This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. These commissions help keep this website up and running, and I thank you for your support. Read my full disclosure here.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for this trip myself. All recommendations are my own.
We visited Sinaia as part of our self-drive holiday in Romania. We collected a hire car in Brașov and set out to Sinaia, a popular place with tourists because of its proximity to the Bucegi Mountains as well as the stunning Peleș Castle and Pelişor Castle. Traffic can get very busy as you near the town, but while you’re waiting in traffic you can stop off at the many local roadside stalls to buy yourself some souvenirs or some delicious wild berries sold in little hand woven baskets by the locals.
Sinaia was where we first encountered Romania’s serious stray dog problem. It was heart breaking to see throughout our trip how widespread this problem has become. It seemed like on every corner there were puppies and dogs begging and searching for food. A Romanian friend who works in the environmental sector told me that this has also become a problem for Romania’s wildlife population as they form packs and hunt.
Peleș Castle
Visiting Peleș Castle in Sinaia was a real highlight of our trip. The Neo-Renaissance castle is just like one I imagined as a child reading fairy tales. The beautiful Bucegi Mountains create a picturesque setting which will have you grabbing for your camera. We parked in the town area and walked up the sweeping cobblestone road Aleea Peleșului which was lined with locals selling souvenirs and cooked corn cobs.
As we arrived late in August, most of the tourist rush had gone and we only had to wait about 15 minutes to buy a ticket and join an English tour. The ticketing is a little confusing. There is the ‘basic exhibition’ ticket which takes you on a tour of the ground floor, then there is a more expensive tour called the ‘optional tour’ which includes a tour of the first floor where you get to see the bedrooms for the royal guests. I definitely recommend paying for the more expensive ticket that gets you in to see all of the areas in the castle that are open to the public. Some people complain about the price of the entry, but it seemed reasonable to me considering a holiday in Romania is generally very cheap and the castle must cost a lot to upkeep. The prices in the UK to visit historic houses are much higher.
Be aware that you have to pay extra for permission to take photos inside the castle – and they do police this quite strictly. It’s annoying, I know. But this is quite common in many parts of Europe. Although I paid to take photos, they can only be for personal use and you can’t publish them online or even use them on social media platforms! Outside the castle you are free to explore the grounds and there is a garden to explore.
Peleș is one of the best preserved castles that I have ever visited and it still has its original extravagant furnishings. It was built for King Carol I who fell in love with this beautiful area during a visit. He purchased the land and construction began in 1873 and it was opened in 1883. Despite its age, it has all of the modern conveniences that you would expect in a modern home today, including central heating, electricity, plumbing and even a ducted vacuum cleaner system. I loved that this castle has many secret passageways, which really adds to its wonder. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the castle and really set the atmosphere with interesting stories about the castle’s history and royal families.
King Carol I and his wife, Princess Elisabeth of Wied, had one child who sadly died at aged 3. As there was no male heir, the throne was handed over to his older brother, Leopold. But Leopold renounced his right of succession in favour of his son William, who in turn surrendered his claim six years later in favour of his younger brother, the future king Ferdinand.
Pelişor Castle
Beside Peleș is the smaller Pelişor Castle. King Carol I built it as the residence for his nephew and heir the future King Ferdinand his wife, the much loved Queen Marie. Many people skip this castle and only visit Peleș Castle, but I think that’s a real shame. Although Pelişor Castle is not as large and elaborate as Peleș, it definitely has its own special features. Once you see the gold room, you will know what I mean.
You can wander around this castle without joining a tour, but I would definitely recommend joining one as the tour provides much more information about the castle’s history and the royal family. Ferdinand and Marie had six children, but one died in infancy. Apparently they didn’t really get on with each other and Marie had a lover – Barbu Știrbey, who is believed to be the father of the two youngest children. I enjoyed hearing stories about the quarrelling and difficult sons, Prince Carol II, who was known for his romantic affairs that ended his marriage, and Prince Nicolae who caused family embarrassment by marrying a divorced woman which was considered shocking at that time.
After visiting both castles, we spent time exploring the grounds. There is a lovely archway through a large building with a gift store, restaurant and bar inside of it.
Accommodation Options in Sinaia
Search available accommodation in Sinaia
Budget
Moderate
Luxury
Practical Tips for Visiting Sinaia
- How to get to Sinaia: We drove, but the town of Sinaia has the main train line running through it, so you can get to Sinaia by train and then walk up to the castles. There are also lots of day tours that include a visit to Sinaia from Bucharest.
- Tourist Information Centre: There is a visitor information centre in the town of Sinaia Bulevardul Carol I 47, Sinaia 106100, Romania.
- How long should I visit Sinaia for? You can easily visit the castles on a day trip, however, if you want to include a visit to the Bucegi Mountains as we did, then stay a couple of nights.
- Language: Romanian. Although most people we came across spoke English in the tourist areas. However, do try your hand at a few Romanian words:
- Yes = Da (da)
- No = Nu (noo)
- Please = Vă rog (vuh ROHG)
- Thank you = Mulţumesc (Mool-tsoo-mesk)
- Hello = Bună ziua (Boo-nuh zee-wa)
- Currency: Leu, plural lei (pronounced lay), which is abbreviated as RON
- Tipping: Not required, but people usually round up.
- Electricity: The electrical current is 230 volts AC. Wall outlets generally take the European two round prong plugs. However, you are better off purchasing a worldwide adaptor that can be used in Romania as well other countries. At least then you can potentially get some further use out of it on future vacations. If you’re taking a number of electronics with you, then I would recommend purchasing a couple of these adaptors.
- Navigating: Use Google’s free Offline Maps which allows you to access free maps for navigating that can be used offline i.e. you don’t need WIFI, data, or roaming to be able to use them. Follow this detailed guide on how to use Googles Offline Maps. Even if you have a data plan in Romania, don’t rely it in case you have trouble accessing the mobile networks.
- Using your phone as a GPS will drain your battery quickly, so use a portable battery charger which you can use to charge your phone and any other USB chargeable devices.
- If you prefer a paper map, then purchase a Romanian road map before you go. At least it’s reliable and won’t run out of battery or malfunction like the electronic options!
- Read more Essential Travel Tips and Information for Transylvania.
Leave a Reply