Wieliczka Salt Mine

Overview

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Poland, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is a true gem that is visited by over 1.2 million people every year.

Do you know that Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the most visited tourist sites in Poland, and at the same time, continuously since the Middle Ages, an active mining plant? In the past, it was from here that salt was supplied to almost all European countries. Inscribed on the UNESCO list in 1978, it is now a historic heritage site where you can reach not only the mining traditions, but also slightly unique culture and art.

The history of Wieliczka salt
The rock salt deposit in Wieliczka was established 15 million years ago as a result of sedimentation of the Miocene Sea sediments and formation by tectonic orogenic movements of the Carpathians. The local inhabitants were already involved in acquiring salt in prehistoric times. Later, it constituted the economic and economic basis, serving as a means of payment. It was used to preserve meat, butter, fish, tan hides and even produce gunpowder. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the oldest rock salt mines in the world. According to historical documents, salt mining existed in these areas already during the reign of Bolesław the Brave in the years 995-1025. In 1996, the extraction of the deposit was completely stopped, but miners still have a lot of work to do, securing the chambers and corridors created underground, protecting the historic sites from the effects of centuries of intensive exploitation.

What awaits tourists?
For over 700 years of salt deposit exploitation, 9 levels have been dug, with as many as 2,391 chambers and over 245 kilometers of passages. Below the surface, many attractions created by nature and man await tourists - the famous Chapels of St Kinga and St Antoni, the Pieskowa Skała Chamber, monumental carpentry structures, beautiful decorations, sculptures and bas-reliefs made of salt, as well as three salt lakes. The unique microclimate of the mine, with a high content of sodium chloride, potassium, magnesium and calcium, has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system.

Contact

Wieliczka Salt Mine
10 Daniłowicza Street
32-020 Wieliczka
+48 12 278 73 02
wieliczka-saltmine.com

Location

FAQ

The salt mine can be reached by train or bus. To ensure comfortable travel and guaranteed tickets for the tour, we encourage you to take advantage of our tour organized specifically for tourists.

The average time of the Wieliczka Salt Mine tour is about 2-3 hours, but it can be extended depending on the interests and pace of the tour.

The mine offers special routes for people with disabilities, but it is worth contacting the mine in advance to check availability.

Yes, the Wieliczka Salt Mine offers guided tours in various languages. Prior reservation is recommended.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is open every day, except for January 1, Easter, November 1, and December 25. Opening hours may vary depending on the season, so it is worth checking them on the mine's website.

Ticket prices vary depending on the chosen route and additional services. Current prices can be checked on the Wieliczka Salt Mine website.

Yes! The Wieliczka Salt Mine is not only on the UNESCO World Heritage List, but it is also one of the first objects ever to be listed, along with other iconic sites such as the Galapagos Islands, Yellowstone National Park, and the city of Venice. The fact that the Wieliczka Salt Mine has been recognized by UNESCO for over four decades now speaks to its cultural and historical significance.

Yes, there are restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops on the premises of the Wieliczka Salt Mine where you can eat, drink coffee or buy souvenirs.

The temperature in the mine is maintained at a constant level of 14-16 degrees Celsius, so it is worth wearing layers to adjust to the conditions in the mine. Since there are approximately 800 stairs on the tour route, we recommend comfortable clothing and shoes.

Reviews

4.8 (10 reviews)

Why choose us?

We have been active as a tourist operator in Cracow for 14 years and in that time we have served over a million customers! The resulting experience has allowed us to set up a tight-knit team to ensure that our tours are perfect in every detail. As we co-operate closely with tour companies, we are able to provide our customers with professionally organised tours hosted by experienced guides who are passionate about sharing their extensive knowledge of Cracow and places of interest in the area, such as-Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine. We also specialise in organising premium tours, such as private tours of the most beautiful sites in the Małopolska region. We will be happy to plan your day in Zakopane, the Pieniny Mountains or Częstochowa. We also provide airport transfers and other transport services for passengers. Our modern fleet will make sure you travel in comfort and enjoy the touring experience. Each of our employees is fluent in English. We use modern booking systems operated by an experienced team of dispatchers. We work every day to earn our customers’ trust and make sure they get maximum value for money.

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