About Târgu Ocna Salt Mine
Salt has been cut in the Trotuș valley for a very long time: the town's seal in the early 15th century already showed a salt cutter with a hammer in his hand, and under Stephen the Great the salt mines became a princely monopoly. For centuries the convicts known as "ocnași" also worked here, sent to cut salt and kept underground for days on end; for them Prince Grigore Ghica built a walled prison next to the mine in 1855, known as the "Convicts' Castle". Between 1870 and 1968 salt was extracted from huge trapezoidal chambers in the Carol I and Carol II mines, and in the 1980s the Unirea gallery was dug, fitted with a conveyor belt.
Unlike Turda or Slănic, the Târgu Ocna salt mine is still an active Salrom mine: salt is cut on the lower levels, while since 2005 visitors have had level IX of the Trotuș mine, fitted out for leisure and treatment. The air here, at a constant 12 °C, without draughts and rich in salt aerosols, is used for respiratory conditions. Between November 2024 and April 2025 the mine was closed after a few blocks of salt came away from the ceiling of a gallery, and it reopened after safety works.
What you can see
The visit starts at the entrance of the Trotuș mine, where you board one of the mine's buses, which goes down a lit, spiralling tunnel over 3 km long to a depth of 240 m. Below open up tall, vaulted galleries with grey, banded salt walls, covering almost 10,000 square metres. The best known sight is St Barbara's church, made by the miners in 1992, with a wooden iconostasis of 24 icons and screens, pews and chandeliers carved from salt; its feast day is 4 December.
Further on are a salt lake with a waterfall, lit in colour, a small salt museum with tools and exhibits on mining, salt sculptures, five-a-side football, basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, go-karts and a performance hall. In summer, at the surface, in the mine's yard, there is also a saltwater swimming pool.
Good to know
Underground it is 12 °C all year: bring a warm coat even in summer. Buses go down about every half hour, and the last one into the mine leaves an hour before closing.
- The ride down in the mine's bus through the spiralling tunnel over 3 km long, to 240 m below ground.
- St Barbara's church, made by the miners in 1992, with an iconostasis, pews and chandeliers carved from salt.
- The salt lake with a waterfall, lit in colour, reflecting the salt walls.
- The vaulted galleries of level IX, their walls banded by the layers of salt.
- The salt museum, with tools and exhibits on mining at Târgu Ocna.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Târgu Ocna is on the DN12A, 14 km west of Onești; from Bacău it is ~60 km (DN11 to Onești, then the DN12A), from Brașov ~126 km (DN11 via Târgu Secuiesc and Oituz, then the DN12A). The mine is on Strada Salinei, north-west of the town centre towards the Vâlcele district.
Public transport: Târgu Ocna is on the Adjud – Siculeni railway. The nearest stop is the Saline halt, ~700 m from the mine entrance; from Târgu Ocna station it is ~2 km, on foot or by taxi.
- Where to park
There are a few car parks next to the mine entrance on Strada Salinei, and more spaces a little further down the same street, a few minutes' walk away. The parking fee is not given on the official website.
- Fees & discounts
Official Salrom prices (September 2026), per person per day: adults 60 lei, children and pupils 40 lei, students up to 26 50 lei, seniors over 65 45 lei, adults with disabilities 50 lei, children with disabilities 35 lei, their carer 50 lei; children under 3 go in free. Groups of at least 10 people of the same category: 50/35/45/40 lei, with one companion free. Pass of 5 entries within 7 days: 50/35/45/40 lei a day. The bus ride underground is included. Inside the mine: billiards 20 lei/30 min, table tennis 15 lei/30 min, minigolf 15 lei/hour, inflatable slides 15 lei/15 min, go-karts 10–30 lei, VR chair 20 lei. Saltwater pool: adults 60 lei, children 35 lei, 30 lei after 16:00. Tickets also online, on Easy2visit and Eventim.
- Rules
Underground it is 12 °C all year: dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes. Pets are not allowed. Children under 3 go in with a recommendation from their family doctor or on the accompanying adult's responsibility. Follow the staff's instructions and the signs in the mine, which is still being worked. Professional photography and filming (weddings, albums, advertising) are charged separately, from 2,000 lei a day. Mud is not allowed at the pool. Organised groups should announce the date and time of arrival in advance, by phone or email, so that the mine can lay on extra buses.
- Facilities
Bus transport underground, included in the ticket · underground church · salt museum · food kiosk, terrace and souvenir shop underground · playgrounds, inflatable slides, go-karts, minigolf, billiards, table tennis · five-a-side football, basketball and tennis courts · first-aid point · treatment base · at the surface, in summer: saltwater pool, showers, medical room, terrace
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