The Berca Mud Volcanoes — Vulcanii Noroioși in Romanian — are the main reason to stop in Buzău rather than pass through. Located about 25 km north of the city near the village of Berca and Scorțoasa, they are a geological reservation protecting one of the best examples of mud volcanism in Europe. Small cones, some barely knee-high and others reaching a few metres, erupt continuously with cold grey mud and natural gas bubbles, creating a landscape that genuinely looks like another planet.
There are two separate sites a kilometre or two apart: Pâclele Mici (the small site) and Pâclele Mari (the large site). Both are worth visiting — each has a slightly different character, with the larger site offering more active vents spread across a broader grey plain. Admission is cheap (a few lei per site, paid separately), and the walk around the reserves takes about an hour combined. Do not go after heavy rain: the paths turn to mud and the sites are effectively closed. The best light for photography is mid-morning or late afternoon. The area became part of the Buzău Land UNESCO Global Geopark in 2022.
Getting there without a car requires some effort. Buses run from Buzău bus station to Berca, but the reserve itself is several kilometres from the village — you will need a taxi or a long walk from the bus stop. Most visitors rent a car or book a day trip from Bucharest. The drive from Buzău takes about 40 minutes on reasonable roads.