Romania · Southern Carpathians · Făgăraș and Parâng
Carpathian Crossing
Two of the most spectacular mountain roads in Eastern Europe. The Transfăgărășan and the Transalpina, linked into a multi-day crossing of the Southern Carpathians.
Romania's two great mountain roads, linked into a single multi-day crossing of the Southern Carpathians. The Transfăgărășan climbs to a glacial tarn at Lake Bâlea; the Transalpina, actually the higher of the two at 2,145 m, runs south across the Parâng range. Together they make 280 km and around 5,800 m of climbing, best spread over two or three days.
Traffic is light by Alpine standards, the tarmac is smooth, and the corners were built with wide radii for ceremonial state visits. Fuel and hotels are cheap, the scenery is big, and a stop at the Poienari Fortress, the real seat of Vlad the Impaler, is worth the 1,480-step climb.
The route
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Start
Sibiu
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Sibiu old town
Saxon-era walled city
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Transalpina
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Obârșia Lotrului reservoir
Alpine lake at altitude
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Parâng plateau
High alpine meadows with shepherd huts
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Stop
Rânca
Small resort on the southern descent
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Stop
Curtea de Argeș
Medieval Romanian capital
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Poienari Fortress
Real Dracula castle, 1,480 stone steps
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Vidraru Dam
166 m arched dam at the base of the climb
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Transfăgărășan
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Bâlea Waterfall
Glacial cascade below the summit
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Bâlea Lake
Glacial tarn at 2,034 m
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Top Gear's "greatest road in the world"
The iconic switchback stretch
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Finish
Sibiu
Who it's for
- Cyclists: a serious undertaking. The Transfăgărășan climb from Bâlea Cascadă alone is 30 km long. Luggage transfer is the usual approach.
- Motorcyclists: this is the trip. Smooth tarmac, perfect corners, and almost empty roads.
- Drivers: the same appeal, with cheap fuel and uncrowded roads even in August.
Practical notes
- Base: Sibiu, the Saxon walled city at the northern end of the crossing, with excellent restaurants and good onward transport.
- Season: Transfăgărășan is typically open 1 July to 30 October. The Transalpina runs May to October, weather-dependent.
- Fuel: fill up in Sibiu, Rânca, or Curtea de Argeș. The climbs themselves have no stations.
- Lodging: Rânca on the southern descent of the Transalpina and Curtea de Argeș at the foot of the Transfăgărășan make natural overnight stops.
- Currency: Romanian lei (RON). Cards are widely accepted in hotels, cash is useful at smaller restaurants and viewpoints.
- Language: Romanian. English is common in tourist-facing businesses, but a few basic phrases help.