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Town in Prahova, Romania
Photo: Pudelek (Marcin Szala), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Sinaia is one of Romania's finest holiday resorts, deep into the Carpathian Mountains. In the late 19th century, King Charles I of Romania chose Sinaia as his summer residence and built the fabulous Peles Castle, which is today the city's best known landmark.
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Castelul Peleș
Begun by King Carol I in 1873 as a summer residence, these gothic revival fantasy castles pay homage to nearly every architectural style in Europe, as well as including all the mod-cons, such as lifts, central heating, plumbing and electric sky lights. Peleş contains a large armory collection, secret passages, imperial suit, a hall of mirrors, stone lions and everything a fairytale castle 'should' have. Set in peaceful forests and mountain meadows, away from the bustle of Sinaia, the castles are also a popular wedding venue. During the summer, craft stalls line the entrance drive selling local goods. The English guided tours are excellent.
Castelul Pelișor
Mănăstirea Sinaia
The monastery has two sections: the original area (built 1690 -1695) and the newer one (1842 - 1846). The religious objects museum is not very professional, but has a copy of the first Bible printed in Romania and an interesting collection of icons. Driving from Bucharest north on the National road No. 1 you have to turn left in Sinaia and follow the signs.
Palatul Florescu-Stirbey
Parcul Dimitrie Ghica
Nice park with beautiful old buildings surrounding it, such as the Casino and old hotels. There is also a small museum in the park.
Small villa of great Romanian composer George Enescu.
Peștera Ialomiței
A cave in the Bucegi Mountains, on the right slope of the Ialomița Gorges. It is developed on a single level over a length of approximately 480 m, of which 400 m are accessible to tourists, up to the point called "at the Altar" following upstream a portion of another 80 m, with galleries and rooms. The difference in level is 60 m. It is crossed by a stream.
Sinaia is an increasingly popular winter sports destination. As winter turns the hills around town white, Romanians and visitors alike flock to the slopes for down-hill ski and snowboard fun. The season roughly runs from December-April. Ski-passes are sold on site, but can be booked in advance. Keep in mind that lifts don't operate every day, so check in advance. Also, not all ski-passes give access to all lifts, so check the map to see which slopes you're interested in.
As is the case with most hill-stations that aren't snow-covered all year, Sinaia makes a fine hiking destination in summer, combining all resort facilities with excellent hiking routes and vistas. If you want an easy hike up the mountain, visit the tourist information center for a map, and follow the white-red-white markers. In summer 2023, there was a logging operation ongoing in the first leg, up to cota 1400. You can easily hike up and take the gondolas down.
Delicious tower burgers, fries and salads.
This hotel is a few minutes drive from the main road, but its spacious, well-maintained apartments with private balconies and beautiful views make this a popular pick. Staff is helpful and friendly. The bar selection is a bit limited and there's no restaurant at the hotel, but breakfast is available on demand (€5). If you prefer, the room kitchenettes are well-equipped. Online rates via booking sites seem a bit better than directly via the hotel.
This hotel dates from 1901 and offers a feeling of grandeur, stepping back in time, that is really fun. And yet this can be done at highly reasonable prices. Go to the restaurant and enjoy the experience of good silver service and lack of pretence - these people know how to look after visitors.
Hotel and conference room located in the center of the town.
Fully refurbished in 2011, this large hotel is one of the top end places in town. It offers well-equipped rooms and apartments (the more expensive ones also quite spacious) and also a nice wellness & spa centre in house. The large, top floor restaurant offers great views and there's a cocktail bar. Note that in high-season, the place can get a bit crowded.
One of the better picks if you're traveling on a budget. Most of the rooms are fairly small and fairly basic, but they are clean and good value for money. The location close to Peles castle and the train station is also a plus, especially if you don't have your own transportation.
By plane
The closest airport to Sinaia is Bucharest.
By car
Sinaia lies on the National road No. 1 and can easily be reached by car from Bucharest or Braşov.
The central area of the town where the main attractions are is walkable, but there are also local bus lines that go along the main street, then up towards Furnica (with stops close to Sinaia Monastery and Peleș Castle),…
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