Arriving in winter wonderland and stepping into a story with kings and queens of the Netflix original movie A Christmas Prince!
Hidden into the forest, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, Peles Castle is definitely one of the most charming and romantic castles in Europe. Its unique architecture and fairy-tale location makes Peles Castle the most beautiful sight in Romania and a truly hidden gem you should visit once in a life time.
Inspired by Bavarian architecture style, Peles Castle was built as a royal residence for Carol I, Romania’s first king. There are over 150 rooms into the castle and secret passages, beautifully decorated with wooden furniture, a rich collection of ceramics, paintings, watches, guns, gold and silver pieces purchased by the royal family during the history.
The nearby Pelisor Castle (Little Peles) was built for the royal family and it looks more like a hidden into the forest house rather than a castle. Smaller than Peles Castle, but not less romantic, its interior is rich in history and art as well, being designed by Queen Mary by collecting Romanian traditions all over the country.
~Top sights in Sinaia~
Peles Castle
Pelisor Castle (Little Peles)
George Enescu memorial house
Sinaia Monastery
Mountain hikes and winter sports
How to get there
You can get to Peles Castle as a day trip from Bucharest (127 km away) or Brasov (40 km away). It is easily accessible by car and by train as well. If you opt for train, you should note some inside tips regarding the trains railways in Romania. Beside the national train railways , there are private trains companies which work better: they are more comfortable, the prices are lower and the delays are lesser. For this trip, I arrived by train, with Softrans private train line. The tickets could be bought on line or directly from the train controller.
Where to eat
My favorite restaurant when I am visiting Sinaia is Taverna Sarbului (address: Calea Codrului 39 E, Sinaia 106100). Here you will find good food in a very traditional location. Some of my favorite Romanian traditional specialties you can find at almost all the local restaurants: beans soup with smoked pork served in bread, polenta with cheese and cream, baked potatoes, Romanian donuts with sour cream and berries jam (papanași).
The surroundings
Brasov is a charming medieval city, surrounded by mountains, a good place to spend quality time, with lots of restaurants, cosy cafes and view spots. It is also a good option for accommodation if you visit Romania, the city itself and the surroundings being a beautiful region to explore.
Bran Castle (well known as Dracula’s Castle) located at 30 km away from Brasov is reachable only by car.
Cantacuzino Castle is located in Busteni at only 7 km away from Sinaia, reachable also only by car. It is a beautiful castle, surrounded by mountains, offering good views and a pleasant way to spent few hours.
Leave a Reply