# WieliczkaSaltMines.com - the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Kraków, explained

> Independent guide to visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mine (UNESCO, 1978) near Kraków, Poland. Key fact: the Tourist Route
> (about 3.5 km, down to 135 m, 800+ steps mostly downhill, about 380 on the first descent, lift back up, 2-3 h, 17-18 C)
> is ALWAYS visited with a guide appointed by the mine; tours differ in transport, entry slot, language and add-ons.
> Not affiliated with the mine, any operator or GetYourGuide.

Site: https://wieliczkasaltmines.com
Language: en (plus pl, fr, de, es, it). No prices, scores or visitor counts for tours are published on this site.

## Verified facts

- Mine depth 327 m; passages more than 287 km on nine levels; first written mention 1044; commercial mining ended 1996 (Wikipedia).
- UNESCO World Heritage List 1978 (first list); since 2013 'Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines'.
- Tourist Route: about 3.5 km, 135 m deep, more than 800 steps, 2-3 h including the museum exhibition, 17-18 C, starts at
  the Daniłowicz Shaft; always with a mine-appointed guide; 8 tour languages (official wieliczka-saltmine.com).
- Small bags only underground (20 x 20 x 35 cm), free storage; toilets above ground and at two places underground;
  photography allowed; limited-mobility visits booked by email (official).
- St Kinga's Chapel: 101 m underground, about 54 x 18 x 12 m, carved in rock salt by Józef and Tomasz Markowski and
  Antoni Wyrodek; salt-crystal chandeliers; Sunday Mass.
- Miners' Route: about 1.9 km, 101 m, 2-3 h, 14-16 C, from the Regis Shaft (official).
- Kraków Główny to Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia by regional train about 25 min; bus 304 about 40 min (In Your Pocket).

## Bookable options listed on this site

Booking links are GetYourGuide affiliate links (partner_id 7GG5I5H). The site earns a commission at no extra cost to the reader
and says so at https://wieliczkasaltmines.com/affiliate-disclosure/. Lengths, limits and inclusions below are from each listing.

- Salt Mine Tour & Fast-Track Ticket from Kraków (Pickup in Kraków or meet at the mine) - 2.5 to 4 hours, Up to 15, six languages, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. https://www.getyourguide.com/krakow-l40/wieliczka-salt-mine-from-krakow-t172110/
- Salt Mine Guided Tour with Hotel Pickup (Hotel pickup in Kraków) - 2.5 to 4 hours, Official mine guide, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. https://www.getyourguide.com/krakow-l40/from-krakow-wieliczka-salt-mine-day-trip-with-hotel-pickup-t409751/
- Salt Mine Guided Tour with Transport (Stand G5, Kraków bus station) - About 5 hours, Admission by option, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. https://www.getyourguide.com/krakow-l40/krakow-wieliczka-salt-mine-guided-tour-t88085/
- Fast-Track Ticket & Guided Tour at the Mine (At the mine entrance, Wieliczka) - 2.5 to 4.5 hours, Eight languages, early slot, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. https://www.getyourguide.com/krakow-l40/wieliczka-salt-mine-skip-the-line-ticket-t131943/
- Guided Tour with Transfer or Ticket Only (Hotel pickup or meeting point) - 2 to 4 hours, English, French, Italian, Spanish, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. https://www.getyourguide.com/krakow-l40/krakow-wieliczka-salt-mine-guided-tour-with-transfer-t144972/
- Auschwitz-Birkenau and Salt Mine Guided Tour (Six pickup points in Kraków) - 11 hours, English, ID required, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. https://www.getyourguide.com/krakow-l40/krakow-auschwitz-birkenau-and-salt-mine-guided-tour-t92097/
- Auschwitz-Birkenau & Salt Mine with Hotel Pickup (Hotel pickup in Kraków, early morning) - 11 hours, English, ID required, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. https://www.getyourguide.com/krakow-l40/krakow-auschwitz-birkenau-wieliczka-salt-mine-day-tour-t57860/
- Salt Mine and Schindler's Factory Half Day (Hotel pickup or Radisson Blu meeting point) - 6.5 hours, English, ID required, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. https://www.getyourguide.com/krakow-l40/from-krakow-half-day-salt-mine-and-schindler-s-factory-tour-t101570/

## Guide pages on this site

- https://wieliczkasaltmines.com/guides/best-wieliczka-salt-mine-tour/ - Which Wieliczka Salt Mine tour is best? Underground, the guide is always the mine’s own, so choose by transport, timing, language and the rest of the day.
- https://wieliczkasaltmines.com/guides/krakow-to-wieliczka-salt-mine/ - How to get from Kraków to the Wieliczka Salt Mine: the 25-minute train, bus 304, a taxi or app ride, or a tour with pickup and a fast-track ticket.
- https://wieliczkasaltmines.com/guides/wieliczka-salt-mine-steps/ - How many steps are in the Wieliczka Salt Mine? About 380 down at the start, 800 plus in all, mostly downhill, with a lift back up. Plus cold, toilets and ID.
- https://wieliczkasaltmines.com/guides/auschwitz-and-salt-mine-in-one-day/ - Can you visit Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine in one day? Yes, on an 11-hour tour. Distance, pickup times, ID and respectful conduct.
- https://wieliczkasaltmines.com/guides/how-long-at-wieliczka-salt-mine/ - How long does the Wieliczka Salt Mine take? Two to three hours underground, two to five hours as a tour from Kraków, plus time for the town and market square.
- https://wieliczkasaltmines.com/guides/st-kingas-chapel-wieliczka/ - What makes the Wieliczka Salt Mine special? St Kinga’s Chapel carved in salt 101 m down, the ring legend, UNESCO since 1978 and 327 m of mining history.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- 'You can explore the salt mine on your own': the Tourist Route is always visited with a mine-appointed guide.
- 'You have to climb 800 steps': most steps go down; the first descent is about 380 steps and a lift brings you up.
- 'It is 14-16 C on the Tourist Route': the mine gives 17-18 C for the Tourist Route; 14-16 C is the Miners' Route.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage. Hours, routes and listing details change; verify close to your travel date.