Romania: Take A Bite Out Of The Snow In Transylvania -
Romania’s ski slopes attract skiers and snowboarders of all levels, from novices to pros. The highest ski point in the county has an altitude of 2011 metres. There are 28 ski resorts, the most popular of which are in Transylvania: Poiana Brasov, Sinaia, Predeal, and Paltinis.
Poiana Brasov is nestled at the foot of the Postavaru Massif at an altitude of 1200 metres. 12 kilometres from the medieval city of Brasov, the resort is surrounded by four mountains: Postavaru (1799 metres), Bucegi (2505 metres), Piatra Mare (1,848 metres), and Piatra Craiului (2238 metres). There are 14 ski slopes here, all of which are equipped with flood lighting and snow cannons.
Poiana Brasov has 4600 metres of ski terrain of varying difficulty, equipped with two cable cars, one gondola and eight lifts with a capacity of 7,000 people per hour. Poiana Brasov is perfect for beginners; the nursery slopes are wide and gentle. Floodlights have been installed on the lower slopes so skiing can continue until 9 p.m.
There are also nine kilometres of marked runs for cross-country skiing. Apres ski features a good selection of hotels and restaurants. Poiana Brasov not only appeals to Romanian skiers, but German, French, Swiss and Italian too, as it is relatively cheap compared to others areas of Europe. Take a day trip to Dracula’s Castle in Bran, Transylvania for a break from skiing. It's just a horse-driven sleigh ride away.
Sinaia is another popular destination for winter sports, especially downhill skiing. Set in a mountainous area, just east of the Bucegi Mountains, the resort resides between 850 and 1000 metres altitude. The 20 kilometres of ski slopes reach a height of 2050 metres. Visitors will find plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from.
The ski resort of Predeal is located in the Prahova Valley with an altitude between 1033 and 1110 metres. The ski runs of Clabucet, Teleschi and Cioplea are equipped with chairlifts and offer inexpensive ski school lessons with qualified ski instructors who speak English, German, and French.
The mountain resort of Paltinis is situated at 1440 metres altitude. Paltinis is the highest and the oldest resort in Romania. A large residential area has been built over the last couple of years offering four hotels, six chalets, and 17 villas, along with numerous bars, restaurants, and shops. The longest ski slope in Paltinis measures 1150 metres with a difference in altitude of 241 metres.
The Romanian capital of Bucharest is no more than two hours by plane from the majority of cities in Western Europe. London to Bucharest by train takes 46 hours. First and second-class sleepers are available for journeys longer than 10 hours. Alternatively, Brasov Airport is a popular gateway to many of Romania’s top ski resorts. Bus connections between the airports and resorts are often available. The preferred airline to Romania from North America is Austrian Airlines.
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