# Bucin Pass Ski Slopes

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Harghita County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/harghita) › [Joseni](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/locality/joseni)

> Small ski slopes near the Bucin Pass, in the Gurghiu Mountains, on the road between Praid and Gheorgheni: gentle runs for families and beginners, a steeper run, drag lifts, sledging and spruce forest.

**At a glance:** Ski slopes in Joseni, Harghita County. Opening hours: daily open 24 hours. Ticket: 110 lei. The visit takes 4½ – 5 hours. Information verified on 3 November 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** daily open 24 hours — The area can be reached at any time from the DN13B. The drag lifts only run in the ski season, depending on snow and weather; at Havas Bucsin, day passes are valid from 10:00 to 17:00.
- **Ticket:** 110 lei — 1-day ski pass, Mon–Thu
- **Visit duration:** 4½ – 5 hours — a day's skiing
- **With kids:** Yes — gentle runs, sledging
- **Best season:** December – March — winter only, with snow
- **Address:** DN13B, ~1.5 km from the Bucin Pass, towards Praid, Joseni, Harghita County
- **Coordinates:** 46.64353, 25.29359
- **Phone:** +40 728 095 824
- **Website:** https://bucsin.ro/ro/
- **Categories:** [Ski slopes](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/ski-slopes), [Mountains and trails](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/mountains-and-trails)

## About Bucin Pass Ski Slopes

The Bucin Pass (Bucsin-tető in Hungarian) crosses the Gurghiu Mountains at 1,287 m and links the Giurgeu Depression, on the Gheorgheni side, with the Praid–Sovata area, on the DN13B national road. On the Praid side of the pass there are two small ski areas run by different operators: Havas Bucsin, about 1.5 km from the pass, and Pârtiile Bogdan, a few kilometres further down towards Praid.

Havas Bucsin was laid out between August 2006 and January 2007 and has runs without steep pitches, designed for families, groups and leisure skiers, with the drag lift just 150 m from the road. Pârtiile Bogdan has a steeper run for advanced skiers and one for beginners, both with a drag lift and artificial snow, linked by a ski track through the forest.

### What you can see

The runs descend through open clearings in the spruce forest that covers both sides of the pass. At Havas Bucsin the main run faces west and climbs from about 1,200 m to 1,360 m; next to it are a shorter run and a sledging slope, and the hut on the slope has a snack bar. At Bogdan, the upper run looks out over the forested valley towards Praid.

Both areas hire out ski and snowboard equipment and have instructors for beginners; Bogdan also has a ski club for children aged 3 to 7. The Via Mariae, the pilgrimage route between Praid and Suseni, also crosses the pass.

### Good to know

The slopes only run in winter, while there is enough snow, and each area announces the opening and closing of its season itself; in an ordinary winter the ski season lasts around 40 days. The road over the pass stays open in winter, but it is a mountain road, with stretches covered in snow after snowfall.

## Don't miss

- The gentle runs at Havas Bucsin, between 1,200 and 1,360 m, well suited to your first days on skis.
- The steeper Bogdan 1 run, for advanced skiers.
- The sledging slope at Havas Bucsin, for children who don't ski.
- The spruce forest around the pass, on the mountain road between Praid and Gheorgheni.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** the slopes are on the DN13B, the road between Praid and Gheorgheni. Havas Bucsin is ~19 km from Praid (~25 minutes) and ~33 km from Gheorgheni (~40 minutes), 150 m from the road. Pârtiile Bogdan is at kilometre 15 of the road, between Praid and the pass, ~16 km from Praid. From Sovata it is ~28 km to Havas Bucsin, and from Târgu Mureș ~81 km (~1 hour 40 minutes), via Sovata and Praid. In winter, the road over the pass calls for winter tyres.

### Fees & discounts

The two areas have separate cards, on a points system with a 10 lei card deposit refunded when you hand it back. At Havas Bucsin, one ride on the long run costs 3 points, on the 400 m run 2 points and on the sledging slope 1 point; 3 points cost 20 lei, 6 points 27 lei, 18 points 70 lei, 30 points 100 lei. A day pass costs 110 lei Monday to Thursday and 130 lei on Fridays, at weekends, on public holidays and during the school ski holiday. At Pârtiile Bogdan, one ride costs 3 points on Bogdan 1 and 2 points on Bogdan 2, at the same points prices, plus a 60-point pack for 180 lei; children aged 1 to 6 ride free with a parent. Both operators offer reductions for people over 65 and children under 150 cm. A set of skis, boots and poles can be hired for 70 lei a day at Havas Bucsin. Prices may change from one season to the next.

### Rules

On the slopes, follow the International Ski Federation (FIS) rules of conduct and the markings. At Havas Bucsin, sledges with a metal frame are not allowed on the sledging slope, and an identity document is required to hire equipment. Bears live in the surrounding forests: do not leave food or rubbish behind and do not feed the animals.

### Facilities

Ski and snowboard hire · instructors for beginners · snack bar in the hut on the slope · sledging slope · accommodation at the foot of the slopes · children's ski club at Bogdan · webcams

## Details

- **Maximum altitude:** 1,360 m
- **Mountain range:** Gurghiu Mountains
- **Total slope length:** 4 km
- **Lifts:** 4
- **Snowmaking:** Yes

## Frequently asked questions about Bucin Pass Ski Slopes

**How much is a ticket to Bucin Pass Ski Slopes?**

A ticket to Bucin Pass Ski Slopes costs 110 lei (1-day ski pass, Mon–Thu). More under “Fees & discounts”.

**What are the opening hours of Bucin Pass Ski Slopes?**

Opening hours at Bucin Pass Ski Slopes: daily open 24 hours. More under “Opening hours”.

**How long does a visit to Bucin Pass Ski Slopes take?**

A visit to Bucin Pass Ski Slopes takes about 4½ – 5 hours (a day's skiing).

**Can you visit Bucin Pass Ski Slopes with kids?**

Yes, Bucin Pass Ski Slopes is suitable for children (gentle runs, sledging).

**How do I get to Bucin Pass Ski Slopes?**

Bucin Pass Ski Slopes is located at DN13B, ~1.5 km from the Bucin Pass, towards Praid, Joseni, Harghita County. More under “Getting there”.

**When is the best time to visit Bucin Pass Ski Slopes?**

The best season for Bucin Pass Ski Slopes: December – March (winter only, with snow).

## Nearby attractions

- [Lake Ursu](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/lake-ursu) — Lakes · Sovata, MS · 21 km
  A heliothermal salt lake in Sovata, formed in 1875 over a salt massif: beneath a thin layer of fresh water the salt water goes above 40 °C in summer; a lido runs on the shore in season.
- [Sovata](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/sovata) — Resorts and thermal baths · Sovata, MS · Free · 3½ – 4 hours · 22 km
  A spa resort at the foot of the Gurghiu Mountains, with heliothermal salt lakes, healing mud, paths through the salt-ground reserve and, in winter, the Aluniș ski slope with a chairlift.
- [Praid Salt Mine](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/praid-salt-mine) — Salt mines · Praid, HR · Top 100 · 22 km
  The salt mine of the Land of Salt, with huge leisure and treatment halls 120 m underground, once Romania's most visited. Closed indefinitely since the flood of May 2025.
- [Lázár Castle in Lăzarea](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/lazar-castle-in-lazarea) — Castles and palaces · Lăzarea, HR · 35 lei · 28 km
  The Renaissance castle of the Lázár family, with four bastions, a gate tower and walls topped by ornamental crenellations, at the edge of the forest near Gheorgheni; Gabriel Bethlen spent his childhood here.
- [Toplița Ski Slope](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/toplita-ski-slope) — Ski slopes · Toplița, HR · 130 lei · 2½ – 3 hours · 37 km
  A ski area on the edge of the town of Toplița, at the foot of the Gurghiu Mountains: three slopes with drag lifts and a conveyor belt, floodlights, a sledging slope, tubing and a year-round rail bobsled.
- [Șugău Cave](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/sugau-cave) — Caves · Suseni, HR · 25 lei · 45 min · 38 km
  A cave reserve in the Giurgeu Mountains, with over 1,000 m of passages on four levels, visited only with a guide on a torch-lit route, among stalactites, columns and aragonite crystals.

## Featured in the guides

- [Ski slopes in Romania: the ski resorts and ski areas by region, with a map](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/ski-resorts-in-romania) — 46 ski resorts and ski areas in Romania by region: Poiana Brașov, Sinaia, Straja, Transalpina, Rânca, Cavnic. Km of slopes, lifts, night skiing, map.
- [The nearest ski slopes to Bucharest, Cluj, Brașov, Sibiu, Iași, Timișoara and Oradea: distances for a day of skiing](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/guides/ski-slopes-near-bucharest-cluj-brasov) — Feleacu is 10 km from Cluj, Poiana Brașov 12 km from Brașov, Păltiniș 32 km from Sibiu, Sinaia 140 km from Bucharest. Distances and times for 12 cities.

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Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/bucin-pass-ski-slopes
Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/partiile-de-la-pasul-bucin.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/skipisten-am-bucin-pass.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/piste-da-sci-del-passo-bucin.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/pistes-de-ski-du-col-de-bucin.md · Español: https://peplaiuri.ro/es/pistas-de-esqui-del-puerto-de-bucin.md · Magyar: https://peplaiuri.ro/hu/bucsin-tetoi-sipalyak.md
Last updated: 3 November 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania
