# Mountains and trails — tourist attractions in Romania

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Categories](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/categories)

> Mountain ranges, hiking trails and viewpoints.

The Carpathians cross the country in a wide arc and divide the mountains of Romania into three groups: the Eastern Carpathians, with Rodna, Ceahlău and Călimani; the Southern Carpathians, the highest, with Făgăraș, Bucegi, Piatra Craiului, Parâng and Retezat; and the Western Carpathians, with the lower, gentler Apuseni. All the peaks above 2,500 m are in the Southern Carpathians. Trails are marked in the traditional system of stripe, cross, triangle and dot on a white background, and the mountain huts and shelters make multi-day treks possible. The summer season runs roughly from June to October; in winter the ridges call for equipment and experience.

The Bucegi are the most accessible: [Babele](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/babele) and [the Bucegi Sphinx](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/sfinxul-din-bucegi) are reached by cable car from Bușteni, and the [Heroes' Cross on Caraiman Peak](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/crucea-caraiman) is a walk away from there. In Brașov, [Mount Tâmpa](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/muntele-tampa) is an urban mountain with the city at its feet. The [Transfăgărășan](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/transfagarasan) takes the car up to 2,042 m, into the heart of the Făgăraș, and [Capra Lake](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/lacul-capra) is an easy first hike from there.

## Tourist attractions

55 attractions

- [Transalpina](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/transalpina) — Scenic roads · Gorj County · Free · 3½ – 4 hours · Top 20
  Romania's highest road: the DN67C climbs from Novaci over the Parâng Mountains to 2,145 m at the Urdele Pass and drops past Lake Oașa to Sebeș, 148 km above the clouds.
- [Transfăgărășan](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/transfagarasan) — Scenic roads · Argeș County · Free · 3½ – 4 hours · Top 20
  The DN7C crosses the Făgăraș Mountains for 151 km, from the Vidraru dam up to the glacial Bâlea Lake at 2,042 m, then winds down in hairpin bends into Transylvania.
- [Seven Ladders Canyon](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/seven-ladders-canyon) — Waterfalls · Săcele, BV · 25 lei · 2½ – 3 hours · Top 100
  A narrow limestone gorge in the Piatra Mare Mountains near Brașov, with seven rock steps climbed on metal ladders and walkways; at the top you can ride a zip line back down.
- [The Bucegi Sphinx](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/the-bucegi-sphinx) — Mountains and trails · Moroeni, DB · 10 lei · ½ – 1 hours · Top 100
  An 8 m conglomerate rock shaped by wind, frost and rain that, from certain angles, looks like a human head; it stands on the Bucegi plateau at 2,216 m, next to Babele.
- [Babele](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/babele) — Mountains and trails · Moroeni, DB · 10 lei · ½ – 1 hours · Top 100
  The stone mushrooms of the Bucegi plateau, at ~2,200 m: conglomerate rocks worn by wind, frost and rain, a few minutes from the Bușteni cable car and the Sphinx.
- [Retezat National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/retezat-national-park) — National parks and reserves · Nucșoara, HD · 10 lei · 8½ – 9 hours · Top 100
  Romania's first national park, created in 1935 in the Retezat Mountains: granite ridges above 2,000 m, Peleaga Peak (2,509 m) and more than 80 glacial lakes, crossed by waymarked trails.
- [Heroes' Cross on Caraiman Peak](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/heroes-cross-on-caraiman-peak) — Monuments and historic sites · Bușteni, PH · 10 lei · 2½ – 3 hours · Top 100
  A 39 m steel cross raised in the 1920s on the edge of the Caraiman escarpment, at 2,291 m, in memory of the heroes of the First World War; it can be seen from all over Bușteni.
- [Bâlea Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/balea-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Sibiu County · Free · 1½ – 2 hours · Top 100
  Romania's biggest tiered waterfall, dropping about 60 m over the lower step of the Bâlea cirque in the Făgăraș Mountains; an hour's walk up from the Bâlea Cascadă chalet on the Transfăgărășan.
- [Ceahlău Massif](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/ceahlau-massif) — Mountains and trails · Durău, NT · 10 lei · 7½ – 8 hours · Top 100
  The “holy mountain” of Moldavia, with the Ocolașul Mare (1,907 m) and Toaca (1,904 m) peaks, legendary rocks, the Dochia Chalet and marked trails from Durău and Izvorul Muntelui, in the Ceahlău National Park.
- [Tamina Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/tamina-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Brașov, BV · Free · 2½ – 3 hours
  A chain of five waterfalls in a narrow limestone gorge in the Piatra Mare Mountains, above Timișu de Sus; reached in about an hour's climb on the blue-stripe trail.
- [Moldoveanu Peak](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/moldoveanu-peak) — Mountains and trails · Nucșoara, AG · Free · 7½ – 8 hours
  Romania's highest peak (2,544 m), in the Făgăraș Mountains, joined to Viștea Mare by a narrow ridge. It is climbed on long trails, from Valea Rea, the Sâmbăta Valley or the Viștea Valley.
- [Poiana Brașov](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/poiana-brasov) — Ski slopes · Brașov, BV · Free · 5½ – 6 hours
  Romania's best-known ski resort, above 1,000 m beneath Postăvaru: 12 slopes, among them Bradul, Lupului and Drumul Roșu, cable cars almost to the summit and summer trails.
- [Strâmbu-Băiuț Ancient Forests](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/strambu-baiut-ancient-forests) — National parks and reserves · Băiuț, MM · 3½ – 4 hours · UNESCO World Heritage
  A primeval beech and beech-fir forest in Băiuț commune, Maramureș, part since 2017 of the UNESCO site of the ancient and primeval beech forests of Europe.
- [Păltiniș](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/paltinis) — Ski slopes · Păltiniș, SB · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  Considered Romania's oldest mountain resort, from 1894, in the Cindrel Mountains: a chairlift towards Oncești Peak, the Oncești and Dăneasa slopes, Arena Platoș and Noica's grave.
- [Caraiman Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/caraiman-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Bușteni, PH · 10 lei · 2½ – 3 hours
  A waterfall on the rock step at the head of the Jepi valley, below the Caraiman chalet in the Bucegi; it only flows in full in late spring and early summer, hence its nickname of the ‘ghost waterfall’.
- [Domogled–Valea Cernei National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/domogled-valea-cernei-national-park) — National parks and reserves · Băile Herculane, CS · 2 euro + TVA · 5 – 5½ hours · UNESCO World Heritage
  A national park of over 61,000 ha in the Cerna Valley above Băile Herculane: limestone cliffs with Banat black pine, gorges and ancient beech forests on the UNESCO list since 2017.
- [Padiș Plateau](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/padis-plateau) — National parks and reserves · Pietroasa, BH · Free · 7½ – 8 hours
  A karst plateau at around 1,200 m in the heart of Apuseni Natural Park, with meadows, sinkholes and spruce forest. Marked trails lead from Cabana Padiș to Cetățile Ponorului, the Galbena Gorge and Groapa de la Barsa.
- [Rimetea and Piatra Secuiului](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/rimetea-and-piatra-secuiului) — Villages and traditions · Rimetea, AB · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  The village of white houses in the Trascău Mountains, winner of a Europa Nostra award in 1999, at the foot of the Piatra Secuiului limestone massif (1,129 m), behind which the sun rises twice in summer.
- [Rodna Mountains National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/rodna-mountains-national-park) — National parks and reserves · Borșa, MM · 5 lei · 7½ – 8 hours
  The highest range in the Eastern Carpathians, with Pietrosul Rodnei Peak (2,303 m), glacial cirques and Iezer Lake; a national park and biosphere reserve, most often climbed from Borșa.
- [Capra Lake](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/capra-lake) — Lakes · Argeș County · Free · 2½ – 3 hours
  A glacial lake at 2,230 m on the southern side of the Făgăraș Mountains, just below the ridge; about an hour's walk from Bâlea Lake, over the Capra saddle.
- [Mount Tâmpa](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/mount-tampa) — Mountains and trails · Brașov, BV · 45 lei · 1½ – 2 hours
  The wooded 960 m mountain that rises straight out of central Brașov: the “BRAȘOV” letters, views over the old town, a nature reserve, marked trails and a cable car from its foot.
- [Bohodei Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/bohodei-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Pietroasa, BH · Free · 6 – 6½ hours
  A waterfall of about 80 m on the Bohodei stream, below the peak of the same name, regarded as the tallest in the Apuseni Mountains; reached on a demanding loop from Pietroasa with chain-equipped rock sections.
- [Pietrosul Rodnei Peak](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pietrosul-rodnei-peak) — Mountains and trails · Borșa, MM · 5 lei · 7½ – 8 hours
  The highest peak in the Eastern Carpathians (2,303 m), above Borșa in the Rodna Mountains. It is climbed in 4–4.5 hours on the blue-stripe trail, past the weather station and Lake Iezer, shaped like a map of Romania.
- [Solomon's Rocks](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/solomon-s-rocks) — Parks and gardens · Brașov, BV · Free · 1 – 1½ hours
  A group of limestone crags at the end of the Șchei district of Brașov, on the Valea cu Apă valley, with a picnic area, small cascades and a forest road towards Poiana Brașov.
- [Stâna de Vale](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/stana-de-vale) — Ski slopes · Budureasa, BH · Free · 3½ – 4 hours
  A mountain resort at ~1,100 m in a spruce-ringed clearing in the Apuseni: the Izvorul Minunilor spring, marked trails to the Iad Valley waterfalls and to Bihor Peak, and plenty of snow in winter.
- [Duruitoarea Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/duruitoarea-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Durău, NT · 10 lei · 3½ – 4 hours
  A 25 m, two-tier waterfall on the Rupturi stream, in the forests below Toaca peak in Ceahlău National Park; reached on foot from the Durău resort in about two hours.
- [Măcin Mountains National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/macin-mountains-national-park) — National parks and reserves · Greci, TL · 10 lei · 3½ – 4 hours
  Romania's oldest mountains, Hercynian granite worn down to 467 m, with rocky ridges, steppe and Balkan woodland, land tortoises and hundreds of migrating birds of prey.
- [Moara Dracului Waterfall](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/moara-dracului-waterfall) — Waterfalls · Budureasa, BH · Free · 5½ – 6 hours
  A 20–25 m, two-tier waterfall hidden in a narrow valley of giant boulders and spruce on the western slope of the Vlădeasa massif; reached on foot from Stâna de Vale along a marked trail of about 8 km.
- [Rânca](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/ranca) — Ski slopes · Novaci, GJ · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A mountain resort at 1,600 m, at the foot of Păpușa Peak in the Parâng Mountains, on the Transalpina: a ski area with chairlifts and drag lifts, alpine pasture scenery and a starting point for the Parâng ridge.
- [Arieșeni](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/arieseni) — Ski slopes · Arieșeni, AB · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A tourist resort in the Apuseni Mountains, at the source of the Arieș: the Vârtop I and Vârtop II slopes, with drag lifts and floodlit skiing, below the Vârtop Pass, plus trails to Piatra Grăitoare and Bihor Peak.
- [Borșa Resort](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/borsa-resort) — Ski slopes · Borșa, MM · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  The tourist complex at Băile Borșa, in the Rodna Mountains: a FIS-homologated Olympic slope, a gondola up to 1,633 m, floodlit night skiing and, nearby, the slope at the Prislop Pass.
- [Bucin Pass Ski Slopes](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/bucin-pass-ski-slopes) — Ski slopes · Joseni, HR · 110 lei · 4½ – 5 hours
  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.
- [Bușteni](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/busteni) — Ski slopes · Bușteni, PH · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A resort town in the Prahova Valley at the foot of the Bucegi escarpment: the Kalinderu ski slope in winter, with a chairlift, a beginners' area and sledging, and trails to Caraiman, Babele and the Urlătoarea Waterfall in summer.
- [Cozia National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/cozia-national-park) — National parks and reserves · Călimănești, VL · 10 lei · 7½ – 8 hours · UNESCO World Heritage
  Steep gneiss mountains above the Olt Gorge, with Cozia Peak at 1,668 m, a chalet on the ridge and ancient beech forests on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- [Durău](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/durau) — Ski slopes · Durău, NT · Free · 2½ – 3 hours
  A mountain resort at ~800 m on the north-western slope of Ceahlău: the starting point for Dochia Chalet, a monastery painted by Tonitza and a ski and sledding run at the foot of the mountain.
- [Groșii Țibleșului Ancient Beech Forests](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/grosii-tiblesului-ancient-beech-forests) — National parks and reserves · Groșii Țibleșului, MM · 7½ – 8 hours · UNESCO World Heritage
  Two tracts of primeval beech forest on the slopes of the Țibleș Mountains, Izvorul Șurii and Preluci, on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2017, with trees two to three centuries old and bears, wolves and lynx.
- [Harghita Mădăraș Ski Area](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/harghita-madaras-ski-area) — Ski slopes · Căpâlnița, HR · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A ski area below Harghita Mădăraș, the highest peak of the Harghita Mountains: 4.5 km of runs through spruce forest, evening skiing and, in summer, hikes to the summit and a via ferrata.
- [Izvoare Mountain Resort](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/izvoare-mountain-resort) — Ski slopes · Desești, MM · Free · 3½ – 4 hours
  A small mountain resort in the Igniș Mountains, at about 900 m, close to Baia Mare: short slopes with a chairlift and a drag lift, an artificial slope used all year, tubing and outdoor activities.
- [Luna Șes](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/luna-ses) — Ski slopes · Negrești-Oaș, SM · Free · 3½ – 4 hours
  The tourist area of the town of Negrești-Oaș, at the foot of Pietroasa Peak: the only ski slope in Satu Mare county, of intermediate difficulty, with a chairlift and floodlit skiing, plus waymarked trails to the Oaș Sphinx.
- [Mount Cozla and the Gondola](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/mount-cozla-and-the-gondola) — Mountains and trails · Piatra Neamț, NT · 60 lei · 1½ – 2 hours
  Cozla Hill above the town of Piatra Neamț, 8 minutes from the centre by gondola: a panoramic terrace towards Lake Bâtca Doamnei and Ceahlău, forest and footpaths. The ski slope here no longer operates.
- [Muntele Băișorii](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/muntele-baisorii) — Ski slopes · Băișoara, CJ · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A mountain resort in the Gilău Mountains, about 55 km from Cluj-Napoca: in winter, the slopes of Buscat Ski Resort, with a chairlift, sledging and tubing; in summer, waymarked trails to Scărița-Belioara and Muntele Mare.
- [Muntele Mic](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/muntele-mic) — Ski slopes · Turnu Ruieni, CS · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A mountain resort at about 1,600 m above Caransebeș: slopes such as Vâlsanu, Felix and Borlova, two chairlifts, night skiing at weekends and summer hikes to Țarcu.
- [Omu Peak](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/omu-peak) — Mountains and trails · Bușteni, PH · 10 lei · 7½ – 8 hours
  The highest point in the Bucegi Mountains (2,507 m), a stony plateau with the Omu Chalet and a weather station. It is climbed from Bușteni, Peștera or Padina on marked trails of 2–7 hours.
- [Parâng Ski Resort](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/parang-ski-resort) — Ski slopes · Petroșani, HD · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  Petroșani's ski area in the Parâng Mountains: two chairlifts climb from the edge of town to the chalets below Parângul Mic, with slopes for beginners and for advanced skiers.
- [Piatra Craiului National Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/piatra-craiului-national-park) — National parks and reserves · Zărnești, BV · 10 lei · 4½ – 5 hours
  Romania's longest and highest limestone ridge, 25 km long, with La Om Peak at 2,238 m, the Zărnești Gorge, Curmătura Chalet and trails for every level.
- [Pietrele Doamnei](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/pietrele-doamnei) — Mountains and trails · Câmpulung Moldovenesc, SV · 1 – 1½ hours
  Limestone towers set with corals and ammonites, from under 10 m to over 70 m high, on the northern slope of the Rarău Massif. A short marked circuit leads to them from the Alpin Hotel.
- [Rarău Ski Slope](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/rarau-ski-slope) — Ski slopes · Câmpulung Moldovenesc, SV · Free · 3½ – 4 hours
  A ski slope on the northern flank of Mount Rarău, right on the edge of Câmpulung Moldovenesc: a long run through the forest, served by a gondola, with floodlights and snowmaking.
- [Râușor Ski Area](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/rausor-ski-area) — Ski slopes · Râu de Mori, HD · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A ski area at the foot of the Retezat Mountains, at about 1,200 m: a chairlift and two drag lifts, three runs of different difficulty, night skiing and, in summer, a mountain cart.
- [Semenic Resort](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/semenic-resort) — Ski slopes · Văliug, CS · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A mountain resort at about 1,400 m on the plateau of the Semenic Mountains, beneath Piatra Goznei Peak: slopes with drag lifts in winter, hiking in the Semenic – Caraș Gorge National Park in summer.
- [Straja](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/straja) — Ski slopes · Lupeni, HD · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A mountain resort at 1,445 m in the Vâlcan Mountains, above Lupeni: floodlit slopes, the 8.1 km Straja slope, a gondola from the town and summer trails to Mutu and Straja.
- [Șuior](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/suior) — Ski slopes · Baia Sprie, MM · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A mountain resort in the Gutâi Mountains near Baia Sprie and Lake Mogoșa, 18 km from Baia Mare: forest slopes between 668 and 1,000 m, a chairlift, floodlit skiing and a summer bike park.
- [Șureanu Ski Area](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/sureanu-ski-area) — Ski slopes · Șugag, AB · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A ski area in the open alpine zone of the Șureanu Mountains, below the Șureanu and Aușel peaks: ten slopes across the alpine plateau and through the forest, one chairlift, two drag lifts and views of the Parâng and Retezat.
- [Transalpina Ski Resort](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/transalpina-ski-resort) — Ski slopes · Voineasa, VL · Free · 4½ – 5 hours
  A ski area by Lake Vidra, in Voineasa commune: a gondola through spruce forest from 1,350 to 1,800 m, slopes on the open alpine ground up to Bora Peak at 2,000 m, and gondola rides in summer.
- [Vânători-Neamț Natural Park](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/vanatori-neamt-natural-park) — National parks and reserves · Vânători-Neamț, NT · 10 lei · 3½ – 4 hours
  Nearly 31,000 hectares of forest in northern Neamț, where European bison roam free again, with woodland trails between monasteries, sessile oak and oak reserves and an interactive visitor centre.
- [Vulcan Pass](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/vulcan-pass) — Ski slopes · Vulcan, HD · Free · 3½ – 4 hours
  A small mountain resort above the town of Vulcan, in the Jiu Valley: a gondola from the town, short easy slopes with drag lifts, sledging on the road closed in winter and, in summer, the climb to the 1,621 m pass.

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Full page: https://peplaiuri.ro/en/mountains-and-trails
Other languages: Română: https://peplaiuri.ro/munti-si-trasee.md · Deutsch: https://peplaiuri.ro/de/berge-und-wanderwege.md · Italiano: https://peplaiuri.ro/it/montagne-e-sentieri.md · Français: https://peplaiuri.ro/fr/montagnes-et-sentiers.md · Español: https://peplaiuri.ro/es/montanas-y-rutas.md · Magyar: https://peplaiuri.ro/hu/hegyek-es-turautvonalak.md
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania