The historic Salt Mine in Wieliczka is the only mining facility in the world that has been open all the time from the Middle Ages to the present. Its original excavations (numerous sidewalks, ramps, service chambers, lakes, shafts and panes) with a total length of about 300 km are situated on 9 levels, reaching up to a depth of 327 meters, illustrating all stages of mining technology development in particular historical periods.
On September 8, 1978, Salt Mine Krakow was entered into the first list of World Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO, among the first 12 objects from around the world. Indeed, the history of Wieliczka, dating back to the Middle Ages, is a mirror of the development of mining techniques, the shaping of work organization and management, the formation of legal regulations in industry.
During the tour in salt mine in Krakow, you can walk a two-kilometer underground route. The whole trip takes about 4-5 hours, of which 2 hours it takes a tour of the mine (more informations at:http://www.seekrakow.com/en/old-town-walking-tour/). In the mine there is the possibility of taking photos, but it requires the purchase of a special permit available at the entrance to the chapel of St. Kinga. There is no lunch break during the trip. When buying a student ticket (available only to persons under 25 years of age), you must remember about having a student ID. After returning to Krakow, the journey to the point from which the journey began.