The best walks and hikes in Romania

Capering in the Carpathians

Half of this mammoth mountain range lies within Romania and hiking here is nothing short of astounding. The Carpathians offer some of the best hiking trails in Romania thanks to their towering peaks, breathtaking virgin forests and staggering glacial lakes. That’s only the beginning too. You’ll find alpine meadows, vast caves, crashing waterfalls and sweeping valleys here as well. 

Hikes in Romania’s beautiful mountains are always accompanied by signs of birds and animals too. The mountains are home to a world-class array of wildlife, from brown bears, lynx and wolves to golden eagles, red deer and chamois goats. 

You can choose multi-day treks, strenuous day hikes and there is an endless amount of gentler trails with fantastic views. There’s something for everyone and it doesn’t take much effort to get outstanding vistas. 

Fantastic forests

Romania’s collection of forests is almost unbelievable. Around 30% of the nation is forested and it’s home to Europe’s best and biggest virgin forests. Old-growth trees in ancient woodlands are common and many woodlands are home to exquisite flora such as rare orchids. 

So incredible are Romania’s forests that several of them fall within a UNESCO World Heritage List. Walk through these protected ancient beech forests in the Sinca Secular Forest, the Nera Gorge-Beușnița National Park and Slătioara Secular Forest to name a few. 

Choosing a time to hike

Romania has four distinct seasons and summer hiking is an absolute joy. Trekking in the mountains from late spring to early autumn brings incredible colours and if it gets too hot, swing by a mountain lake to dip a toe in the chilly waters. 

For wildlife walks in Romania, the Danube will be your guide. The huge Danube Delta is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth and is particularly outstanding for bird-watching. Spring and summer is best for catching the huge range of birdlife here and it’s also a great time to explore the subtropical Letea Forest too. 

March to November is the ideal hiking season across the country, including in the mountains. If you’re planning on trekking above 6,500 feet (2,000 m), the season is usually confined to between late May and early October.