The mountain resort town of Sinaia belongs in a fairy tale with its grand 19th-century palaces and monasteries, forested valleys and dramatic Bucegi Mountains. A former summer retreat for the first king of Romania, Sinaia is a picturesque place for mountain hiking, visiting art galleries and admiring historic statues.

Things to do

Don’t visit Sinaia without seeing its two fairy-tale castles, including the lavish Peleș Castle, which was built in 1874 and showcases Neo-Renaissance and Gothic architecture. It also boasts an on-site museum housing hunting and war implements, murals, oriental armour, handmade textiles and vintage furnishings. Afterwards, check out the 19th-century Pelișor Castle to admire the art nouveau architecture and richly adorned chambers.

Discover Sinaia’s deep religious roots at the 17th-century Sinaia Monastery, which boasts two tranquil courtyards, a small Byzantine-style church and the grand Great Church with gold mosaic paintings. Wander down to the nearby Muzeul Rezervației Bucegi, located in Dimitrie Ghica Park, to see handmade jewellery, taxidermy animals and artefacts.

Nature lovers will enjoy exploring the hiking trails through Bucegi Natural Park, where you can stumble upon springs, limestone rocks, mountain hay meadows and alpine rivers. Trek to the popular Babele viewpoint, which is well-known for its unique mushroom-shaped rocks and the nearby Bucegi Sphinx rock.

Learn more about one of Romania’s greatest composers, George Enescu, at the George Enescu Memorial Museum, which houses his personal belongings in a preserved 20th-century villa. It’s located near the Escapade Adventure Park, where the entire family can enjoy paintball, archery, tree-climbing courses and treasure hunts.

Getting around

Sinaia is positioned on the main train line between Bucharest and Brasov, so you can easily fly into Henri Coandă International Airport and catch a 2.5-hour train into the city centre. Most of Sinaia is best explored on foot, with taxis and hire cars available for venturing further afield.