# Durgău Salt Lakes

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Cluj County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/cluj) › [Turda](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/city/turda)

> A summer lido on two salt lakes formed in collapsed old salt pits, 100 m from the Durgău entrance of the Turda Salt Mine. The very salty water keeps you afloat; the mine is visited separately.

**At a glance:** Resorts and thermal baths in Turda, Cluj County. Open from 1 June to 6 September. Ticket: 40 lei. Information verified on 29 September 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** Open from 1 June to 6 September — The lido opens only in summer: in 2026 it opened on 1 June and closed after 6 September; the opening date depends on the weather each year. The official website gives only the last entry, at 20:00; the local press reported daily hours of 8:30–20:30 for the 2026 season. Check the hours on the Turda Salt Mine website or by phone before you go.
- **Ticket:** 40 lei — children and seniors 25 lei
- **With kids:** Yes — under-3s free
- **Parking:** Yes, paid — salt mine car park, 10 lei/hour
- **Best season:** June – September — in 2026, 1 June – 6 September
- **Address:** Aleea Durgăului 7 (in the grounds of the Turda Salt Mine, ~100 m from the mine's new entrance), Turda, Cluj County
- **Coordinates:** 46.586, 23.7882
- **Phone:** +40 364 260 940
- **Website:** https://www.salinaturda.eu/locatie/strand-durgau/
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacurile_Durg%C4%83u
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12731909
- **Categories:** [Resorts and thermal baths](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/statiuni-si-bai-termale), [Salt mines](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/saline)

## About Durgău Salt Lakes

The Durgău lido is laid out on two salt lakes at the surface, Lacul Ocnei and Lacul Rotund (the Round Lake), in the grounds of the Turda Salt Mine, about 100 m from the mine's new entrance. Both formed in old bell-shaped salt pits whose roofs caved in and filled with water. Lacul Ocnei is around 33 m deep and Lacul Rotund around 15 m. The water holds roughly 10% salt at the surface and 28% at 30 m, and the difference makes the lower layers warm up in the sun: in summer the water reaches about 30 °C.

The Durgău lakes have been used for bathing since the 19th century, with wooden cabins on their shores. Today's lido, opened in 2009, is run by Salina Turda SA, the municipal company that also operates the salt mine. The lakes lie within the Sărăturile Ocna Veche Natura 2000 site, protected for its salt-marsh plants.

### What you can see

The lido has sandy beaches, wooden jetties, showers and a bar with a terrace. In the salty water you float without effort. On the hill above the lakes you can see the roofs over the shafts of the old Iosif and Terezia mines, and around them, along Valea Sărată, smaller lakes and salt flats left by abandoned pits.

About 2 km to the south-east, in the Băile Sărate district, is Turda's second salt-water lido, on the Roman Lake, which has its own page.

### Good to know

These are lakes at the surface only: the Turda Salt Mine is visited separately, with a separate ticket. The lido opens only in summer; in 2026 it ran from 1 June to 6 September.

## Don't miss

- A swim in Lacul Ocnei, a former salt pit more than 30 m deep, in water that keeps you afloat without effort.
- Lacul Rotund, the smaller lake, the easternmost of the old Durgău salt pits.
- The roofs over the shafts of the Iosif and Terezia mines, on the hill above the lido.
- A walk along Valea Sărată, among salt flats and small lakes formed in abandoned pits, towards the mine's new entrance.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** Turda lies ~30 km south of Cluj-Napoca, on the A3 motorway (Turda exit) or the DN1 (~35 minutes). The lido is in the Durgău district, in the grounds of the Turda Salt Mine: follow the signs for "Salina Turda – intrarea nouă" and Aleea Durgăului. From Alba Iulia it is ~65 km, from Târgu Mureș ~70 km.

**Public transport:** frequent minibuses from Cluj-Napoca to Turda, then the local bus to the salt mine or a taxi (~3 km from Turda's centre).

### Where to park

Park in the Turda Salt Mine car park at the Durgău entrance, at 10 lei an hour (the mine's official rate), about 100 m from the lido. The car park is shared with the mine. We found no information on a separate car park or reduced rates for lido visitors.

### Fees & discounts

Official Salina Turda SA prices, in force since March 2025 and still applied in 2026: adults 40 lei, children and seniors over 65 25 lei; Monday to Thursday after 17:00, 25 lei for adults and 18 lei for children and seniors. A 7-day pass costs 250 lei for adults and 150 lei for children and seniors. A sunlounger costs 15 lei. Children under 3 go in free; seniors and children show a document proving their age. The ticket does not include the salt mine (75 lei on weekdays, 90 lei at weekends for adults) and we found no combined ticket.

### Rules

For the reduced rate, seniors show their identity card and children a birth certificate, passport or student card. The very salty water stings the eyes and must not be swallowed, so do not dive under, and rinse off in the shower afterwards. The lakes are deep former pits, so keep children close. The surrounding area is protected: do not pick plants on the salt flats.

### Facilities

Sandy beaches · wooden jetties · showers · bar with terrace · sunloungers for hire · barbecue area · 100 m away, the car park, toilets and restaurant at the Durgău entrance of the Turda Salt Mine, plus Hotel Potaissa

## Details

- **Water type:** salt lakes
- **Therapeutic uses:** rheumatism, peripheral circulation

## Frequently asked questions about Durgău Salt Lakes

**How much is a ticket to Durgău Salt Lakes?**

A ticket to Durgău Salt Lakes costs 40 lei (children and seniors 25 lei). Official Salina Turda SA prices, in force since March 2025 and still applied in 2026: adults 40 lei, children and seniors over 65 25 lei; Monday to Thursday after 17:00, 25 lei for adults and 18 lei for children and seniors. A 7-day pass costs 250 lei for adults and 150 lei for children and seniors. A sunlounger costs 15 lei. Children under 3 go in free; seniors and children show a document proving their age. The ticket does not include the salt mine (75 lei on weekdays, 90 lei at weekends for adults) and we found no combined ticket.

**Can you visit Durgău Salt Lakes with kids?**

Yes, Durgău Salt Lakes is suitable for children (under-3s free).

**Where can I park at Durgău Salt Lakes?**

There is paid parking at Durgău Salt Lakes (salt mine car park, 10 lei/hour). Park in the Turda Salt Mine car park at the Durgău entrance, at 10 lei an hour (the mine's official rate), about 100 m from the lido. The car park is shared with the mine. We found no information on a separate car park or reduced rates for lido visitors.

**How do I get to Durgău Salt Lakes?**

Durgău Salt Lakes is located at Aleea Durgăului 7 (in the grounds of the Turda Salt Mine, ~100 m from the mine's new entrance), Turda, Cluj County. By car: Turda lies ~30 km south of Cluj-Napoca, on the A3 motorway (Turda exit) or the DN1 (~35 minutes). The lido is in the Durgău district, in the grounds of the Turda Salt Mine: follow the signs for "Salina Turda – intrarea nouă" and Aleea Durgăului. From Alba Iulia it is ~65 km, from Târgu Mureș ~70 km. Public transport: frequent minibuses from Cluj-Napoca to Turda, then the local bus to the salt mine or a taxi (~3 km from Turda's centre).

**When is the best time to visit Durgău Salt Lakes?**

The best season for Durgău Salt Lakes: June – September (in 2026, 1 June – 6 September).

## Nearby attractions

- [Turda Salt Mine](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/salina-turda) — Salt mines · Turda, CJ · 75 lei · 2 – 2½ hours · Top 20 · 0 km
  A salt mine worked from the Middle Ages until 1932 and turned into a spectacular underground park: a Ferris wheel, a lake with rowing boats, an amphitheatre and salt walls 120 m below ground, near Cluj.
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  A lido with two salt lakes formed where old salt mines caved in, 24 km from Cluj-Napoca, plus an indoor pool of warm salt water that stays open all year.
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Last updated: 29 September 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania