I must confess to a touch of claustrophobia, so I don't get much out of this trip to a subterranean salt mine, about 16km (10 miles) southeast of Kraków. But many people -- including the folks at the UNESCO cultural heritage office -- absolutely love it, so I'm bowing to popular will and giving it three stars. Salt has been mined in the area for centuries, and talented miners and artisans through the ages here have crafted some incredible chambers, bas reliefs, and statues from that once highly coveted white powder. The mine covers nine floors and goes to a depth of some 300m (nearly 1,000 ft.). The highlights include an enormous salt lake as well as St. Anthony's Chapel and the larger Chapel of St. Kinga. You can the visit the mine only via a guided tour. Polish language tours run throughout the day; English-language tours are less frequent, but still often enough (at least in summer) that you won't have to wait long (last English tour is at 5pm). In winter, it's best to time your arrival to the tour schedule (10am, 12:30, 3, and 5pm). The tours cover three levels of the mine and take about 2 hours. Be sure to pack a sweater since it's cool down there, and wear comfortable shoes. You can reach Wieliczka easily by train or a special minibus that leaves from the main train station. Several travel agencies in Kraków also offer guided tours as a day trip.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
