Viseu de Sus · Sovata · Moldovita · steam and diesel
Which mocanita do you ride?
Three narrow-gauge lines with official programs and fares: Viseu, Sovata and Moldovita. Below: the verdict by what you want, the fare comparison and the measured drives.
The quick verdict
Pick by what you want: the big steam day, the easy weekend or the minimum budget. Fares are from the operators' own sites.
| The full steam day | Viseu de Sus | About 6 h return through the Vaser valley, departing 09:00 or 10:00. May–October daily; in winter Thu–Sun (Jan–Apr) and Fri–Sun (Nov–Dec). Standard adult 136 lei. |
|---|---|---|
| An easy weekend from the center | Sovata | Sovata–Campu Cetatii 14 km, about 2 h return. Fri–Sun 10:00 and 13:30; Mon–Thu closed. Adult 80 lei, child 50, senior 70. |
| Steam in Bucovina | Moldovita–Argel | Steam loco, 25 km, 3 h return. Adult 60 lei, child 35. Cash only; days with no seats are missing from the calendar. |
| Minimum budget + monastery | Moldovita–Vatra Moldovitei | Diesel, 10 km, 1 h 40 return: adult 30 lei, child 20. The break allows a visit to Moldovita Monastery. Cash only, booking required. |
| Winter and off-season | Viseu de Sus | The only one with a month-by-month program published for 2026: in winter it runs Thu–Sun (Jan–Apr) and Fri–Sun (Nov–Dec). The other two show runs in the calendar only. |
| With lunch included | Viseu, the Special package | 198 lei adult (189 student/pensioner, 149 pupil): ticket + grill + coffee + soft drink + pastry. Easter, Christmas and New Year run a different program and fares. |
Access, measured by road
The three stations sit in Maramures, Transylvania and Bucovina; below, the drives from four cities.
Method: OSRM car routes on OpenStreetMap, measured on 17 September 2026. Times are continuous driving, no stops, one way.
| From | To | km | min |
|---|---|---|---|
| București | Vișeu de Sus | 525.6 | 547 |
| București | Sovata | 334.6 | 322 |
| București | Moldovița | 497.0 | 397 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Vișeu de Sus | 165.8 | 193 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Sovata | 161.2 | 150 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Moldovița | 256.0 | 340 |
| Brașov | Vișeu de Sus | 340.8 | 387 |
| Brașov | Sovata | 149.8 | 163 |
| Brașov | Moldovița | 384.2 | 421 |
| Iași | Vișeu de Sus | 310.1 | 402 |
| Iași | Sovata | 276.0 | 319 |
| Iași | Moldovița | 189.6 | 223 |
Shortest drive on the list: Brasov–Sovata, 149.8 km / 2 h 43 (measured).
The lines, one by one
Official fares, compared
From the three operators' sites. At Moldovita payment is cash only; at Viseu, holidays carry separate fares.
| Run | Fare | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Viseu Standard | adult 136 · student/pensioner 126 · pupil 95 | about 6 h |
| Viseu Special (with meal) | adult 198 · student/pensioner 189 · pupil 149 | about 6 h |
| Sovata | adult 80 · child 50 · senior 70 | about 2 h |
| Moldovita–Argel, steam | adult 60 · child 35 | 3 h |
| Moldovita–Vatra, diesel | adult 30 · child 20 | 1 h 40 |
At Moldovita, under-3s ride free without a seat. Sovata group rates by phone.
Vișeu de Sus the 6-hour day
- About 6 h return through the Vaser valley; departing 09:00 or 10:00 in the morning.
- 2026: May–October daily; Jan–Apr Thu–Sun; Nov–Dec Fri–Sun (timetable page).
- Standard: adult 136, student/pensioner 126, pupil 95 lei; Special with meal: 198/189/149. Holidays: different program and fares.
Tickets: Buy online in advance from the shop; platform access with a ticket only.
Sovata Friday–Sunday
- Sovata–Campu Cetatii 14 km, 760 mm gauge; about 2 h return.
- Fri–Sun 10:00 and 13:30; Mon–Thu closed. Times vary by season — check the calendar.
- Adult 80, child (4–14) 50, seniors 70 lei. Be at the station 30 minutes before departure.
Tickets: Book from the calendar on the site; group rates by phone.
Moldovița cash only
- Argel: steam, 25 km, 3 h return, 60/35 lei. Vatra: diesel, 10 km, 1 h 40, 30/20 lei.
- Booking required; no show 15 minutes before and it is cancelled. Under-3 free, no seat.
- No static timetable: days missing from the calendar have no seats all day. Cash only.
Tickets: Book online, pay cash at the counter; station parking 9 lei.
Abrud–Campeni, Covasna–Comandau and Sibiu–Agnita have no regular official program published for 2026 — so they are not in the comparison.
Practical
Tickets
At Viseu choose between Standard and the Special with meal. At Sovata and Moldovita fares are on the operators' sites, and the exact day is checked in the calendar.
Bookings
At Moldovita booking is required and lapses without check-in 15 minutes ahead. At Sovata arrive 30 minutes before departure.
Money
At Moldovita payment is cash only — including station parking (9 lei). At Viseu buy online; holiday fares differ.
Bases
Brasov is closest to Sovata (149.8 km); Cluj to Viseu (165.8); Iasi to Moldovita (189.6). From Bucharest the shortest is Sovata: 334.6 km.
Questions
Which mocanita should I pick?
For the big steam day: Viseu. For an easy weekend: Sovata. For Bucovina on a small budget: Moldovita — steam to Argel or diesel to Vatra Moldovitei.
Are they all steam?
No. Viseu, Sovata and Moldovita–Argel run on steam; Moldovita–Vatra Moldovitei is a diesel run.
Do I need a booking?
At Moldovita yes, required — and it lapses without check-in 15 minutes ahead. At Viseu and Sovata buy online in time, from the shop and the calendar respectively.
Can I pay by card?
Not at Moldovita: cash only, as announced on the site. At Viseu tickets are bought online; at Sovata check the terms in the booking calendar.
Do they run in winter?
Viseu publishes a program for the whole of 2026: in winter Thu–Sun (Jan–Apr) and Fri–Sun (Nov–Dec). Note: the operator's homepage gives slightly different off-season days — verify the exact day in the shop.
How long is the drive?
Measured examples: Cluj–Viseu 165.8 km / 3 h 13; Brasov–Sovata 149.8 / 2 h 43; Iasi–Moldovita 189.6 / 3 h 43; Bucharest–Sovata 334.6 / 5 h 22.