Romania boasts plenty of gorgeous scenery, and few spots can compete with Balea Lake.
Balea Lake is a high-altitude glacier lake located along the scenic Transfagarasan Road. Whether you’re road-tripping Romania and searching for the most beautiful spots or planning a day trip from Sibiu or Brasov, it needs to be on your itinerary.
I spent two days exploring Balea Lake while driving the Transfagarasan. While there, I hiked for hours around the lake, dined on the water, and soaked in the peaceful setting.
This guide will breakdown everything you need to know about Balea Lake, from the best hikes nearby, to where to eat, how to get there, and more helpful tips.
How to Get to Balea Lake
The only way to get to Balea Lake is by car. You can either rent a car like I did, or you can find a tour company to take you on a private tour or group tour (I’d recommend a private tour if you don’t have a car).
There’s only one road to and from Balea Lake: the Transfagarasan.
You wouldn’t want to take another route. The Transfăgărășan, which literally translates to “across the Făgăraș” — the Făgăraș being a subrange of the Carpathians — is one of the most scenic drives I’ve experienced, making the journey to Balea Lake memorable in itself.
If visiting Balea Lake, there’s a good chance you’re doing it as a day trip from Sibiu or Brasov.
The drive to Balea Lake from Sibiu takes about 90 minutes. If you’re coming from Brasov, expect the drive to Balea Lake to take a little more than two hours each way.
Balea Lake and the vast mountain landscape surrounding it is one of the best day trips from Brasov or Sibiu. The drive is beautiful, which makes spending several hours in your car worthwhile.
Best Places to Stay Around Balea Lake
Lodging is fairly limited in the area around Balea Lake, but there are a handful of options, including:
- Cabana Balea Lac
- Cabana Balea Cascada
- Hotel Capra
- Complex Balea
- Ice Hotel (only open in winter)
Only Cabana Balea Lac is situated right at the lake, so book well in advance if you wish to stay here.
Personally, I’d encourage looking into Airbnbs as well. We found an Airbnb in the small town of Arpașu de Sus at the base of the Transfagarasan which was very convenient (here’s the listing). The large property was on a river and had a super quaint and idyllic vibe. It was just 35 minutes to Balea Lake and 10 minutes to the north-end of the Transfagarasan.
Best Hikes Around Balea Lake
While Balea Lake is stunning in its own right, it also acts as the trailhead for a few wonderful hikes up the mountain peaks behind it.
We followed some advice to do the Balea Lake to Capra Lake hike. Capra Lake is another glacier lake, but it’s only accessible by foot from Balea Lake.
Unfortunately, our hike was interrupted by inclement weather, including a hailstorm. However, we were able to reach Capra Lake and take shelter there to ride out the intense storm. Though we were soaked and cold, it was a memorable experience. Though we were soaked and cold, it was a memorable experience.
I think Capra Lake is even more attractive than Balea Lake because it is secluded. The latter attracts hundreds of visitors per day, while you can have Capra Lake to yourself.
Anyway, back to hikes around Balea Lake.
If you hike to Capra Lake, I’d encourage following the path along the shores to the stone monument in the distance. Continue on the path with the blue markers and you’ll eventually have breathtaking views of the other side of the mountain pass facing south. You’ll find yourself on the other side of Balea Tunnel, which is the highest point of the Transfagarasan.
We continued this path all the way to the road. There may or may not have been a way to loop back to where we came, but we decided to hitch a ride on the Transfagarasan back to our car, which was only about 3km away on the other side of the tunnel.
I usually pick out a trail on AllTrails when hiking, but truthfully, I deviated from our plans when hiking at Balea Lake and kind of just followed what looked most appealing. Since you’re above the tree line and thus have nothing blocking line of sight, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to get lost hiking around here.
Where to Eat and Drink Around Balea Lake
Food and dining options are limited around Balea Lake.
Cabana Paltinu is the lone restaurant in the area. They serve decent food and drinks and have a nice outdoor patio overlooking the lake. While a bit overpriced, you’re paying more for the setting.
Cabana Balea Lake is the other option, which doubles as a lodge and a restaurant. Their food selection is more limited than Cabana Paltinu, but it’s still OK food.
The best food I had was at Transfăgărășan Treehouse Village, about 30 minutes south of Balea Lake, next to Lake Vidraru. While it was equally overpriced, the food tasted a bit fresher and offered plenty of options.
Additionally, you’ll find numerous vendors serving snacks along the road and in the parking lot next to the lake. I had a delicious chimney cake and some fresh pretzels, and you can also buy fresh fruit and vegetables.
I’d recommend bringing at least some snacks for your day trip to Balea Lake, if not a full meal. Truthfully, there’s a lack of good food in the area.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Balea Lake?
You can only visit Balea Lake from June to October since the Transfagarasan is closed due to snowpack throughout winter and much of spring.
As long as the road is open, there’s no bad time to visit Balea Lake. However, it can still be a bit chilly as late as June and as soon as late September given the elevation, so the best months to visit are July, August, and September.
If possible, try to visit Balea Lake during the weekdays. It can get a bit crowded on summer weekends when Romanians visit for a day trip.
The earlier in the day you go, the better because of everchanging and unpredictable weather conditions. Your best chance at clear skies will be morning to lunchtime. Plus, there won’t be many people until around noon.
Other Practical Tips for Visiting Balea Lake
Here are some additional tips and helpful things to know before visiting Balea Lake:
- Parking: There is a small fee of around $5 USD to park in the lots. Cash or credit card is accepted. Alternatively, you can park on the road and walk to the lake.
- Weather: Weather can change extremely quickly around the lake. Bring warm clothes and waterproof clothes if you plan to hike in the area.
- Cell Service: There’s pretty reliable service right at Balea Lake, but once you start hiking up the surrounding mountains, you’ll likely lose service.
- Driving: The Transfagarasan is an easy road to drive as long as weather conditions are good. Make sure to drive the speed limit as there are many sharp turns.
