Using Sinaia as a Base for 3 Days

October 31, 2026

Sinaia gives a visitor castles, high mountain terrain and a rail link in one small town, which makes it a sensible base for a stay of three days or so. The plan below is built around the opening days and closures that decide what can be done when. Costs are in Romanian lei.

Before you book

Peleș and Pelișor are closed every Monday and Tuesday. Schedule them for Wednesday to Sunday.
In 2026 Peleș is shut from 2 November to 1 December and Pelișor from 28 September to 3 November. Closure dates are fixed yearly, usually for conservation in autumn or winter, so check peles.ro.
The Cota 1000 to Cota 1400 gondola is closed to the public. Use the Telecabina Sinaia from the centre.
Check the Romanian travel advice on gov.uk before you go.

Day one: castles and the town

Walk the cobbled Aleea Peleșului up to the royal estate. Peleș costs 100 lei for adults and Pelișor costs 30 lei, both on timed slots from bilete.peles.ro. Return downhill through Dimitrie Ghica Park, take the Casino tour, which starts hourly from 10:15, and finish at Sinaia Monastery.

Day two: the high plateau

Ride the telecabina to Cota 1400 and the Carp gondola to Cota 2000. The telecabina runs from 09:00 to 17:00 and the Carp gondola from 09:30 to 16:30, both starting at 12:00 on Tuesday, and wind, fog or frost halts them. From the top, marked trails lead to Babele, the Sphinx and Omu Peak at 2,505 m. Treat the plateau as serious mountain terrain, with sudden fog, strong wind and lightning on open ground. Know when the last lift goes down.

Day three: choose one

Brașov, about 45 km north, with its Old Town, the Black Church and Council Square.
Bușteni, about 10 km north, for Cantacuzino Castle.
A quieter day at the Enescu Memorial House in Cumpătu, open Wednesday to Sunday from about 09:00 to 16:00, followed by a hotel spa such as the one at Hotel Carpathia.

Extra days can take in Bran Castle and Râșnov Fortress by way of Brașov, or Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești, about 1.25 hours by road.

Arriving and leaving

Fast access is one of Sinaia’s strengths. Trains from Bucharest Gara de Nord take about 1 hour 30 minutes. Verify the schedule on cfrcalatori.ro or infofer.ro.

Winter version

If you come to ski, the slopes at Cota 1400 and Cota 2000 open depending on snow, in recent seasons from late November to mid-January. No 2026 to 2027 dates are fixed, and the lower gondola closure means the telecabina carries the load.

Bears

Bears come into the edges of Sinaia. Never feed or approach one, since the fine is 10,000 to 30,000 lei. Take care on forest paths, avoid them at night and call 112 for a bear inside a settlement.

Booking

Find rooms on Booking.com . Reference pages: peles.ro for castles and gov.uk for travel advice.