Transfagarasan Highway & Balea Lake private tour from Sibiu

The Transfagarasan: one of Europe's most dramatic mountain roads, driven end to end in a single day.

A full-day private tour from Sibiu that covers the Transfagarasan Highway through the Fagaras Mountains, the glacial Balea Lake at 2034 meters, the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey of Carta, and the Baroque Palace and Garden in Avrig. An English-speaking guide drives an air-conditioned car, handles the route and timing, and picks you up from your Sibiu hotel. Winter bookings are available. The hiking section to Balea Lake becomes a cable car ride when snow closes the trail.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Transfagarasan and local landmarks

• Drive the Transfagarasan mountain road
• Visit the Cistercian Abbey from Cârţa
• Tour the Brukenthal Palace and park

The experience

The Transfagarasan is a single road that runs 90 kilometers through the Fagaras Mountains and holds more tunnels and viaducts than any other highway in Romania. You travel it in full on this tour, climbing to the highest altitude pass in the region. The route itself is the draw: hairpin turns, mountain views, and the engineering that makes the road possible are what fill the day.

Balea Lake sits at 2034 meters and formed in a glacial cirque. In summer, you can hike from Balea Waterfall to reach it. In winter, a cable car carries you up instead. The Abbey of Carta preserves 15th-century stonework (capitals, keystones, windows and the western portal), and still stands as an evangelical church. The Brukenthal Palace in Avrig dates to 1788 and was built as a summer residence for Baron Samuel von Brukenthal. The Baroque architecture and landscaped grounds are the main draw there. Your guide speaks English and drives the full ten hours, so the day is structured around the road and the stops, not around your navigation.

Entrance fees to the Fortified Church at Carta and the Brukenthal Palace are not included and run about €6 per site. The tour works year-round, though winter closes the hiking trail to Balea Lake: the cable car substitutes for it. You'll need a moderate level of fitness for the day. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns.

What’s included

• Transport in an air-conditioned car with pickup and drop-off at your Sibiu hotel.
• an English-speaking guide for the full day.
• a map of Romania.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

AgesAdult (5 to 80 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 32 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 6.82

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Carpathian Travel Center

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to drive the Transfagarasan in full without handling the route yourself: the guide manages the ten hours and the stops, so you focus on the road and the landscape. A moderate level of fitness is needed for the day. It is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries or serious cardiovascular concerns.

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Top questions

What is the Transfagarasan and why is it famous?

The Transfagarasan is a 90-kilometer mountain highway running through the Fagaras range in Romania. It holds more tunnels and viaducts than any other road in the country and is considered one of the most spectacular roads in the world, with dramatic elevation changes and engineering that makes it a destination in itself.

Can I do this tour in winter?

Yes, the tour runs year-round. In winter, the hiking section from Balea Waterfall to Balea Lake closes due to snow, so you take a cable car to reach the lake instead. The rest of the Transfagarasan route and the other stops remain accessible.

What is included in the price?

Transport in an air-conditioned car, pickup and drop-off at your Sibiu hotel, an English-speaking guide for the full ten hours, and a map of Romania are included. Entrance fees to the Fortified Church at Carta and the Brukenthal Palace in Avrig are separate and cost approximately €6 per site.

How high is Balea Lake and what will I do there?

Balea Lake sits at 2034 meters elevation in a glacial cirque. In summer you can hike to it from Balea Waterfall. In winter a cable car takes you up. Either way, you'll have time to walk around the lake and take in the alpine landscape before heading to the next stop.

What is the Brukenthal Palace?

The Brukenthal Palace in Avrig is a Baroque stately home built in 1788 as the summer residence of Transylvanian Baron Samuel von Brukenthal. The palace itself and its large landscaped park are open to visitors and showcase 18th-century aristocratic architecture and grounds.