Wieliczka Salt Mine tours: what the visit involves
A Wieliczka Salt Mine tour is always guided. You get an assigned guide, the group walks together and you may not leave it. There are two routes. The Tourist Route is the classic visit, with the Chapel of St Kinga and the underground chambers. The Miners' Route is a separate, hands-on visit in a helmet and protective suit.
If you would rather not organise the trip yourself, the tour cards below show guided options from Kraków with current prices, meeting points and what is included. Check the meeting point and what the price covers for each one.
Our picks: guided mine tours
The half day with Schindler's Factory adds a second sight. The group tour from Matejko Square includes entry; on the bus station tour, check that your booking includes the entry.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Salt mine and Schindler's Factory half day
- Fast-track mine ticket
- Guided mine tour
- Schindler's Factory visit
A two-hour guided mine tour with fast-track ticket, then about 90 minutes in the Schindler's Factory exhibition on your own.
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Guided mine tour with transport from Matejko Square
- Mine entry
- Local guide
- Transport
Transport, a local guide and mine entry, with the Chapel of St Kinga on the route.
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Guided mine tour with transport from Kraków
- Return transport from Kraków
- Licensed guide
- Headset
Return transport from Kraków, a licensed underground guide and a headset. Mine entry is included only if your booking includes it.
Check availability →Wieliczka Salt Mine tours
Guided visits and tours from Kraków, with live prices and availability.
Guided tour on the Tourist Route
What to expect from start to finish.
The way down
The route starts at the Daniłowicz shaft. You walk about 800 steps down, 380 of them at the beginning. It ends at the Regis shaft or at the Daniłowicz shaft, and the ride back to the surface is in the lift, included for all regular visitors.
Length and climate
The route is about 3.5 km long, reaches 135 m and takes 2–3 hours. The temperature underground is 17–18 °C, so bring a light jacket. If you add the underground museum exhibition (about 1.5 km), allow roughly another hour.
Group size and languages
A group has up to 40 people. Guides work in Polish, English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian. Which languages start on your day depends on the ticket quota, so look at the start times for your date. There is no minimum age.
Ticket prices →The route can change
For organisational or safety reasons the mine may change the route. The St Kinga shaft can serve as an exit. Treat the stations in this guide as the usual route, not a promise for every group.
Chapel of St Kinga →Bags and cloakroom
Bags up to 20 × 20 × 35 cm can come with you. Larger items and pushchairs stay at the top. The cloakroom is free during visiting hours, and the number of lockers is limited.
Tourist Route and Miners' Route compared
Two separate visits with separate tickets.
| Detail | Tourist Route | Miners' Route |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 3.5 km | 1.9 km (about 2 km) |
| Deepest point | 135 m | 101 m |
| Duration | 2–3 hours | 2–3 hours |
| Temperature | 17–18 °C | 14–16 °C |
| Start | Daniłowicz shaft | Regis shaft |
| Group size | Up to 40 | Up to 20 |
| Minimum age | None | 10 years |
| Languages | 8, including English and German | Polish and English |
| Hours | 08:00–18:00 | 09:00–17:00 |
| Chapel of St Kinga | On the route | Not on the route |
| Equipment | None | Helmet, lamp, protective suit |
For most first-time visitors, the Tourist Route is the one to book: it has the chapel, no minimum age and guides in eight languages. Choose the Miners' Route if you want a more practical visit and can follow a guide in English or Polish.
The Miners' Route in detail
A different experience from the signposted walk to the chapel and the lakes.
What you do
The route includes practical tasks: testing the air, searching for salt and finding your way underground. The guide is called the foreman, and the route recalls the historic jobs of the methane tester and the timberman.
Equipment and clothing
You wear a helmet, a lamp, a carbon monoxide absorber and a protective suit, after a safety briefing. Closed shoes are required. Lockers at the Regis shaft are for participants, so do not bring large luggage.
Timing
The route runs from 09:00 to 17:00. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your start. Groups have up to 20 people.
Miners' Route guide →Plan the rest of your trip
Tickets, travel and what is inside.
Wieliczka Salt Mine tours: frequently asked questions
How long is the Wieliczka Salt Mine tour?
The Tourist Route takes 2 to 3 hours. The Miners' Route also takes 2 to 3 hours. The underground museum exhibition on the Tourist Route adds roughly another hour.
How many steps are there?
You walk about 800 steps down, 380 of them at the start. The ride back up is in the lift. Only parts of the route are accessible for people with reduced mobility, so reserve in advance.
Is the tour available in German?
Yes, on the Tourist Route. The Miners' Route runs in Polish and English only. Starts depend on the ticket quota for your day and language.
Can children join the tour?
The Tourist Route has no minimum age, and children under 4 enter for PLN 0 with a free pass. The Miners' Route is for ages 10 and up.
Can I take photos?
Yes. Photos and video for private use are allowed underground. Commercial use needs the mine's consent.
Is this site the official tour operator?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no connection to the Wieliczka Salt Mine company, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, Visit Kraków or any tour operator or hotel.