Hiking in the Carpathians

The Romanian Carpathians offer alpine hiking at its finest — without the crowds of the Alps. The trails are well-marked (Romanian Alpine Club), the mountain huts (cabane) are rustic and affordable, and the wilderness is real: Here live 6,000 brown bears, 3,000 wolves, and 2,000 lynxes — the largest populations in Europe.

The Best Hiking Areas

• Piatra Craiului (King's Stone) — The narrowest and most dramatic mountain ridge in the Carpathians: a 25 km long limestone ridge where you hike between two chasms. Challenging but unforgettable. Starting point: Zărnești (30 km from Brașov).
• Bucegi Mountains — Accessible via Sinaia and Bușteni, with cable cars (Telecabina). The rock formations Babele (the old women) and the Sphinx (Sfinxul) at 2,200 m are natural sculptures of bizarre beauty. Easy to moderate hikes possible.
• Făgăraș Mountains — The highest mountains in Romania with Moldoveanu (2,544 m) and Negoiu (2,535 m). The ridge hike over the Făgăraș main ridge (5–7 days) is the royal tour of the Romanian mountains. Only for experienced hikers.
• Retezat National Park — In western Transylvania: glacial lakes, alpine meadows, and one of the wildest landscapes in Europe. Less visited than the Carpathians near Brașov, but spectacular. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Transfăgărășan Highway

The DN7C, known as Transfăgărășan, is one of the most spectacular mountain roads in the world — praised by Jeremy Clarkson (Top Gear) as "the most beautiful road in the world." 90 km of hairpin bends over the Southern Carpathians, highest point 2,042 m (Bâlea Lake). Ceaușescu had it built in the 1970s as a military road. Open only from end of June to end of October (weather-dependent). Best driven from the north side (Sibiu/Cârțișoara) — the hairpin bends to the south are more spectacular.

Bear Watching

In the vicinity of Brașov, there are organized bear watching tours (from observation huts, in the evening). Reputable providers work with conservationists and do not feed the bears. The best time: April–October, especially in autumn when the bears feed to prepare for hibernation. Cost: 30–60€ per person.