Date: 7 October 2025

Location: Wieliczka Salt Mine – 12 km from Kraków

Departure from ICE Kraków Congress Centre

• The first coach departs from ICE at 15:30.
• Subsequent coaches will leave every 5–10 minutes.
• The last bus for poster presenters leaves at 16:30.
• Upon arrival at the Wieliczka Salt Mine parking area, volunteers will be waiting to guide participants to the mine entrance.

Tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine

• Please note: The tour begins with a walk down approximately 320 steps – the equivalent of around 110 meters.
• In total, you will descend and ascend around 800 steps – about 280 meters overall.
• The underground temperature is consistently 17–18°C (62–64°F) – we recommend bringing a warm sweater or jacket.

Tour Entry Times:

• Guided tours will begin between 16:25 – 17:10, depending on the arrival time of the buses
• The underground guided tour will last 1–1.5 hours.

Cocktail Reception in the Warszawa Chamber

• After the tour, all participants will gather in the stunning Warszawa Chamber for a pleasant cocktail reception.
• The reception will feature traditional Polish dishes, including:
  • Żurek (sour rye soup)
  • Pierogi (Polish dumplings)
  • Assorted snacks and appetizers
• Guests will also be offered alcoholic and soft drinks

History:

At the end of the Middle Ages, 300–350 people worked in Wieliczka, and the annual production of salt reached 7 000 –8 000 tonnes. In comparison with subsequent epochs, the medieval mine was not yet operating on a maximum scale. Mining was still seasonal, and the mine was open only in the months when no agricultural works were carried out. Until the end of the 15th century, there were only four mining shafts and one underground level in the mine.

The first tourist whom we know by name was Nicolaus Copernicus. He probably visited the mine in 1493. In remembrance of this event, a monumental salt figure of the brilliant astronomer was set up in a chamber named after him.

The period from the 16th to the 18th century became a time of dynamic change. The mine moved to a year-round working schedule. The first maps of the underground were created at that time. In the 16th century, the search for salt below the first level began, and in the middle of the 17th century, the mine reached the third level. The number of tourists grew steadily, and mentions of Wieliczka appeared more frequently in European literature.

In 1772, Wieliczka came under the rule of the Habsburg monarchy as a result of the partition of Poland. “Wieliczka” was the largest production plant in Galicia at the time, and one of the most important companies in the entire empire. During this period, tourism became an important source of income for the company.

In 1774, guest books were introduced to be signed by visitors. They have been preserved to this day and are a valuable historical resource. During the interwar period (1918–1939), the Wieliczka underground was visited by about 120,000 people. After the World War II the mine grew to nine levels, with a maximum depth of 327 metres. The year 1978 proved to be important for the contemporary history of the mine, bringing the addition to the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. Since 1976, ‘’Wieliczka’’ has been listed in the register of monuments. Now the salt underground is visited every year by nearly 2 million visitors from all over the world.  

More information about the mine can be found on the website: https://www.wieliczka-saltmine.com/individual-tourist/about-the-mine/history-of-the-mine