Brasov Private Tour: Transfagarasan Highway & Poienari Fortress
Ten hours, three mountain landmarks, one car — the Transfagarasan in a single day
A private guided tour from Brasov that covers the Transfagarasan Highway (Romania's second-highest paved road), Balea Lake at 2,040 meters, and Poienari Fortress — the real residence of Vlad Tepes — with round-trip transport, a professional guide and hotel pickup included. The road opens June 7 through October 31; outside those months, the route changes to Balea Waterfall and the monasteries instead. Construction work may extend the day beyond the standard ten hours.
10h
Step-by-step itinerary
Drive Transfagarasan and visit landmarks
- Drive on Transfagarasan Highway
- Visit ruins of Cistercian Abbey of Carta
- Visit Sambata de Sus Monastery
- Hike to Balea Waterfall
- Visit Balea Lake (optional cable car)
- Visit Vidraru Dam
- Visit Poienari Fortress (if open)
The Experience
The tour starts with pickup from your Brasov hotel and heads straight into the Transfagarasan, the mountain road built as a strategic military route and now known as "the Road to the Sky." The drive itself is the first landmark — a 166-meter arch dam creates Lake Vidraru below, and the road climbs through switchbacks that make it one of Europe's most demanding drives. Your guide handles the wheel while you watch the landscape shift from valley to alpine.
Balea Lake sits at 2,040 meters, a natural glacier lake 360 meters long and 11 meters deep. If weather allows, you take the cable car up (an extra 20 euros per person, which includes the guide's ticket). On the way, you hike to Balea Waterfall — the highest step-waterfall in Romania, more than 60 metres tall. The cable car runs only with at least ten people, so confirm availability when you book. When the Transfagarasan closes for winter (November 1 through June 30), the route changes: you drive to Balea Waterfall instead, visit the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey of Carta and Sambata de Sus Monastery, and skip Poienari Fortress and the dam.
Poienari Fortress is the real castle of Vlad Tepes, not the tourist version. Access means climbing 1,480 concrete stairs to the citadel. The fortress operates on a fixed schedule — ascents at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM — so your guide times the day around one of those slots. Along the way, you also see the Abbey of Carta and Sambata de Sus Monastery. Because this is a private tour, the pace and stops are yours to shape; the guide adjusts to your group's interests and fitness level.
What’s included
- Round-trip transport in an air-conditioned car or minivan.
- professional English-speaking guide.
- hotel pickup and drop-off within Brasov city.
Operated by Active Travel Day Tours
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to drive the Transfagarasan at your own pace without navigating the mountain road yourself — the guide handles the switchbacks while you take in the landscape, and the private format means you stop when your group wants to stop. Moderate fitness is needed for the 1,480 stairs to Poienari and the hike to Balea Waterfall, so come prepared for steep terrain and sturdy hiking boots.
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Top questions
When does the Transfagarasan Highway actually open, and what happens if I visit outside those dates?
The Transfagarasan opens June 7 and closes October 31 each year. Outside those months, the tour changes to Balea Waterfall, the Cistercian Abbey of Carta and Sambata de Sus Monastery instead, and Poienari Fortress is not included.
How do I get to Balea Lake, and is there an extra cost?
You reach Balea Lake by cable car if weather permits, and it costs an additional 20 euros per person (the guide's ticket is included in that price). The cable car requires at least ten people to operate, so confirm when you book.
What is Poienari Fortress, and how do I visit it?
Poienari Fortress is the real residential castle of Vlad Tepes. Entry requires climbing 1,480 concrete stairs to reach the citadel. The fortress allows ascents only at fixed times — 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM — so your guide schedules the day around one of those slots.
Is the tour really ten hours, or does construction make it longer?
The standard duration is ten hours, but construction work on the Transfagarasan may extend the day beyond that. Check with the operator before booking for current road conditions.
Does the price change if I'm traveling solo, or do I need a minimum group?
The tour is private to your group, whether you're one person, a couple or a family. There is a rate for one person and a separate rate for a minimum of two people; the operator will quote based on your group size.
Brasov Private Tour: Transfagarasan Highway & Poienari Fortress
10h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 218 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.9174 reviews
