Start of the underground crossing of the salty lake in the Bochnia Salt Mine, one of the unique attractions of this mine.

Ride the Mines! Railway, Ferry, Slide

In Bochnia and Wieliczka mines you can take a ferry, go down a slide, or ride the underground railway, with guides ensuring your safety and sharing legends.

A gigantic slide in the Bochnia Salt Mine. Going down on the wooden slide allows you to reach the largest Ważyn Chamber in an express mode. – © Laura Dec

Underground tourist rail tracks in the Bochnia Salt Mine - the only rail track in the world that passes through a chapel interior. – © Adam Brzoza

No-longer functional carriage of tourist horse-drawn railway from the 19th century, built especially for top state authorities. Museum in the Wieliczka Salt Mine. – © Bartek Papież

A gigantic slide in the Bochnia Salt Mine. Going down on the wooden slide allows you to reach the largest Ważyn Chamber in an express mode. – © Laura Dec

When you visit the Bochnia Salt Mine, make sure to check one of our biggest attractions - the Underground Ferry Crossing. Professional rafters watching over your safety will tell you colourful stories about the mysterious and beautiful nooks and crannies in the mine. You will have to cross a narrow, 120-metre-long (394-ft-long) salt lake. The crossing will give you a chance to admire the raw beauty of the chamber. A unique and secretive atmosphere, enhanced by the eerie light and the sound of oars striking the surface of the water, makes an unforgettable ride.

The Underground Ferry Crossing at the Bochnia Salt Mine will take you across a 120-metre-long salt lake. – © Anika Giftge

You can also slide down a giant 140-metre (460-ft) wooden slide on a special pillow, ending in the enormous Ważyn Chamber, at the depth of 250 m (820 ft). With the length of 255 metres, Ważyn is the largest chamber in this mine, which is used for various events.

The Bochnia Salt Mine features an underground railway. The yellow trolleys will take you to see salt walls with interesting geological structures, salt sculptures, mining equipment, and the Chapel of St. Kinga, which is bisected by the train tracks.

The Gołuchowski Chamber in the Wieliczka Salt Mine used to function as the station for the tourist underground railway; its original function has recently been restored. – © Rafał Stachurski

The Wieliczka Mine also offers you a railway ride on its third level, with trolleys that take you through the chambers and corridors that are otherwise inaccessible, blending the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries into a single journey. The railway takes you as far as the station in the Gołuchowski Chamber, where you get off for a short break. The chamber is designed like a 19th-century station, a restoration of the first underground, horse-driven railway. At that time, various attractions were prepared for important guests visiting the Wieliczka Mine, including Bengal lights displays and performances of the miners' orchestra. The luxurious trolleys of the 19th century railway can be seen in the underground museum.

After the break, the railway will take you into the 21st century through a multimedia presentation of strobe lights and industrial music. The length of the railway route is approx. 800 m (0.5 mile), the entire event takes approx. 1 hour and requires a separate ticket.

Remember that the mines are not warm, with temperatures from 9 to 14°C (48 to 57°F), so dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes.

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