More about: 5 Best Day Trips to the Wieliczka Salt Mines from Krakow
For seven centuries, salt was mined in these mines located 12 km from Krakow. Today, you will find a gallery of underground tunnels with a therapeutic climate and an exhibition of impressive salt figures. This is one of the most popular excursions from Krakow and there are several ways to do it.
1. Excursion to Auschwitz and the salt mines from Krakow
With this combined excursion to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mines, you will discover not only a fundamental chapter in recent history, but also a unique underground world. After visiting the Auschwitz memorial, the route will take you to the famous Salt Mines, where chapels, galleries and sculptures carved into salt rock centuries ago are hidden.
The tour of the mines will allow you to delve into an underground universe full of geological and historical secrets. A day that combines memory and natural wonders in an unforgettable experience.
Details of interest
- Price: — from S$164
- Duration: approximately 11 hours.
- Transport: air-conditioned bus departing from a central point in Krakow.
2. Excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines from Krakow
The guided tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mines is the perfect option for those who want to discover this spectacular World Heritage Site in depth. The descent to a depth of over 130 metres will reveal the majesty of the underground chambers and lakes carved out of salt by generations of miners.
You will walk through tunnels and chambers where the history of mining blends with art and spirituality, in a setting that seems straight out of a fairy tale.
Details of interest
- Price: — from S$97
- Duration: approximately 5 hours.
- Transport: air-conditioned minibus from the centre of Krakow.
3. Excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines with hotel pick-up in Krakow
If you are short on time, the half-day excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines will allow you to discover the most emblematic aspects of this impressive site. Walking through its galleries carved out of salt and descending hundreds of steps, you will enjoy an intense experience in just a few hours.
The tour includes highlights such as St. Kinga's Chapel, sculptures, underground lakes and exhibitions of historical tools used to extract salt.
Details of interest
- Price: — from S$71
- Duration: approximately 4.5 hours.
- Transport: bus transfer from Krakow, with pick-up at your hotel or meeting point.
4. Excursion to Auschwitz and the salt mines with hotel pick-up in Krakow
The excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines and Auschwitz-Birkenau offers a journey that combines nature and memory. After visiting Auschwitz, the day continues with an exploration of the spectacular salt chambers of Wieliczka, one of the oldest mining sites in the world still in operation.
During the tour, you will learn how these impressive galleries were forged, among sculptures, underground lakes and chapels that reflect centuries of craftsmanship underground.
Details of interest
- Price: — from S$192
- Duration: 11 hours including transfers and visits.
- Transport: modern coach departing from a central point in Krakow.
5. Private excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines
If you would like to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines exclusively, you can also book a private excursion with direct transfer from your hotel in Krakow. This option allows you to enjoy a vehicle just for your group and a professional driver who will take care of the entire journey, with the flexibility to adapt the schedule to your needs.
The price of this excursion includes admission to the mines and a guided tour of the complex, where you will discover the impressive underground chambers, a chapel carved entirely out of salt, and numerous sculptures and historical tools. The tour lasts about two and a half hours, plus approximately one hour of transfer time to and from the city.
Details of interest
- Price: — higher than group tours due to the exclusive services included.
- Duration: approximately 3.5 to 4 hours, including transfers and guided tour.
- Transport: private vehicle with pick-up at your hotel or agreed meeting point in Krakow.
What you will see on an excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines
The excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines, located half an hour by road from Krakow, is one of the most popular among travellers visiting the Polish city. The mines have been a World Heritage Site since the 1970s and are famous for the beauty of their salt-built chambers and their network of tunnels covering some 300 km.
The salt mining process
During this visit, you will learn about the salt extraction process that has been used in the mines, now a museum, since the Middle Ages, and also how the weather conditions at a depth of 325 metres have created a unique underground microclimate that is ideal for people with conditions such as asthma.
The tour
During the visit, you will descend into the mines via stairs and ascend in a lift similar to the one used by the miners. Inside, you will find an illuminated lake, chambers decorated exclusively with salt, figures of famous people made of salt and even a chapel that will leave you speechless. Thanks to the explanations provided by the guide who will accompany you during your visit, you will also discover the lifestyles and working conditions of the workers who toiled in these mines for centuries.
Ana's Traveller Tip
The tour of the mines includes a total of 800 steps, so it is not recommended for visitors with mobility issues.
Is it advisable to take the combined tour to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mines?
Absolutely. If you don't have much time in Krakow, the combined tour of Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mines is highly recommended. In a single day, you can visit two of Poland's most significant sites, making the most of your trip and avoiding unnecessary travel.
Here are some of the reasons why it's worth booking this combined tour:
- Make better use of your time: visit two must-see places in a single day without having to organise separate transport or tickets.
- Convenience and logistics taken care of: transport is coordinated, as are timetables and access to both sites.
- Cultural and emotional contrast: you will experience the historical impact of Auschwitz in the morning and the artistic and natural wonder of the salt mines in the afternoon.
- Specialised guide: professional accompaniment at all times, facilitating your understanding of the history of each place.
- Greater peace of mind: you won't have to worry about transfers between cities or waiting times, everything is planned for you.
Taking this combined excursion will allow you to discover in depth two unique settings that reflect both the tragic history and cultural heritage of Poland.
Practical tips for your trip to Wieliczka
How to get there
The most common way to get to the Wieliczka salt mines from Krakow is through organised tours. However, you can also get to Wieliczka on your own using either a rental car with GPS (it will take you about half an hour). You can also take a taxi (you shouldn't pay more than €15 each way), the train from Krakow Central Station (there are at least two trains per hour to Wieliczka) or bus 304, getting off at the Wieliczka Kosciól stop.
Opening hours
Opening hours may vary depending on the time of year, but they are usually from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in summer and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in winter. The most important thing is to check the timetable for guided tours in your language, as there are several tours in different languages throughout the day. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that you book your tickets for the Wieliczka Salt Mine well in advance.
Languages
In addition to Polish, you can take a guided tour of the mines in Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Russian. All tours include headphones to listen to the guide and are organised in groups of around 35 people.
What to bring
Regardless of the outside temperature, it is quite cold in the mines due to the humidity. Don't forget to bring something warm to wear during the tour. We also recommend wearing comfortable, non-slip footwear.
Can I take photos?
To take photos inside the mines, you will have to pay a supplement of around two and a half euros at the entrance. Otherwise, you may be reprimanded during the tour.
Is the tour
, is it difficult?
The entire descent into the mines consists of about 800 steps. The ascent is mostly done in a lift like the one used by the miners, which may not be suitable for those who are claustrophobic. In general, the tour is not particularly difficult, but it is not recommended for people with reduced mobility.
Can you eat and drink inside the mines?
Although one of the rooms in the mines can be rented for events and weddings, eating and drinking is not allowed inside the mines and there is no place to do so.
If you are interested in a trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mines, you may also be interested in
The trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mines is one of the two most popular visits you can make in the vicinity of Krakow. The other, even more popular, is of a very different nature: it is a tour of the Auschwitz concentration camps.
Although this visit may seem somewhat morbid or unpleasant at first, I can assure you that it is a genuine history lesson given with the utmost respect for the memory of the victims. There are many different options for taking this tour from Krakow; I recommend that you do some research before deciding so that you can get the most out of the experience. Here is a link to my article on 4 Best Day Trips to Auschwitz from Krakow to help you organise your visit.
If you would prefer to find out about other options offered by Krakow, I have also written an article about 10 Best Tours and Day Trips from Krakow so you can choose the one that best suits your trip.