Wieliczka Lower Chambers

The write-up

Everyone does the tourist route past the salt chapel. The miners' route goes deeper, gives you a lamp and a detector, and takes you through unlit working chambers where you climb rather than walk. Same mine, entirely different experience, and it books out far less because most people don't know it exists.

Best window

Year round. 14°C and no weather, ever.

Watch out

Three hours underground with real ladders. Not one for anyone shaky on climbing in the dark.

Access

Someone owns it and will say yes if you ask. Ask.