Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour from Krakow Old Town
4 hours (Approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Offered in: English and 5 more
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
Overview
Discover for yourself why the Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of Poland’s most visited attractions and an original UNESCO World Heritage site with this half-day guided tour from Krakow. Descend deep underground to explore the captivating tunnels, chapels, and chambers carved into the salt rock over eight centuries. Learn the fascinating history behind one of the world’s oldest operating salt mines thanks to commentary from an English-speaking guide, and enjoy convenient pickup from select Kraków hotels.
- Visit one of the original UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a top Poland attraction
- Descend deep underground to explore a vast labyrinth of tunnels and chambers
- Hear the fascinating history of the mine from an English-speaking guide
- Headsets provided to clearly hear the guide's commentary
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
The day begins with midmorning pickup at your Kraków hotel (select hotels only) or a central meeting point, and a short drive in a minivan to reach the mine, located just 10 miles (16 km) outside the city. In operation since the 13th century, the Wieliczka Salt Mine today has been visited by more than 40 million people and was recognized as one of the original World Heritage Sites named by UNESCO.
Trace the long and fascinating history of the mine — one of the world’s oldest and deepest — as you descend almost 450 feet (135 meters) down the shaft accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Be prepared for a considerable workout, as the touring route features a climb down 350 steps. Wander through a 1.9-mile (3-km) labyrinth of tunnels that open into glittering chambers decorated with salt rock carvings and vast caverns filled with saline lakes. There is even an expansive chapel with salt statuary and chandeliers in this remarkable underground city.
Expect to spend around 3 hours exploring the mine’s cavernous and historic highlights, listening to your guide’s live commentary through provided headsets so everyone can hear clearly. An elevator shaft is available to whisk you back to the surface at the end of the tour, where a driver awaits to return you to your original Kraków departure point.
Trace the long and fascinating history of the mine — one of the world’s oldest and deepest — as you descend almost 450 feet (135 meters) down the shaft accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Be prepared for a considerable workout, as the touring route features a climb down 350 steps. Wander through a 1.9-mile (3-km) labyrinth of tunnels that open into glittering chambers decorated with salt rock carvings and vast caverns filled with saline lakes. There is even an expansive chapel with salt statuary and chandeliers in this remarkable underground city.
Expect to spend around 3 hours exploring the mine’s cavernous and historic highlights, listening to your guide’s live commentary through provided headsets so everyone can hear clearly. An elevator shaft is available to whisk you back to the surface at the end of the tour, where a driver awaits to return you to your original Kraków departure point.
Itinerary
The most popular way, the tourist route is about 3 km of winding corridors located between 135 and 240 meters underground. The tour lasts about three hours, in groups of up to 40 people and starts in the Daniłowicz Shaft, where the guide will introduce you to the history and secrets of the mine. The trail leads to the Chapel of St. Kinga, where you can see salt works of art or a spectacle on a salt lake. It is worth knowing that there are approximately 800 stairs on the route, of which 380 are already at the beginning, which is why we suggest you put on comfortable footwear. The temperature below the ground varies between 14-16 C.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Not Included
Traveler Photos
Traveler Tips
- "Firstly wear comfortable clothing and shoes, it’s a lot of walking and there seemed to be a lot of climates in the mine." See review
- "The only problem is if you get too caught up looking at something and the guide walks on the signal can start to drop so you need to try and keep about 7 meters for clear signal to hear." See review
- "There is a café at the end, but make sure you take a bottle of water with you when you enter the mines - also, only SMALL bags are allowed in the mines." See review
Reviews
Questions?
Product code: 24963P3
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