Preparing for a 3 night trip to Krakow at the beginning of March to celebrate DH's birthday. I see the salt mines as high on everybody's list of things to see/do: it was high on my list as well when I was envisioning a trip to Poland.

However we just returned from our Christmas/new Year's trip to Austria and we visited the Hallein salt mines south of Salzburg. It was a fun experience but certainly not something I would opt to do a second time. Obviously these mines in Poland are more elaborate (salt tennis court?), so definitely if I could only pick one salt mine to go to I'd pick that one.

But my question is: with only 2 1/2 days, and wanting to do Auschwitz as well, would I be missing that much if I skipped these mines? Are they really all that different from the ones in Austria?

Thanks for the input
Carrie

I haven't been to the ones in Ausrria, so can't compare but we loved the one near Krakow. They are very elaboratly carved including this huge underground church where evern the chandelier is made of salt:

http://www.worldisround.com/articles...4/photo11.html

I have been to both and wouldn't have wanted to miss either; the ones in Poland are quite different from the ones in Austria. The salt cathedral really needs to be seen to be believed.

You can do it in a half day, leaving you some time for lovely Krakow.

(I've got some pictures here if you'd like a glimpse:

[URL=http://travel.webshots.com/album/555199196UoGvOQ]

Thanks for the pictures. Brought back a lot of good memories of my trip.

Salt production was and is important in Poland. One source pumps brine from underground to the top of a wood wall. The liquid is allowed to flow back to the base of the wall. Its passage is through wood brances. Water evaporates and the salt is concentrated in what is left. Further refining is done nearby. This site also hosts a health spa. Clients sit by the wall and inhale the salt air! Early pumping was powered by windmills. Today electric pumps do the work.

The mines outside Krakow are amazing. More photos here: http://www.sitestory.dk/rejser/krakow2007/galleri3e.htm

I haven't been to the Austria ones either, but have been to Krakow and the salt mine there.
I would skip it--even though all of the statues of "salty rock" are really amazing. It is a long and rather exhausting tour.
I would rather soak in Krakow all of that time, especially since you will spend one day at Auschwitz.

I didn't see the ones in Austria either, but the ones outside of Krakow are really quite amazing and worth seeing. But only you can decide how important they are, in relation to other things you want to see.

Why not leave it to the last day and decide if you want to spend more time in the city or do the salt mines excursion? You don't have to book in advance. They're easily reached by local bus and you can just wait for the next tour once you get there and the whole thing should only take about half a day.

Of course, the ideal solution to your dilemma is to add a few more days to your stay in beautiful Krakow.

If you have a choice of salt mines or Auschwitz, clearly Auschwitz is the more important sight. If it's a matter of more time in Krakow or the salt mines, I'd probably go for the mines, although the most interesting thing there for me was seeing black salt!

I have been to both, and while they are very different, I much preferred the one in Austria. Salt statues get old very soon. As previous posters have said, only you can decide, but I'd choose more time in Krakow.

Wow. I have nothing to add, but just needed to say that I hadn't thought of visiting salt mines. Now, will definitely add them to my list of "to dos" Thanks for posting pictures.

Have a great stay in Krakow. One of my childhood best friends comes from there, so I hope to go there one day myself.

12

None. Despite having traveled in Europe for 40 years or so, I've managed to avoid both salt mines and concentration camps.

LSUvetgirl - I have been contemplating the same dilemma (although 3 1/2 days vs. 2 1/2 days, and it really should not be considered a dilemma, I guess). We have been to a few salt mines in Hallein, Hallstatt and one before I remembered names(personally, I was looking for a good margarita, but alas there were none), and although Krakow's look cool (and probably feel cool), I think we have decided to bypass the salt mine on our trip this Spring.

Of course, that could change, as we are spontaneous lot (Hmm, Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt). So, basically, I am of no help, but I haven't been on Fodor's for awhile, and your question beckoned. Please send help and tequila (don't forget the lime).