More about: 7 Tips to Visit Wieliczka Salt Mines
The Wieliczka Salt Mines are one of the most popular tourist attractions around Krakow and one of the oldest in the world, surprising for its longevity and for its size and artistic dimension. So much so that UNESCO chose this monument as one of the first to be declared a World Heritage Site in 1978.
Booking an excursion to the Wieliczka salt mines from Krakow you will see amazing things: from the machinery to extract the salt to subway galleries that house curious rock formations, beautiful lakes and even religious chapels.
1. An organized tour is always better than a visit on your own
Although you can go to the Wieliczka Salt Mines on your own, if you are looking to simplify things when it comes to finding transportation and routes to the monument, the services of a guide or tickets, my advice is to opt for an organized tour to the Wieliczka Salt Mines from Krakow where you will not have to worry about any of these issues because everything is designed for you to let yourself go and enjoy the experience to the fullest.
To make an organized excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines from Krakow there are several options but usually most usually include round trip transportation in a private vehicle in comfort, tickets to the attraction and the guide.
If the idea of taking an organized tour to this magnificent monument appeals to you, I recommend you take a look at the post Excursions to the Salt Mines from Krakow where you will find more detailed information about it.
2. Book the tickets or the tour in advance
Whichever way you decide to visit this monument, book your tickets as soon as possible. Nearly 2 million people visit it every year, so if you don't want to run out of tickets after you've traveled there or have to stand in an endless queue at the ticket office to get a slot on the Polish or English tours, my advice is to buy your tickets online.
Booking online your tickets to the Wieliczka Salt Mines will allow you to compare schedules, availability, rates and route types (there are some tours that combine the visit to the mines with Auschwithz, with a Christmas market or with Oskar Schindler's factory). In Hellotickets you will have many options to choose from!
However, an organized tour that includes the round trip will simplify the logistics much more and will help you to enjoy the experience much more by not having to worry about anything.
3. Comfortable shoes and warm clothes are a must on this excursion
Whether you visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines on your own or on an organized tour, the touristic walk through the depths takes about 2 hours and can be extended up to 3 hours if you add the visit to the subway exhibition of the Salt Mine Museum in Krakow.
As you can see, the tour is long and in some sections you have to go down some steep wooden stairs with many steps so I advise you to wear comfortable shoes whose soles are not slippery to avoid falls.
On the other hand, do not forget to bring some warm clothes to wear during the tour regardless of the outside temperature. Due to the humidity inside the mines it is quite cool even in summer and temperatures range between 17ºC and 18ºC.
4. Go to the restroom before starting the excursion
Although during the tourist route through the Wieliczka Salt Mines there will be a short 5-minute break to go to the toilets (at 40 and 90 minutes after the start of the tour), in order not to spend a rush on the way, I recommend you to go before the start of the tour either at the hotel or at the toilets that are located next to the Daniłowicza Well. Especially if you visit the mines with children, who are often surprised by the call of nature at the most unexpected moment.
5. Is the tour inside the mines difficult?
The tour route to the Wieliczka Salt Mines starts at the Danilowicza Pit, where you will have to go down a lot of stairs to reach the starting point in the subway galleries. The route runs through 3.5 km of labyrinthine galleries, shafts and chambers with a mostly flat ground so that it is not complicated for a person with a normal physical condition.
The good thing is that at the end of the route you will not have to walk back up the 800 steps to get out, but you will ride an elevator like the one used by the miners that will take you to the surface.
Regarding the feeling of claustrophobia during the tour, some sections may seem a little more enclosed, but there is enough space to move around quietly and without problems. In addition, you will always be accompanied by a professional guide who has knowledge of first aid and safety, so if at any time you feel claustrophobic and get nervous, do not worry because the guides have a protocol to accompany you and help you.
6. Get the most out of your visit to the mines if you go with children
Although the inside of a mine may seem like an atypical place to visit as a family on vacation, the truth is that it is a very original excursion where children can let their imagination run wild. It will be something they will always remember!
The Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour is open to children of any age**(admission is free for children up to 4 years old**) but like any outing with children, this one has its tricks:
- Put them in comfortable shoes because they will be walking quite a bit.
- Wrap them up warm, as it is a bit chilly inside the mines.
- Don't forget to bring some snacks and water in your backpack in case they get the bug during the excursion. At the Drozdowice Chamber you will have a short break for a drink and you can also buy food and drinks there.
These are some tips to see this monument as a family but in the post Visiting the Salt Mines with children you have more information.
7. Can you take pictures?
Yes, but to take pictures inside the Wieliczka Salt Mines you will have to pay a small supplement at the entrance of about 2.50 euros or else you may get a warning if you are caught during the itinerary.
That said, the Wieliczka Salt Mines tour route is well lit so that visitors walk comfortably and do not trip. However, in certain places the light conditions are not optimal for taking pictures so it may be the case that, when you try, the images you get have little definition.
In the post The best photos you can take of the Wieliczka Salt Mines from Krakow you will find some tips to get some nice pictures and some places that you can not leave without taking several pictures of them.