How to Visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow: Tickets, Transport and Tours

If you are planning a city break in Krakow and wondering whether the Wieliczka Salt Mine is worth prising yourself away from the Old Town for, the short answer is yes!

As a traveller who usually prefers being above ground with coffee in hand, even I fell for this strange, glittering, underground world – which makes the perfect half day trip from the Polish city.

Just 30 to 40 minutes from Krakow, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the oldest salt mines in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a genuinely unique place to visit in Poland.

You wander through tunnels, chapels and salt lakes, surrounded by carvings that look like marble… until you realise they are made of salt!

Below is my practical guide to visiting the mine from Krakow, with transport options, ticket info, what to wear and some recommended tours included to make life easier…

Why the Wieliczka Salt Mine is Worth Visiting

Salt has been mined at Wieliczka since the 13th century and the underground network now stretches over 300km across 9 levels, reaching a depth of over 300m.

The bit you see as a visitor is the Tourist Route – a 2 – 3 hour guided walk of roughly 3 to 3.5km. It’s only a hundredth of the size of the full mine, but does give you a great glimpse into this underground world nonetheless.

On this route, you’ll pass chapels, vast halls, underground lakes and hundreds of statues carved by miners.

The star of the show in my opinion is St Kinga’s Chapel, an entire underground church carved from salt, complete with chandeliers made from salt crystals.

On top of all this, the mine has a constant temperature of around 17 to 18°C year-round, plus a microclimate that is said to be good for respiratory conditions, so you get a bonus lung treatment while you wander around here too!

How Long to Allow For Your Visit?

From Krakow, allow around half a day in total to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine

30 to 40 minutes travel each way
15 to 30 minutes faff time including ticket sorting and meeting your guide
2 to 3 hours in the mine itself, depending whether you include the underground Cracow Saltworks Museum exhibits at the end

If you go independently, the trip works well as a morning or afternoon excursion from Krakow.

Organised Tour vs DIY Trips From Krakow

You have two main ways to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow…

Join an organised tour from Krakow
Go independently on public transport and buy your own ticket for a guided tour at the mine

Organised Tour from Krakow

I find organised tours particularly handy if you are short on time, travelling with kids, or simply cannot be bothered figuring out public transport in Poland!

Typical half day organised tours to the salt mine include:

Hotel pick up or central meeting point in Krakow
Return transport by minibus or coach (about 40 to 50 minutes each way)
Pre-booked entry ticket
Guided tour in your chosen language (2 to 3 hours underground)

The big advantage is not worrying about time slots selling out, or whether you have the right train ticket.

The downside is you are tied to the group schedule and can’t linger in Wieliczka afterwards.

Check out these recommended Wieliczka Salt Mine organised tours from Krakow for more info…

Independent Visits on Public Transport

If you prefer doing things yourself (and saving money!), public transport from Krakow to Wieliczka is very straightforward.

How to Get From Krakow to Wieliczka Salt Mine

By suburban train…

Operator: Koleje Małopolskie suburban trains
From: Kraków Główny (main station) or nearby city stations
To: Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia station (a 5 minute walk from the mine entrance)
Journey time: around 25 to 35 minutes, depending on the service
Frequency: roughly every 30 minutes during the day
Cost: usually around 7 to 13 PLN one way, depending on ticket type
Buy tickets: at Kraków Główny station ticket offices or machines, or via Polish train or local transport apps (for example Jakdojade, which also works for buses)

By bus…

Bus #304 is a great budget option for getting to the Salt Mine, and gives you a little mini tour of Krakow suburbs on the way!

From: Dworzec Główny Zachód stop, near Galeria Krakowska shopping centre in central Krakow
To: a) Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli stop for the Daniłowicz Shaft (main tourist entrance), or alternatively b) Wieliczka Rynek for the Regis Shaft and town centre
Journey time: around 35 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic
Ticket type: combined ticket covering zones I and II (important, otherwise your ticket not be valid the whole way)
Cost: typically around 3 to 5 PLN one way
Buy tickets: from machines at major stops and inside some buses, in some kiosks, or on apps such as Jakdojade, which is often the easiest option for visitors

Once you get off at Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli, it is just a short walk up to the mine complex.

Buying Tickets for the Wieliczka Salt Mine

All visits to the Wieliczka Salt Mine are given as guided tours once you arrive at the entrance – you cannot simply wander into the mine solo.

Tickets for these tours are sold for specific time slots and languages.

If you’re on an organised tour from Krakow your mine entrance ticket is likely to be included.

If you’re travelling independently to the mine, you’ll need to buy your tickets.

Where to Buy Official Tickets

The mine is quite clear that tickets are sold only via…

The official ticket website
Ticket offices at the Daniłowicz Shaft in Wieliczka
Ticket machines by the main tourist entrance to the mine

It is strongly recommended to book in advance online, especially in high season, weekends and school holidays, as time slots sell out.

What Tickets Include

For individual visitors, a standard Tourist Route ticket usually includes…

Guided tour of the Tourist Route (2 to 3 hours)
Access to the underground exhibition of the Cracow Saltworks Museum at the end of the route

Ticket Prices

Prices change regularly, but as a guide, the recent adult ticket I booked online for an English-language tour was 130 PLN.

There are usually reduced prices for children, students and seniors, plus family tickets.

Always check the official site for up-to-date prices, seasonal opening hours and language options.

What to Expect Inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine

This is not a quick pop-in attraction – you are going properly underground!

Tour length: about 2 hours, or up to 3 hours if you include the underground museum portion
Distance: around 3 to 3.5 kilometres of walking
Stairs: roughly 800 steps in total, with around 300 to 350 at the start as you descend into the mine. You go back up to the surface by lift
Depth: you end up about 135m underground
Group size: up to about 35 people per guide
Temperature: a steady 17 to 18°C year round, so pleasantly cool in summer and mild in winter

The route inside the mine is well lit and mostly on solid paths and staircases.

There are toilets underground at certain points, plus a small cafe and souvenir shop at the end of the tour.

Photography is allowed for private use, so you can happily take pictures of St Kinga’s Chapel and the salt chandeliers.

What to Pack and Wear for the Mine

The mine is not particularly cold, but you will be underground, walking for several hours, with a lot of stairs.

I went in trainers, leggings, a jumper, coat, hat and scarf and felt very smugly prepared!

Good things to wear and bring

Comfortable walking shoes or trainers with decent grip
Clothes you can layer – a T-shirt plus light jumper or fleece works well in both summer and winter
A light jacket
Small day pack for carrying personal items
A bottle of water and a small snack (check your tour rules, as food is usually not included and you do not want to be hangry underground)

What not to bring

Large suitcases or very big backpacks, which are not allowed on the route
Tripods or bulky camera gear, which can be awkward in narrow tunnels

If you have knee or mobility issues, be aware that the large stair descent and long walk can be challenging.

Some tours and alternative routes are better suited to visitors with reduced mobility, so double check with the mine or a tour provider before booking.

Wieliczka Salt Mine Highlights

Some of the best bits on the Tourist Route fo the Salt Mine include:

St Kinga’s Chapel: The famous underground church, complete with salt-carved altarpieces, reliefs and chandeliers. It is the showstopper and where everyone’s cameras go into overdrive.
Underground saline lakes: Moody, greenish lakes with beautifully lit reflections and wooden walkways.
Salt sculptures and bas-reliefs: From religious scenes to miners at work, all carved from rock salt by generations of miners.
Wooden supports and tunnels: Vast timber constructions that have been shoring up the mine for decades, sometimes centuries. They feel like something out of an old adventure film.
Underground museum section: At the end of the Tourist Route, you can continue into the Cracow Saltworks Museum underground exhibition, which goes deeper into the history and technology of salt mining.

Things to Do After Your Mine Visit

If you have some time free before heading back to Krakow, it is worth wander ing quickly around the historic town of Wieliczka itself.

Ideas for things to see and do there are…

Graduation Tower: A huge wooden structure where brine trickles down blackthorn twigs, creating a salty mist that is meant to be great for the lungs. Entry is inexpensive and it is in the park right by the mine
St Kinga’s Park: A pleasant green space above the mine, ideal for a sit down and snack while you recover from the stairs
Żupny Castle: A Gothic castle that used to be the administrative centre for the salt mines and now houses exhibitions about the region and mining history

Or simply grab a coffee or lunch in Wieliczka before hopping back on the train or bus.

Combining Wieliczka Salt Mine with Auschwitz in One Day

Many visitors to Krakow like to visit both Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine and several operators offer full day combination tours.

A few things to know…

These tours are long, usually around 11 to 12 hours in total, with early starts
The usual order is Auschwitz-Birkenau first, then the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This makes sense emotionally, as you finish the day in a calmer, less confronting environment
You will have guided tours at both sites and all transport is included, so you are looked after from pick-up in Krakow to your return there

Do be aware that Auschwitz-Birkenau is an extremely heavy and emotional visit.

As such, some people prefer to do Auschwitz on one day and Wieliczka on another, so they have more time and emotional space for each.

Learn more about visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and what to expect to help you decide.

Here are some well-reviewed tour options if do want to visit both Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz-Birkenau in one day from Krakow…

Whichever way you choose to visit, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of those classic Krakow day trips that genuinely lives up to the hype.

It is touristy, yes, but it is also bizarre, beautiful and surprisingly atmospheric.

Exactly the kind of place that reminds you travelling is meant to be a bit weird in the best possible way!

Mini Travel Guide to Krakow

How to Get to Krakow?

When it comes to getting to Krakow, the quickest and easiest way if you’re in a nearby country (like Czechia or Slovakia), or elsewhere in Poland, is via train or bus.

As always, I use Omio for the job, as this website compares hundreds of journeys across rail and coach to Poland’s second city.

Offering great prices, and easy booking in English, this is my one-stop shop when it comes to organising all my overland adventures in eastern Europe.

Otherwise, if you’re travelling to Krakow from further afield, it’s good to know this city boasts an international airport.

Pick up a great flight deal care of Skyscanner.

Trains run every 30 minutes from the airport to the city centre and take around 20 minutes. Or you can book a secure airport transfer here.

Where to Stay in Krakow?

Golden Tulip Krakow City Centre is a highly affordable base, only a 10 minute walk from the Old Town and super convenient for sightseeing. It ticks the boxes for comfort without draining your city break budget.

If you’re looking for budget accommodation in the heart of Krakow’s Old Town – and the action – then there’s few better locations than that of Greg & Tom Hostel! Just outside Stare Miastro, making it just a 10 minute walk away if you do want to grab those early morning snaps, this independent backpackers boasts a cosy vibe, free wifi, free walking tours and free guest breakfast and dinners!

Otherwise, for something a bit more comfortable and spacious, check out this amazing apartment in the heart of Krakow. It gets amazing reviews and sleeps up to 4 guests, making it a total bargain!

When to Visit?

Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit Krakow, avoiding the summer crowds and freezing conditions in winter.

Essential Packing Items for Krakow

#1 Good Camera

I highly recommend the Sony A6000, which I use for all my travels because its light, compact and robust!

#2 Good Walking Shoes

Make sure your feet are comfortable with a pair of New Balance Trainers.

#3 Good Water Bottle

All that city sightseeing is thirsty work, so make sure you have a metal water bottle that you can refill as you go, because Krakow tap water is drinkable… and free!

#4 Good Backpack

In my opinion, you can’t go past the Bobby Anti Theft Backpack, which is perfect for helping you avoid pickpockets.

Top Poland & Eastern European Tours

And if you want to visit Krakow as part of a wider tour, either of Poland or across eastern Europe, check out this great selection.

Travel Insurance

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Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.

eSIM for Poland

I recommend an Holafly eSIM for Poland.

Get 5% off yours with my exclusive discount code: BIGWORLDSMALLPOCKETS.

Luggage Storage

Store luggage for the day, or longer, for less with LuggageHero.

Travel Money for Poland

Poland uses the Zloty (PLN).

I always travel Europe with my Wise card, which makes spending abroad cheaper with real exchange rates and no sneaky transaction or ATM fees.

Wise cards work just like a debit card and link easily with Google and Apple pay. Grab yours here.

PIN IT TO PINTEREST!

Wieliczka Salt Mine Ultimate Visiting Guide

How to Visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow

My trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine was gifted by Jet2CityBreaks but, as always, all views are my own.

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Eastern Europe, Europe, POLAND