# Transfagarasan: is it open? Romania's greatest mountain road is open only a few months a year — and nobody knows the exact day in advance. Below: every season since 2015, historical odds by week, the Transalpina duel, and everything you need behind the wheel. ## The road in brief ### Transfagarasan · DN7C - Curtea de Arges – Cartisoara, about 90 km of alpine hairpins - High point: 2,042 m at the tunnel — the country's second-highest road - Built 1970–1974, opened 20 September 1974 - Top Gear called it the world's best road in 2009 - Daytime traffic only, 07:00–21:00, on the alpine sector; no toll, but the rovigneta is required - No fuel on the pass: fill up at Cartisoara (north) or Curtea de Arges (south) ### Transalpina · DN67C - Novaci – Sebes, about 140 km; the 1930s King's Road, paved in the late 2000s - Urdele Pass, 2,145 m — the highest road in Romania - Wider and more flowing than the Transfagarasan, with open alpine plateaus - 30 km/h limit on the alpine sector; Ranca (1,600 m) stays reachable in winter from Novaci - Typical non-stop time: about 2 h 45 (Transfagarasan: about 3 h) ## Every season, 2015–2026 - 2026 TF: 12 June 2026 – 1 November 2026 - 2026 TA: 29 May 2026 – 1 November 2026 - 2025 TF: 6 June 2025 – 5 October 2025 - 2025 TA: 6 June 2025 – 5 October 2025 - 2024 TF: 7 June 2024 – 12 November 2024 - 2024 TA: 1 June 2024 – 8 November 2024 - 2023 TF: 21 June 2023 – 6 November 2023 - 2023 TA: 16 June 2023 – 6 November 2023 - 2022 TF: 15 June 2022 – 17 November 2022 - 2022 TA: 1 June 2022 – 17 November 2022 - 2021 TF: 28 June 2021 – 25 October 2021 - 2021 TA: 16 June 2021 – 18 October 2021 - 2020 TF: 1 July 2020 – 20 October 2020 - 2020 TA: 23 May 2020 – 20 October 2020 - 2019 TF: 29 June 2019 – 4 November 2019 - 2019 TA: 5 June 2019 – 29 October 2019 - 2018 TF: 1 July 2018 – 11 November 2018 - 2018 TA: 16 May 2018 – 20 October 2018 - 2017 TF: 16 June 2017 – 1 November 2017 - 2017 TA: 26 May 2017 – 23 October 2017 - 2016 TF: 18 June 2016 – 1 November 2016 - 2016 TA: 11 June 2016 – 1 November 2016 - 2015 TF: 27 June 2015 – 2 November 2015 - 2015 TA: 16 May 2015 – 1 November 2015 ## Transfagarasan or Transalpina? - Highest point: TF 2,042 m (tunnel) / TA 2,145 m (Urdele) — national record - Character: TF Tight hairpins, walls, tunnel / TA Wide curves, open plateaus - Non-stop time: TF About 3 h / TA About 2 h 45 - Crowds: TF Heavy in July–August / TA More breathing room - When closed: TF Ends: Piscu Negru / Balea Waterfall + cable car / TA Novaci – Ranca stays open - First time?: TF If you want the legend / TA If you want the drive ## Driving: what you need to know ### The Balea cable car When the road is closed, Balea Lake (2,034 m) is reachable only by cable car from Balea Waterfall (3.7 km). It runs daily about 09:00–17:00, fixed departures, minimum 10 people; stops in bad weather. The 2026 timetable wasn't public when researched — call first: +40 725 210 610. ### Bears Don't feed or follow bears; feeding is illegal and fined. At an encounter: keep distance, don't run, call 112. ### Help Mountain rescue (Salvamont): 0725 826 668 or 112 (with GPS position). Nearest big ER is Sibiu; southward, Pitesti / Curtea de Arges. ### Rules Alpine sectors run daytime only (07:00–21:00), with low limits (30–40 km/h). The rovigneta is mandatory; the Balea Tunnel (~885 m) is unlit — headlights on. Closed? From the south you get to Piscu Negru / Capra gate, from the north to Balea Waterfall — then the cable car to the lake. Closed? The Novaci – Ranca stretch stays open (under 7.5 t); only Ranca – Obarsia Lotrului shuts. Official live status: the CNAIR dispatch — [dispecerat.andnet.ro](https://dispecerat.andnet.ro/), +40 21 264.33.33, 0800 800.301. There is no search box on [dispecerat.andnet.ro](https://dispecerat.andnet.ro/): use your browser's find (Ctrl+F or ⌘F) and type DN7C for the Transfagarasan or DN67C for the Transalpina. Ignore DN7CC — a different road near Jiblea. ### What the CNAIR dispatch showed on 16 September 2026 - DN7C PISCUL NEGRU (AG) - BALEA CASCADA (SB) km 104+000–130+800, 2026-06-12 12:00 → 2026-10-15 23:00: Open since noon on 12 June 2026 between Piscu Negru and Balea Cascada, daily 07:00–21:00; closed at night. Listed as valid until 15 October 2026, 23:00. - DN67C RANCA (GJ) - CURPAT (SB) km 34+800–79+200, 2026-05-29 09:00 → 2026-10-31 20:00: Reopened on 29 May 2026 between Ranca and Curpat; 30 km/h limit, over 3.5 t banned, closed at night. Listed as valid until 31 October 2026, 20:00. ## Questions ### Is the Transfagarasan open now? It depends on the date: the full crossing is usually open from June into late October. Check the planner above for historical odds and the CNAIR dispatch ([dispecerat.andnet.ro](https://dispecerat.andnet.ro/)) for today's status. ### When does the Transfagarasan open in 2026? On 12 June 2026, per CNAIR. Historically, openings fell between 6 June and 1 July. ### Can I drive the Transfagarasan in October? Often yes in early October, rarely late: closings came between 5 October and 17 November. Watch the forecast and leave in the morning. ### Is there snow on the Transfagarasan in July? Possible: snowbanks linger near the top in early July, and weather at 2,000 m turns fast. Bring warm layers even in August. ### Can you drive it at night? Not the alpine sector: official hours are 07:00–21:00. Mountain rescue regularly collects tourists caught out after dark. ### Can I bring a caravan or trailer? We found no published formal ban for the Transfagarasan; on the Transalpina, Novaci – Ranca is limited to 7.5 t. Hairpins and the tunnel make trailers a bad idea anyway. ### Can you cycle it? Yes — it's ridden legally, and the area hosts races (Tour of Sibiu). Weekend traffic and the unlit tunnel demand lights and strong nerves. ### Which direction is prettier: north or south? Both have fans; the classic is south → north: Vidraru Dam (166 m, 1966), Poenari Fortress (≈1,480 steps), then the climb to Balea. From the north you reach the lake and tunnel fast. ### How long does the crossing take? About 3 hours non-stop on the Transfagarasan, 2 h 45 on the Transalpina — but nobody does them non-stop. Allow a full day with Poenari and Balea. ### Transfagarasan or Transalpina? Legend and spectacle: Transfagarasan. Pure driving and smaller crowds: Transalpina. With two days, do both: they're about 3 hours apart. ### What if I find the barrier closed? Transfagarasan: south to Piscu Negru, north to Balea Waterfall + cable car. Transalpina: Novaci – Ranca stays open. Still, check the dispatch first. ### Do I need a vignette or pay a toll? No crossing toll, but the rovigneta is mandatory on both national roads. Fines are automatic, by camera. ## Sources - [CNAIR — opening/closing statements (via Agerpres, Digi24, Radio Targu Jiu)](https://dispecerat.andnet.ro/) - [romaniatourism.com — Transfagarasan / Transalpina season archive](http://romaniatourism.com/scenic-drives-romania-transfagarasan.html) - [M-tii Fagaras — Balea cable car + webcam](https://muntii-fagaras.ro/en/cablecar) - [Reuters — bear feeding fines (Aug 2026)](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/romania-expands-bear-cull-critics-say-enforcement-gaps-persist-2026-08-01/)