Poiana Brașov · Sinaia · Păltiniș · Azuga · Bușcat
Where do you ski this winter?
Five resorts, five different answers. Below: the verdict by your base and budget, the comparator with official 2025–2026 pass prices, and measured road access.
The quick verdict
Pick by your base, budget and party. Distances are measured by road (OSRM/OpenStreetMap).
| Weekend from Bucharest | Sinaia (+ Azuga on day two) | 140.6 km to Sinaia, 12.4 km on to Azuga: 25 slopes on Saturday, Sorica on Sunday. Sinaia pass 210/230 lei. |
|---|---|---|
| The ski week | Poiana Brașov | 12 slopes, snow 4–5 months a year, 6-day pass 900 lei. The biggest resort; the priciest day rate: 240 lei. |
| Minimum budget | Păltiniș off-peak | 115 lei for an adult day off-peak (29 Nov–19 Dec, 12 Jan–8 Feb, 2–15 Mar). Peak: 165 lei. |
| Night skiing | Păltiniș or Poiana | Păltiniș: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 17:00–21:00. Poiana: the Bradul slope (430 m, easy). |
| With small kids | Bușcat | Under-4s free, a beginners slope with babylift, adult day 170/195 lei. 60 km from Cluj. |
| Pay per ride | Azuga (Sorica) | No day pass required: points cards, one ascent = 2 points. Day pass 220 lei with unlimited rides. |
Access, measured by road
How many kilometres you drive from town to slope. Every leg is measured by road, not as the crow flies.
Method: OSRM car routes on OpenStreetMap, measured on 17 September 2026. Times are continuous driving, no stops, one way.
| From | To | km | min |
|---|---|---|---|
| București | Sinaia | 140.6 | 118 |
| Sinaia | Azuga | 12.4 | 15 |
| București | Poiana Brașov | 187.4 | 175 |
| Brașov | Poiana Brașov | 11.5 | 19 |
| Sibiu | Păltiniș | 33.5 | 42 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Băișoara | 37.1 | 46 |
Bușcat is 3 km past Băișoara (operator's site).
The resorts, one by one
Compare all five
Prices are the officially published ones for the 2025–2026 season. Where the official page is silent, the table is silent.
| Resort | 1-day pass | Slopes | Night | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poiana Brașov | 240 lei | 12 | Bradul | Brașov: 11.5 km |
| Sinaia | 210/230 lei | 25 | — | Bucharest: 140.6 km |
| Păltiniș | 115/165 lei | A, B, D, E | Wed + Sat | Sibiu: 33.5 km |
| Azuga | 220 lei | Sorica + Cazacu | — | Sinaia: 12.4 km |
| Bușcat | 170/195 lei | 6 | — | Cluj: 37.1 km + 3 |
Two figures = weekday / weekend (Sinaia, Bușcat) or off-peak / peak (Păltiniș). Azuga also sells points; Poiana has from-11:00, 13:00 and 14:00 rates.
Poiana Brașov the biggest
- «The biggest and most modern Romanian tourist resort» (official site); 12 slopes under Postăvaru, top 1799 m.
- Snow cover lasts 4–5 months a year; beginners get the Bradul and Stadion slopes.
- Night skiing on Bradul (430 m, easy); cards rechargeable online.
Passes: 1-day pass 240 lei adult / 140 child (6–12); 6-day 900/480; from 14:00 only 100/60. Season 2025–2026.
Sinaia 25 slopes
- 25 slopes from cota 2000 down to cota 1000, plus Valea Soarelui and Valea Dorului; 11 lifts.
- One PASS: a single card for all lifts; tickets online.
- Legal holidays and school holidays pay weekend rates.
Passes: 1-day pass 210 lei (Mon–Fri) / 230 (weekend); 2-day 395; 3-day 520. Points cards 100–825 lei.
Păltiniș night skiing
- 2025–2026 season: 29 Nov–15 Mar, in 3 off-peak and 2 peak periods.
- Night skiing Wednesdays and Saturdays, 17:00–21:00; slopes A, B, D, E plus a beginners band.
- Under-6s with a parent pass: 20 lei/day.
Passes: Mon–Fri adult day 115 lei off-peak / 165 peak; weekend 145 (off-peak); season 1995. Points: 30 pts 115 lei.
Azuga points
- Sorica + Cazacu ski domain, run by the town's company; tariffs set by council decision.
- Winter season 28 Nov 2025–28 Feb 2026; tariffs include VAT.
- One chairlift ascent = 2 points; the baby-ski band = 1 point.
Passes: Day pass 220 lei, unlimited rides; 4 hours 160; return trip 40. Points: 30 pts 190 lei, 60 pts 330.
Bușcat near Cluj
- Bușcat peak 1676 m, 60 km from Cluj-Napoca and 3 km from Băișoara; chairlift 3000 persons/hour.
- 6 slopes: green 1700 m, blue 1300, black 900, red 800, beginners 150 m with babylift, sled 200 m.
- Under-4s free; parking 30 RON/day, 50 overnight.
Passes: Adult day pass 170 lei (Mon–Fri) / 195 (weekend); 2-day 290; 5-day 620; season 2700. Under-120 cm reduced.
Straja, Predeal and Rânca are missing here: with no official tariff page we publish no figures — see Questions.
Practical
Passes
At Sinaia and Bușcat weekends cost more; at Păltiniș the period matters (off-peak or peak), not the day. Holidays and school breaks pay weekend rates at Sinaia.
Season
Păltiniș publishes the whole calendar: 29 Nov 2025–15 Mar 2026. Poiana advertises snow 4–5 months a year. Azuga: winter season until 28 Feb 2026.
Money
Cheapest adult day: Păltiniș off-peak, 115 lei. Priciest: Poiana, 240. Every price here is for the 2025–2026 season.
Slope conditions
Snow cover changes daily — no table captures it. Check the operators' webcams before you go (links under Sources).
Questions
What is the cheapest ski day?
Păltiniș off-peak: 115 lei for an adult day. Next come Bușcat midweek (170) and Sinaia (210). Poiana is priciest: 240 lei.
Where is there night skiing?
At Păltiniș (Wednesdays and Saturdays, 17:00–21:00) and on the Bradul slope at Poiana Brașov (430 m, easy). Sinaia, Azuga and Bușcat publish no night hours.
Why are Straja, Predeal and Rânca missing?
Straja: the official site returned errors on every access on 17 September 2026. Predeal and Rânca: no official tariff page found. With no official source we publish no figures.
When does the season start?
Păltiniș opens 29 November 2025; Azuga sells its winter season from 28 November 2025. Poiana promises snow 4–5 months a year, with no fixed opening date.
Where do I take a beginner?
Bușcat (beginners slope with babylift, near Cluj) or Poiana (Bradul/Stadion). At Azuga you pay per ride, not per day — good for the first hours.
How far is it from Bucharest?
Sinaia 140.6 km / about 2 h; Poiana 187.4 km / about 3 h (measured). Brașov to Poiana: 11.5 km. Cluj to Bușcat: 37.1 km + 3.