Cluj makes a strong base for exploring Transylvania. The Turda Salt Mine, a 1970s-disused mine converted into a vast underground entertainment complex with a Ferris wheel and a lake, is half an hour south by car. The historic Saxon town of Sighișoara, with its UNESCO-listed citadel, is around three hours east — possible as a long day trip but better with an overnight. The Apuseni Mountains, immediately west of the city, have caves, gorges, and traditional villages within easy driving range. Closer to home, the village of Bonțida holds the partially restored Bánffy Castle, once known as "the Transylvanian Versailles".