Social Guide
Harghita County, located in the heart of Szeklerland, is a friendly destination close to nature where we strive to make tourism experiences accessible to all guests – including people with disabilities, older visitors, or those who need special support.
This short guide helps you plan your visit, choose suitable services, and connect with the right support if needed.
This short guide helps you plan your visit, choose suitable services, and connect with the right support if needed.
Accessible places – selected examples
The following locations and facilities are accessible to people with different types of limitations.
Attractions
- Saint Anne Lake Visitor Center – accessible building and entrance, information panels
- Băile Tușnad city park and mofetta – ramped paths, guiding strips, resting areas
- The Szekler Museum of Ciuc (Miercurea Ciuc) – exhibitions accessible by elevator, wheelchair-accessible entrance
Accommodation
The following providers offer full or partial accessibility:
- Hotel Fenyő (Miercurea Ciuc)
- Jakab Antal House (Miercurea Ciuc)
- Septimia Resort (Odorheiu Secuiesc)
- Hotel Fodor (Băile Tușnad)
- Hotel Ozon (Băile Tușnad)
Please mention any special requirements when making your reservation.
Guide dogs
Romanian legislation (especially Law no. 448/2006) explicitly guarantees access for guide dogs to all public institutions, tourist sites, public transportation, and food service establishments.
Many tourism service providers in Harghita County – especially certified accommodation facilities and visitor centers – welcome guests accompanied by guide dogs. In the following places, guide dogs are documented as being accepted without restrictions:
- The Szekler Museum of Ciuc
- Saint Anne Lake Visitor Center
- Hotel Fenyő, Miercurea Ciuc
- Local buses and trains (if the dog is on a leash and has the required documentation)
Important: guide dogs cannot be required to wear a muzzle and are exempt from any access restrictions.
Transport
- Some CFR trains have low floors and are accessible for wheelchair users.
- Romanian Railways provide free travel for persons with disabilities on Regio or Interregio trains in second class.
- Some local taxi and passenger transport providers offer drivers who can provide assistance (for example HargitaTrans).
- Accommodation providers can help organize transfers upon request.
Languages and communication
Most tourist information is available in Hungarian, Romanian, and English.
Please let us know if you need language assistance or interpretation.
Please let us know if you need language assistance or interpretation.
In many places, staff are also open to nonverbal communication, such as pictograms or simplified language.
Arriving by bicycle? Bike-friendly places
The active tourism offer in Harghita County increasingly focuses on cyclist-friendly services:
- more than 40 providers offer secure bicycle storage (for example in Băile Tușnad, Ghimeș, Vlăhița)
- bicycle rental options in the county can be found by clicking here
- cycling tour organizers can be found by clicking here
Dog-friendly accommodations and attractions
Hospitality in Harghita County extends to four-legged companions as well – more and more guesthouses, holiday homes, and excursion sites welcome tourists traveling with dogs.
Examples:
- Szekler holiday houses (for example in Zetea, Izvoare, and the Gheorgheni area)
- Cabins on Harghita Mădăraș
- Thematic trails and camping areas around Saint Anne Lake
- Restaurants that provide outdoor water bowls for dogs
Tip: when traveling with a dog, it is advisable to inform your host in advance and bring a leash and waste bags.
Cultural and pilgrimage sites with easier access
- Șumuleu Ciuc – paved road leading to the pilgrimage church, benches in the churchyard
- Ghimeș-Făget – the former railway guard house and Saint Elizabeth Chapel are easily accessible
- The Szekler Museum of Ciuc – can be visited with a wheelchair or at a slower pace
Senior-friendly places – safety, comfort, and care
Visitors aged 60 and above will find more and more places in Harghita County that offer not only discounts but also comfortable conditions that support health and wellbeing.
Senior-friendly services are especially recommended for:
- travelers with reduced mobility or a slower pace
- older people traveling alone or as a couple
- visitors interested in cultural tourism, spa tourism, or pilgrimage
Examples:
- Septimia Resort (Odorheiu Secuiesc)
- Hotel Fenyő (Miercurea Ciuc)
- Thermal guesthouses in Borsec
Spa destinations also suitable for seniors:
- Băile Tușnad – mofetta, mineral waters, medical services
- Borsec – treatment center, promenade, mineral springs, easy walking trails
- Băile Homorod – quiet spa resort with low traffic
Programs and guides for seniors
More and more tour organizers and guides offer:
- shorter walking tours
- minibus excursions (for example to Saint Anne Lake)
- guided pilgrimages specially adapted for senior participants
Support services
The Caritas organization in Miercurea Ciuc and the Harghita County Directorate for Social Assistance and Child Protection (DGASPC) provide counseling and emergency assistance.
You have rights – and support is available
If during your trip you experience discrimination, harassment, or accessibility barriers, you can report the situation on the Visit Harghita website or call the emergency number 112.
You have the right to equal treatment and to receive support. Your complaint will be examined by the competent authorities.
Useful contacts
- Visit Harghita tourist information: hello@visitharghita.com
- DGASPC Harghita (social assistance): +40 733 553 058
- Caritas Social Center: +40 753 056 939
- Emergency number: 112
Thank you for choosing Harghita County!
Feel free to ask questions, let us know if you need assistance – and enjoy the hospitality of our county.
Feel free to ask questions, let us know if you need assistance – and enjoy the hospitality of our county.