If you are staying in Krakow it is easy to travel to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is definitely worth visiting. It has existed as the largest source of salt in Poland for centuries. Now, tourists can visit a small section of the mine. In addition to the fascinating history, the salt decorations throughout the tunnels and chambers are beautiful and amazing. I loved seeing the chandeliers and statues made out of salt. And, at the end of the tour, you can buy some of the salt from the gift shop.
Highlights
- Grand ballroom
- Salt chandelier
- Statues and wall carvings including biblical scenes
- Old mine carts, tracks and tunnels
- Salt mines chapel
Before you go
- You can buy entry tickets in advance from the online site Wieliczka Salt Mine
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Wear good walking shoes for walking through the tunnels
- Lighting is very dim so watch your step
- The tunnels can be cool so bring a jacket along
Transport
- From Krakow, it is about 20 minutes by car to the entry of the mine
- We hired a car with a driver for the day to visit the salt mine, Auschwitz and Birkenau, then drop-off at the airport from AuschwitzKrawkow.com They were reliable and reasonably priced
Accommodation
- Krakow is very near so we used that as our base and stayed at the Hotel Kazimierz I
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: Yes, you need to join a tour to visit the salt mines
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Yes, the guides can speak a number of languages including English
Q: Is it walkable?
A: Yes, but it is quite a bit of walking with some stairs
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