Wieliczka Salt Mine (Kopalnia Soli)

Three of the mine's nine levels are open to visitors. Explore these upper areas and see underground lakes, pits and chambers that have been made into detailed chapels, and an array of statues and monuments, all carved from salt. The mine's claim to fame is its ornate Chapel of St. Kinga, made entirely of salt—from the chandeliers to the altarpieces—over the course of 30 years.

Wieliczka is a popular site for travelers to Krakow, often visited on a half-day trip with a tour guide or combined with a trip to the nearby Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.

• Visitors to the mine are guided in groups, with most salt mine tours lasting two hours.

• To avoid long lines often seen in summer, book your tour in advance.

• Tours through the mine involve walking about 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) and descending dozens of stairs—the return trip is by elevator.

• Temperatures are cool below ground, so dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes.

• Admission to the onsite Krakow Salt Works Museum is included with mine entry.

While the easiest way to arrive from Krakow is via a guided tour, buses to Wieliczka run from Krakow’s main post office every 10 minutes and drop passengers off at the bottom of the road leading up to the mine's entrance. Trains between Krakow and Wieliczka depart every 45 minutes; the Wieliczka train station is about 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) from the mine.

The most popular months to visit the salt mine are July and August, though it's open year-round. During these summer months, English-language tours depart every half an hour between 8:30am and 6pm. At all other times of year, six to eight English tours are offered daily.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is far from the world's only salty attraction. In Bolivia, the famed Salar de Uyuni salt flats are the largest in the world—and seemingly made for trick photography opportunities—while Peru's Maras salt pans in the Sacred Valley are also a sight to behold. Meanwhile, in Israel, you can float in the salt-sodden waters of the Dead Sea, before zipping over to Colombia for a visit to the Zipaquirá Salt Cathedral.

Yes, you need a guide for the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Visitors are not allowed to explore independently for safety reasons. All tours are available in Polish, and you can prebook tours in other languages (English, French, Italian, Russian, German, Spanish, and Ukrainian) through a tour operator or the mine’s website.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine tour, which involves walking along a designated tourist route, lasts for roughly two hours. If you have time to spare, you can also visit the Kracow Saltworks Museum, which will add another hour or so to your experience.

Tickets to the Salt Mine are around US$29 for adults, though students and seniors pay less. Tours from Krakow start at around US$60 per person (more if you want hotel pickup). Day tours to the mine that also visit Auschwitz-Birkenau start at around US$105 a person.

Yes, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is worth visiting. It's an interesting place to learn about the history of mining in Poland, and you'll see art, statues, and even chapels carved from salt blocks, right where salt has historically been mined.

No, you do not need to book Wieliczka Salt Mine in advance, but it’s a good idea to do so, especially if you don’t speak Polish. Only some tours are in foreign languages. It’s also wise to book day tours from Krakow to the mine, as they can sell out.

Wear warm clothes to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. If you come in winter, you'll likely have brought a coat, but pack an extra layer if you come in summer as it can get chilly in all seasons. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, too, as you’ll be walking a lot.