Transfagarasan Road Tour: Poienari Fortress & Balea Lake

A 90-kilometer mountain road built by Ceausescu's regime now carries you to a glacial lake at 2,042 meters.

This private tour from Bucharest follows the Transfagarasan Road (a 90-kilometer mountain highway through the Fagaras Mountains) to Balea Lake, stopping at Poienari Fortress and Curtea de Argeș along the way. Your guide explains the real history behind Vlad the Impaler and his fortress stronghold, then drives you up the highest road in Romania to a glacial lake at the summit. The tour runs 12 hours and includes hotel pickup, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and an English-speaking guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Poenari Castle15m
2. Transfagarasan Highway3h

Transfagarasan Road and Balea Lake Tour

• Pick up from Bucharest
• Drive to Curtea de Argeș
• Stop for coffee in Curtea de Argeș
• Visit Poienari Fortress ruins
• Drive along Transfagarasan Road
• Stop at Capra Waterfall viewpoint
• Visit Vidraru Lake and Dam
• Reach Balea Lake summit
• Drive back to Bucharest

The experience

The day starts with a 90-minute drive from Bucharest to Curtea de Argeș, the former capital of Wallachia, where you stop for coffee before heading to Poienari Fortress. The ruins sit high on a cliff overlooking the Arges River at the foothills of the Carpathians. Built in the 13th century and later fortified by Vlad the Impaler, the castle stands as the real fortress behind the Dracula legend: your guide walks you through why the historical prince became the fictional vampire. When Turkish forces attacked in 1462, Vlad escaped through a secret passageway that still runs north through the mountains.

From there, the Transfagarasan Road itself becomes your destination. The highway stretches 90 kilometers and required 6,500 tons of dynamite to break through the Fagaras Mountains, the tallest range in Romania. It climbs to 2,042 meters near Balea Lake, making it the second-highest road in the country. The drive passes Vidraru Lake and Dam, built between 1960 and 1966, and Capra Waterfall at 1,650 meters altitude. The road itself is the experience: engineered as a Cold War infrastructure project, it now offers the kind of mountain driving that made it famous on television.

You reach Balea Lake at the summit, a glacial lake surrounded by the high peaks where the road ends. From there, the long drive back to Bucharest gives you time to absorb the scale of what you've crossed. The tour is private, so only your group travels together, and your pace is flexible: the guide adjusts stops and timing to what interests you. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the vehicle is air-conditioned for the full 12 hours.

What’s included

• Your tour includes transport by air-conditioned car or minivan.
• pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in Bucharest.
• a professional English-speaking guide for the full 12 hours.
• and flexibility to adjust the pace and stops based on your interests. Free Wi-Fi is available during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 5 Jun 2027

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Day Trip Romania

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so your group travels alone with the guide and sets its own rhythm through the mountains: ideal if you want to linger at Poienari Fortress or spend extra time at Balea Lake without waiting for other travelers. The 12-hour commitment and high-altitude driving mean it suits travelers comfortable with a full day in a vehicle and mountain roads, but the guide adjusts stops and pacing to match your pace.

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Top questions

What is Poienari Fortress and why is it connected to Dracula?

Poienari Fortress is a 13th-century castle on a cliff above the Arges River that Vlad the Impaler fortified and used as one of his main strongholds in the 1460s. When the Turks attacked and captured it in 1462, Vlad escaped through a secret passageway leading north into the mountains. The real historical prince became the basis for the fictional Dracula character, and your guide explains the distinction between the two.

How high does the Transfagarasan Road climb?

The Transfagarasan Road reaches 2,042 meters at its highest point near Balea Lake, making it the second-highest road in Romania. The 90-kilometer highway cuts through the Fagaras Mountains, the tallest range in the country, and required 6,500 tons of dynamite to construct.

What is Balea Lake and what will I see there?

Balea Lake is a glacial lake at the summit of the Transfagarasan Road, surrounded by high mountain peaks. It sits at 2,042 meters altitude and marks the end of the road. From there, you begin the long drive back down to Bucharest.

How long is the full tour and what does it include?

The tour runs 12 hours total and includes transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup and drop-off from your accommodation, an English-speaking guide, and stops at Curtea de Argeș, Poienari Fortress, Vidraru Lake, and Balea Lake. Lunch is not included, but the guide can suggest stops along the route.

Is this tour private or shared with other groups?

This is a private tour, so only your group participates. The guide adjusts the pace and itinerary to your interests, and you travel together in one air-conditioned vehicle for the entire 12 hours.