From Krakow to Wieliczka Salt Mine – The Three Routes

Hidden underground are mysterious salt mines holding many secrets! You’ll see extraordinary landscapes of salt that you wouldn’t be able to see on the surface; lakes of salt, artworks made of salt, more than 2000 chambers, and even a unique chapel! Doesn’t it all sound fascinating? 

Your trip to Krakow would be incomplete if you skip the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Yes, that’s right. This place has over 1.6 million visitors in a year for a reason and is one of the most popular attractions in Poland.

So, what makes this Salt Mine a special place to visit? This salt mine has been operating as early as the 13th century!  Underground, you’ll find altars, statues, and so on, all carved out of salt. How cool is that! 

This place is even inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and is definitely worth visiting.

Read on to find out some of the best ways to reach the Wieliczka Salt Mine when you start your journey from Krakow.

 

 

How far is the Salt Mine from Krakow?

Krakow to the Wieliczka Salt Mines is only around 16 kilometers southeast of the city. It’s not far at all and takes around 30 minutes to reach by car. When you travel from Krakow to the Salt Mines, you will pass through a beautiful village with great scenic views.

 If you rent a car, you can make stops and capture the beauty of the place with your camera!

History of the Wieliczka Salt Mine

The mine started operating back in the 13th century in the pretty town called Wieliczka and was even continued till recent years – 1996 to be precise. The mining came to an end as salt prices started falling and as a result of the flooding in the mine. The Wieliczka Salt Mine you see today is the result of the work done by tens of generations of miners. This place is a monument to the history of Poland and something that has been present with the Polish for centuries!

Wieliczka Salt Mine is composed of a set of underground mining corridors. It has 327 meters of depth and 287 kilometres of length.

 

Read More: Tips for a Visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow, Poland

 

Different Ways to Reach the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow

 

1. Travel by Public Transport (Take Bus, Train or a Minibuses)

If you are planning to travel to the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow by bus, you can opt for Bus No 304. The bus leaves from the shopping mall area, Galeria Krakowska. You can de-board the bus at the Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli Stop. The Salt Mine is just a 5-minute walk from the stop.

If you have decided to take the train, look for the one that goes from Main Krakow Railway Station to Wieliczka Rynek. If you plan to take the tourist route to see the salt mine, get off at Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli. The Salt mine is just a 10-minute walk from the station.

Minibusses are a popular mode of transport in Poland. Take a minibus that goes in the direction of Wieliczka Rynek from the Main Railway Station in Krakow. You can get off the minibus at Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli stop.

2. Rent a Car or Book an Uber

If you rent a car and choose to drive to the Salt Mines, you will have to pay for parking. You can use the car park above the hill which is near the entrance of the mine. You can also use other car parks on the way.

Uber does not have a permit to service within the Old Town of Krakow. However, you can locate the nearest point from where you can be collected and taken to the Salt Mine.

 

Recommended Tour: Skip-the-Line Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour by Car from Krakow

 

3. Opt for Organised Tours

 If you don’t want any stress at all, just join an organized Wieliczka Salt Mines Tour with a local guide, arranged by a local tour operator. 

It can be one of the best choices you make if you have less time to plan well in advance and want to know as much as possible about the place that you are going to visit. 

The whole tour is well organized by the tour operator and you do not have to worry about the tickets, maps, and timetables! It can be one of the easiest ways to see all the gems of Poland without waiting in queues or any other worries.

Let your tour operator handle the transportation of you and your family from Krakow to Wieliczka Salt Mines! Usually, the entire tour package should include the tickets to enter and transportation from the city and back. 

You can also gain knowledge from an experienced guide who will tell you incredible stories and interesting facts about Wieliczka.

Ensure the tour you opt for includes pickup from Krakow, transport to the Salt Mines and back, entrance tickets, and the Official Salt Mine Guide.

You may still be looking for more information about guided tours. So, let’s solve that right away!

If you are opting for a standard guided tour, you would be picked up right from the hotel and would be taken to the Wieliczka Salt Mine in a minivan. You would then join a group of other visitors. It would be an amazing opportunity to meet other travelers and create new friendships. 

Or, you could also opt for a private tour. There are good selections of tours you can select from and you can also cancel up to 24 hours before your excursion for a full refund. When you opt for a guided tour, you end up saving a lot of time, which will help you take in other Krakow tourist attractions and places to visit in Poland. That’s why we say that this is “the best” option if you lack time for traveling to Wieliczka on your own.

Delve Deep into the Details of the Tour

For a hassle-free experience, you just have to inform the tour operator where your accommodation is 24 hours before your tour begins. The expert guide will take you safely through the network of passages, chambers, chapels, and the salt mines. The guide will also share knowledge about its history and secrets! This inspiring and adventurous experience is something you will not forget easily. The tour would take around 4 to 5 hours as you would be taken to the chambers deeper than the ground level.

 

Recommended Tour : Best of Krakow 1-Day Private Guided Tour by Car

 

Sights to See Inside the Salt Mine of Wieliczka

The salt mines are famous for their beautiful salt-built halls and a chain of tunnels that is more than 186 miles long!

Salt Extraction Process: When you are visiting this Salt Mine, you will understand the process of extracting salt from the mine. This process was used since the Middle Ages. You can also learn about the environment and weather conditions inside the mine that has a unique microclimate. This climate can be helpful for treating people with respiratory conditions.

You can use the stairs to descend into the mine and use elevators to go back up. The elevators are just like the ones used by the miners. You will see an illuminated lake, a beautiful chamber decorated with salt, famous figures of people made of salt, and a mesmerizing chapel that is sure to leave you speechless!

 

The Three Different Routes to visit Wieliczka Salt Mines

1.   The Tourist Route

This route is one of the most popular ways to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine. You will encounter the incredible magnificence of the mines. Additionally, you will see chandeliers, sculptures, murals, and 20 chambers. The specialty of all of this is that they are carved out of salt! If you pick this tour, you can begin from the Danilowicz shaft. You will have to descend 350 steps i.e., 135 metres depth under the ground.

Some of the chambers have outstanding acoustics. This route includes a light display over the serene waters of one of the underground lakes while you listen to the music of Chopin. The highlight of this tour is, no doubt, the visit to the Chapel of St. Kinga. It is the only underground church in Europe, decorated with incredible works of art carved out of salt.

Points to be noted:

• The total time for this route is 3 hours.
• Children of any age can accompany their parents on this tour. However, there is a lot of walking involved and this might make children tired. Hence, it is best to not involve younger children as a part of this tour.
• Comfortable shoes are necessary as you would be walking most of the time. Also, make sure you dress warmly.
• Even though the ground is relatively flat, the descent to the mine can be challenging for people with knee or walking issues. If you have registered as a disabled during the visit, you can access the shorter route (90 minutes) that makes use of elevators instead of the staircase. However, to access this facility, you will have to contact the mine and reserve a spot in a disabled group.

 

 

2. The Miners’ Route

This route is designed for those who would like to experience the life of Wieliczka’s miners. Hence, you should wear the appropriate work clothes and become novice miners for a few hours. If you pick this route option, you would enter the mine through the Regis Shaft in the centre of Wieliczka town. It is separately located away from the tourist route and doesn’t connect with it at all. 

You would be provided with a coverall, safety lamp, mining equipment, a miner’s helmet, and a POG absorber (respiratory device). You will also get mining tasks from your guide who will be known as ‘foreman’. The tasks would include testing for methane, digging salt, etc. to provide an authentic feel of what the life of miners would have been like. This experience would also give you a clear idea about the mine’s geology and history.

 

Read More: Best Places to Visit Near Krakow

 

Points to be noted:

• The miners’ route takes 3 hours to explore. You need to be at the mine 15 minutes before the scheduled time.

• Wearing comfortable shoes is necessary as you have to walk a lot! Also, make sure to dress in layers as it might get warmer than expected when you move around.
• Since this is an authentic experience, it requires some physical effort.  So, you have to be reasonably fit to enjoy it.
•   Children below 10 years old are not allowed on this tour and those aged 10-18 must be accompanied by an adult.

 

3.The Pilgrim’s Route

This is a special route offered for the faithful, accompanied by a priest who demonstrates devotion to those who worked in the mine. The route includes stops for offering prayers, specially prepared food, and a Mass by the end of the tour. This takes 2 to 5 hours.

Visiting the Graduation Tower

Additional to the mine, you can visit the graduation tower. This is a 22-meter-high observation tower. It is an ideal spot to admire the mine shafts and St. Kinga Park from above. The natural brine mist present in the air is said to be therapeutic for people with respiratory problems. However, if you are a photo bug and would like to take a picture inside the mine, you will have to get an additional permit for the same, upon your arrival. It is not expensive but just a formality.

Information for Visitors Going to the Salt Mine

If you are visiting the Salt Mine with a tour from Krakow, you do not have to worry about the practical aspects of it as the tour guides would handle pretty much everything. However, if you choose to visit the salt mines by yourself, you should know some things.

• Salt Mine Opening Time: The mine is open all through the year, except on certain religious holidays. Opening times vary according to the season and the route chosen. The most popular Tourist Route is open almost every day from 7.30 AM to 7:30 PM during the peak season. However, it is open from 8 AM to 5 PM in the low season.
• Salt Mine Tickets: Entrance tickets for foreign tourists cost about 100 PLN. You can use credit cards or cash to pay. However, it’s always a good idea to get your tickets booked in advance. If not, you will be taking the risk of waiting in line for several hours. Children under the age of 4 can enter the mine for free. There are discounts available for older kids, families, students, disabled visitors, and senior citizens.
• Multiple Routes: You always have an option to buy a ‘package’ ticket that allows entry to both the Tourist and Miners’ routes. But just remember that this would be a time-consuming experience and can take up a good part of the day.

Facilities Available in the Salt Mine

You will have access to toilets on the tourist route. However, you will have to wait until you reach the ‘rest point’ which is halfway over the tour. Hence, it’s a better idea to get fresh before the tour begins. You can also find a café and a small gift shop at the ‘rest point’. 

What’s surprising is that you get free Wi-Fi access here even though the phone signals fail to work inside the mines. When the tour comes to an end, you can find toilets and a large cafeteria. Such facilities are not available in the miner’s route.

Ideal Time to Visit

Wieliczka Salt Mine can be visited at any time of the year and weather. However, the best time to visit the mine is during the off-season, which is from November to March. The same is the case with other places to visit in Poland as well.

 If you are planning to travel during the peak season, try to plan the visit from Krakow to Wieliczka Salt Mines, early or late in the day, when there are fewer visitors.

Tips for Visiting the Mines

•   You have to dress appropriately. The temperature inside the mines might be between 14 and 18 degrees Celsius depending on the area you are exploring.
• There are stairs – 860 steps to be precise. Hence, make sure that you are wearing comfortable shoes and it is appropriate for climbing and descending the stairs.
•   Some chambers are very large and some tunnels can be too small and might make you feel claustrophobic. If you have severe issues with being underground or in confined spaces, this place might not be an ideal visit for you.
• Large bags and luggage, animals, smoking, etc. are not allowed when on the tour. You can leave your bags at secure lockers on the premises.
• Wheelchairs and baby carriages won’t suit the tourist route as there are a lot of stairs. If you have mobility issues, do contact the visitor’s centre in advance so that you can access other optional routes.