Hostels in Wieliczka, Poland

Wieliczka, Poland, is home to the infamous Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of Poland’s most popular tourist attractions. Most people only visit Wieliczka on a day trip from nearby Krakow, either organized or independent. However, there are also a few Wieliczka, Poland hostels and budget accommodations in Wieliczka for those that do not wish to stay overnight in Krakow, and Wieliczka, Poland hostels and budget accommodations are cheaper than those in Krakow.

Visiting the town of Wieliczka, Poland, is all about the salt mines. You can reach the site independently or by organized tour from Krakow, but you cannot enter the mine by yourself. Tours in English depart frequently throughout the day, with as many as one each half-hour during the summer holidays. The starting point of the tours are one hundred thirty-five meters below the surface from where you will be guided around the different areas of the salt mine. The operations in the mine started in the thirteenth century and continued until the late nineties. The guide will tell you about the hard work the miners did and how they have created the mine. Visiting the salt mine is not all about the stories about the history of the mine, it is actually stunning inside. There is a surprising amount of sculptures that are carved out of the salt. It’s amazing to see all those sculptures, but St. Kinga’s Chapel is with no doubt the highlight of your visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It was built for the Catholic miners and can accommodate up to four hundred people.

The salt mine is quite a touristy place and many souvenir stalls can be found in its proximity, as well as some restaurants with a Polish and international cuisine and fast food restaurants. Wieliczka, Poland, is a small town, so wherever your Wieliczka, Poland hostel is located, you will never be far away from the centre and the salt mine. But keep in mind that there is not much of interest outside the city centre.