Kopalnia Soli Bochnia
Historic salt mine from the 13th century, on the UNESCO list, with guided tours, a multimedia exhibition and an underground boat crossing.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The rock salt deposit in Bochnia was discovered in 1248, and for centuries the mine was a royal enterprise and an important source of income for the state treasury. In 1368 Casimir the Great issued a statute regulating the organisation of the salt works and the sale of salt. In the 15th and 16th centuries the works developed dynamically, and new shafts were built, among them Regis, Bochneris and Campi; the Sutoris and Gazaris shafts are considered among the oldest. In the 17th century wars and an economic crisis limited extraction.
Since the 1990s the former mine has operated as a tourist attraction. According to its website, almost 190 thousand people visit it each year. In 2013, together with the mine in Wieliczka, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Guided tours begin at the Campi shaft, from which you descend by mining lift, and part of the route is covered by an underground railway. The basic route combines the historic workings with a multimedia exhibition that tells the history of the mine from the Middle Ages to the present. The variant with the boat crossing is the only underground boat trip in Poland. The “Solny Świadek” (Salt Witness) route leads through workings that for a long time were not accessible to tourists. The route ends in the Ważyn chamber, where there is a restaurant and a shop.
Highlights
- The oldest salt mine in Poland, inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2013
- Multimedia exhibition in the historic workings
- Underground boat crossing, the only one of its kind in Poland
- “Solny Świadek” route through formerly inaccessible workings
- Ważyn chamber with a restaurant and a microclimate favourable to relaxation
Permanent exhibition
- Trasa turystyczna z ekspozycją multimedialną – Guided tour of the historic workings and a multimedia story of the mine’s history from the Middle Ages to the present.
- Operated by
- Kopalnia Soli Bochnia Sp. z o.o.
Admission & discounts
| Children & teens | –The basic route has no age limit. The boat crossing is for people from age 3, the Końska Droga (Horse Road) route from age 7, and the 140-metre slide descent from age 9. |
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| School ticket – route with the multimedia exhibition (1 November – 31 March) | 45 złFrom 1 April to 31 October PLN 47; groups of 15 or more people. |
Individual tickets can be bought online (cheaper, up to 60 minutes before entry) or at the ticket office before the descent. Current prices are shown dynamically in the calendar on the website. The school ticket for the route with the multimedia exhibition costs PLN 45 from 1 November to 31 March and PLN 47 from 1 April to 31 October (school groups of 15 or more people; one guardian per 10 children enters free, as does the group leader). Holders of the Karta Krakowska receive a 15% discount.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
A special route has been prepared for people with disabilities and their carers, with multimedia, meetings with historical figures and a tour of, among others, the August level and the St Kinga Chapel. It avoids stairs, and the Ważyn chamber can be reached by lift. People with disabilities should inform staff of the type of disability when buying tickets at the latest. Special visiting times can be arranged through the Tourist Service Office. The regular route requires about 700 steps and about 3 km of walking. Contraindications are circulatory and respiratory insufficiency and claustrophobia.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 3 hrs |
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- Family tours & workshops
The basic route has no age limit. The family offer includes the storytelling tour “Królestwo Skarbnika” (The Treasurer’s Kingdom) and family tickets (2+1, 2+2, 2+3, 1+2, 1+3). The boat crossing is for children from age 3.
Getting there & parking
By car
Paid parking
The car park at the Campi shaft is unguarded and paid; for coaches and minibuses the fee is PLN 50 per day.
The entrance to the mine is at the Campi shaft, ul. Campi 15, in Bochnia.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Coat check: not available
In the Ważyn chamber at the end of the route there are a restaurant and a shop. Toilets are at the entrance. The mine has no cloakroom or luggage storage.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (EN, DE, ES, FR, IT, CS, SK) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The visit lasts from 3 to 4 hours depending on the variant. Guided tours are given in Polish, and audio guides are available in seven languages. The temperature in the mine is about 14–17 °C; layered clothing and closed, comfortable footwear are recommended. Descent and ascent take place by mining lift, and the “Solny Świadek” route begins with a descent by stairs. Groups visit after prior booking. |
