Sinaia: what to see, where to stay and how to get around
Sinaia was a monastery and a few houses in the forest until Romania's first king, Carol I, chose it in the 1870s for his summer residence. The court followed, then the aristocracy, the railway and a casino, and the town became the 'Pearl of the Carpathians'. This walk goes uphill from the station through the park and the monastery to the two castles in the woods. It is about three kilometres with a steady climb; give the castles three hours.
A short history of Sinaia
Sinaia is named after the monastery founded here in 1695 by Prince Mihai Cantacuzino after he returned from a pilgrimage to Mount Sinai. The town only grew in the 19th century, when King Carol I chose the Prahova Valley for his summer residence. Peleș Castle was built between 1873 and 1914 and was one of the first palaces in Europe to have electricity. The railway reached the town in 1879, and the aristocracy and their villas followed. Today it is a ski and holiday resort in the Bucegi Mountains.
The ten best sights in Sinaia
1Peleș CastleThe king's castle in the forest; closed Mondays, and the queue is shortest at opening
2Pelișor CastleThe small Art Nouveau castle next door, built for Queen Marie; a separate ticket
3Sinaia MonasteryThe monastery that gave the town its name; the small old church is in the inner courtyard
4Sinaia CasinoA Belle Époque casino in the park, now a conference centre; you can still go in for a look
5Cantacuzino CastleIn Bușteni, 15 minutes north; terrace with the best view of the Caraiman wall
6Bran CastleThe 'Dracula castle' an hour north-west; come at opening or expect long lines
7Black Church, BrașovThe great Gothic church of Brașov, with a famous collection of Anatolian carpets
8Beth Israel Synagogue, BrașovA Moorish-style synagogue of 1901 near the old town walls; still in use
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9Dimitrie Ghica Park
The town centre: lawns, a pond and the casino; the walk up to the monastery starts here
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10Sinaia Cable Car
Two stages up to 2,000 m; it stops in strong wind, so go up in the morning
Scan with your phone camera to open the map there
What is an audio walk?
Tours in Sinaia →A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Sinaia:
Free walking tours in Sinaia
The king's summer town
Sinaia was a monastery and a few houses in the forest until Romania's first king, Carol I, chose it in the 1870s for his summer residence. The court followed, then the aristocracy, the railway and a casino, and the town became the 'Pearl of the Carpathians'. This walk goes uphill from the station through the park and the monastery to the two castles in the woods. It is about three kilometres with a steady climb; give the castles three hours.
- Sinaia Station · On 29 December 1933 the prime minister, Ion G. Duca, was shot dead on this platform by members of the fascist Iron Guard, after returning from an audience with King Carol II at Peleș. A plaque on the platform marks the place.
- Dimitrie Ghica Park · The park carries the name of Dimitrie Ghica, a prince of an old boyar family who served as prime minister of Romania in 1868-70. The grand Hotel Palace on its edge was built in 1911, when Sinaia was the most fashionable resort in the kingdom.
- Sinaia Casino · King Carol I had the casino built in 1912-13 to draw the European rich to his mountain town, on the model of Monte Carlo. Gambling ended under the communists, and the building now hosts conferences and concerts.
- Sinaia Monastery · Mihail Cantacuzino, a nobleman, made a pilgrimage to St Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai and on his return founded this one in 1695, naming it after the mountain; the town took its name from it. Carol I stayed in the monks' rooms in his first summers here, before Peleș was built.
- Peleș Castle · Building began in 1873 and went on, in stages, until 1914. The castle had its own power plant on the Peleș stream and was among the first in Europe to be lit by electricity, with central heating and a central vacuum system as well; it has about 160 rooms, each in a different style.
- Pelișor Castle · Carol I had no surviving children, so he built this smaller castle in 1899-1902 for his heir Ferdinand and Ferdinand's wife, Marie, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Marie designed much of the interior herself, including the Golden Room with its gilded thistle leaves.
Up to the Bucegi plateau
Above Sinaia the Bucegi mountains rise in steep walls to a high, grassy plateau at about 2,000 metres, scattered with strange rocks. The cable car lifts you most of the way, and a day up here mixes ridge walking with the plateau's two famous rock formations and a giant cross on the edge. Allow a full day, with sturdy shoes, water and warm layers even in July. The weather turns fast in the afternoon: start early and keep an eye on the cable car's last descent.
- Sinaia Cable Car · In Romanian ski resorts 'cota' means altitude, and the stations here are simply named after their height: the first stage climbs to Cota 1400, the second to Cota 2000. Between them the forest gives way to dwarf pine and open slopes.
- Cota 2000 · The upper station sits below Furnica peak, and the slopes around it are the main ski area of Sinaia from December to March. In summer the same pistes become the easiest way onto the plateau.
- Piatra Arsă · At almost 2,000 metres, Piatra Arsă is home to Romania's national high-altitude sports training centre, where Olympic athletes come to train in thin air. The hut and the road beside it are the crossroads of the plateau's trails.
- Babele · The name means 'the old women'. The mushroom-shaped rocks are made of conglomerate, and wind, frost and rain have worn their softer layers away faster than the hard ones. A cable car comes up here from Bușteni, so the spot can be busy at midday.
- The Sphinx · The rock is about 8 metres high and stands at 2,216 metres. Seen from the right angle it shows a human face in profile, and since the early 20th century it has drawn theories of every kind, from ancient sculptors to mystical energy; geologists see wind erosion.
- Caraiman Cross · It was put up in 1926-28 in memory of the soldiers who died fighting in these mountains in the First World War, at 2,291 metres. Guinness recognised it as the highest summit cross in the world, and it is lit at night so that it can be seen from the valley.
The road to Brașov
North of Sinaia the Prahova valley climbs to a pass and drops into Transylvania, the land of Saxon towns, fortresses and the castle that sells itself as Dracula's. This drive goes up the valley past Bușteni, crosses into the Bârsa country around Bran and Râșnov, and ends in the old town of Brașov. It is a day of about 120 km; weekend traffic on the valley road can be slow, so leave early. Brașov's old town is best on foot, with the car left outside the walls.
- Cantacuzino Castle · Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, a politician nicknamed 'the Nabob' for his wealth, had it built in 1911 in neo-Romanian style. In 2021 it stood in for Nevermore Academy in the Netflix series 'Wednesday', and visitor numbers jumped.
- Urlătoarea Waterfall · The name means 'the howling one', for the noise it makes in spring when the snowmelt pours over the rock. The trail from Bușteni climbs gently through beech and fir forest, one of the easiest walks in the Bucegi.
- Bran Castle · There is no evidence that Vlad the Impaler ever lived here, and Bram Stoker never visited Romania; the Dracula link came later. The real story is Queen Marie, to whom the people of Brașov gave the castle in 1920, and who made it her favourite home.
- Râșnov Fortress · Unlike a lord's castle, this was a refuge for the villagers, who kept houses, a school and a chapel inside the walls for sieges. Its well is about 140 metres deep, and legend says two Turkish prisoners dug it over years in exchange for their freedom.
- Black Church, Brașov · A fire in 1689 blackened its walls, and the name stuck. It is the largest Gothic church in this part of Europe and the seat of the Lutheran Saxons of Brașov, and inside hang more than a hundred Ottoman-era Anatolian carpets, given by merchants who traded with the East.
- Beth Israel Synagogue, Brașov · Jews were allowed to settle inside Brașov only in the 19th century, and the community built this Moorish-style synagogue in 1899-1901. It survived the war and is still used by the small community today.
Getting to Sinaia and getting around
- Sinaia Station · Trains from Bucharest and Brașov; the old royal waiting room is still on the platform
- Brașov Station · The main rail hub of the region, 45 minutes north; buses into the old town outside
- Brașov-Ghimbav Airport · A new airport, opened in 2023, about 50 minutes away; few routes, check before planning
Cheap eats in Sinaia
Mountain food in Romania is heavy and good after a day on the plateau: ciorbă, the sour soups, sarmale in cabbage leaves with polenta and sour cream, grilled mici sausages and, for dessert, papanași, a fried cheese doughnut with jam and cream. Sheep's cheese from the shepherds' huts is sold at the market and along the road. Prices in Sinaia are a little above the national average but still low by Israeli standards; many places take cards, but carry some lei for the market.
- La Cerdacul Bunicii · Romanian home cooking on the main street; ciorbă about 20-25 lei, sarmale about 35-40 lei
- Mihaela's Autoservire · Self-service canteen behind Carol I; a full plate about 30-40 lei
- Brutăria Apetit 94 · Covrigi and pastries from the window; a covrig about 2-3 lei
- Karoly · Cakes and coffee on Carol I; a slice about 15-20 lei
- Carol 41 · Café on the main street; a coffee about 10-15 lei
- Restaurant Bucegi · Grills and papanași; a plate of mici about 25-30 lei
Museums in Sinaia
- Peleș Castle · Guided ground-floor tour; extra fee for photos and upper floors
- Pelișor Castle · Art Nouveau rooms of Queen Marie; quieter than Peleș
- Cantacuzino Castle · House museum, café terrace and the Caraiman view
- Bran Castle · Queen Marie's rooms; the Dracula part is mostly a shop
- Sinaia Casino · Look inside at the halls and the painted ceilings
Nature and day trips near Sinaia
- Babele and the Sphinx · Plateau walk between the two rock formations; 20 minutes
- Caraiman Cross · About an hour on foot from Babele along the edge of the cliff
- Urlătoarea Waterfall · Easy, shaded walk; best in May and June
- Piatra Arsă · Meadows and ridge trails; the plateau's trail hub
- Cota 2000 · Ridge walks to Furnica and views down the Prahova valley
Holy places in Sinaia
- Sinaia Monastery · Two churches: the small 1695 one and the larger 19th-century church
- Caraiman Monastery · A newer wooden monastery in Bușteni under the cliffs
- Black Church, Brașov · Paid entry; the carpets hang along the nave
- Beth Israel Synagogue, Brașov · Visits on weekdays; ask at the community office
Things to do in Sinaia with kids
- Sinaia Cable Car · Two stages up the mountain; the cabin ride itself is the treat
- Râșnov Fortress · Walls, a deep well and a little train to the top
- Bran Castle · Secret staircases and the vampire story
- Dimitrie Ghica Park · Lawns, pond and space to run in the town centre
Frequently asked questions about Sinaia
What is there to see in Sinaia?
The top sights in Sinaia are Peleș Castle, Pelișor Castle and Sinaia Monastery. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.
How many days do you need in Sinaia?
Three to four days are enough to see the best of Sinaia without rushing, including at least one walking tour.
Is there a free walking tour in Sinaia?
Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Sinaia, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: The king's summer town.
How do you get to Sinaia and get around?
The main ways are Sinaia Station, Brașov Station and Brașov-Ghimbav Airport. Full details are in the transport section on this page.
Where to stay in Sinaia, and for how much?
sleepntrip shows only rooms in Sinaia that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.
Looking for a hotel in Sinaia for your dates?
Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.