Busteni

Few towns in Romania have a view like Busteni. Set in the Prahova Valley at an altitude of about 850 metres, the town sits right at the foot of the Caraiman and Costila cliffs, two of the most impressive stone walls in the Carpathians. It is called "the Gateway to the Bucegi", because many of the trails and excursions into the heart of the massif start here. Busteni is about 106 kilometres from Gherghita.

A short history

The beginnings of Busteni are linked to Sinaia Monastery. In 1782 the ruler Mihai Sutu settled 24 families of the monastery's tax-exempt peasants in the area, in a small hamlet called Izvorul. Over time, Busteni, Poiana Tapului and Azuga grew out of that settlement.

Life here changed at the end of the 19th century with the Ploiesti – Brasov railway and industry. The paper mill in Busteni brought workers, new houses and an active economy. At the same time the aristocracy and artists discovered the beauty of the place: the royal family built a church here, and Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino built his castle on the hill above the town. Later, Busteni became one of the traditional centres of Romanian tourism and mountaineering.

What you can visit

• Cantacuzino Castle, with a spectacular view of the Bucegi; we have dedicated a separate page to it
• The Busteni – Babele cable car, which climbs to the Bucegi plateau, towards the Caraiman Cross and the Sphinx
• Urlatoarea Waterfall, at the end of an easy forest trail, suitable for families
• The Royal Church, built at the end of the 19th century with the support of the royal family
• The Cezar Petrescu Memorial House, where the writer lived, today a museum
• A walk through the town centre, with old villas and a constant view of the cliffs

When to go and how much time to allow

• Summer and early autumn are ideal for the cable car, the plateau and mountain trails.
• In autumn the forests on the slopes change colour and the town is quieter.
• In winter Busteni has ski slopes and a resort atmosphere, but the high trails become dangerous without equipment.

For the town, the castle and a waterfall, allow a full day. If you add the cable car and the plateau, leave very early or plan two days.

One-day itinerary

• 07:30 – leave Gherghita, via the A3 and DN1
• 09:15 – cable car up to Babele, before the big queues
• 10:00 – the Sphinx, Babele and a walk on the plateau
• 12:30 – back down and lunch in Busteni
• 14:00 – Cantacuzino Castle
• 16:00 – the trail to Urlatoarea Waterfall
• 18:00 – drive back to Gherghita

With children

Busteni suits families well. The cable car is almost always an adventure for children, the trail to Urlatoarea Waterfall is short and shaded, and the castle park has paths and small waterfalls. It can be cold on the plateau even in summer, so take warm clothes for the whole family and check the forecast.

How to get there from Dracula Land

The distance from Gherghita to Busteni is about 106 km, around an hour and a half without traffic:

• the DJ100B and the A3 to Ploiesti
• then the DN1 up the Prahova Valley, through Campina, Comarnic and Sinaia
• in Busteni, the cable car and the castle are signposted from the DN1

By train, Busteni has a station on the Ploiesti – Brasov line, with frequent connections.

Practical tips

• At weekends the DN1 gets very busy between Comarnic and Busteni; set off early.
• The cable car schedule depends on the weather and maintenance work; check it on the day you go.
• On mountain trails use only marked paths and tell someone where you are going. In an emergency call 112.

More ideas in the area

Busteni lies between Sinaia and Azuga, so you can easily link several stops in a single day: Peles in the morning, lunch in Busteni and the castle in the afternoon. Keen hikers can set out from here to Omu Peak via Valea Cerbului, or up Jepii Mici, one of the classic Bucegi trails, but only with experience and good weather.

Busteni, the capital of Romanian mountaineering

For Romanian climbers, Busteni has a special place. The walls of Costila and Caraiman, visible from the town, have been a school for generations of climbers over the decades, and the steep valleys between them, such as Valea Alba, are classic climbing routes in summer and winter. Even if you are not a climber, it is worth looking up at the walls from the town, especially at sunset, when the stone takes on warm tones.

For ordinary hikers there are many easier options: marked trails to waterfalls, to forest clearings or across the plateau after the cable car ride. The most important thing is to choose a trail that matches your experience and not to set off in bad weather. Information about trail conditions and avalanche warnings is published by Salvamont and the weather services.

What to taste in Busteni

The town's restaurants and guesthouses serve mountain dishes: sour soups, trout, polenta with cheese and sour cream, stews and pies. After a day on the plateau, a hot meal with a view of Caraiman is one of the most pleasant parts of the trip.

Where to stay

After a day in the mountains, rest in quiet accommodation near Dracula Land, in and around Gherghita, away from the crowds of the Prahova Valley.