Transfaharasan road in Romania – what routes are there, what to see on the Transfaharasan highway, where to stay overnight in the mountains.
Transfăgărășan is a mountain road in Romania that I have been dreaming of seeing for many years. In 2021, my dream came true. This track is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, and it is. I have something to compare with – we have traveled on many roads, including those that are included in the world’s lists of the most beautiful. For example, Highway 1 in California, or Adriatic highway in Croatia.
I recommend you to read: The best route in Romania for 7 days
What is the Transfagarasan highway and why is it so famous?
This road is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, and it is. Its highest point, 2034 meters, is only 30 meters lower than the highest mountain in Ukraine, Hoverla. The highest mountain in Romania, Moldovanu (2544 m), is also located near the highway.
Transfagarasan is a highway with international number 7C, its length is 152 km, and the highland serpentine is about 92 km. This route passes through Romania’s highest mountain range, the Fegerash. The maximum altitude of the Transfagarasan highway is 2042 meters, near Lake Balea. That’s why this road is closed for more than 8 months of the year, as snow lays there for a long time in the highlands.
When the Transfagarash road is open
The high mountain road is open only 4 months a year, from July 1 to November 1. All the other months it is covered with snow and closed to cars. But even in winter, you can see it from the top of the mountain if you take a cable car to Lake Balea.
In 2022, Transfaharasan was opened on June 15. And you can travel on it until the end of October, when it snows. You can check whether the Transfaharasan has opened on the official website of the road www.transfagarasan.net.
How to get to Transfagarasan
It’s a high-mountain road, so it’s logical that the best way to make this trip is by car. But for those who don’t have a car, there is good news – Transfaharasan can also be seen by public transportation. But let’s take it one step at a time.
By car:
The best way to drive through Transfaharasan is by car – this way you can enjoy the entire road, not just a small but really stunning piece. The track can be driven from south to north or vice versa.
I recommend starting in the south , in the town of Curta de Ardes, and moving up. Then spend the night somewhere at an altitude of 2000 meters, and in the morning go through the tunnel through the pass and see the most beautiful part of Transfaharasan at first light. Then down the steepest serpentine, which is the hallmark of this road.
You can rent a car in the airport of Bucharest – it’s easy to make in advance on Rentalcars.com.
By cable car:
From the Sibiu side, above the village of Cartichoara, the Bâlea Cascada Cabin cable car leads to the upper part of Lake Balea, which operates even in winter. But the track itself is closed in winter and covered with a thick layer of snow. In winter, guests can take a taxi from the village of Kartishoara to Balea Falls, and from there take a cable car to the lake.
The cable car is open every day from 09:00-17:00. Keep in mind that if there are not at least 7-10 passengers, the cable car does not run. A ticket up costs 40 Romanian lei (8 euros), and the same price to go down – another 40 Romanian lei plus. Therefore, the total amount is 16 Euros if you do not plan to walk down on foot or stay in a hotel on Lake Balea. Current prices can be found on the website http://balealac.ro/telecabina.
What to see on the Transfaharasan road?
We were driving along the Transfagaras from south to north – it was a trip to Croatia, and this scenic road was planned as an additional adventure.
Dracula’s fortress
The medieval fortress Poenari Citadel, which was used as a prison for prisoners by the Wallachian prince Vlad Tepes, the same Dracula. You can get to the fortress by climbing 1500 steps up, an entertainment for the strong and not the lazy. Check if it works, because in 2021 it was undergoing restoration.
Poenari Fortress is located here 45.35421204586397, 24.635350899890664
Lake and dam of Vidraru
Lake Vidraru can be visited at any time of the year. In fact, it is a huge reservoir formed by an equally huge dam of incredible height. Plan to spend at least an hour at this point – walk along the dam, take photos, and have lunch at the Forest House restaurant.
Please note! A metal statue of Prometheus stands on a cliff above the dam. A narrow path leads to it, and you can climb up to the top. It offers a great view of the lake, the dam and the cliff behind it.
There is also an observation deck near the dam, which can be reached by concrete stairs. Unfortunately, it was closed in 2021 due to covid.
Capra waterfalls
Already before the pass, you can see several waterfalls along the Transfaharash highway. They are called Capra Falls after the lake from which they flow. The lake is located almost at the top of the Fegarash ridge, and a small river flows out of it. which flows in different directions and tumbles down the cliffs in stunning waterfalls. There are parking lots near the waterfalls, and you can stop to admire the water flow.
Overnight in the Fegerash Mountains
We really wanted to spend the night high in the mountains so that in the morning we could drive through the pass and be on the other side of the Transfaharasan. There are many hotels on the road on the southern side of the ridge – some a little lower, in the forest part of the road, others are located in the alpine part, where there is almost no forest anymore.
We have chosen Hotel Paraul Capra – This is the last hotel before the pass, meaning that only the mountains and the road are higher. There’s a restaurant near the hotel that serves delicious meat, and it’s worth ordering a couple of glasses of Romanian wine to accompany it, which is a great way to relieve fatigue after steep serpentine slopes.
The hotel also has its own waterfall, which can be admired from a large wooden swing. I really liked this cool place to stay with its own restaurant that serves delicious meat.
If you want to find another place to spend the night in the mountains, I recommend searching on Booking-Transfagarasan⋙.
This makes booking accommodation much easier and more convenient than writing and calling the hotel.
Lake Balea
Lake Balea is located in the Fagarash Mountains, near the highest point where the Transfagarasan highway passes. Balea is located in a small valley surrounded by the rocky Fagarash Mountains. The lake at an altitude of 2034 meters was formed by a melted glacier. The lake is only about 11 meters deep and 360 meters long.
The lake is covered with a thick layer of ice in winter and very cold in summer. The water temperature in summer is a maximum of +10 °, and most often the water temperature is kept at a level of up to +3 ° C. The weather on a lake in the mountains changes very quickly: it can be hot and sunny in the morning, clouds come with a downpour in the afternoon, and frost falls on the grass in the evening. Therefore, the beauty of the lake depends on the weather. We were very lucky to see it under the sun.
Near the lake is an old hotel with a restaurant, Balea Lake Chalet, where you can spend the night to see Transfagarasan at dawn. Prices and reservations only on the hotel website .
Balea waterfall
Cascadă Bâlea Waterfall is located near the lower station of the Transfagaras cable car. It is clearly visible from the cable car. For those who are driving, you should park in the parking lot near the station and walk up the hill.
What about the bears on Transfagarasan?
The bears there are fine, even better. First of all, there are a lot of them! So much so that you will see through the warning. And if a bear appears within a kilometer, you will receive a loud push notification on your phone. We were sitting in a restaurant one evening, and at one point all the visitors received such text messages.
It’s a little scary, but it’s necessary for safety. The messages are sent in Romanian, but it is important to remember the word bear -Ursu. The distance will be shown in numbers, so it is useful information for those who decide to spend the night in the mountains in a tent.
Bears can often be seen on the side of the road, coming out to ask tourists for food. We met a mother with two cubs. We stopped by car and were quite close. The mama bear walked by the cars and asked for food, and the kids were already eating what other tourists gave them. Animals are dangerous, especially when a mother with small bears – one wrong move and she can lunge if she thinks you are a danger to her children. Be careful and cautious with wild animals!
Useful articles and links:
- Independent car trip in Croatia
- Top 20 places to see in Malta
- Six districts of Bucharest where it is best for tourists to stay
- Black Sea beaches in Romania
Travel Medical Insurance – online on the EKTA
Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com
great place to visit, thank u for creat this article