Hello, our family would like to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine, but the website says there are 380 steps. Our daughter has a mild disability and can't climb that many steps. Does anyone know if there is an elevator or something else to make the mine accessible? Thank you for your help.
Posted by
3 posts
If it is helpful to know, the steps are descending, not ascending. It is a long trip down, but goes by fairly quickly. There is an elevator, but this is used at the end of the tour to be brought back up to ground level. Since the tour follows a certain order, I don't know if it can be used at the beginning of the tour- but it is entirely possible and a question worth asking. Note that there are various staircases throughout the tour, though they are of average length.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
The web site says their is a special route for those with wheelchairs, so I think it's a safe bet that those with disabilities are allowed to take the elevators down. There is an email link on the site to ask questions.
Posted by
OP
Bern, Switzerland
86 posts
Thanks for the quick feedback! I'm so glad my daughter will be able to see the mine!
Posted by
9 posts
The disabled/wheelchair tour is only at 09:00 or 17:00.
As a previous poster says, the stairs are only down, a miners lift is used to return to the surface.
There are almost 400 stairs just to get to the start of the tour, some tour operators will be able to help you avoid these stairs by going down in the lift.
Be aware that there are still a further 400 stairs (down) during the tour.
Posted by
OP
Bern, Switzerland
86 posts
Thanks for the information. I think my daughter will be ok. She doesn't need a wheelchair and can go down steps (slowly), so we will ask to have her brought down the first stage in the elevator. It is very helpful to know this in advance. Thanks again.