Sinaia

The 'Pearl of the Carpathians' in the Prahova Valley, where Peleș Castle is fit for royalty; a cable car climbs to the Bucegi Plateau to see the Sphinx rock.

Sinaia lies in the Prahova Valley of Romania, at an elevation of about 800 m with the Bucegi Mountains behind it, and is known as the 'Pearl of the Carpathians.' In the late 19th century, King Carol I built his summer palace, Peleș Castle, here, which spurred the rise of aristocratic villas, a casino and hotels. The town still has a strong royal holiday atmosphere. There are two areas to explore. In town, Peleș Castle, Pelișor Castle, Sinaia Monastery, the casino and the Enescu Memorial Museum can all be linked on foot. On the mountain, take the Sinaia cable car to a platform at 2,000 m, or go north to Buşteni and take the cable car up to the Bucegi Plateau to see Babele and the Sphinx rock. You can also hike to the Caraiman Heroes' Cross and the Urlătoarea waterfall, and visit Cantacuzino Castle. Deep in the plateau is the Ialomicioara cave monastery.

Getting there: trains from Bucharest North Station take about 1.5–2 hours, and from Brașov about 1 hour. Trains and buses run frequently between the valley towns. Plan 2 days, as weekend traffic from Bucharest is very heavy. June–September is best for climbing the Bucegi Plateau and hiking. September–October brings autumn colors, and December–March is ski season in Sinaia. Peleș Castle is closed on Mondays and partly open on Tuesdays, and often closes in November for maintenance. Mountain weather is changeable, and cable cars stop in strong winds.

Top sights

• Peleș Castle – A neo-Renaissance royal summer palace in the Sinaia valley, whose interiors are considered among the most lavish of any castle in Europe.
• Bucegi Plateau: Babele & the Sphinx – Strange wind-sculpted rocks on the Bucegi Plateau at about 2,200 m, including the "Old Women" rock pillars and the human-faced Sphinx rock…
• Caraiman Peak & Heroes' Cross – A peak of 2,384 m in the Bucegi Mountains, topped by a steel Heroes' Cross about 36 m tall, one of the highest summit crosses in the world.
• Cantacuzino Castle – A New Romanian-style aristocratic castle in Bușteni that became a sensation after it served as the Nevermore Academy filming location in Ne…
• Sinaia Monastery – An Orthodox monastery completed in 1695 that gave the town of Sinaia its name, with painted churches and a tranquil courtyard just below Pe…
• Pelișor Castle – "Little Peleș" just beside Peleș Castle, a Art Nouveau residence built for Queen Marie, with a gilded chapel and golden bedroom as its high…
• Casino Sinaia & Central Park – A neoclassical casino completed in 1913 that now serves as a conference and cultural center, with Dimitrie Ghica Park in front forming the…
• Sinaia Cable Car & Cota 2000 – Two cable car sections take you from town to the 2,000 m Bucegi ridge, and in winter the area is the largest ski resort in the Prahova Vall…
• Urlătoarea Waterfall – The "Roaring Waterfall" at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains outside Bușteni, reached in about an hour on a forest trail, making it an easy…
• Ialomița Cave & Monastery – A large limestone cave deep in the Bucegi Plateau, with a wooden monastery built at its entrance and walkways extending about 400 m inside.
• George Enescu Memorial House (Vila Luminiș) – The mountain villa of George Enescu, Romania's national treasure of a composer, with a wooden house in folk style that preserves his piano…
• Rhein Cellars Azuga – A sparkling wine cellar founded in 1892 that once supplied the Romanian royal family, where you can tour underground cellars and taste trad…

Where to eat

• Cabana Schiori – A mountain lodge restaurant at 1,400 metres beside the road, with tiered terraces overlooking the mountains, live folk…
• Bruma Gastrobar – A small pub on Carol I Boulevard, Sinaia's main street. Its burgers, oversized fried schnitzel and cream of mushroom so…
• Carol Gastro Bierhaus – A beer hall at the entrance to Peleș Castle, serving German sausages and pork knuckle alongside Romanian home cooking…

Itineraries

• Romania Grand Circle Road Trip – Drive through the Southern Carpathians, Bucovina, Maramureș, and Transylvania to see all the major World Heritage Sites…
• Transylvania by Rail – Skip the driving and take the train from Bucharest via Sinaia, Brașov, and Sighișoara to Cluj-Napoca.
• Carpathian High Roads Road Trip – Drive the spectacular Transfăgărășan and Transalpina high mountain roads in summer, connecting historic castles and Sib…
• Bulgaria & Romania Highlights – From Sofia, cross the Danube via the Rose Valley and the old capital to Bucharest and Transylvania.