Slanic Prahova Salt Mine: a visitor's guide, 78 km from Dracula Land

One of the big attractions closest to Dracula Land is underground. At Slanic, in the north of Prahova county, you can go down into a salt mine whose halls are so tall they feel like a cathedral carved in salt. It is about 78 kilometres from Gherghita, less than an hour and a half's drive.

A short history

The Slanic area has been linked to salt for centuries: according to linguists, even the town's name comes from a Slavic word connected with salt and salty water. Organised mining began at the end of the 17th century, and since then several mines have been opened at Slanic one after another.

The mine you can visit today is called the Unirea Salt Mine. Salt was extracted here between 1943 and 1970, when the mine was closed to production and reopened for visitors. What the miners left behind are enormous halls with walls striped in shades of grey and white, which keep the same cool temperature all year round.

What you can see

• The great halls of the mine, with vertical walls as tall as a multi-storey building and remarkable acoustics
• The salt sculptures, including the bust of Decebal in the Genesis Hall, shown in the photo above
• The rest and play areas, where families spend hours
• Speleotherapy: the salty air is sought after by people with respiratory conditions (ask your doctor first)
• The Salt Mountain, an open-air nature reserve near the town, where a mass of salt comes to the surface
• Baia Baciului Lake, a salt lake formed in an old mine working, a few minutes from the centre

Practical tips

• The temperature in the mine stays cool even in summer, around 12 degrees, so bring a jacket or a jumper.
• The way down and back up follows a set route. On busy weekends there may be a wait at the entrance.
• Opening hours and prices change with the season; check them before you go, on the salt mine's website or by phone.

How to get there from Dracula Land

The distance from Gherghita to the Slanic Salt Mine is about 78 km, roughly an hour and 20 minutes.

• leave Gherghita towards the A3 and head for Ploiesti
• from the Ploiesti area continue north towards Valenii de Munte and Slanic, following the signs
• in Slanic the salt mine is well signposted and has parking nearby

Because it is close, the Slanic Salt Mine also works well as a half-day trip, for example in the morning, before a quiet afternoon at your accommodation.

What a visit is like

After entering the mine you go down underground, where the first halls greet you. As you go further, the dimensions become hard to believe: the ceilings are tens of metres high and the walls still bear the marks of the miners' tools. Some halls have playgrounds, sports pitches and rest areas, so many visitors stay several hours, especially families and those who come for the salty air.

For an ordinary visit allow between one and two hours underground. If you come for speleotherapy you can stay longer; ask at the entrance about the schedule and the special conditions for sessions.

Who it suits

• Families with children: the large spaces and play areas make the mine a pleasant outing in any weather, including rainy days
• People with respiratory conditions: the salty air is sought after for its effect, but ask your doctor first, especially for children and older people
• Lovers of history and unusual places: the traces of mining and the salt sculptures tell the story of an industry centuries old

What else to see in Slanic

Besides the mine, the town has a few places worth a short walk. The Salt Mountain is a rare formation, a mass of salt that has come to the surface and is protected as a reserve. Baia Baciului Lake formed in an old mine working and is known for its salty water. Also nearby is Grota Miresei (the Bride's Grotto), a small lake surrounded by steep walls, linked to a local legend.

Half-day itinerary

• 09:00 – leave Gherghita
• 10:30 – visit the Unirea Salt Mine
• 12:30 – walk to the Salt Mountain and Baia Baciului Lake
• 14:00 – lunch in Slanic or on the way
• 15:30 – back to your accommodation, with a free afternoon

Why the air in the mine is different

The air in the mine has a few features that make it sought after. The temperature stays almost the same all year, the humidity is constant, and the fine salt particles in the air, together with the absence of pollen and outside pollution, create a special microclimate. That is why many visitors come for repeated sessions of several hours. The effects vary from person to person, so if you have a respiratory condition, talk to your doctor before planning longer sessions.

Where to stay

Slanic is one of the shortest trips on our list. Choose accommodation in and around Gherghita and you will have the salt mine less than an hour and a half away: see accommodation near Dracula Land.