Bochnia Salt Mine Day Trip

The Bochnia Salt Mine, the Oldest in Poland

After meeting at the agreed time at 17 Floriana Straszewskiego Street in Kraków, we’ll set off on a journey lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes to the Bochnia Salt Mine. Did you know that it’s the oldest in Poland and that its origins date back to the 13th century? Mining operations began here in 1248, long before mining techniques had reached the level of sophistication that we will admire during our visit.

On arrival, we'll head into the mine for a 4-hour underground tour. We'll descend in the oldest mining lift of its kind, a true piece of historical engineering, which will take us down to the galleries carved out of salt rock. 

Throughout the tour, we’ll learn how the extraction, ventilation, and transport systems evolved within this underground network, as well as see the chambers, passageways, and facilities that made Bochnia a key location for Poland. We’ll also learn about its role in the economy of the Polish Crown over several centuries. Indeed, its importance is such that it has been inscribed as a World Heritage Site. 

We’ll also round off the experience with a guided underground boat trip led by boatmen and a 30-minute ride on a mining train. These are two activities that are perfect for grasping the sheer scale of these facilities from a different perspective. We’ll see such striking spaces as the Ważyn Chamber, the largest area of the Bochnia Salt Mine, which even features an underground sanatorium for respiratory conditions, thanks to its high levels of potassium and sodium. Impressive, isn’t it?

After the tour, we’ll head back to the meeting point in Kraków, where we’ll say our goodbyes after a total of 7 hours’ trip.

Additional Info

• Babies must sit on their parents’ laps.
• You’ll need to be in reasonably good physical condition.
• This trip is not recommended for people with claustrophobia.
• For safety reasons, people with disabilities or who use a walking stick will not be able to take the boat trip or the train journey.
• We recommend bringing a packed lunch, as we will only have a 15-minute break for lunch.