Salt Mine


Believe it or not, boarding a bus that trundles down into a salt mine isn’t the most surreal part of visiting Salina Praid. Once inside, you’ll see ping pong tables, a kids’ climbing area, snack bars and a 3D cinema, all within its gritty walls. Resembling well-buffed marble, the salty floor is a playground for kids on scooters. Follow the exit signs to get to a more grown-up chamber (there's a bar).

Further along the tunnels you’ll meet a salty St Barbara before you reach the bus stop for return. Schedules for return bus times are posted at various points around the cave. Allow about 10 minutes to walk to the exit.

Locals come for extended underground treatments for bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses. Tourists tend to be content with a souvenir packet of bath salt.

The salt mine is north of Corund on the road to Sovata. Seven daily buses connect Praid with Sovata (4 lei, 20 minutes). There are plenty of paid car parks in Praid (usually 10 lei per day).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Bear Lake

4.04 MILES

The salty waters of Bear Lake are a popular place to soak in summer. People have been coming here for the lake’s restorative properties – some claim the…

2. Haáz Rezső Museum

18.64 MILES

This lacey-looking building, 1900-built Haberstumpf cottage, seems slightly lost, standing next to the roaring main road through town. But the gallery…

3. Franciscan Church

18.9 MILES

At the western end of main square Piaţa Primăriei stands a Franciscan monastery and church, completed in 1779.

4. Citadel

18.91 MILES

The crumbling walls of Odorheiu Secuiesc’s medieval citadel can be spied from Str Eötvös József.

5. Chapel of Jesus

19.9 MILES

Some 2km south of town, a striking wooden gateway carved in filigree leads to the small, conical Jesus Chapel, encircled by a stone wall. Estimated to…

6. Lăzarea Castle

23.84 MILES

Just 6km northwest of Gheorgheni on the road to Topliţa is the tiny village of Lăzarea (Gyergyószárhegy in Hungarian). The predominantly Hungarian village…

7. Tarisznyás Márton Museum

26.05 MILES

Some 400m east of Piaţa Libertăţii, the county museum is housed in an 18th-century baroque-style building, one of the oldest in town. The collection of…

8. Complexul Weekend

26.08 MILES

In high summer when the mercury tops 40°C, this swimming complex, 2.5km north of the centre, is a welcome oasis. There's a couple of giant pools, a few…