The best ski slopes in Romania: a winter guide

Romania doesn't have the huge ski areas of the Alps, but it has a few very good resorts for a weekend or a week of skiing, many of them two or three hours from Bucharest. We have gathered the best ski areas in the country, from the big ones, with gondolas and dozens of kilometres of slopes, to small resorts that suit children and beginners. For each one you will find who it suits and the approximate driving distance from Dracula Land, in Gherghita, Prahova County.

The number of kilometres and slopes varies between sources and changes from season to season as new lifts are built. The season usually starts between late November and mid-December, depending on the snow. Check each resort's website for open slopes, lift hours and ski-pass prices before you go.

In short: the ski areas on the list

1. Sinaia, Prahova: about 98 km from Gherghita
2. Poiana Brasov, Brasov: about 147 km
3. Straja, Hunedoara: about 392 km
4. Predeal, Brasov: about 118 km
5. Azuga, Prahova: about 113 km
6. Busteni, Prahova: about 106 km
7. Transalpina Ski Resort, Valcea: about 294 km
8. Sureanu, Alba: about 380 km
9. Paltinis and Arena Platos, Sibiu: about 341 km
10. Cavnic, Maramures: about 551 km
11. Suior, Maramures: about 558 km
12. Ranca, Gorj: about 322 km

1. Sinaia

Sinaia has the highest ski area in the Prahova Valley and one of the largest in the country, with more than 20 kilometres of slopes according to most sources. The slopes climb to about 2,000 metres, around Cota 2000, with a superb view of the Bucegi Mountains. Because it is high, the snow holds better than in other resorts and the season often starts earlier.

The area has a bit of everything: long, difficult runs in the Carp valley and on Laptici, intermediate slopes and beginner areas, linked by the gondola and the cable car from Cota 1400. It is the closest resort to Gherghita and combines easily with a visit to Peles Castle.

Suits: intermediate and advanced skiers, and beginners on the easy slopes.
From Gherghita: about 98 km, roughly an hour and a half to two hours without traffic.

2. Poiana Brasov

Poiana Brasov is the best-known ski resort in Romania, with large hotels, restaurants, ski schools and a network of cable cars and gondolas. The longest runs are Drumul Rosu and Sulinar, a few kilometres each, suited to intermediate and advanced skiers, and at the bottom there are gentle slopes for beginners. The resort has snowmaking on the main slopes and is linked to Brasov by bus.

Suits: all levels, families and those who also want resort life.
From Gherghita: about 147 km, roughly two and a half to three hours.

3. Straja

Straja, above the town of Lupeni in the Jiu Valley, is one of the largest ski areas in the country, with about 26 kilometres of slopes and the longest slope in Romania, about 8 kilometres long. It has a gondola, chairlifts and drag lifts, floodlit slopes and snowmaking, and prices are generally lower than in the Prahova Valley.

Suits: those who want long, varied slopes for a few days.
From Gherghita: about 392 km, roughly six and a half to seven hours; only worth it for a longer stay.

4. Predeal

Predeal, the highest town in Romania, has the slopes on Clabucet, with night skiing, a chairlift and drag lifts. The area isn't very large, but it is very easy to reach from Bucharest, has good slopes for beginners and intermediates and you can also ski in the evening.

Suits: beginners and intermediates, short weekends, night skiing.
From Gherghita: about 118 km, roughly two hours.

5. Azuga

Azuga is one of the oldest ski resorts in the country. It has a few medium-length slopes, including Sorica and Cazacu, each more than two kilometres long, and is usually quieter than Sinaia or Poiana Brasov.

Suits: intermediates, families, those who want fewer crowds.
From Gherghita: about 113 km, roughly two hours.

6. Busteni

In Busteni, the Kalinderu slope is a medium-length run with night skiing and snowmaking, right in town, under the cliffs of the Bucegi. It isn't a big area, but it is ideal for a few hours of skiing, especially in the evening, and for those already staying in the Prahova Valley.

Suits: beginners and intermediates, night skiing.
From Gherghita: about 106 km, roughly an hour and a half to two hours.

7. Transalpina Ski Resort

One of the newest ski areas in the country, Transalpina Ski Resort, in the Voineasa area of Valcea County, has a few slopes, around 6 kilometres, served by gondolas and a chairlift, at high altitude. The resort has recently invested in snowmaking and slope grooming machines and has an apres-ski area.

Suits: those who want a modern, less crowded area.
From Gherghita: about 294 km, roughly five hours.

8. Sureanu

In the Sureanu Mountains, Alba County, Sureanu has about 11 slopes over roughly 14 kilometres, with three cable lifts, a hotel at the foot of the slopes, a ski school and equipment rental. It is a good area for a stay of a few days, away from the Prahova Valley crowds.

Suits: all levels, stays of a few days.
From Gherghita: about 380 km, roughly six and a half hours.

9. Paltinis and Arena Platos

Paltinis, near Sibiu, is the oldest mountain resort in Romania, with gentle slopes suited to families and beginners. Nearby, Arena Platos has floodlit slopes, snowmaking and fun-park areas for snowboarders.

Suits: beginners, children, families.
From Gherghita: about 341 km, roughly five and a half to six hours; combine it with a visit to Sibiu.

10. Cavnic

In Maramures, Cavnic has a few varied slopes for beginners and intermediates, at lower prices than the big resorts. It is one of the resorts with the longest tradition in the north of the country.

Suits: families, beginners, smaller budgets.
From Gherghita: about 551 km, roughly nine to ten hours; a choice for a holiday in Maramures.

11. Suior

Also near Baia Mare, Suior has slopes of varied difficulty, a floodlit run and a tubing track for children. It combines well with nearby Cavnic.

Suits: families with children, beginners and intermediates.
From Gherghita: about 558 km, roughly nine to ten hours.

12. Ranca

On the Transalpina, the Ranca resort has a few short slopes above 1,600 metres, with a floodlit run and a spectacular view of the Parang Mountains. For the road, read our Transalpina guide.

Suits: beginners and those who want a quiet resort.
From Gherghita: about 322 km, roughly five and a half hours.

How to choose a resort

• For a weekend from Bucharest: Sinaia, Predeal, Azuga or Busteni, less than two hours from Gherghita.
• For long, varied slopes: Sinaia, Poiana Brasov or Straja.
• For beginners and children: Predeal, Paltinis, Arena Platos or Suior.
• For fewer crowds: Transalpina Ski Resort, Sureanu or Azuga.

Practical tips

• Leave early. The Prahova Valley is very busy on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons; leave Bucharest early in the morning.
• Buy your ski pass online where you can: you avoid the queues at the ticket offices.
• Winter gear for the car. Winter tyres are compulsory on snow and, on mountain roads, keep snow chains in the boot.
• Wind stops the lifts. In strong wind the upper gondolas and chairlifts may stop; check their status in the morning.
• Ski safely. Wear a helmet, stay on marked slopes and don't go off-piste without a guide; there is avalanche risk away from the slopes.

Where to stay

For the resorts in the Prahova Valley and around Brasov, you can also stay outside them, for less: Gherghita is next to the A3 motorway, under two hours from Sinaia, Busteni, Azuga and Predeal. Choose accommodation near Dracula Land and head for the slopes in the morning, coming back to a warm place in the evening. For more winter ideas, see also Balea Lake, where in winter you go up by cable car.