Romania's Top Ski Resorts

There are a lot of things I didn’t know about Romania. Things I know that you don’t know. I didn’t know that Romania is capable of producing a more-than-enjoyable glass of wine. I didn’t know that gypsies are in fact Indians and simply have some presence in Romania. I didn’t know that Borat’s hometown wasn’t actually filmed in Kazakhstan, but in Romania. Man, until not so long ago I didn’t even know that Transylvania was an actual, non-fictional place. Let alone I knew that you could do some excellent skiing and snowboarding there!

Yes. Romania surprised me in various ways. Even more so in winter, when most locals told me “it wasn’t the best time to visit their country.” I beg to disagree. Romania is worth your time in any season, but even more so midwinter when its national ski resorts form the frozen, welcoming heart of the country.

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Romania’s Top Ski Resorts

The question isn’t if you should go skiing in Romania, the main point is when and where. Well, let me give you some guidance, as the choice is quite elaborate. I travelled far and wide across the country and sampled many a mountain, my experiences trickling down into three clear favourites, all catering to a particular kind of crowd. They’re listed in a non-preferential order, as every single one has their own distinctive strengths and target group:

Romania’s Ski Season: December – early April

Sinaia

My first contact with Romania’s smooth, silky slopes was on the perfectly groomed hillsides of the Sinaia Ski Resort on the Bucegi mountains. Well, aren’t I a lucky bastard? In 1870 chosen by King Carol to build his summer residence, Sinaia is also presently still referred to as the “Pearl of the Carpathians”. Generally known as the most elegant, up-class of all Romanian ski resorts, the area is dotted with a fine selection of quality hotels and restaurants. Don’t worry though, also for us Budget Bucket List’ers there’s enough low-cost choice (personally I stayed for free at a Couchsurfer’s house and got myself to the Gondola by the extremely cheap city bus line T2), while still being able to enjoy the perks of such a well-developed winter sports destination.

What I enjoyed most about Sinaia is the fast, well-equipped gondola rapidly bringing you up to a height of over 2100m* - saving you time that you obviously rather spend sliding down - as well as the comprehensive choice in descents. Not only does Sinaia offer the biggest vertical black slope of entire Romania (level sweat-in-the- butt-crack), it also presents a diverse selection of intermediate red, easy blue as well as many thrilling off-piste tracks on a silver platter.

* 2100m: an elevation providing high snow chances and durable powder!

Wanna make a full-week holiday out of it? Sinaia is surrounded by three other, smaller ski destinations: Buşteni, Azuga and Predeal. Mix it up!

For more information and practical tips, check the Budget Bucket List Sinaia Article!

Poiana Brasov

Sinaia might be the fanciest, Poiana Brasov is the biggest! With 10 ski lifts and a total of 13.7km of slopes (plus an extra 5km of ski routes), this pleasant ski resort can certainly entertain you for many days in row. Surrounded by sublime views over the white-topped peaks of Transylvania, you can either choose for mild, laid-back routes on the 5.8km of easy blue descends, as well as slightly trickier red routes (2.8 km)… or go all in and race straight down the 5.1km of steep black declines! No matter your level of expertise, you’re going to have a good time in Poiana Brasov.

I absolutely adored Poiana Brasov’s proximity to the city of Brasov (a short bus ride away with line 20), which is a top-notch Romanian destination 100% worth visiting on its own. The option to combine active days on perfectly-groomed slopes with a city trip in a picturesque historical town isn’t a fusion of experiences you can find in too many places in the world.

Another bright green light to a ski holiday in Poiana Brasov is the high affordability. In 2008 already voted by the Telegraph as European’s most affordable ski resort, I was also staggered by its value-for-(hardly-any)-money. Budget Bucket List indeed!

For more information on this area, have a look at Budget Bucket List's Brasov article!
Other big ski resort in Romania: Straja… but the complicated accessibility makes it a less favourable choice.

Arena Platos Păltiniş

Black drops and swift red tracks certainly look smart on Instagram, but even these trendy powder hounds had to learn their skills from the start. And in Romania there’s simply no better place for any motivated beginner than Arena Platos Păltiniş, a stone’s throw away from the higher situated Păltiniş Resort (suited for more advances skiers)! Why pay for the availability of tricky high-skilled ski slopes if you’re still in the developing phase of your talents? This is the perfect place to pick up a pair of slats and learn the tricks of the trade, either on your own or with the help of the local ski school, known to be one of the best in the country.

Arena Platos Păltiniş is specifically interesting for families, who are ready to enjoy a fun and diverse day out in the snow. Besides seven different ski routs, there’s also a sleigh ride track and fun park to cater to family members of all ages! Who could have imagined that only 25km away from the traditional city of Sibiu there’s a compact winter wonderland where civilization seems so far away?!

Other Romanian beginner-ski-destinations (with fewer facilities): Borşa, Transalpina, Şureanu, Mogosa, Harghita Bai, Semenic.

Bonus: Hotel of Ice!

You've worked your legs hard enough on Romania’s challenging slopes… it’s time to relax! And what’s a better place than in an actual igloo?!

Yes. Life is that good.

Photo by: Alexandru Claudiu

Located in between the ski resorts of Poiana Brasov and Arena Platos Păltiniş, the Balea Lake sparkles in all its splendour. While in summer people follow the skid marks of Top Gear’s heroes on the Transfăgărășan highway, in winter this deeply snow-covered area makes place for a frosty man-made wonder. The Hotel of Ice is pure bucket-list-material… on a budget that is, as opposed to the rates of the ice hotels in places such as Canada and Sweden, in budget destination Romania a night in a picture-perfect igloo won’t break the bank.

For more practical info on Arena Platos Păltiniş and the Hotel of Ice, have a look at the Sibiu story!

It took me 1,5 months to leave this jewel of a country… while already longing to get back next winter!

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