Romania’s mountains offer a stunning mix of dramatic peaks, hidden valleys, alpine meadows, and remote forests, making the country one of Europe’s last great wildernesses. Walkers can choose from multi-day treks through the Carpathians or shorter day hikes, all set amid landscapes where wildlife roams freely, and traditional villages preserve centuries-old culture. From the towering Bucegi and Fagaras Mountains to the wild Retezat and Apuseni ranges, these trails showcase a wide variety of scenery and challenges suitable for walkers comfortable with self-sufficiency or staying in mountain huts. 

This Cicerone guidebook, The Mountains of Romania, brings together the practical information, route detail, and expert insight needed to explore Romania’s mountains with confidence. Covering 37 walks—from day hikes to multi-day traverses—it provides clear route descriptions and mapping. Both long-distance walkers and those planning shorter trips will find essential advice on logistics, accommodation, and seasonal conditions, making it a comprehensive resource for discovering the country’s rugged landscapes.

• The 25 day walks range from 11 to 24km and can be enjoyed in 5–8 hours. Each has detailed route descriptions and 1:100,000 mapping, allowing you to anticipate terrain, distances, and daily challenges
• 12 treks are also described, which range from 13 to 99 km, including popular routes with a network of mountain huts and remote backpacking trails, ideal for experienced hikers seeking solitude
• Walks cover the Maramures Mountains, Eastern Carpathians, Brasov, Fagaras Mountains (including Moldoveanu Peak, Romania’s highest mountain), Retezat Mountains and more 
• Advice on seasonal conditions, weather, wildlife, and safety ensures walkers can plan trips at the best time of year and navigate Romania’s mountains responsibly
• Downloadable GPX files are available so you can walk through this wild landscape with confidence, knowing you have a digital navigation option 

Providing clear routes, maps, accommodation details, and seasonal guidance, this guidebook equips walkers to plan safe, rewarding adventures across Romania’s mountains, whether on a single-day outing or a multi-day trek.

Mountains of Romania - Quick Facts

Location: Maramureș Mountains, Eastern Carpathians, Brașov area, Făgăraș Mountains, Retezat Mountains, Apuseni Mountains   
Type of routes: Collection of day walks and multi-day mountain treks   
Number of walks: 37 (25-day walks and 12 multi-day treks)   
Distances: 

• Day walks: 11–24 km 
• Multi-day treks: 13–99 km

Typical duration: Single-day walks of 5 to 8 hours or 2–7 days for multi-day routes   
Terrain: Mountain paths, alpine meadows, forest trails, rocky ridges, remote valleys   
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging – suitable for walkers comfortable with self-sufficiency or mountain huts   
Navigation: Waymarking is better in the south than in the north, some trails less well maintained 
Best season: Late spring to early autumn (May–September)   
Accommodation: Mountain huts, guesthouses, cazare (rooms for rent), pensiune (pension) and occasional camping

Author Highlight

“Romania is nothing short of breathtaking. It offers an almost bewildering array of options to the adventurous traveller. From the last inhabited medieval citadel in Europe, Sighişoara, to the robust fortified Saxon churches around Sibiu and Braşov; from the second largest underground glacier in Europe in the Apuseni Mountains to the best road in the world (according to Top Gear) – the Transfăgărăşan, which cuts through one of the wildest and highest mountain ranges of Romania; from the last primeval forests of Europe in which brown bears, wolves, chamois and lynxes still roam to the Danube Delta teeming with life – Romania has it all.”

- Janneke Klop, author of The Mountains of Romania

Map key
Overview map
Author preface

Introduction
Geography
Vegetation and wildlife
History
Language
Culture
Climate
When to go
What to take
Getting there
Local transport
Accommodation
Food and drink
Health and safety
Money
Staying in touch
National parks
Rules and regulations
Maps
Waymarking
Water, food and other supplies
Using this guide

The Mountains of Maramureş
The Rodna Mountains
Route 1    Șetref Pass to Rotunda Pass
The Gutâi and Ţibleş Mountains
Route 2    Breb–Creasta Cocoşului–Neteda Pass
Route 3    Groşii Ţibleşului to Arcer, Ţibleş and Bran Peaks
The Munţii Maramureşului
Route 4    Repedea to Prislop Pass

The Eastern Carpathians
The Land of Dorna
Route 5    The Suhard
Route 6    The Rarău-Giumalău
Route 7    The Călimani
The Ceahlău
Route 8    Izvorul Muntelui to Durau
The Hăşmaş Massif and Lacu Roşu
Route 9    Bălan to Lacu Roşu

The mountains around Braşov
The Postăvaru Massif
Route 10    Braşov to Râsnov
The Piatra Mare Massif
Route 11    Dâmbu Morii–Piatra Mare Peak via Șapte Scări Gorge
Route 12    Timişu de Sus–Cabana Piatra Mare via Tamina Gorge
The Baiului and Grohotiş
Route 13    A north–south traverse of the Baiului
Route 14    Across the Baiului and Grohotiş
The Ciucaş Massif
Route 15    Cheia to Bratocea Pass
The Bucegi Mountains
Route 16    Poiana Braşov to Omu Peak
Route 17    Into the Bucegi from the Prahova Valley
The Piatra Craiului Mountains
Route 18    The Northern Ridge
Route 19    The Southern Ridge

The Făgăraş Mountains
The Iezer-Păpuşa Massif
Route 20    The Iezer-Păpuşa Circuit
Route 21    From the Iezer-Păpuşa to the Făgăraş
The Făgăraş Chain
Route 22    Traversing the Făgăraş from east to west

From the Olt to the Jiu
The Cindrel and the Parâng
Route 23    From Păltiniş to Stațiunea Parâng
The Cozia
Route 24    The Cozia Circuit
The Buila-Vânturariţa
Route 25    Cheia Village–Buila-Vânturariţa ridge–Băile Olăneşti

The Retezat Mountains
The Retezat
Route 26    Cârnic to Cabana Gura Zlata via Bucura Lake
Route 27    Poiana Pelegii to Cârnic via Bucura Lake
The Vâlcan Massif
Route 28    From the Vâlcan to the Retezat
The Ţarcu, Godeanu and Retezatul Mic
Route 29    Jigora Saddle to Cabana Buta

The Mountains of Banat
The Domogled-Valea Cernei national park
Route 30    Băile Herculane to Domogled Peak and back
Route 31    Băile Herculane to Stânca lui Sisi and back
The Semenic
Route 32    The gorges of the Semenic

The Apuseni Mountains
The Trascău and Muntele Mare
Route 33    The Gorges of the Trascău
Route 34    Poşaga de Jos–Scăriţa Belioara–Runc
Route 35    Runc–Scăriţa Belioara–Lunca Largă–Runc
The Padiş Region
Route 36    Statiunea Vârtop–Cetăţile Ponorului–Padiş–Pietroasa
Route 37    Gârda de Sus–Scărişoara ice cave–Padiş–Cabana Varasoaia–Stâna de Vale

Appendix A    Route summary table
Appendix B    Accommodation
Appendix C    Useful contacts
Appendix D    Language notes and glossary

Seasons

The best time to visit the mountains of Romania is from May to September. Most of the snow will have disappeared by June.

Centres

Key bases include Braşov, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca, Vatra Dornei and Râmnicu Vâlcea

Difficulty

Many of the routes require you to be entirely self-sufficient. You will need to be able to carry 15-20kg. Expect hikes of 15-25km per day with a total ascent/descent of up to 1500m. There are lighter day walks too in which case a daypack will suffice. Popular routes have a good network of mountain huts.

Must See

The Făgăraș Mountains, home to Romania's highest peaks; the saw-like Piatra Craiului limestone ridge; camping near Romania's biggest glacial lake in the Retezat; stunning karst scenery in the pastoral Apuseni; medieval Saxon cities, imposing castles and Roman and Dacian ruins

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