44902EAS
Salt mines are located 12 km out of Kraków.
There are clear signs both to Wieliczka and the actual salt mines, but do pay attention if your driver does not know how to get there.
The driving time from the city centre is around 30 min.
From the coach park across the road, walk the group to the entrance. Go up the steps and to the left (clearly indicated).
Ask the group to wait outside the entrance building. Be aware that this is a major destination for Polish church groups – there is a Pilgrimage Route – there can be large crowds of people moving very slowly and it is easy to lose group members.
Inside is the group desk where you pay, they will give you a voucher, which you hand in to the Guides’ desk opposite. Here you will be assigned your guide. At this point you should bring the group inside, they can buy photo permits (20 PLN) if they wish before going in.
The guide will lead you inside. Large groups (35+) will be split. You will take the Tourist Route unless there has been a special request from the Group Leader beforehand.
Please be aware that there are about 400 steps to walk down, as well as another 400 steps later, plus a lengthy walk through the mines.
This is not for “non-walkers”!
At the end you go back up by elevator. This is still in an “open-caged” elevator, which may cause some excitement.
The inside infrastructure is excellent. It is well lit and there are toilets, a church, souvenir shops and a café down within the mine. You will see lots of sculptures.
The inside temperature is around 12°C, year round. The group may want to bring a sweater, but big coats are not necessary.
The tour lasts 2 hours, or 3 hours if you want to include the museum (included in the price, but the total duration of the visit may be too long).
People suffering from claustrophobia may feel uncomfortable (particularly in the lifts); it is a mine after all!