Wieliczka Salt Mines


The salt mines are a thirty minute bus ride from the city centre and a well trodden part of the tourist trail. They are unquestionably a marvel, and they have been under the aegis of Unesco since 1978. All tours are guided and there are regular English tours during the season, otherwise you can buy a pamphlet and join a Polish group. Unfortunately, this means that you can't breeze through the duller rooms (of which there are a few), or linger in the more inspirational ones. All the same, if you're here for more than a couple of nights, they are well worth the trip. The chapels, above all that of Saint Kinga, are extraordinary. Picasso said that the altarpiece in St. Mary's Church was the eighth wonder of the world, yet the aforementioned chapel can certainly hold its own with Stoss's creation.

entertainment directory
entertainment reviews

Map

location:
Further Out

new!

address:
ul. Danilowicza 10

telephone:
+48 (12) 4214865

fax:
+48 (12) 4214865

Wieliczka Salt Mines email

Wieliczka Salt Mines website



Trips and Tours
Stag Weekends
Krakow Hotels
Apartments
Off Road Fun

 


Review and Win
Krakow Parks
Summer Beach Parties
Nightlife
Krakow Sport
Krakow Day Trips
Krakow Apartments

Wieliczka Salt Mines

"This was certainly worth the trip, although it did drag a bit at times. The main room is amazing..."

Helen Cresswell
United Kingdom
Jun.10.2009
Overall rating
4/5

"Been waiting a few years to see the Wieliczka Salt Mines since my Polish friends first described them to me. What a fantastic place to visit! My only wish would that it was wheel chair accessible so everyone could enjoy it."

Kent
United States
Jun.05.2009
Overall rating
5/5

"I'd like to get married in that chamber. Like a sort of elves marriage! Amazing!"

jeff
United States
May.18.2009
Overall rating
5/5

"It was such a pleasure to go down in the mines! What a unique experience!"

Francisco d'Anconia
Argentina
Feb.10.2009
Overall rating
5/5

"I've never been to a place like this! Definitely recommended if you have an extra afternoon in Krakow. Krakow Tours made everything effortless :)"

Ben
United Kingdom
Jan.19.2009
Overall rating
5/5

"Cool place! I went with Krakow Tours and they took care of everything for me. This salt mine is really unique - definitely worth a visit!!"

Fruity
United Kingdom
Dec.03.2008
Overall rating
4/5

"what an incredible place - not for the claustrophobic as most of the time you are walking in small dark tunnels - but eventually you get to the magnificent room pictured above :) really interesting place!!"

odenan
United States
Oct.28.2008
Overall rating
3/5

"WOW! This word describes this place to a tee. A whole underground world, completely built out of salt. Churches, statues, even the chandeliers!! What a remarkable place. Down near the bottom (where they dont take you) there is a sanitorium, where asthma and lung illness sufferers go and the salt and depth makes them better! The mine has schools, hospitals, canteen, churches, rivers, the Pope! A must for anyone to Poland, and dont forget Auschwitz as well. "

Lord Underwood-Parry
United Kingdom
Sep.08.2008
Overall rating
5/5

"This is a must do if you are visiting Kracow. Words cannot adequately describe what you will see in the mines, and I'm not that easily impressed, seen the Grand canyon etc but this is a much bigger wow. Plan to stay a little longer after the guided tour as there is a restaurant and museum (at 132 metres below ground). It's only a 20 minute run out of Kracow. There is a lift back up to the surface so less fit people should be ok on this tour. You do have to walk down steps for what seems like forever though. We used Kracow Tours on this site for all our transport and found them to be excellent. Nice vehicles, friendly and very efficient staff. Thank you."

Dave
United Kingdom
Jun.18.2008
Overall rating
3/5

"Thank God this isn't in the UK or the US or they would have a McDonalds down there! Visit it whilst it remains unspoiled. It is well worth the effort."

Jim Crooke
United Kingdom
May.09.2008
Overall rating
5/5

"not to be missed when visiting Krakow "

john kelly
Ireland
Mar.18.2008
Overall rating
5/5

"Amazing - they also said the air is good for you and that the 3hr underground tour is healthy who knew!"

Cheryl
United States
Mar.12.2008
Overall rating
5/5

"undeniably beautiful; lots of steps; stairways not for people afraid of heights; definitely worth seeing the chapels"

Kim
Canada
Feb.25.2008
Overall rating
5/5

"The most spectacular and amazing sight to have ever experienced, truly in awe!!!!"

J Howarth
United Kingdom
Feb.14.2008
Overall rating
5/5

"Excellent - I have never seen anything like it"

Bob Duck
United Kingdom
Jan.30.2008
Overall rating
5/5

"Well worth visiting indeed. The Chapel is truly marvellous."

Mike B
United Kingdom
Jan.25.2008
Overall rating
5/5

"I visited the Wieliczka salt mines, not knowing what too really expect,I was so amazed,by what i saw, unbelievable, amazing, is how i would describe this visual feast.The tour guide was great, he really made the journey through the mines live and breathe the magnificent histoty behind all aspect of them."

Eddie Sapinski
New Zealand
Jun.25.2007
Overall rating
5/5

"Krakow was magnificient. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is worth a trip by itself. If t had been in the Free World for the last 50 years it would be known as one of the Man-Made Wonders of the World. Our guide Marta was excellent.Be prepared for a fair amount of walking."

Mark
United States
May.31.2007
Overall rating
5/5

"I love Monica-she's the greatest! "

Carl
United Kingdom
May.04.2007
Overall rating
5/5

"Oh my god, the most wonderful city in the world. The Salt Mines were incredible no photographs do the craftsmanship justice. If you nothing else in this life spend a few days in Krakow, for me the best in the world."

Jo Piper
United Kingdom
May.02.2007
Overall rating
5/5

"everything in this room is made of salt.. except the door which is made of wood ... priceless !!! "

dan ryan
United Kingdom
May.02.2007
Overall rating
5/5

"My colleagues were discussing holiday trips and asked me which is the most unforgettable trip for me. I was there in 1998 after an exhibition in Paris, took a one week side trip to Eastern Europe, visiting Budapest, Warsaw and Krakow - the salt mine. I remembered we took a train from Warsaw -it was a pleasant ride where we had lunch and some wine onboard and frankly, I wasn't expecting anything interesting in a salt mine but wow, the hundreds of steps down the 3 levels, the sights underground were spectacular and I especially liked the chapel, sculptures and those ancient equipment on display. To me - this is the most recommended must see place in Poland."

Jenny Ang
Singapore
Apr.16.2007
Overall rating
5/5

"Fantastic, GO!"

ANDY
United Kingdom
Feb.16.2007
Overall rating
5/5

"I visited the salt mines as part of my birthday weekend in Krakow. I went with 12 friends and not one of us was disappointed (hungover - yes)! It was an amazing experience and our guide Mark was superb! He knew everything about everything and his english was excellent. I can't recommend the place enough, we booked through the tourist info centre in the market square and it cost about 90z, well worth every penny!"

VLM
United Kingdom
Feb.05.2007
Overall rating
5/5

"salt is such a link with human life, to experience a real life mine was very interesting, but more the sculptures produced by miners in their own time (difficult to believe) but the quality from guys used to wielding hand tools with force is just fantastic. Tour very entertaining and informative all questions answered with authority. A must visit when in Cracow, easy bus trip too."

Ian Smart
United Kingdom
Oct.28.2006
Overall rating
4/5

"as a person who takes thousand each year on various tour of various 'must see' sights the salt mines are a reall joy to investigate always fun and interesting with a real twist of the sureal given the world that lies around this particular area of concentration camps and (in the pat) poverty and hardship these salt mines provide a light hearted break from the doom and gloom of what could be very depressing excursions!!! Great "

barbara metchick
United Kingdom
Sep.26.2006
Overall rating
5/5

"I'm not a ig fan of tours, and went there with low expectations but was really gobsmacked! There's one really large hall which is quite awesome. It feels a bit like Raiders of the Lost Ark as you make your way around the rickety-looking wooden bridges and stairs. One tip - if you have kids - hold on to them tight!"

Simon MIlls
United Kingdom
Aug.25.2006
Overall rating
5/5

"I have visted the saltmine several times, and as far as I am concerned it is a 'must see' experience. When telling other people it is hard to make it sound exciting - but everyone I have taken there has been 'wowed' [if there is such a word] by it. I am looking forward to going again next time I visit Poland."

Terry Bridle
Canada
Aug.07.2006
Overall rating
5/5

"Absolutely breath taking - shame Pope John-Paul was unable to make the journey in his lifetime to view the statue made of him. Well worth a visit."

Brian Lakin
United Kingdom
May.15.2006
Overall rating
5/5

"the things i saw were breath taking.i was lucky enough to see the most beautiful architecture i had ever seen and the most amazing thing was that it was by the ordinary working man. i went in 2005 and was absolutely blown away by the warmth of the staff and there love for the place."

Claire Lane
United Kingdom
Apr.20.2006
Overall rating
5/5

"If you don't like queuing and want to be sure of an English speaking guide, blow the expense and book on-line. Whatever your choice, you will not be disappointed by the Salt Mines. "

jutta hayter
United Kingdom
Oct.20.2005
Overall rating
5/5

"well.... despite the fact our tour guide of the salt mines spoke english i found myself having to strain and focus really hard to understand what he was saying. The tour seemed to take forever however it was an experience i will never forget. the staff however that worked in the salt mine seemed ever so rude to me! i enjoyed the ball room that was a spectacular sight and well worth all the boring parts of the tour just to see that. i would recomend you go see this place if you get the chance but it could be an extremely boring place for a child. my favourite part of the whole salt mine experience was the cage at the end i thought it was absolutely ace and wanted to go on it again. i recomend you wear sensible shoes as there is about 400 steps at the very beginning."

Kylie Holtom
United Kingdom
Jul.11.2005
Overall rating
3/5

"I was lucky enough to have an English tour at the salt mines and found it to be a breathtaking place. The most astoishing thing down there is the magnificent ball room, where weddings are held nowadays. And the fact that my phone had reception right at the bottom. My only complaints are about the seemingly never ending factor of the tour, and the rattly metal cage that they drag you back up in."

lurr
United Kingdom
Feb.20.2005
Overall rating
5/5

"Interesting, and quite a spectacle for about twenty minutes, but unless you manage to luck onto an English speaking guide the stopping at every view for a 5 minute discourse gets a bit tiresome. The main hall pictured is a sight to behold, but the whole tour took 2 hours and even then we were left hanging about like spare dicks at a wedding at the cafe/souvenir area for twenty minutes whilst we were expected to shop. Took the train to it which was pleasant, albeit a bit difficult to understand the timetable and buy the tickets. Still preferable to getting one of the many grief-hole/minibuses from the train station. "

anthony
United Kingdom
Mar.28.2004
Overall rating
3/5