Skiing in Romania: Where to Go & What to Know

Romania? As a ski destination?

Eastern Europe tends to be forgotten about when it comes to potential ski destinations. However, there are numerous budget-friendly places to ski in that half of the continent, including in Romania. Some of the tallest peaks of the Carpathian Mountains carve right through the middle of the country, making for more-than-viable ski conditions.

Still, while Romania’s mountainous terrain is impossible to miss on a map, its reputation as a ski destination is less obvious. So if you’re visiting Romania in the winter, curious about a budget-friendly ski trip, or a local looking for the best place to hit the slopes in your home country, here’s the lowdown on Romania’s ski culture.

What Months Can You Ski in Romania?

Romanian winters bring unpredictable weather that makes for uncertain ski conditions. With that in mind, it can be risky to plan a ski trip to Romania too far ahead.

Snowfall may start in November, but you can also get rainy days even up in the mountains throughout December and as early as March.

The most reliable months for skiing in Romania are February, the second half of January, and the first half of March. Once you get into spring or before you get into the peak of winter, you’re testing your luck if you’re planning a ski trip to Romania.

Where Are Romania’s Ski Centers Concentrated?

Skiing can be found throughout many regions of Romania. This country is larger, and much more mountainous than people think! There are 15-20 reputable ski centers and resorts throughout the country.

The Fagaras Range of the Carpathian Mountains, which loosely stretches from Brasov to Sibiu, is home to multiple ski centers. The Retezat range a bit further west and south of Sibiu is home to another couple of ski areas. You also have a few respectable ski mountains in northern Romania in the Bucovina and Maramures regions. The lower elevation areas around Cluj have some beginner ski slopes as well.

Best Places to Go Skiing in Romania

The following ski centers in Romania have the most reliable conditions mixed with the best infrastructure:

Poiana Brasov

Poiana Brasov is the most well-known place to ski in Romania. Much of that has to do with its proximity to Brasov, a wonderful medieval city that might be the country’s top tourist destination.

When snow conditions are right, Poiana is hard to beat in Romania. It also has fantastic artificial snowmaking capabilities and can cover essentially the entire ski area with artificial snow, which isn’t common in this part of the world. More than 90% of the snow used on the slopes during the 2025-26 season was produced artificially.

Poiana Brasov is also the most family-friendly ski resort in Romania. With numerous ski instructors and ski schools, it’s the best bet to make sure your kids don’t get bored.

With 12 marked runs and more than 20 km worth of skiable terrain, it’s reliable for a fun day or two on the slopes for kids and adults alike, though.

What’s nice is that there’s so much to see and do in Brasov that if ski conditions aren’t cooperating, you can still have a rewarding day in the city. On top of that, it acts as a base for more outdoor activities than just skiing. It’s a major adventure hub in both summer and winter, with hiking trails, snowmobiling trails, and cross-country ski trails jetting out from the base of the mountain. Plenty of tour operators in Brasov are based at Poiana Brasov.

Sinaia Ski Resort

Sinaia is most known for magnificent Peles Castle and hiking trails, making it a great day trip from Brasov regardless of the time of year, but it’s also home to some solid skiing!

Sinaia stands out for having Romania’s largest vertical drop at roughly 1,030 m, with ski terrain stretching from around 2,030 m down to 1,000 m. It also has roughly 25 km of skiable terrain and 12 lifts, making it one of the country’s most substantial ski areas. The town is a short 45-minute train ride from Brasov and just over two hours from Bucharest, so it does attract crowds on weekends.

Furnica Peak or “Vf. Furnice” is the highest point of Sinaia and where you’ll get off the lift for the most advanced runs. From here you can also access some of the country’s best backcountry skiing.

Straja

One of the newer ski resorts in Romania, Straja is located in a remote area of the Retezat Mountains. The nearest city is Petrosani.

Straja is a large ski resort for Romania standards. You’ll find more than 20 km of skiable terrain, with viable options for beginner, intermediate, and expert skiers. The 11 slopes and 12 lifts at Straja are a very high number for the country.

Crowds at Straja are typically significantly less than at Poiana Brasov and Sinaia. This can make a day on the slopes more rewarding here, but you’ll have to work to get there. You’ll likely need snow chains on your car to reach Straja, which can be a turn off for many potential visitors. However, the reward is arguably the best skiing in Romania.

Platos Paltinis Resort

Platos Paltinis is an excellent place for beginner skiers to learn and get their bearings. The Paltinis mountain resort itself is actually the oldest mountain resort in Romania, though the ski resort opened in 2010. This is a family-friendly ski center that’s an easy day trip from Sibiu.

Snow conditions at “Arena Platos” as its also called aren’t always great, as the area doesn’t have the luxury of being high in the mountains like other resorts on this list.

Again, only go to Platos if you’re a beginner skier, or teaching a beginner. There are only 3 km of five short slopes, mostly blue (beginner) runs

Borsa

If you’re an experienced skier visiting the majestic regions of Bucovina or Maramures, head to Borsa.

Borsa, also known as, “Olimpica – Borsa,” has just one main lift, “Telegondola Borsa,” but it drops you off atop one of the best ski slopes in Romania. It’s classified somewhere between intermediate and advanced and has a vertical drop of nearly 700 m /2,000 ft.

There are some great off piste opportunities at Borsa as well, so you’ll have enough to keep you exhilarated for a whole day. The area around the resort within Rodnei Mountain National Park is beautiful as a whole. This resort has a lot of potential to be built-up even more in the future.

Ski Resort Transalpina

Like Straja, Transalpina is deep in the mountains which can be attractive for those seeking a legitimate adventure. It’s actually not far from Romania’s most prominent peak, Parangu Mare.

Transalpina is a small ski area. It has four lifts and only 6-8 km of skiable terrain. However, it boasts some very nice runs for intermediate skiers. Its highest point reaches about 2,000 m, and the main Mioarele run drops about 530 m from the upper mountain to the base. Because of its prime, high-altitude location, there have been plans to expand the ski resort by adding 20 lifts.

While you won’t have as much variety at Transalpina as you would at Poiana Brasov, Sinaia, or Straja, you can still experience some of the same thrill… just on a more limited scale.

In-Summary: Ski Resorts in Romania

Among all ski resorts in Romania, the best is hard to classify as it depends on what you’re after. There are no true world-class resorts here, but there are several totally viable options. Here’s a table to help you determine which ski center makes most sense for you:

If you want…	Go to…
Best Overall	Straja
Best for Beginners	Arena Platos or Poiana Brașov
Best for Families	Poiana Brașov
Best for Experts	Sinaia
Most Adventurous	Straja
Ski + City	Poiana Brașov
Least Crowds	Straja or Borșa
Cheapest Lift Tickets	Borșa