Balea Lake: the glacial lake in the Fagaras Mountains

Balea Lake (Balea Lac) is the best-known glacial lake in Romania and one of the most beautiful places in the Carpathians. It lies in the Fagaras Mountains, at about 2,034 metres, in a hollow carved by glaciers and surrounded by rocky ridges. You reach it on the Transfagarasan in summer, or by cable car all year round.

Below you will find how to get there, what to do up there, what to expect from the weather and how to get there from Dracula Land, in Gherghita, Prahova County.

In short

• Altitude: about 2,034 m, in the Fagaras Mountains, Sibiu County.
• Lake area: around 4.6 hectares; it has been a scientific reserve since 1932.
• Access: by car on the Transfagarasan, when the road is open, or by cable car from Balea Cascada.
• From Gherghita: about 279 km via the southern slope of the Transfagarasan, roughly five hours.
• Bring: a jacket, hiking shoes and something for the rain, in any season.

How the lake formed

Balea Lake is a glacial lake: it formed in the basin left by a glacier that came down from the Fagaras ridge during the last ice age. When the glacier retreated, water gathered in the hollow carved into the rock. The lake and its surroundings have been a scientific reserve since 1932, so swimming and boating are not allowed.

How to get there

By car, on the Transfagarasan

In summer, when the Transfagarasan is open, you can drive right up to the lake, either from the south, through Curtea de Arges and Vidraru, or from the north, from Cartisoara, up the bends at Balea Cascada. There are car parks around the lake, but they fill up quickly on summer weekends. For the road, what you see along the way and when it opens, read our Transfagarasan guide.

By cable car, all year round

When the road is closed, the only way up to the lake is the cable car from Balea Cascada, on the northern slope, at the end of the stretch of the Transfagarasan that stays open in winter. The ride takes a few minutes and gives you a lovely view over the valley. The cable car usually runs during the day, with a minimum number of passengers; a return ticket cost around 160 lei in 2026, but prices and hours can change, so check before you go.

What to do at Balea Lake

• A walk around the lake, about half an hour, most beautiful early in the morning.
• The trail to Capra Lake, over the Capra saddle: about an hour each way, with views over both sides of the Fagaras.
• Ridge trails towards the surrounding peaks, for experienced, well-equipped hikers; Negoiu, the second-highest peak in the country, is a long full-day trek.
• The Balea Waterfall, lower down at Balea Cascada: a stepped waterfall about 60 metres high, reached by an easy path from the chalet.
• Sunset photos, when the shadows of the ridges fall across the lake.

The weather above 2,000 metres

It is cold at Balea Lake almost all year. Even in July and August the temperature can drop close to zero at night, and fog and rain come in within minutes. Snow lingers on the slopes until late spring, and in some winters it is more than two metres deep. Outside the summer season there is avalanche risk: follow the Salvamont mountain rescue bulletins and don't set off on trails without proper equipment.

Winter at Balea Lake

In winter, Balea Lake becomes a fairy-tale place, completely covered in snow. You can only go up by cable car, and in some winters an ice hotel has been built here, made each year from blocks of ice cut from the lake. Check beforehand whether it is open that winter, as it depends on the weather and the operator.

Where to eat and sleep

There are a few chalets with restaurants and rooms by the lake, and terraces serving traditional food on the shore. In summer, especially at weekends, book ahead. If you want to camp in the mountains, choose only permitted places; see the top 20 camping spots in Romania.

Bears in the area

Bears are common on the southern slope of the Transfagarasan and can also turn up around the chalets. Don't leave food or rubbish in sight, don't feed them and don't go near them. More in the bears of Romania.

How to get there from Dracula Land

From Gherghita, head for Pitesti and Curtea de Arges, then climb the Transfagarasan, past Vidraru, to Balea Lake: about 279 km, roughly five hours. In winter, or when the road is closed, go round via Brasov or the Olt Valley to Cartisoara and take the cable car from Balea Cascada.

For an unhurried trip, split the journey in two: one day for the Transfagarasan and Balea Lake, with a night on the way, and one day back, with a stop in Curtea de Arges or Sibiu.

Where to stay

For the rest of your holiday, choose accommodation near Dracula Land, close to the A3 motorway and Bucharest, and take trips from there to the mountains, the castles and the Dealu Mare wine region.