equipment, where everything is made of salt.

Please note that to reach the first level of the mine (64 metres underground), you have to descent a wooden stairway which has 378 stairs. After the tour, You will be taken up to the surface with a lift. You should be back to Krakow around 13:00 (or 18:00 in you go on the afternoon tour).

Polish Salt Mines Krakow tour – Wieliczka

Wieliczka in which Salt Mine is located is just near Krakow – your journey will take around 30 minutes. The tour takes around 2.5 hours so it shouldn’t take long than approximately half of your day. You can visit it even if you are staying in Krakow for a day or two — Wieliczka Salt Mine should definitely be on your “to do” list during your visit in Poland. Still not sure? Take a look at Salt Mine’s pictures which will convince you it is worth a visit.

Salt Mine from Krakow. How to get there?

The easiest option to get to Salt Mine is to book a door-to-door tour with us. We offer private tours as well! KrakowShuttle operates Salt Mine Tour every day: in the morning – around 8.00-9.00 a.m. and in the afternoon – around 1.00 - 2.00 p.m. so you can easily choose which option goes better with your plans.

Our driver will pick you up directly from your hotel or apartment in Krakow and will drive you to  Wieliczka . After a short walk,  you will join an English speaking tour with the official guide provided by the museum. After the tour, the driver will drop you off at your accommodation.

Salt Mine Krakow Bus

Your  Salt Mine Tour  will be operated by a  comfortable Mercedes-Benz van or minibus . Our drivers speak English so your driver will take care of you during the trip and you can ask him anything you want. Remember that this is a door-to-door service so you won’t need to look for any bus stop — please wait in front of your hotel and we will pick you up from there on the day of the Salt Mine Tour. Price includes door-to-door transfer, assistance, insurance and entrance fees together with English speaking guided tour. There aren’t any hidden costs! 

Trip Itnerary

Hotel pickup.

We will pick you up from your hotel. You can decide to go on a morning or afternoon tour. Usually, the pickup time is 8.00 - 9.00 a.m. or 1.00 - 2.00 p.m.

Transfer to Wieliczka

Ride takes around 30-40 minutes from Krakow to Wieliczka.

Visit to Salt Mine

You should start a group tour at 9.00-10.00 or 14.30-15.30. A local expert guide will take you for about 2.5 hour journey along Tourist Route

*Visit Oscar Schindler Factory*

Visit the Oskar Schindler Factory during our Wieliczka Salt Mine Premium Tour. You will spend there around 1,5-2h explore the exhibition of the museum.

Return to Krakow

Our driver will be happy to drop you off at your hotel or in any point in city center.

Please note that all times are approximate and depend on traffic conditions and guides availability.

Travellers recommend this tour:

Check opinions about this trip

Definitely worth going to. We had not heard too much about the salt mines until we arrived in Krakow but are so glad we took this trip. It is a fascinating tour, our guide (Nik) made it especially interesting, he had the patience of a saint. His English is excellent and gave us a very entertaining tour of these mines. Be prepared to be surprised! Definitely recommend.

A very nice trip to go to and a great sight for the city of Krakow. Along with All the amazing things you can see in the Saltmine, you learn about the history behind it. The excursion was very well organized. We were picked up from our hotel on time, and our driver explained us about our visit. Our guide was also very nice and informative. Definitely worth the visit and the trip is highly recommended!

Mr.Shuttle transport arrived on time & it was a great service from start to finish, same as many other times we have used Mr.Shuttle. The Salt Mine guided tour was wonderful. Plenty of stairs and plenty of walking so wear your comfy walking shoes. Highly recommended if you are interested in history as there is so much to learn.

Amazing place to visit. You have to see it to believe how beautiful it is down below. Such a surprisingly good way to spend 5 hours.

Lovely guide and well organised. Tour. Well worth doing. Guide was very knowledgeable and answered all questions.

This place is amazing! The guide we had was excellent, information provided with humour! We only saw 1 percent of the mine, so it must be enormous! An excellent must see place if you visit Krakow.

We also booked Airport transfers with Mr Shuttle. We highly recommend this company. The drivers were polite, well dressed and took care of our suitcases. They were earlier than advertised for the pick up times at our hotel. Sadly we had pre-booked our Austwitz tour with another company that also specified a hotel pick-up. This was not the case and we had to walk 20 plus minutes to a rendezvous point! We recommend sticking with Mr Shuttle.

Well worth the visit. Pleasant bus ride, all the staff had great English. Our tour was slightly rushed as there was a tour behind us that kept interrupting but a part from that it was great.

Zostaliśmy odebrani i odwiezieni prosto do hotelu. Byliśmy odebrani jako pierwsi tego dnia, więc było dość wcześnie. Kopalnia soli była wspaniałym doświadczeniem i bardzo interesująca. Ten sam kierowca czekał i odwiózł nas z powrotem. W pełni polecam rezerwację tej wycieczki, wszystko było dla nas zorganizowane, wszystko, co musieliśmy zrobić, to się pojawić.

Naprawdę interesująca wycieczka. Nasz przewodnik Marek też był znakomity i zabawny. Skala kopalni jest olbrzymia - widzieliśmy tylko niewielką jej część. Wysoce polecam.

Krótka wycieczka z naszego hotelu. Niesamowite solne rzeźby i kaplice. Zdecydowanie trzeba zobaczyć jako część podróży do Krakowa.

Check more or add your opinion

More details about this tour, visiting salt mine, * visiting oskar schindler museum - only during wieliczka salt mine premium tour, transportation.

We will transfer You to the Salt Mine in Wieliczka, which happens to be one of the oldest working Salt Mines in the World – it has been producing table salt for over 700 years! You will be attending an English guided tour around 9:50 or 15:40. Your guide will take You up to 140 meters underground for a 2,5-hours journey through over 2,5-kilometers long tourist route full of chambers with amazing carvings and statues, where everything is made of salt.

Please note that to reach the first level of the mine (64 metres underground), You have to descent a wooden stairway which has 378 stairs. After the tour, You will be taken up to the surface with a lift.

Please remember to take comfortable shoes and warm clothes (the temperature in the mine ranges between 17° and 18°C). The route includes approx. 800 stairs, 380 of which are at the start.

If you decide to book Wieliczka Salt Mine Premium Tour , on the back way to Krakow, you will have a chance to visit the famous former factory in Krakow – the Oskar Schindler Factory. You will spend there approximately 1,5-2 h explore the exhibition of the museum. Please note that this tour is not guided.

We use a fleet of new Mercedes-Benz Vans and Minibuses. Our drivers are well trained and fully licesned for travel ground transportation. Our door to door service means that you will be pickup directly form your hotel and delivered to the same spot after the tour, for free.

Guides are local experts certified by the museum. Regular tour is available in English. If you would like to book the tour in any other language our team is happy to prepare a special offer for you, please check our private tour option

The maximum group size is 40 people.

Optional lunch box includes chicken and pasta salad, cheese roll, chocolate wafer and bottle of water. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free or lactose free option is available on request.

More reasons why you should use our services:

Free hotel pickup.

Our driver will pick you up and drive you back to your hotel or apartment.

Professional guide

There will be local expert guide waiting for you. Maximum group size is 35 people.

Skip the lines

Tickets are included so you do not need to worry about standing in the lines to buy tickets.

Regular daily tour

Our tour is taking place everyday in the morning & afternoon. Decide which time is more convenient for you.

We would also recommend:

Temperature underground

Temperature in the mine is constant all year long. It is 17-19 degrees Celsius.

Luggage during the Tour

The maximum dimensions of hand luggage which can be brought on the tour is 35cm x 20cm x 20cm. You can leave your larger luggage in the car.

Pickup from Balice airport/hotels

Please note that for Balice airport/hotels near the airport pickup the additional fee is 70 PLN per booking.

Are available before starting the tour and also in two locations during the visit.

Visitors with disabilities

Some part of the underground tourist route is adapted for persons not moving independently. In order to take advantage of the opportunity to visit this part of the mine, please contact our reservation team.

Excluded days

Please note that this tour is not available on: 25th of December, 1st of January, Easter Saturday afternoon, Easter Sunday.

2649 reviews

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Oh & do we need to book a tour in advance to see the Jewish quarter & Schindlers factory?

7 replies to this topic

https://www.wieliczka-saltmine.com/individual-tourist/useful-information/important-information/tourist-route

It's chilly in the mine, so wear layers especially if it's warm out that day. There is a small cafe along the way (inside the mine on the tour) where you can grab something quick, and a full cafeteria style restaurant at the end. It was quite amusing to have dinner so far underground. We bought our tickets online and took public transport, so can't give advice on a tour company, but transit was very easy.

Would advise to book entry tickets for Schindler's Factory in advance as it's timed entry. You don't need a guided tour as it's a very well laid out museum with lots of signage.

Thanks for that. We would prefer to go on our own really as it would be more leisurely. Any advice on how we can get the bus from Santi Hotel & how often do they run? Also, do you pay onboard? Thanks

Sorry but nobody knows where is Santi Hotel

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g274772-i961-k13872248-Wieliczka_Salt_Mine_by_city_bus-Krakow_Lesser_Poland_Province_Southern_Poland.html

I would suggest to take commuter train SKA1 to Wieliczka or if you want bus then use link inculded in my previous post and use jakdojade

You can buy the train ticket on the train and the entrance ticket to the salt mine when you get there or pre book.

It's very easy to do by yourself.

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The “Wieliczka” Salt Mine

Miners’ Route

Will you take up the mining challenge.

In the harsh area of the Mine, where tourists turn into novice miners – adepts of the underground trade, and darkness must be overcome by means of a lamp, an extraordinary and unforgettable adventure awaits you. Feel your senses awake on the Miners’ Route and your blood flow faster during an exciting underground expedition.

You will wander through the underground salt labyrinth, exploring the mysterious and raw chambers around the oldest preserved Regis Shaft.

Tasks await you, such as searching for salt, testing the air in the mine and finding the right route underground. By performing practical mining tasks, you will get to know the work of representatives of old mining professions, such as methane tester and mining carpenter.

You will feel a shot of adrenaline, you will take part in an extraordinary, multisensory experience!

Miners’ Route by the numbers:

The route in the structure of the mine:.

Individual tourist

Organised groups, health resort, useful pages.