If you wake up in Brașov and crave fresh corduroy, you’re in the right place. Four resorts sit within an hour: home turf Poiana Brașov, the Prahova Valley trio of Azuga, Bușteni, and Sinaia, plus a maze of groomers that now stretch to nearly 40 kilometers combined.

Here’s a local’s 2025 playbook: which slopes to ride first, when lift lines shrink, and the hotels that make it easy to click in before everyone else.

Quick mountain snapshot

  • Season window

    Mid Dec – early Apr

    Poiana usually opens in early December; Sinaia’s high plateau often rides through early April.

  • Highest lift

    2,090 m

    Gondola Sinaia drops you on the Bucegi plateau above the tree line—great snow when Poiana is springlike.

  • Total marked runs

    ≈43 km

    Across the four areas: 19.7 km in Sinaia, 13.7 km in Poiana, 6.9 km in Azuga, 2.9 km in Bușteni.

  • Night laps

    Evenings

    Bradul (Poiana) and Kalinderu (Bușteni) light up for post‑work turns when conditions allow.

Poiana Brașov

Groomed piste and spruce forest in Poiana Brașov Photo: Mihai Vlasceanu on Pexels

Romania’s flagship resort now offers 13.7 km of pistes and 5 km of marked ski routes, served by 10 lifts between 941 m and 1,783 m. Twelve signed slopes range from the long, cruiser Drumul Roșu to the steeper Ruia and Subteleferic faces. Snow sticks for 4–5 months most winters, and the Postăvarul Express gondola moves early birds quickly above the queues.

Beginners can lap Bradul and Stadion beside the base village. Intermediates should ride the gondola before 9:30 to enjoy uncrowded groomers on Sulinar and Lupului. On stormy days, the mid-mountain trees shelter the snow better than the exposed ridgeline.

Live status, webcams, and lift tickets: check the official Poiana slopes board.

Azuga: Sorica & Cazacu

Gondola rising through fog above fir trees near Azuga Photo: Azuga Ski & Bike Resort (official gallery)

Azuga sits 35 km south of Brașov and strings together 6.9 km of pistes on the twin Sorica and Cazacu slopes (978–1,539 m). A single gondola lifts you to both peaks; Sorica’s long blue is a forgiving top-to-bottom run, while Cazacu holds firmer snow for carving and race training.

The resort’s hotel is under renovation until May 2025, so day-trip from Brașov or overnight in nearby Bușteni/Sinaia and drive 10–15 minutes for first chair. Expect the best coverage from mid January to mid March.

Tickets and gondola info: Telegondola Azuga.

Bușteni: Kalinderu slope

Red cable cars passing above a snowy valley Photo: Morteza FarkhondePour on Unsplash

Kalinderu is compact—2.9 km of runs and two lifts between 1,000 m and 1,295 m—but it’s a fun add-on when Prahova Valley traffic is light. The main red run has consistent pitch and reliable grooming; a short beginner area sits at the base. Arrive after lunch for quieter laps while day-trippers head home.

Slope map and opening hours: Kalinderu trail info.

Sinaia high plateau

Gondola over a snowy ridge near the Cota 2000 plateau Photo: Jorgen Hendriksen on Unsplash

Sinaia offers the biggest mileage near Brașov: 19.7 km of pistes plus 5 km of ski routes, split between the forested Cota 1400 sector and the wide-open Cota 2000 plateau. Twelve lifts, including two gondolas, keep queues manageable and put you on wind-buffed chalk above the treeline when lower resorts are thawing.

Ride the plateau in the morning—visibility can drop fast after noon. Confident skiers can finish with the steep valley run back toward town; everyone else should download on the gondola to avoid scraped steeps.

Conditions, passes, and which lifts are spinning: Gondola Sinaia live board.

When to go & passes

  • Sweet spot: mid January to late February for consistent snowpack on all four hills.

  • Weekday wins: Tuesdays and Wednesdays have the shortest lines at Postăvarul Express and Gondola Sinaia.

  • Night skiing: check Bradul (Poiana) and Kalinderu (Bușteni) schedules before you commit; they open only when coverage is solid.

  • Passes (2024/2025): Poiana day pass is ~220 RON; Sinaia day pass is ~230 RON. Poiana uses its own reloadable card; Sinaia’s One Pass covers both gondola sections and main chairs.

Where to stay

  • Poiana Brașov: Teleferic Grand Hotel (slope-side by Subteleferic) or Ana Hotels Sport & Spa for quick access to Bradul and Postăvarul Express.

  • Sinaia: Hotel Sinaia sits on the main boulevard with the Silena Mountain Spa—good for early gondola starts and post-ski recovery.

  • Azuga/Bușteni: Until Azuga’s on-mountain hotel reopens in May 2025, base yourself in Bușteni or Sinaia and drive up for Sorica/Cazacu laps.

Getting here from Brașov

By car: Poiana is 12 km (about 25 minutes) on the DJ1E mountain road. Azuga, Bușteni, and Sinaia sit on DN1; leave before 7:30 to beat weekend traffic through Predeal.

By train: Brașov–Sinaia IC trains take ~1h10 and drop you a short taxi ride from Gondola Sinaia; Azuga and Bușteni stops are even closer to their base areas.

Want a refresher on local transport? See our Brașov transportation guide.

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