Nestled amongst the forests in the Bucegi Mountains of Romania is Sinaia, a town named for the large monastery it was built around.
This was one of my favorite destinations in Romania, probably in part because it reminds me of my hometown. It’s deep within a forest, and the town itself is also full of trees! It has a very cozy atmosphere no matter where you go!
Arrival
If you arrive in Sinaia by train like I did, then you’ll be surprised by the view as soon as you walk out of the train station doors.
Just across the street, you’ll find Dimitrie Ghica Park, complete with a giant fountain, grassy pathways, and plenty of shade! At one end is the old Casino Sinaia, which now serves as more of an event center than anything. You can go inside, and if you need bathrooms, that’s where you’ll find them!
From here, you can easily reach the monastery just by heading uphill. It’s hard to miss!
The Sinaia Monastery
When I visited the monastery, there were two big things that impacted my experience: construction, and the fact that we visited on a Sunday.
Much of the monastery’s exterior was covered with scaffolding, making it harder to see the architecture. This was definitely a negative for me, but I don’t let it overshadow my experience by any means!
Visiting on a Sunday meant that people were attending the church service as we walked the grounds. We could hear hymns echoing out of the church tower from inside, and crowds of people filled the building.
Now, this doesn’t restrict you from entering at all, but I would definitely advise wearing modest clothing. You don’t have to be as covered as you would in a mosque, but just be mindful of how you’re dressed.
While I could have taken pictures, I felt strange doing so. Standing inside the monastery felt intensely spiritual despite the fact that I don’t follow their faith. So I settled with just taking pictures of the outside of the monastery. Luckily, there was a smaller building in front of it that I got some great pictures of!
In fact, if you’re going, I would absolutely recommend going on a Sunday, as it will add so much more to your experience!
Much of Romania is Orthodox, so their churches and monasteries are built in that style. They’re covered in art of the saints, all wreathed in gold and shiny colors!
Peleș Castle
From the monastery, it’s a fairly easy walk to Peleș Castle.
You’ll pass through a big market that sells various things, from clothes to boomerangs to Sinaia-themed merchandise. Whether you choose to buy anything is up to you! I personally didn’t.
The walk is pretty nice, too! The walkway is paved stone, with trees overshadowing both sides and providing plenty of shelter from the sun. Eventually, you’ll be able to see Peleș castle in the distance across a small river. There’s also a great spot to take some pictures in view of the castle!
It looks a lot smaller than I expected it to, but it feels so much bigger on the inside!
We took a guided tour. You don’t have to, but your experience might differ from mine if you don’t.
The castle is actually pretty new relative to a lot of European castles. It was built with electricity, telegram, and more in it from the beginning!
That doesn’t detract in any way from the majesty of this castle, though! Every single inch of this place is amazingly ornate, from the walls and stairs in the main entrance to the smallest side room. Whether it’s carved, painted, wallpapered, or simply carpeted, it feels like something straight out of a period piece!
At the very end of the tour you’ll find yourself in a gift shop with magnets, shirts, and other souvenirs. I got myself a magnet, as that’s usually my souvenir of choice!
Exploring Sinaia
At this point, we had more freedom to explore the town since our scheduled tour was done.
We made our way back towards the park then broke off into smaller groups. Some people wanted to leave early to go back to our home base in Predeal, while others (including me) wanted to stay and explore some more.
This included getting some food and walking around some shops.
I visited the Bistro 27 restaurant with a couple of friends, where we tried some traditional Romanian food and had a white wine spritzer that some Romanians told us to try. It was really good! We mixed sparkling water with white wine and added a big ice cube in the middle of the drink. The temperature definitely played a part in the taste!
From here, we relaxed at the park for a while. I went off exploring up a street by the monastery in search of the gondola. I never found it, but if I had had signal, then it wouldn’t have been as much of an issue. It was in a completely different direction than I went!
If you find yourself in a similar situation, know that the casino has free wifi!
After spending some time relaxing at the park, we headed over to the train station and returned to Predeal to meet the students for our next summer camp session!
Conclusion
I loved Sinaia and really wanted to go back. There’s a giant resort in the town, and it would serve you really well as a hub for adventures around central Romania!
Bușteni, home to Cantacuzino Castle, is only a short train ride away from Sinaia, and Brasov isn’t much further!
Questions, comments, concerns? Let me know below. I’ll get back to them ASAP!
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