Turda is a small city in Cluj County, Transylvania, about 30 km south of Cluj-Napoca. For most visitors it's a day trip from Cluj, and one attraction in particular makes it worth the journey: Salina Turda.
The Salina Turda is an extraordinary salt mine converted into an underground amusement park and wellness centre. Mining here dates back to antiquity, with large-scale Roman extraction documented. The vast underground chambers — some reaching 100 metres high — now hold a Ferris wheel, rowing boats on a subterranean lake, and a mini golf course, all lit up in eerie colours against ancient salt walls. It's genuinely unlike anything else in Romania and has become one of the country's most visited attractions. Book in advance.
The old town of Turda itself is relatively modest, with a main square and historic churches that reflect the city's importance during the Transylvanian principality era — it was here that the 1568 Edict of Turda was issued, one of the first laws of religious tolerance in European history. The Turda Gorge (Cheile Turzii), about 8 km west of town, is a spectacular limestone canyon worth combining with a salt mine visit if you have a full day. There are regular buses and minibuses from Cluj-Napoca.