What are the Krakow Salt Mines?
Wieliczka, Poland Salt Mine is an extraordinary labyrinth of tunnels, chambers and underground lakes that stretch a total of 287km beneath the town of Wieliczka. (Don’t worry - the tourist route doesn’t take you around the entire mine!) It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978 and provides you with the opportunity to discover an underground world built from salt.
Commercial mining for table salt started in the 13th century and ended in 1996, but the first evidence of salt being collected dates right back to 1044. On your visit look out for displays of historic salt-mining technology, an underground saline lake, four chapels, as well as numerous sculptures and exhibitions. You’ll hear about the legend of Princess Kinga’s engagement ring, who has since been made the patron saint for miners by the Catholic church.
Among its many marvels, the breathtaking St Kinga Chapel stands out - not only as the world’s largest underground church, but as a testament to the ingenuity and artistry of the miners. You may have seen Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper. Well, here you can see a version created by miner and sculptor Antoni Wyrodek, who used rock salt as his medium. If you’re looking for an underground wedding venue, this chapel is available for hire.
How the Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour Works
The standard tour is known as the “Tourist Route”. Around 15 minutes before the time on your ticket you should join the queue for English language tours (unless you’ve booked another language). You’ll be given an audio device with headphones, to allow you to hear your guide at all times.
The tour is split into two stages, and it lasts around 2 hours. It isn’t suitable for everyone - as it starts with descending around 300 steps and there’s another 500 to descend before the end of the tour, with at least a further 3.5km of walking around the labyrinth.
Now if you’re thinking I mentioned a chapel is used for weddings, surely the bride wouldn’t be expected to manage 3.5km and 800 steps in a wedding dress - you’d be right. There’s a lift by that chapel used for weddings. However, unless you’re unfortunate and take ill or injure yourself you won’t see that lift. You will get to use one at the very end though, so you don’t need to worry about climbing 800 steps to get back out.
During your tour you’ll explore 20 different chambers. St Kinga Chapel is at the end of the first part of the tour. After this you’ll get a short break where there’s toilets and refreshments available for purchase, before commencing the second part of the tour. When you reach Weimar Chamber with its picturesque saline lake you’ll be invited to breathe in deeply, as the guide will claim there’s health benefits if you do.
At the end of the tour you’ll find Karczma Górnicza - a cafeteria style restaurant that’s 125m underground. Some of the offerings aren’t the healthiest, but you will have burned off a number of calories to even get here. Don’t forget the salt for your chips! If it’s a nice sunny day you may prefer to eat at one of the restaurants in Wieliczka with an outdoor terrace, such as Karczma Halit, just across the road from the entrance to the mine.
Booking your Krakow Salt Mine Tour
As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Poland, it’s advisable to buy your Wieliczka Salt Mine tickets online in advance. Even if some tickets are available on arrival, waiting until you get there may mean a long wait until the next available tour, or having to join a tour that isn’t being conducted in English. Buying one or two days in advance will usually be sufficient - it’s popular, but not to the same level as the Alhambra in Spain.
The one thing I found slightly confusing about the booking site is sometimes it shows times as both available and unavailable (like in the below image). What this means is they’ll be operating tours for multiple groups during that time slot and have sold out tickets for one tour, but not the other. The number of tours operating doesn’t change what you have to do when you arrive - you just join the back of the queue for the language you booked in.
Getting to Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow
How far are the salt mines from Krakow? The mines are actually in the small town of Wieliczka, around 15km south east from Krakow city centre.
How do I get there by train? There’s a train from Krakow Główny to Wieliczka Rynek Kopalnia every 30 minutes. It takes less than 25 minutes. From there it’s just a 350m walk to the mine entrance. The trains I caught were modern, air conditioned and had plenty of seats available.
At Krakow Główny buy your train ticket from the staffed office, the machines on the concourse, or the machine located on the train. Wieliczka Rynek Kopalnia isn’t a staffed station, but you’ll find a ticket machine on the platform. You can pay by cash or card, but you may need exact change if you opt for cash. The ticket price is just 7 PLN** each way (equivalent to less than £1.50).
If you arrive at the station just before a train is due to depart, just jump on the train and look for the ticket machine which will either be at the front or rear. Important: Only follow that approach for a local train, such as the one to Wieliczka or Krakow Airport. For Intercity trains in Poland you must buy at least five minutes before the scheduled departure time - if the on board inspector sells you a ticket you’ll be charged an additional supplement.
How do I get there by bus? Route 304 runs between Krakow and Wieliczka. It’s slower than the train, so if you’re staying in central Krakow it wouldn’t normally be the best option. You’ll need a ticket which covers zones I and II. If you’re planning to make other bus or tram journeys on the same day there’s a 24 hour ticket, otherwise it’s best to buy single journey tickets.
By taxi/Uber/Bolt: Expect to pay a minimum of 45 PLN** each way (at least £9).
** Prices correct as of September 2025
Good to Know
● The temperature is one thing that’s always difficult to predict in the UK. There’s no guess work when it comes to being inside Wieliczka Salt Mine. The underground temperature remains at a steady 17°C year-round. So in summer it’s advisable to have a jacket with you, even if it’s scorchio outside. While in winter you probably don’t want to be wearing a thick coat, hat and gloves.
● Large backpacks, suitcases and baby strollers aren’t allowed down the mine. There are lockers available, but the attraction doesn’t guarantee availability, so it’s best to avoid bringing large items if possible.
● The use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, lighters and matches are strictly forbidden for the entire time you’re underground. This isn’t just because it’s an enclosed space - they’d have the potential to cause an explosion in a mine shaft where gas may have accumulated!
● There’s no phone signal deep underground - so don’t plan to do a TikTok Live stream of your visit!
● As well as the “Tourist Route”, there’s a “Miners’ Route”. This provides a more authentic, but less comfortable option. You’ll be navigating dark tunnels using a flashlight on your helmet, and there’s no halfway comforts like toilets and refreshments. Experiencing things like a real miner isn’t for everyone, especially if you have certain phobias or medical conditions. Interested in the more adventurous tour? Check the times carefully and book ahead, as there’s only usually two or three tours per day.
About the author
Edd Myerscough has explored more than 15 destinations solo, from discovering top European cities to hiking in the Carpathian Mountains, and admiring the stunning beauty of the Canadian Rockies. If you're after top tips on planning a seamless city break or an adventurous escape, Edd's got you covered with stories and practical advice to inspire your next journey.