Let's see Wieliczka Salt Mine with Krakow Direct
Organized guided tour from the city of Krakow to the Wieliczka Salt Mine is very popular. Book a guided tour and visit the tourist route in the world-famous salt mine. An English-speaking guide or another of Your choice will tell you the interesting history of the place, answer questions of even the most inquisitive tourists and at the same time take care of your safety and transport from/ to the city of Krakow.
If necessary, you have the opportunity to take advantage of free cancellation for group tours up to 24 hours before departure. You do not lose anything, and the tours are organized all the time, so you can go with us another time. Together we will visit one of the most beautiful places in Poland, and our qualified service will take care of all your needs, tickets and transportation from Krakow.
The interesting history of the Wieliczka Salt Mine
It belongs to the unique and one of the oldest salt monuments of Poland. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the oldest existing salt mines in the world and was established in the 13th century. Nowadays, salt is no longer mined in Wieliczka, but this original underground complex has been preserved in excellent condition, which makes it a world-class monument. The Wieliczka Salt Mine was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List for its breathtaking underground chambers carved entirely out of salt. An organized tour from Krakow to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the most popular day trips and attracts over a million tourists each year. It is impossible to miss such an attraction when visiting Krakow.
Joint sightseeing tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow
Our joint Krakow salt mine tour takes about 4 hours. We provide a modern, comfortable Mercedes Benz car and a friendly, English-speaking tour leader. We make an appointment with you to pick you up at a pre-arranged time. The journey from the centre of Krakow takes about 30-40 minutes each way. The tour of the Salt Mine in English takes about 2,5 hours. You can also book organized combination tours. Krakow Direct offers guided tours, including the Salt Mine and Auschwitz Birkenau or the Salt Mine and Schindler’s Factory, in one day to make the most of your vacation. Of course, it will take more than 4 hours, but you do not have to worry about anything. After the tour from Krakow, we provide safe transportation to your hotel or accommodation in the centre of Krakow.
What’s more, in the event of unforeseen events or the need to cancel, you can take advantage of a free cancellation by informing us in advance. You lose nothing, and your guided tour from Krakow with Krakow Direct can be taken at another time.
Attractions for children in a Wieliczka salt mine tour
Discover Solilandie – a tourist route for children
While in the mine, during these 4 hours, we recommend that you take the whole family on a trip to the mysterious Solilandia – a land that was once discovered by accident by one of the miners working underground. According to legend, it is home to the Soliludki, the dragon Solizaurus, who you must be on your guard against, and the good spirit of the mine – the Treasurer. The locals believe that the Wawel Dragon from Krakow also came from this dragon family. During a visit to Solilandia, children will learn the habits of the Gnomes and enter a wonderful fairy-tale world. They must, however, carefully look around and creep on tiptoe so as not to awaken the evil dragon. Our guide is already experienced in this and the organized group will feel safe.
Playground underground in Wieliczka salt mine – the chamber of Wincenty Witos
An underground playground located in the Wieliczka salt mine is a great attraction for all the youngest visitors. In the Wincenty Witos’s chamber, a relatively young attraction was built with the smallest visitors to the mine in mind. Children can listen to stories told by Kryształek – the salt lamp which shows the history of the Mine and the miners working there, grab the telephone to hear about the ways of communication between them, or turn the crank and thus turn on the light at different levels of the Mine. This helps them understand more about the whole history and the work that was done there. While looking into a watchmaker’s magnifying glass, they will see a salt crystal magnified. After all, salt is not at the centre of our interest every day. What’s more, they will have a lot of fun using the interactive wall, creating art in the drawing corner and playing at various stations, such as salt, minerals or listening to fairy tales.
Playing together on an underground playground in a salt mine is a great adventure, perhaps even the adventure of a lifetime. After all, not every child has the opportunity to play 125 meters underground. By choosing an organized trip from Krakow to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, you can provide your kids with such wonderful experiences and memories.
Culture crystals in Wieliczka salt mine – beautiful St Kinga’s Chapel, salt mine to marry and world heritage site
The rich salt vaults host various types of events for visitors. The salt mine conducts comprehensive cultural activities, organizing concerts of classical and sacred music, exhibitions, dance tournaments, martial arts tournaments, as well as soccer matches. Interestingly, even bungee jumping has taken place here, others have flown in a basket balloon, thus gaining an entry in the Guinness Book of Records, and Mateusz Kusznierewicz, a multiple worlds and European champion in the Finn class, has sailed on the underground salt lake. The underground salt lake itself is an amazing spectacle, which is really worth seeing with your own eyes. In St. Kinga’s Chapel, many couples have said the magical I do. Perhaps someone of you will also decide to get married in Wieliczka Salt Mine? The chapel there is open to anyone interested. You can come here on Sunday for a holy mass and once a year for a Pasterka mass. It will surely be an even more magical moment.
Participation in the play
The underground salt lake, St. Kinga’s chapel, and the whole unique space
Wieliczka’s underground space delights not only tourists but also filmmakers. The corridors here have become part of the scenery of numerous Polish productions, including the famous film “Sexmission” about the last two men in the world ruled by women.
Time for rest – overnight stay in the Słowacki Chamber
If you like your visit to the Mine very much, you can stay here longer than other visitors. There is an attraction waiting for you which is even more fun than the pyjama party. It is an overnight stay underground. You will open your eyes with amazement, but in the Wieliczka underground there are no impossible things. In the Słowacki Chamber, exactly 125 m under the ground level, a recreation complex was created, where you can find comfortable beds, a TV room, games, a reading room, a restaurant, and convenient sanitary conditions. Staying overnight underground is an incredible attraction for the whole family. It will send shivers down your spine. Just don’t forget to bring your pyjamas.
Why you should choose a Wieliczka salt mine tour with Krakow Direct?
Extreme sports, weddings, concerts, playing in the underground playground, spending the night, and even licking the salt wall… And how would you like to spend your time in the Wieliczka Salt Mine? Our organized tour with an English-speaking guide will provide you with as much excitement and knowledge as all these attractions. What’s more, the salt mine tour with Krakow Direct provides you with safe transportation back to Krakow city in our luxury fleet, as well as the possibility to take advantage of a free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.
Interesting facts about Wieliczka salt mine
Here are 5 of the most impressive and interesting facts about the Wieliczka Salt Mine that attract crowds of tourists and children’s tours from all over the world.
Basic facts about the Salt Mine
Wieliczka Salt Mine has a total of over 300 km of galleries, which is equal to the distance from Wieliczka to Warsaw. The tourist route itself, however, is 3.5 km long and includes 20 chambers, about 800 stairs and goes down to the third level of the mine – 135 meters below the ground level. The deepest level is 327 meters underground.
Most of the mine is made of salt alone
Although the scaffolding supporting the entire construction is made of wood, most of the tunnels along with walls, floors, roofs, and beautiful crystal decorations and statues were carved only in salt. Especially worth seeing is the chapel of St Kinga.
Wieliczka Salt Mine was inscribed on the UNESCO list- a world heritage site
Since 1978 the Wieliczka Salt Mine has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the official name ‘The Royal Salt Mines of Wieliczka and Bochnia’. It is one of the first 12 sites inscribed on the world list and is also one of the oldest salt mines in the world. According to official data, the oldest document confirming its existence dates back to 1044.
Underground, in the salt mine, hides more than you can imagine
Wieliczka salt mine tour provides many interesting attractions that make the visit more interesting. There is Europe’s only underground church – St. Kinga’s Chapel, where to this day masses are held on the occasion of St. Kinga’s name day, Christmas pastorals and weddings of young couples. You can also find there the world’s largest mining machine made of wood, crystals from crystal caves and many, many other attractions adorning the tourist route, delighting all visitors.
Salt Mine tour – interesting events
Contrary to what might seem impossible, in 2014 the first underground balloon flight took place in the highest chamber and lasted more than 4 minutes. In addition, it earned a record entered in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest number of participants in the polonaise dance and the largest lasagna. As you can see, people’s imagination and possibilities know no boundaries. It is not without reason that millions of tourists come on organized trips from Krakow to Wieliczka to see this monument with their own eyes. The Wieliczka mine has also hosted bungee jumping, soccer matches, and even windsurfing on an underground salt lake.
Practical information for tour participants
The temperature underground is 14-16 degrees C so it is better to take warm sweatshirts with you and replace flip-flops and sandals with comfortable shoes suitable for walking on stone and salt ground.
Our knowledgeable guides usually take breaks during their guided tours, when you can use the toilets free of charge. For parents with children, there are facilities such as baby changing facilities and highchairs in the underground Miners’ Inn and restaurant at the Grand Sal Hotel. If you have any questions to our guide, feel free to ask. He is not only excellent in Polish but he is also English speaking.
Do not worry that on the way back you will have to climb hundreds of stairs again. The trip will end in an elevator that will take you back to the surface. And we’ll take care of your safety and quick return to Krakow.
It is worth getting acquainted with the regulations of the Mine beforehand and listen to the guide attentively. What is interesting, in many places underground Wi-Fi is available.
After the tour of Salt Mine – come back to Krakow
The meeting point after the guided tour is at a previously agreed place with our English-speaking guide. The transport takes about 30 minutes from the meeting point to the centre of Krakow or directly to your hotel.
If you are interested in a salt mine tour from Krakow with Krakow Direct, just call us. You can book in advance Salt mine tour from Krakow or in an emergency, use free cancellation. Just let us know up to 24 hours before the guided tour, and you can use free cancellation without any consequences.
Other trips with Salt Mine from Krakow city centre with KrakowDirect
Our company specializes in transfer services. We organize daily tours of the Salt Mine in Krakow and guarantee high quality at the best prices. Wieliczka Salt Mine tours with KrakowDirect are available in private or shared options.
If you are interested in a longer tour than just the Wieliczka Salt Mine, please check our website for other options. We also offer guided tours to Auschwitz Birkenau and Salt Mine, Salt Mine and Schindlers Factory. But not only salt mines are in our minds. Check the suggestions of an organized tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Schindlers Factory. Each tour is a day trip and includes comfortable transportation, safety, tickets and amazing excitement at great prices per person.