Hiking in the Bucegi Mountains Romania

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for this trip myself. All recommendations are my own.

We visited the Bucegi Mountains as part of our self-drive holiday in Romania. These mountains are in the southern part of Romania’s famous Carpathian Mountains known as the “Pearl of the Carpathians”. We collected a hire car in Brașov and set out to the town of Sinaia, a popular place with tourists because of its proximity to the Bucegi Mountains as well as the stunning Peleș Castle and Pelişor Castle which you can read about here. The mountains offers skiing in winter and scenic hiking in the summer months.

We spent our first afternoon in Sinaia visiting the two castles. The following day we got up early and headed to the village of Buşteni to get the cable car into the Bucegi Mountains. There are several ways you can get up into the Bucegi Mountains. Firstly there is the Buşteni cable car which takes you up to Babele Chalet. It is old and doesn’t carry many people at a time so the queues can get ridiculously long in summer. To beat the crowds we got up early and managed to get the first cable car of the day before the queues got too long. Around the Buşteni cable car there are some restaurants and shops selling souvenirs. Parking is available beside the cable car which is very cheap at 10 lei for the day. A parking attendant comes and collects the money and gives you a ticket.

Another option is taking the cable car in Sinaia which goes 2000m up into the mountains. Because it’s a modern one, it can carry much more people than the one at Buşteni so the lines there are usually much shorter. And finally, you can drive up the paved road DJ714 from Sinaia. It takes about 45 minutes and there is parking at the the end of the road. There is also accommodation here which have restaurants. It’s a short walk to the Telecabina Pestera lift which takes you up the (other side of the) mountain to Babele Chalet.

We purchased a return ticket up to Babele Chalet which is at the top of the plateau. Some food and drink can be purchased up there, but I recommend taking a picnic and enjoying a walk on one of the many trails. This area is where the famous rock formations called ‘Babe’ are located. They are large mushroom shaped rock formations that have been formed by many years of erosion. We spent time walking around and taking photos of these awe inspiring rocks.

The views from the plateau were magnificent, but the clouds were moving in fast so we headed out on a hike trail that leads from this area and up and over the mountain and down into the meadow valleys on the other side. We were surprised that we were the only ones on this trail as the rock formation area was quite busy, but it appears that most visitors take the lift up to see the rocks then head straight back down again.

As the clouds rolled in, we felt like we were being swallowed up into another world. Despite it being summer, it was quite cool in the mountains so we were glad that we had our jackets and some warmer layers with us. It was extremely peaceful and picturesque in these mountains. Eventually as we passed over the mountains we began walking down into a valley with huge rocks. Although we had missed the wildflower season, in the valley there were still plenty of pretty flowers in bloom to enjoy.

As we walked down into the valley it was filled with the sound of chiming bells. The local farmers graze their cattle in these mountain meadows and put bells around their necks. It created a really authentic Romanian mountainside experience. There were lots of cute calves about as well. We spent some time walking around the meadow before heading down to the Telecabina Pestera lift. This lift is quite old and there was a bit of a line so we had to wait a while to get on it. It took us over to the Buşteni cable car which had an even longer line as by now it was quite busy with tourists, so be prepared to wait. However, it was all worth it as we had a brilliant day hiking and I would love to have had another day or two to explore some more paths.

Cow Bells in the Meadows of Bucegi Mountains, Southern Carpathians, Transylvania, Romania

What to Wear and Pack for Hiking in the Bucegi Mountains

The weather in the Bucegi Mountains can be very changeable, so always check the weather forecast before heading out. Although it was August when we visited, which is usually the hottest time of the year, it was very cloudy and it got quite cold up in the mountains. So be prepared for changeable weather.

Here are some tips on what to wear and pack for a day hiking in the Bucegi Mountains:

• Take plenty of water with you, the mountain climbs are tough and if it is hot, you will get super sweaty. About 1.5 litres each should do.
• When the sun is out it can be very harsh, so be sun smart. Slather yourself in sunscreen, wear a sunhat and sunglasses.
• Wear some sturdy, comfortable hiking shoes with good grip. We hiked in our hiking shoes which was fine, but if the weather was worse you would want to wear hiking boots.
• Wear layers so that if you get hot walking up the mountain side you more easily adjust your layers but still stay warm. However, in the cooler months you will need more serious cold weather thermals and warm hiking trousers.
• If you are hiking in summer, then this lightweight packable pocket jacket are great for rolling up small but still keeping you warm and dry.
• Take a day bag to comfortably carry your items. I love this Travelon day bag because it can be used as a day hiking bag but is also stylish enough to be used for your city visits. It also has anti-theft features. However, if you are going to do more serious hiking, then this Berghaus day pack would be more suitable.
• Pocket tissues – you might need them as toilet paper.
• Camera
• Water bottle – I love this stainless steel drink bottle as I am trying to cut down on my use of plastics. This bottle is leak proof and insulated so keeps hot water hot and cold water cold.
• Snacks and a picnic lunch.

Accommodation Options in Sinaia

Sinaia is a great place to base yourself for exploring the Bucegi Mountains. Search available accommodation in Sinaia

Budget

• Vila Floare de Colt
• Casa Adina
• Vila Ana-Maria

Moderate

• Regal 1880
• Complex La Tunuri – Vila Economat
• Opus Villa 

Luxury

• Casa Cu Farfurii
• Hotel Boutique Belvedere
• Oblique – Forest & Spa

Practical Tips for Visiting the Bucegi Mountains

• How to get to the Bucegi Mountains: 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 get up to the mountains using the Sinaia cable car. From Bucharest, you can also take a day tour to the Bucegi Mountains, and if you enjoy hiking, a 2-Day Hiking tour.
• 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 the Bucegi Mountains for? We could only schedule one day of hiking, but depending on your passion for hiking, you could easily spend a couple of days hiking the different trails.
• 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.