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This very famous ski resort is situated in the narrow throat of the Prahova River valley in high altitude 800-930 m n.p.m., at the foot of the Bucegi mountains covered with fir trees.

Already in the 17th century. a monastery was built here, but the town became fashionable only thanks to King Charles I., which in 1870 r. he chose her for his summer residence.

W 1879 r. a railway line was drawn from Bucharest and soon the cream of the capital began to draw here, by setting itself among the trees on the slopes of imposing mansions and villas. Do 1920 r. the Predeal pass, just north of Sinai, running Hungarian-Romanian border.

For practical reasons, the region is included in the Transylvania section, at least partly belongs to Wallachia.

Orientation and information

The train station is located directly below the center. It exits the stairs across the street onto the busy Carol I boulevard. On the left you will see the Hotel Montana and the cable car station, and above on the right – monastery and palaces. Luggage storage at the train station is open 24 hours a day.

Code for Sinai: 044.

Tourist offices – Tourist Office (pn.-pt. 8.00-20.00, sb. 9.00-14.00, nd. 9.00-12.00), Octavian Goga street 9-11, opposite the Villa Parc, reportedly sells tourist maps of the Bucegi Mountains, but in reality his officials don't know very well, what is a real tourist map.

SurMont Sports, a few houses away, offers schematic maps of the mountains, skis, imported tents and tourist equipment.

Money – The only place, where travelers' checks are exchanged, jest Banca Comerciala Romana przy bulevardul Carol I, right behind the Montana Hotel (pn.-pt. 8.00-11.00).

Sightseeing and leisure

There are stairs from the train station, turns left and immediately right on the Octavian Goga strade, which - having passed Villa Parc – turns left by the casino. Stairs lead from here to the Sinaia Monastery, so named after the biblical Mount Sinai, from which the founder brought the cornerstone for the construction of the local monastery. To the left of the great church of 1846 r. stands the older temple of 1695 r., decorated with original frescoes. Next to the first one there is a small historical museum.

The road leading to Peles Castle begins right behind the monastery (1883), the former royal palace, turned into a private residence for communist apparatchiks during Ceausescu's times. Admission for Romanians costs money 2,50 $, for foreigners – two times more. The main building, crowned with pointed towers and turrets, erected in the style of the German Renaissance, enriched with oriental elements, for the Prussian prince Charles I., the first king of Romania (reigned in the years 1866-1914). On weekends, the queue of people willing to visit can be very long, but the magnificent interior is really worth seeing. It is one of the most beautiful castles in the whole country.

A few hundred meters from the main palace there is a smaller "pseudo-medieval one” Pelisor palace. It was built for the son of Charles I., Ferdinand, and it was decorated in the Art Nouveau style by Queen Maria. Admission costs 2 $. Pelisor, Peles and the monastery are closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Sinaia is a great base for hiking in the Bucegi Mountains. Even very motionless people can take the cable car from the Hotel Montana na Cota 1400 (station next to the Alpin hotel) and then by cable car or ski lift to Cota 2000 (near the Miorita shelter). The ticket for the entire route costs one way 6 $; queues should be open Tue-Sun. 8.00-15.45, although in the fall 1997 r. the second one was renovated.

Accommodation

Camping – The nearest one is in Izvorul Rece, 4 km south of the center of Sinai, but with a stop on the boulevardul Carol I., behind the Montana Hotel, there are only three buses a day.

Private accommodation – It's best to hang around the train station for a few minutes - willing to rent a room (6-9 $ from person) they will report themselves.

Hotels – Villa Parc is the cheapest (ir313856), at the strada Octavian Goga, 50 m in front of the Palace hotel. Single / double costs here 8/12 $.

In the elegant Palace hotel (tel.312051), Octavian Goga street 4, founded in 1911 r., you pay for a room with a bathroom 44/60 $. Hotel vouchers are accepted (sold at the reception).

In the tall Montana hotel (tel.312751), at the bulevardul Carol I., near the cable car, single / double with bathroom costs 18/30 $.

Journey

Sinaia is situated on the Bucharest-Brasov railway line – 126 km from the first and 45 km from the second. All express lines and numerous local trains to Busteni stop here (8 km), Predealu (19 km) and Brasov.