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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Băile Tuşnad
Half-day to one night: walk the resort, see the crater lake and soak in mineral springs. Not a base for Transylvania.
Băile Tuşnad is a small spa town in Harghita county, founded around 1842, known for its mineral springs and the only crater lake in Romania, Lacul Sfânta Ana. The resort area is walkable; most visitors come for a short stay to relax or hike. It works as a stop between Brașov and Miercurea Ciuc.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (many facilities close or reduce hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- RON
- Money
- Currency is the Romanian leu (RON, plural lei); Romania does not use the euro. About 5 lei to €1 in 2026 — check the live rate.
- Daily spend
- Budget 100–150 lei excl. bed · Mid 150–250 lei excl. bed · High 250+ lei excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, Vodafone and Digi sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; Digi is the cheapest. Passport ID is required to register a SIM — check.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin; Schuko (F) sockets take C plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%, left in cash even when paying by card.; Café or bar: Round up or leave a few lei.; Taxi or Bolt: Round up; app tips optional.; Guesthouse host or driver-guide: RON 20–50 per day for good service.; Hotel porter: RON 5–10 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water in cities is treated and generally safe; many locals prefer bottled mineral water (apă plată = still, apă minerală = sparkling). Avoid untreated wells in villages.
- Toilets
- Use cafés, malls, museums and fuel stations; some stations and parks charge RON 1–3. Village and monastery toilets can be basic — carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 8–15 lei |
| Lunch (soup + main) | 30–60 lei |
| Beer (0.5 L) | 8–15 lei |
| Mineral water (1.5 L) | 3–5 lei |
| Taxi from resort to Lacul Sfânta Ana (one way) | 25–30 lei |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- OTP · Henri Coandă International Airport (Bucharest)
- About 4.5 h by train; check connections via Brașov.
- TGM · Târgu Mureș International Airport
- About 2 h by car; limited flights.
Typical fares
- Train Brașov → Băile Tuşnad
- about 25 lei, 1–2 h (check)
- Taxi resort → Lacul Sfânta Ana
- about 25–30 lei one way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The resort area is walkable. For Lacul Sfânta Ana you need a car or a taxi (about 10 min drive).
See and do
Known for
- Lacul Sfânta Ana (crater lake)
- Mineral springs and spa treatments
- Ciucaş Lake in the resort centre
- Catholic church with modern architecture
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lacul Sfânta Ana | Car or taxi, about 10 min from the resort | About 20 min |
| Miercurea Ciuc | Train or car, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Brașov | Train, about 1–2 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Resort centre
- Walk to springs, lake and restaurants; most guesthouses and hotels are here.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bună ziuaboo-nuh zee-wah |
| Thank you | Mulțumescmool-tsoo-mesk |
| How much? | Cât costă?kuht koh-stuh |
| Where is the lake? | Unde este lacul?oon-deh yes-teh lah-kool |
| Do you speak English? | Vorbiți engleză?vor-beets en-gle-zuh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and eye contact; 'bună ziua' by day, 'bună seara' in the evening; avoid: First names with older people before they offer them
- Visiting a home: Take shoes off at the door; bring flowers (an odd number), chocolate or wine; avoid: Even numbers of flowers — they are for funerals
- Churches: Cover shoulders and knees; women may cover their hair in monasteries; stand quietly at the back during services; avoid: Crossing in front of the altar area or photographing people praying
- Conversation: Food, football, travel in Romania and family are safe topics; avoid: Dracula as the country's identity, calling Romanians Slavs, and careless talk about Roma or Hungarians
- Hospitality: Accept at least a taste of what you are offered; thank the host by name; avoid: Refusing all food and drink outright
- Queues and transport: Give seats to older people and parents with children; avoid: Loud phone calls in train compartments
Scams and watch-outs
- Many facilities close or have reduced hours from November to March: check ahead.
- Lacul Sfânta Ana is a protected area; no swimming allowed.
- Cash is preferred in smaller guesthouses and restaurants; ATMs are limited.
Băile Tuşnad is very safe. The main risks are slippery paths near springs and cold winters; carry cash as card acceptance is limited.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Băile Tuşnad yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lacul Sfânta Ana (crater lake)
- Mineral springs and spa treatments
- Ciucaş Lake in the resort centre
- Catholic church with modern architecture
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Băile Tuşnad, revision 4916738 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4916738
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Băile Tuşnad
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire, mountain rescue112
Hungarian is widely spoken in the area; many locals speak it as a first language.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/baile-tusnad). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.