The Bucegi rise like a fortress wall above the Prahova valley between Sinaia and Bușteni. Their cliffs hide a surprisingly gentle high plateau at around 2,000 m, crossed by cable cars and marked trails and dotted with strange rock formations carved by wind and frost — above all the Babele (“the old women”) and the Sphinx.
On the edge of the Caraiman peak stands the Caraiman Cross, a war memorial built in the 1920s to honour Romanian soldiers of the First World War; it is one of the highest summit crosses in the world. Below, the town of Bușteni has the neo-Romanian Cantacuzino Castle, now famous as a filming location for Netflix’s Wednesday.
Top things to do: Bucegi Mountains
Cable car to Babele and the Sphinx
The cable car from Bușteni climbs to the Babele chalet in one long ride; the Sphinx is a 15–20 minute walk from there. From Sinaia, the gondola and chairlift reach the plateau further south. Cable cars close in high winds and for maintenance — have a back-up plan.
Walk to the Caraiman Cross
From Babele, an easy plateau path of roughly an hour leads to the cross and the edge of the cliffs above Bușteni. Hardier walkers climb the Jepii Mici trail from Bușteni instead — steep, with chains and exposed sections.
Climb Omu peak
Omu (2,505 m), the highest point of the Bucegi, is a 2–3 hour walk from Babele across the plateau, with a basic mountain hut on the summit. Only attempt it in good visibility; fog on the plateau is disorientating.
Cantacuzino Castle
The 1911 hunting palace of Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino in Bușteni has a restaurant terrace with a view straight up to the Caraiman cliffs. Many castle day trips now include it.
How to get to Bucegi Mountains
- By train: Bușteni and Sinaia are on the main Bucharest–Brașov line, about 2 hours from Bucharest and under an hour from Brașov.
- By car: the DN1 runs straight through both towns; parking at the Bușteni cable car fills up early on weekends.
- From the plateau: it is possible to walk between the Bușteni and Sinaia lift systems in a few hours — a classic traverse.
Insider tips
- Weather changes fast. Carry a waterproof and warm layer even in August, and turn back in fog or storms.
- Stay on marked trails: many accidents in the Bucegi happen on the steep valleys that drop from the plateau.
- Salvamont is the mountain rescue service; save the emergency number 112 and consider the Salvamont app.
- Bears live in the forests below the plateau — make noise on forest paths.
- Weekend queues for the cable cars can exceed an hour; go early or on a weekday.
Best tours & tickets: Bucegi Mountains
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Bucegi Mountains:
Guided hike from €142 Brașov: Carpathian Mountains Guided Hike with Pickup
Romanian trails are wild and often poorly signed, and this is bear country. A guided day hike with transport solves both problems — and the guide picks the best route for the season, from the Bucegi to Piatra Mare.
- Pickup from your Brașov accommodation
- Route chosen for your fitness and the weather
- A certified mountain guide who knows bear country
Day trip from €60 From Brașov: Top Highlights — Bran, Peleș, Cantacuzino and Sinaia
The fuller version of the Brașov castles day, adding Cantacuzino Castle and more time in Sinaia. A long, rewarding day through the heart of Romania’s mountain resorts.
- Four sights: Bran, Peleș, Cantacuzino and Sinaia
- Scenic Prahova valley road beneath the Bucegi
- Highly rated guides
