Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour from Krakow 

Description

Full of unique beauty and active continuously since the Middle Ages – the historic Wieliczka Salt Mine is visited by tourists every day, showing the most amazing works of art sculpted throughout the many centuries of laborious miners’ work. The underground Wieliczka Salt Mine boasts kilometres of walkways and ramps, magnificent chambers, lakes and breathtaking salt statues. Modern technology can also be come across along the route to educate those eager to learn more about the Mine. The smell of salt wafting through the air, therapeutic microclimate, impressive chambers, wooden structures and perfection to the tiniest detail – the charms of the Tourist Route attract and enrapture over one million visitors travelling every year from different parts of the world. Many people are taken aback by how huge the Mine is. It is hard to imagine – the Tourist Route involves almost 800 steps to climb and over 2 kilometres of meandering corridors. The tour lasts 2 hours, although this part of the Mine makes up for only 1% of the entire underground world! Hence, the tourists are guided by an experienced museum guide – we advise you to follow the group closely and keep an eye on the guide at all times!

The Wieliczka Salt Mine was one of the first among 12 sites from all around the world to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most frequently visited tourist sites in the world!

The scenic Tourist Route is the pearl of the treasure of the Lesser Poland region – the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The tourists will reach the depth of 135 meters and learn about the ethos of hard work performed by the generations of miners facing the forces of nature. A perfect example of the mining efforts is the Michałowice chamber, impressing the visitors with its 36-metre tall wooden structure lit by a 6-metre tall and 3-metre wide chandelier made of salt crystals. However, this is only a fraction of breathtaking sights the trip participants will see along the route. The tourists will also listen to Frédéric Chopin’s étude in the famous Weimar chamber upon a saline lake, learn about the legend of Duchess Kinga who brought the treasure of salt to Poland, and reach the heart of the Mine – St. Kinga’s Chapel embodying the artistic and mining efforts.

The tour starts at the Danilowicz Shaft. Here, the visitors will meet their guide, who will tell them everything they want to know about the history and secrets of the Mine. The tourists will descend the 380 stairs to the first level of the Mine situated 64 metres underground. The entire route consists of some 800 stairs – please remember to take comfortable clothes and footwear.

Highlights

• Explore the historic Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage
• Discover the mine’s remarkable corridors, lakes and excavations
• Licensed Professional Guide service included
• Avoid the queues with a skip-the-line ticket
• Roundtrip transportation from Krakow included

• Expert tour guide
• Return (round-trip) transportation from Krakow
• Pick up from Selected Hotels
• Skip the Line Access
• Entrance ticket
• Headsets

Excluded

• Gratuities
• Food/Beverage

Important Information

• Schedule: 08:30 Daily
• Duration: 5.5 hours
• Luggage is not permitted in the mine with the exception of hand baggage. Hand baggage is considered to be luggage with maximum dimensions of 35cm x 20cm x 20cm.       
• Pick-up is possible from the hotels located in the center of Cracow. If your hotel location is in an area beyond this or in an area with limited traffic/accessibility, then you will be picked up from the nearest possible pickup place. The exact location and pickup time will be provided to you by the tour operator at least a day before your scheduled tour
• Departure time might differ from the time listed. The exact pickup time and pick up point will be confirmed up to 1 day prior to the tour date                                                    
• It is the responsibility of all visitors to be at the meeting point at confirmed meeting time. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated & missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded.
• This tour involves a large amount of walking, uneven grounds, and many stairs; comfortable shoes are recommended. The tour begins with walking down 800 stairs underground and ends with miner’s lift ride.
• Air temperature inside the mine is approx. 14–16 degrees Celsius. Therefore participants should bring warm clothes (e.g. sweaters, jackets).
• The guided tour inside the mine is approximately 2 hours long and is conducted according to Wieliczka Salt Mine Rules & Regulations.
• It is recommended to take a packed lunch from Krakow.      
• We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages.
• Tour Operator reserves the right to refuse participation on its tours to any guest under the influence of drugs or alcohol or to any guest whose behavior is disorderly, or poses a threat to other guests or staff.

List of available pick up points (subject to change with prior notice): 

• Floriana Straszewskiego 14, 33-332 Kraków, Poland
• Mercure Kraków Fabryczna City, Fabryczna 13, 31-553 Kraków, Poland
• K+R ul. Pawia 18a, 31-154 Kraków, Poland
• Aparthotel Lwowska 1, Lwowska 1, 30-548 Kraków, Poland
• Novotel Krakow Centrum, Tadeusza Kościuszki 5, 30-105 Kraków, Poland
• ibis Krakow Centrum, Władysława Syrokomli 2, 30-102 Kraków, Poland
• Sheraton Grand Krakow, Powiśle 7, 31-101 Kraków, Poland
• K+R ul. Starowiślna 65, 31-052 Kraków, Poland
• Premium Hostel, Pomorska 2, 30-039 Kraków, Poland
• K+R ul. Wielopole 2, 31-072 Kraków, Poland
• ibis Krakow Stare Miasto, Pawia 15, 31-154 Kraków, Poland
• Hotel Galaxy, Gęsia 22A, 31-535 Kraków, Poland
• Qubus Hotel Kraków, Nadwiślańska 6, 30-527 Kraków, Poland
• Art & Garden Residence, Krowoderska 71, 31-158 Kraków, Poland