Turda · Praid · Slanic · Cacica
Romania's salt mines: which one?
Four salt mines, four different experiences. This guide compares September 2026 admission prices at Turda, Slănic and Cacica. Praid mine is closed; its 2024 mine prices are historical and separate from the outdoor pool prices Salrom lists now.
The quick verdict
Choose by your base. The comparison uses September 2026 admission prices for Turda, Slănic and Cacica; Praid's historical mine prices are separate from its pool prices. Schedules change monthly — check each mine's page before you go.
Praid is temporarily closed after the May 2025 floods — check salrom.ro before going.
| Bucharest | Slanic Prahova | The closest major salt mine to the capital; you ride down by minibus, no stairs. |
|---|---|---|
| Cluj-Napoca | Turda | The most spectacular: underground lake with boats, three visitable mines. |
| Suceava / Bucovina | Cacica | Lowest adult price among Turda, Slănic and Cacica in September 2026; pairs with the monastery circuit. |
| Sovata / Târgu Mureș | Praid — verify! | Normally the first choice, but temporarily closed since May 2025. |
Compared, on official figures
Turda, Slănic and Cacica admission prices were read on their official pages in September 2026. Praid is temporarily closed; its 2024 historical mine price is not comparable with the outdoor pool prices listed now. October and November 2026 schedules were checked on 18 October; check the operator page before travelling.
| Adult / child | Hours | Tourist depth · Temperature | Leave from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salina Turda | 75 lei (Mon–Fri) / 90 lei (weekends+holidays); children 48/59 lei | Daily 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:20 | 112 m · 10–12°C | Cluj-Napoca, Turda |
| Salina Praid | Mine admission prices reported by Știrile PRO TV on 24 Nov 2024: 50 lei adult; 35 lei child. Salrom lists the same amounts now for the separate outdoor pool, not underground visits. | Temporarily closed after the May 2025 floods; status checked 17 October 2026 | 120 m · 16°C mean | Sovata, Târgu Mureș |
| Salina Slănic Prahova | 60 lei adults/day; 40 lei children and pupils | 1–25 October: closed Mon–Tue, open Wed–Sun; 26 October–1 November: daily. Rest of November: closed Mon–Tue, open Wed–Sun; open 30 November and 1 December. First descent 09:15, last descent 15:30, last ascent 16:30. | 208 m · 12–13°C, humidity 50–60% | Bucharest, Ploiești |
| Salina Cacica | 38 lei adults; 25 lei children and pupils | October: closed Monday; Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00. November: closed Mon–Tue; Wed–Sun 09:00–17:00; open 30 November 09:00–17:00. Café: Sat–Sun 09:00–16:00 and 30 November 09:00–16:00. | 42 m · ~14°C constant | Suceava, Gura Humorului |
Map
Positions from each site's coordinates; towns for orientation. Relief: Copernicus GLO-90 model. Scale bar: 100 km.
The mines, one by one
Salina Turda Open
112 m · 10–12°C · Cluj-Napoca, Turda
75 lei (Mon–Fri) / 90 lei (weekends+holidays); children 48/59 lei
Daily 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:20
- Underground lake with rowboats (56 lei/boat/20 min)
- Terezia (112 m), Rudolf, Ghizela mines + Franz Josef gallery
- Billiards, table tennis, guide on request (205 lei)
Parking 10 lei/hour. For visitors with neuromotor disabilities, the operator lists a limited route via the old entrance, Str. Salinelor 54B. See access details below; this does not cover the whole mine.
Salina Praid Temporarily closed
120 m · 16°C mean · Sovata, Târgu Mureș
Mine admission prices reported by Știrile PRO TV on 24 Nov 2024: 50 lei adult; 35 lei child. Salrom lists the same amounts now for the separate outdoor pool, not underground visits.
Temporarily closed after the May 2025 floods; status checked 17 October 2026
- Salt chapel with salt-carved altar
- Horizon 50 at 120 m; 16°C mean; deepest horizon 320 m
- Separate outdoor salt-water pool; seasonal attraction
The mine is closed after the May 2025 floods. The outdoor pool is separate and seasonal; check its availability before including it in your plans.
Salina Slănic Prahova Open
208 m · 12–13°C, humidity 50–60% · Bucharest, Ploiești
60 lei adults/day; 40 lei children and pupils
1–25 October: closed Mon–Tue, open Wed–Sun; 26 October–1 November: daily. Rest of November: closed Mon–Tue, open Wed–Sun; open 30 November and 1 December. First descent 09:15, last descent 15:30, last ascent 16:30.
- Minibus descent to 208 m
- Giant Unirea halls (“salt palace”)
- Sports fields + salt-water pool
Open to visitors since the 1970s. From Ploiești, county bus route 524 leaves Terminal Nord on Strada Găgeni for Slănic. Check the current timetable and operating days before travelling. The service that takes visitors into the mine is separate from the county bus.
Salina Cacica Open
42 m · ~14°C constant · Suceava, Gura Humorului
38 lei adults; 25 lei children and pupils
October: closed Monday; Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00. November: closed Mon–Tue; Wed–Sun 09:00–17:00; open 30 November 09:00–17:00. Café: Sat–Sun 09:00–16:00 and 30 November 09:00–16:00.
- Ecumenical chapel at 29 m; dance hall at 42 m
- Dwarf gallery, salt lake over 2 m deep, mine museum
- Sports hall, echo room (8 echoes)
The descent has 192 wooden steps. The operator’s October/November schedule does not list the outdoor pool; ask before planning a swim.
Practical
Tickets
At Turda buy online at bilete.salinaturda.eu; for open mines, check each official page for ticket arrangements. Praid mine is closed. Tell Cacica and Slănic about organised groups in advance (minimum 20 people).
What to wear
Underground is cold all year: 10–12°C at Turda, 12–13°C at Slanic, ~14°C at Cacica, 16°C at Praid. Bring a jacket whatever the weather outside.
With children
Under-threes enter free at Turda, Slănic and Cacica, subject to different entry conditions. Turda requires a doctor’s approval. Slănic and Cacica require approval or a recommendation from a family doctor or paediatrician; if neither document is available, the accompanying adult takes responsibility. Turda boat rides cost 56 lei/boat/20 min, for a maximum of three people. Cacica has a sports hall and echo room.
Access and stairs
Turda lists the old entrance at Str. Salinelor 54B for visitors with neuromotor disabilities. The stated route covers only the Franz Josef gallery, Ghizela treatment area, Iosif balcony, Crivacului room, extraction-shaft room and Sala de apel (Altar și Scara bogaților). Rudolf, Terezia and the boating lake are not included in this list. Cacica has 192 wooden steps. Slănic uses minibuses for descent; that does not establish accessibility throughout the interior. Confirm your access needs with the operator before travelling.
Medical entry conditions
Turda also requires a doctor’s approval for visitors over 65 and a medical recommendation for people with heart conditions. These are the operator’s entry rules, checked on 18 October 2026; they are not an individual medical assessment. Recheck the official page before your visit.
Questions
Where were the lowest comparable prices in September 2026?
Cacica: 38 lei for adults and 25 lei for children and pupils, the lowest among Turda, Slănic and Cacica. Praid is excluded: the mine is closed and its admission prices are reported for 2024.
Which goes deepest?
Among the mines open to visitors in this comparison, Slănic Prahova has the deepest visitor route: its minibus takes visitors down to 208 m. Turda’s Terezia mine reaches 112 m, while Cacica’s visitor galleries reach 42 m. Salrom places Praid’s tourist base at Horizon 50, 120 m down, and lists the mine as temporarily closed after the May 2025 floods.
Is Praid salt mine open?
No. Salrom lists the mine as temporarily closed after the May 2025 floods. A Știrile PRO TV article dated 24 November 2024 reported mine-admission prices of 50 lei for adults and 35 lei for children. Salrom now lists the same amounts under “ștrand” for the separate outdoor pool; its page does not list a current underground admission price. Check the mine reopening and seasonal pool availability separately.
Can you swim in the salt mines?
At Turda you can hire a boat on the lake; swimming is not allowed. Salrom’s October/November schedule for Cacica does not list the outdoor pool; confirm directly before planning a swim. Praid’s mine is temporarily closed; its outdoor pool is separate and seasonal, and the page does not confirm whether it is currently open.
How long does a visit take?
The mines post no official durations. At Slanic the day is bounded by the transports (last ride down 15:30, last ride up 16:30); at Turda last entry is 16:20.
Can I go with a stroller or wheelchair?
Turda’s operator describes a limited route for visitors with neuromotor disabilities via the old entrance at Str. Salinelor 54B; see the access section for the listed spaces. Rudolf, Terezia and the boating lake are not included in this list. Cacica has 192 wooden steps. Slănic uses minibuses for descent, which does not establish accessibility throughout the interior. Confirm your access needs with the operator before travelling.
Sources
- Salina Turda — visits and tariffs
- Salina Turda — access (entrances, parking)
- Salina Turda — Terezia mine
- Salrom — Praid salt mine
- Știrile PRO TV — Praid mine admission prices, 24 Nov 2024 (historical)
- Salrom — Slanic Prahova salt mine
- Salrom — Cacica salt mine
- Prahova County Council — route 524 Ploiești–Slănic, HCJ 217/2026, pp. 16–20