Sinaia
How to get to Sinaia
A shuttle service from Bucharest – Henri Coanda International Airport (Otopeni) will be provided. Please send us your flight details at office@adinapatru.ro. If you wish to make your own arrangements we can provide you with the following information.
The nearest airport is Bucharest – Henri Coanda International Airport (Otopeni), located at approximately 106 km (1.5 hours of driving) from the wedding venue in Sinaia.
There are plenty of airlines flying to Bucharest, both traditional (Air France, British Airways, KLM etc) and low cost (Ryan Air, Blue Air, Wizz Air).
Other airports you could consider are Sibiu International Airport (203 km/ 3 hours of driving) or Cluj International Airport (330 km/ 5 hours of driving).
From the airport you have various options to travel to Sinaia:
1. Rent a car from the airport
- The prices are usually affordable if you book in advance.
- A couple of useful sites to explore:
2. Take the train from Gara de Nord (North Station) in Bucharest
- It’s a 1.5 hours ride.
- Tickets are very affordable and can be bought from the station directly
- We recommend the company Astra Trans Carpatic , the trains are new and have comfortable wagons with wifi.
- The Trans Carpatic train leaves at 06:40 am from Gara de Nord in Bucharest and arrives at 08:09 am in Sinaia. It costs 29 lei ( ~6 euros for 1 way) and can be purchased online or directly on the train.
- An alternative is CFR, the state-run company, which has trains leaving every 2 hours from Bucharest to Sinaia. Unfortunately, the quality is lower and the online booking process is not very easy.
Former residence of the kings of Romania, related to the royal houses of England, Greece, Yugoslavia, Germany (Prussia), Portugal and Russia in the nineteenth century, Sinaia was nicknamed the "Pearl of the Carpathians”. The locality bears the holy name of Mount Sinai, which was given for the first time to the homonymous Monastery by Mihail Cantacuzino (XVII). Sinaia combines nature with the unsurpassed beauty of the architectural art. Here, the dynasty of Romania built the Peles Resort, an architectural ensemble consisting of Peles Castle, Pelişor, Foisor, the Guard and the Economat. Sinaia is situated at an altitude between 798 and 1055m, on the southeastern side of Bucegi Mountains, along the Prahova Valley. Foot of mountain forest Ant, Zgarbura, Coltii of Barbes and Spring Peak framed in a beautiful resort green scene. At a distance of 123 km from Bucharest, 106 km from Henri Coanda International Airport (Bucharest) and 37 km from Brasov, Sinaia is located along National Road 1, benefit and railway access. Sinaia is the dream vacation come true. Bucegi Mountains is located to the west and is a huge "security shield" of the Sinaia settlement. The town is dominated by steep 1000 m peaks sprung beyond 2000 m, shining in the sun in summer and glowing like a white mantle of snow in winter, makes one of the most impressive of the many sites in Romania. Prahova Valley lands can be admired in many ways; Sinaia is the place where active people, and not only, can spend unforgettable moments. For those who prefer hiking trails around, Sinaia offers varying degrees of difficulty. From the most simple, friendly courses of land, to the very difficult to climb - all wear very picturesque journey through places.
Over 40 years, dozens of builders, artists and wood-carvers brought Peleş Castle into existence. The Neo-Renaissance masterpiece was commissioned by Romania’s first king, Carol I, and its first stone laid in 1875. Today this former royal summer residence is a wildly popular tourist attraction. Inside, not a single corner is empty of silk rugs, Murano glass, carved walnut or polished marble.
The church and monks’ cells on this site during the 17th century weren’t ample enough to accommodate Sinaia’s growing religious community, so in 1846 this serene complex was built. Its main church is a marvel of carved floral decoration, with oil paintings within. Easily as magnificent is the backdrop of forested mountains.
It’s hard to believe that Carol I’s nephew Ferdinand (1865–1927) could have been unsatisfied with lavish Peleş Castle; nonetheless, Pelişor Palace was built for him just next door. The smaller, art nouveau palace stands about 100m uphill from Peleş. Ferdinand's wife Queen Mary acted as Pelişor’s interior designer, filling it with imported Viennese furniture. Entry is by 45-minute guided tour.
The George Enescu Memorial House is situated in Cumpătu, the only Sinaia neighbourhood located on the right bank of the Prahova river. In the brilliant destiny of George Enescu, Sinaia and Vila Luminis (1923-1926) in a Romanian authentic style have a special significance. George Enescu organized his life in a way that, during a concert, to find respite to compose, was making a getaway at the villa. The villa was not randomly built in Sinaia, because Enescu was connected both emotionally and professionally to this city, thanks to the support of Queen Elizabeth, the Peleş Castle being for him a release gate to the world of musical culture of the moment.
Situated in the heart of the Bucegi Mountains and reaching the highest altitude in Romania a cable has reached– 2050 m, Sinaia Gondola can be seen as the transition point between sky and earth, between beautiful and spectacular. The 1000-1400 section of Sinaia Gondola starts from Furnica neighbourhood, reaching 1400 elevation. The 1400-2000 section of Sinaia Gondola is one of the latest and most performant cable installations from Europe and around the Globe. Being equipped with ultramodern functioning systems and the latest technology in its field, the 1400-2000 section of Sinaia Gondola has two diesel engines and the latest energy saving system, named Direct Drive, which ensures a 20% reduction in electricity consumption as against traditional systems. This new section of Sinaia Gondola establishes three national records: the installation reaches the highest altitude in Romania – 2050 meters; in Valea cu Brazi area it reaches the biggest height from the ground ever recorded by an installation of this kind, 120 meters; this installation crosses the steepest segment of a cable installation – 45 degrees at the first three pylons.
Probably the best known and one of the most attractive natural parks in Romania, the Bucegi National Park is visited every year by hundreds of thousands of tourists, drawn by the beauty of the area, the rich flora and fauna, the endless opportunities for outdoors exploration and winter sports, as well as the famous rock formations found within its premises.
The park stretches over 32,000 hectares of mountainous terrain, divided between the Dambovita, Prahova, and Brasov counties.
There are 14 nature reserves within the national park, which are protected spaces that contain valuable natural monuments, including rare plants and animals, and spectacular scenery which are a must see.
Rock formations – the Bucegi Mountains are renowned for the natural sculptures modeled in the soft limestone by the natural elements. The Sphinx and Babele (The Old Women) are the best known, but there are several other oddly shaped formations throughout the park – the Twins, the Frog, the Dolphin, the Lizard, the Emperor, and the Dog.
Rich fauna and flora – one of the main reasons for establishing the park was the rich wildlife that can be found in the Bucegi Mountains. There are over 3,500 animal species and 4,500 plant species in the park, including several rare or endemic ones, such as the iconic “floare de colt” (edelweiss).
The first train station was built in 1913 by the company "Demeter Cartner" and the second a little later and it was reserved exclusively for the royal family, and guests, respectively foreign state leaders.
On the station platform of Sinaia is a plaque in the memory of the Romanian Prime Minister Ion Gheorghe Duca assassinated by the legionnaires in 1933, right there. It is an important railway station where trains like Orient Express and Arlberg Express stopped at the beginning of the century.
The architect Duiliu Marcu built the Royal Station in 1939. It is a Romanian-style stone building, wearing the royal insignia of Carol II. Here you can also find the Miniature Railway Museum.
La Tunuri-Vila Economant
The Complex "La Tunuri-Vila Economat" is located on the Royal Peleş Domain, in the courtyard of the 2 famous castles: Peleş and Pelişor.The name "La Tunuri" is represented by authentic cannons located on the terrace of the coffee bar, purchased by King Carol I and used in 1877,in the Independence War against Turkey. The two cannons are the symbol of this tourist complex, but also an attraction for tourists.
www.caferegalpeles.ro/index_en.html
Hotel Rina Sinaia
Located in the middle of the royal resort Sinaia, Rina Sinaia Hotel represents the benchmark for a perfect comfort experience.
You can find a real diversity of restaurants in Sinaia, sometimes making it difficult to choose where to have your meal. Here are some of our recommendations.
Forest Restaurant
Located behind the Ioana hotel, among the trees, is the ideal place where you can dine, if you want to be on your own in the middle of nature.
The diverse and tasty menu offers products such as Black Angus or Wagyu beef and many dishes.
www.ioana-hotels.ro/forest-restaurant-menu/
Kuib
The place to enjoy the simple things with your loved ones, where you can have fun accompanied by a bottle of wine and where gastronomy is truly regarded as an art, is closer than you think. Try their delicious kebabs with zucchini rolls and mushrooms, stew or a unique combination of Moldavian food: halibut fillet with apple slices cooked in the oven.
https://www.kuib.ro/?lang=en
Carol Gastro Bierhaus
A cozy and warm restaurant with a German flavor near Peleș and Pelișor Castles. They carefully select their products so they can cook tasty, fresh and healthy food. They are fluent in English, French and Spanish.
https://carolpeles.ro
Cabana Schiori
Their cuisine awaits you with delicious traditional Romanian dishes. Good mood is maintained by local musicians, appreciated by all the customers. Besides the rich menu that the restaurant owns, they invite you to taste some of their specialties, such as: cold snacks platter, hunting dishes, Dracula schnitzel, fried trout, Schiori plateau and fried dumplings.
www.cabana-schiori.ro/restaurant-en.html
Cafeteria Regal
Located in the La Tunuri- Vila Economat complex, don't miss this great "cofetarie" for a mouth-watering selection of Romanian treats like " savarina" , a very traditional bun made with vanilla syrup, creme, and jam - nothing like a donut, and utterly delicious!
www.caferegalpeles.ro/terasa.htm