Wieliczka Salt Mine Half-Day Trip from Krakow

Krakow, Poland

Leave Krakow behind and spend a fascinating morning or afternoon touring the legendary Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the oldest salt mines in Europe. Along with the mine's historical importance, its carvings of fabulous figures, monuments and altarpieces have earned the Wieliczka Salt Mine a place on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.

Legend has it that the salt mines were part of the dowry of the Hungarian princess, Kinga, when she married Boleslaw the Shy over 700 years ago. You'll tour the richly ornamented Chapel of the Blessed Kinga and visit an underground salt-mining exhibition on Level 3.

Your guided tour takes you from 210 to 440 feet (64 to 135 meters) underground, passing through galleries and chambers on three levels. The guided walk consists of 20 monumental chambers joined by 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) of pathways.

Entering the Wieliczka Salt Mine, you'll descend a 380-step staircase to Level 1. Although this walk is not strenuous and can be undertaken in ordinary footwear, it will need to be considered when booking this tour. The last stop on your visit to the mine is the souvenir shop and snack bar. From here, a lift carries you back to the surface.

USD $48.36

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Carla F V	September 2011
The tour was very good. However, we had difficulties in Krakow. We tried to arrange a pick up at our hotel and then we were told they do not pick up at hotels. Then there was a misunderstanding of where we were to meet the bus. We missed the morning tour and had to go on the afternoon tour. If we had had other plans, we would not have been able to go. The girl who answered the phone at the local travel company was very abrupt and unhelpful for someone who is not familiar with Krakow.

Review by: Kim M	September 2011
Definitely a must see when visiting Krakow. Amazing to think everything is carved from salt and the cathedral is stunning. The whole tour was very well organized and the pickup locations are central and easy to get to. The only thing that could be improved is a little bit of free time to look around and even stop to have a vodka.

Review by: EVGENIY B	September 2011
Interesting tour, salt mine is really amazing, especially the underground church.

Review by: Alan T	September 2011
Yes it a salt mine, but after you have seen a few sculpture it gets a bit repetative.

Review by: George X	September 2011
An unforgettable experience visiting this world heritage site where one can feel the hard work involved in mining which is still done in Poland.

Review by: Christopher S	September 2011
A good trip, well organised. Expected the underground to be better lit for viewing and filming - not as bright and clear as the brochures. Overall, amazing to see what the miners did. Recommended as must see.

Review by: Fredrik L	September 2011
A great trip with a nice guide both in the bus and in the salt mine.

Review by: Huw M J	September 2011
The whole trip was an outstanding success. The organisation was excellent and the guide assighned to our group was first class, both for her knowledge and her personalitynand friendliness.

Review by: Paul S	August 2011
excellent trip, good travel arrangements and well-explained trip

Review by: Ronald j A	August 2011
Cracow Tours coach pickup and service was excellent. The tour guide (a lady) was very informative and gave us a tour lasting 21/2 hours. From start to finish including pickup and return 51/4 hours. Excellent value. This World Heritage Site is not to be missed.

Review by: Miss Susan L	August 2011
Fantastic, really hard to take in that everything is carved from salt! Excellent guide but again would have liked a little more free time to browse and see the site outside a little bit more. It is really beautiful inside, the largest Church is just amazing, the carvings on the wall look as if they are 3D!

Review by: Malcolm C	August 2011
Excellent arrangements with a very helpful, funny guide at the Salt Mine

Review by: annajewell	August 2011
Excellent trip. 8th wonder of the world.

Review by: Louise K	August 2011
Very educational and thorough. Excellent local guide. A bit repetitive though in the content and completely lacking in any adventure like the salt mines in Salzburg.

Review by: Henrik B	August 2011
Interesting and a good guide.

Review by: David D	August 2011
This tour was very interesting and definitely to be seen when visiting Krakow. We had a lovely student called Anna as our tour guide and she took us on a magical journey through all the different chambers and the holy chapel has to be seen.

Review by: Dianne W	July 2011
Excellent tour. Sections are even included for children. Don't miss it if you are in Krakow.

Review by: Anthony G, Malta	July 2010
Unique mines.

Review by: Gary P, United Kingdom	July 2010
Very good trip.Good guide during the tour. But wished there was more time to look around the site at ground level. Our coach guide wanted us to leave straight after the tour, so we did not see very much and could not have drink or food.

Review by: Pauline W, United Kingdom	July 2010
Very well organised trip that was a short distance from the city. Guide was interesting, amusing and full of knowledge. A real must for anyone visiting the city.

Review by: Tracey H, New Zealand	July 2010
Quite an amazing place.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	July 2010
Not keen on the lift down to the mine, but wouldn't have missed the experience. The salt carvings were all excellent. A good trip.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	June 2010
See above

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	June 2010
The salt mines were amazing, definately a must see!

Review by: Anonymous, Ireland	May 2010
Yes i would highly recommend this trip. The Guide was good and informed us all very well with good humour too.

Review by: Tara F, Ireland	May 2010
I would highly recommended this trip - it's a must see - only thing is you need to take into consideration that you have to go down alot of steps - the lift back up is a bit strange too - but really well worth the trip.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	May 2010
Tour was good but the service of hte local tour company is very bad. They argue with customers and skipped my hotel and not icked me up and argue I was late while I was over 10 minutes early and never saw them come by. I cannot miss an entire big tour bus in front of my hotel.

Review by: John O, United Kingdom	April 2010
Fantastic.

Review by: Carol A, United States of America	April 2010
After hearing so much about the Salt Mines I finally got to see for myself what everyone was talking about. This trip was all I expected and the steps and walking was not as bad as I thought.

Review by: james h, United Kingdom	March 2010
As with my other tour Auschwitz-birkenau, this also was a great trip with a superb local tour company, unfortunatly they only have pick-ups from certain hotels and not from my central hotel in Krakow 5 min. walk from train station I had to walk 5 mins to another hotel further away from the centre of the city. Other than that the tour guide was superb. the best part was the commentry from the guide employed by the mine. one other thing to say, near the end of the tour you have to return to the surface in a lift approx. 6 x 4 feet and holds about 10 people, slightly claustrophobic.

Review by: Caryl V, United Kingdom	March 2010
Outstanding! Organisation perfect - everything so well done.

Review by: ALISON S, United Kingdom	March 2010
Excellent tour!

Review by: Colin P, United Kingdom	March 2010
Excellent tour, though being a salt mine one would have assumed the snow and ice would have been cleared from the paths for safety! The official guide at the mine was excellent, and overall a well organised trip, good value.

Review by: peter w, United Kingdom	February 2010
This was a most interesting and fascinating trip. We had a great guide and the history of the mines was incredible. Would definetely recommend.

Review by: James C, United States of America	February 2010
Certainly one of the most interesting things to see while visiting Krakow. The difficulty of walking down the stairs into the mine is exaggerated in the tour booklet. Anyone can negotiate the stairs with little problem. A fascinating experience.

Review by: Lucy S, United Kingdom	February 2010
Fantastic service yet again from Viator! The tour guide found us quickly at the Radisson and told us we would need to change buses when we got to Crakow hotel. All very easy to understand. Trip to mine was incredible!!! Well worth a visit, we found it really interesting and a fun day! Didnt feel rushed through the shops as they were all the same sort of products. Love Viator trips, find them trustworthy and a huge variety of trips. I am a life long fan!!!!!

Review by: stephen l, United Kingdom	December 2009
Excellent Tour Guide

Review by: KEITH R, Ireland	December 2009
Phoned in advance and was given a pick up point. The salt mine is a very short coach trip away. We were passed on to an english speaking guide . While she was very efficient we also found her to be quite abrupt and sharp. Plenty of downhill steps to see the beautiful statues and churches, then you are very tightly squeezed 9 at a time into a lift back to ground level. Coffee shop and toilets below ground and time to browse the gift shop. Very impressive tour.

Review by: David N, United Kingdom	December 2009
Such beauty, and from simple mines!

Review by: Geraldine M, Ireland	November 2009
Well worth a visit. Close to city so doesnt take up too much time. Salt mines spectacular, much more than I had expected

Review by: Joseph P, Ireland	November 2009
A great tour. Very interesting well worth seeing. should be the top of anybodys list.

Review by: norman g, United Kingdom	November 2009
good trip but guide and communication very poor