Hiking in Romania: Four Destinations If You’re Based in Bucharest

If you’d like to go hiking in Romania, check out our adventure tours. 

Hiking in Romania is a great experience, a rare encounter with nature and wilderness, far away from crowded cities and daily worries. The Carpathians occupy about one-third of the country, offering many incredible hiking trails, easy to reach even if you’re staying in Bucharest.

By car or by train, you can travel from the capital to some of the country’s most scenic destinations for mountaineers. Even better, if you start your day early, you’ll be back in town in time for a good night’s sleep.

Don’t miss our family hikes ideas and our itineraries for family roads trips in Romania

The Carpathians

1. Piatra Craiului National Park

Piatra Craiului is a great option whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker looking for a more technical trail. Famous for its panoramic limestone ridge, this national park has three subgroups: Piatra Craiului Mare, Piatra Craiului Mica, and Pietricica. The highest peak is La Om (2,237 meters), the central point of the ridge trail marked with a red dot.

Piatra Craiului Mountains

There are over 70 trails in this national park, one of the many reasons it’s one of the best places for hiking in Romania. The most popular starting points are Zarnesti, Pestera, and Plaiul Foii.

Nearby train stations: Zarnesti, Brasov

Check all the trails on Muntii Nostri. Choose a duration of a maximum of six hours if you need to take the train back to Bucharest.

2. Ciucas Mountains

Tucked between the Southern and the Eastern Carpathians, the Ciucas Mountains appear like a true rock fortress. Their landscape is dominated by monumental geological formations that offer one of the finest mountain views in Romania.

Ciucas Mountains

If you leave Bucharest early morning, you can hike up to the maximum altitude of 1,954 meters on Ciucas Peak, and be back in the capital by nightfall.

Check all the trails on Muntii Nostri.

3. Bucegi Mountains

Bucegi Mountains are the most popular destination for hiking in Romania, especially on weekends and holidays. It’s also the best choice of all if you travel by train from Bucharest. Still, we recommend you skip the summer crowds, and go there in spring or autumn when the mountains get back their silence and peace. Winter also offers an unparalleled experience as long as you don’t take any unnecessary risks.

Bucegi Mountains

Nearby train stations: Azuga, Sinaia, Busteni, Predeal, Brasov

Check the many trails on Muntii Nostri.

4. Iezer-Papusa Mountains

You don’t need to go all the way to Fagaras Mountains if you’re looking for more intense day hikes. The massive and abrupt Iezer-Papusa Mountains are closer and just as stunning. With an average altitude of 2,200 meters, this destination has a maximum height of 2,462 meters on Iezerul Mare Peak and 2,391 meters on Papusa Peak.

The trail to Iezer Papusa Peak

If you’re planning for more than one day of hiking, book your accommodation in time as there are only a few options available.

Check the trails.

If you love nature and sports, hiking in Romania is the best way to explore the great outdoors in the country. Even more, it’s a rare chance to see some of the wildest landscapes of Europe as the Carpathians are home to many plant and animal species. So, pack your boots and hiking gear and embark on a new adventure.

Discover more day trip options from Bucharest.

Check the hiking routes from the Carpathians with this great guidebook The Mountains of Romania.