Walking Route Through Wieliczka

The best way to see Wieliczka above ground is a self-guided loop of about 3 km, which takes 2 to 3 hours with stops. It links the town’s salt-mining landmarks, from a 14th-century shaft in the lower town to a wooden church on the hill. The loop is for the streets and parks only, because the mine itself can be entered only on a guided route.

The route, stop by stop

  1. Regis Shaft, plac Kościuszki 9. Start in the lower town at the old shaft with its brick tower. Nearby stands a statue of Feliks Piestrak, the mining engineer and reformer. This is also where the Miners’ Route begins.
  2. Saltworks Castle, ulica Zamkowa 2. The castle is closed while its final modernisation stage is under way, and reopening is planned for 2028. Treat it as a landmark to look at from the street where the view allows, and do not expect a courtyard walk.
  3. Church of St Clement. Step inside the neoclassical parish church of the miners’ patron saint, and look for the free-standing Montelupi bell tower beside it. Keep to the quiet and the visiting hours, since it is a working church.
  4. Upper Market Square. Find the marked viewing point to see Solny Świat, Ryszard Paprocki’s painting on the paving, which makes the square look like an open shaft. It is free and open at any hour.
  5. Church of St Sebastian, ulica św. Sebastiana. Walk uphill to the south-east along ulica Jana Matejki to the 1578 larch church. The polychrome murals by Włodzimierz Tetmajer, painted between 1903 and 1910, show miners and Polish saints. Entry is free outside Mass hours.
  6. Parks and Graduation Tower. Stroll downhill through Park Mickiewicza and the Salinarny park to the Daniłowicz Shaft and the Graduation Tower in St Kinga Park. Entry to the tower is 10 PLN, and it is open from spring to autumn.

Read more: Sightseeing in Wieliczka gives the history behind each stop.

Practical tips

  • Wear comfortable shoes, because the old streets have cobblestones and the ground rises from the railway line into the foothills.
  • Allow about 30 minutes at the Graduation Tower, which is the suggested stay on the official site.
  • Combine the walk with a mine visit by booking the Tourist Route for a separate time slot. On the day you tour a mine route, a combined ticket for the Graduation Tower is available.
  • Toilets are at the Daniłowicz Shaft, and Bistro Posolone is next to it for a snack. The Hotel Grand Sal restaurant is also nearby.

Getting to the start

The SKA train from Kraków Główny to Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia takes about 20 to 25 minutes, and the mine is a short walk from the station. Bus 304 runs from the Dworzec Główny Zachód stop near Galeria Krakowska. Get off at Wieliczka Rynek for the Regis Shaft or Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli for the Daniłowicz Shaft, and buy a ticket for zones I and II.

Guided options and tickets

Mine tickets are sold on bilety.kopalnia.pl , where the standard Tourist Route is priced from about 119 PLN, with reduced tickets around 93 PLN. Check the current price list for language and season changes. If you prefer a guide for the town as well, browse GetYourGuide . The Graduation Tower page lists opening dates.