Nestled in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, Poiana Brasov is a fairy tale brought to life. Poiana Brașov (Romanian pronunciation: [poˈjana braˈʃov], German: Schulerau; Hungarian: Brassópojána) is a neighborhood of Brașov and a Romanian ski resort. It is the most modern and well-known ski resort in Romania.
The resort is located at about 1,020 metres (3,350 feet) above sea level near the city of Brașov in Romania and is easily accessible by road. After the 2010s modernization, the ski area has expanded from 50 hectares (120 acres) to 80 hectares (200 acres) and the slope’s length increased from 13.8 km (8.6 mi) to 23.9 km (14.9 mi). Most slopes now have snow cannons installed.
Skiing and Snowboarding Paradise
Poiana Brasov is the ideal destination for learning to ski as prices for ski and snowboard lessons are at least two and a half times cheaper than Central and Western Europe and the ski passes prices cost 40% less. The skiing area it encompasses, with more than 24 km of slopes for all levels, is the biggest in the country. Over the past 10 years, it has undergone massive development and is now proudly equipped with European-standard ski lifts.
The winter sports area is situated between the elevations of 941 and 1,783 m. For skiing and snowboarding, there are 13.7 km of slopes and 5 km of ski routes available. 10 lifts transport the guests.
Poiana Brașov, also one of the most traditional winter sports destinations in Eastern Europe, offers slopes of all difficulty levels for skiing and snowboarding. The high proportion of difficult slopes is particularly striking. However, even the easy and intermediate slopes invite you to enjoy sporty skiing. Beginners and children will find a practice area in the Poiana Brașov winter sports area in the flat slope sections “Bradul” and “Stadion”.
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Poiana Brasov is best suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders but there is some terrain for beginners and advanced skiers.
Slopes for Every Skill Level
Poiana Brașov is the perfect choice regardless of your skiing abilities, as it offers the best conditions if you want to try skiing for the first time or develop your previously acquired skills as it offers ski slopes for all ages and levels.
- Beginners: Stadion Slope is especially designed for teaching children who have never been on skis before. Bradul Slope is a wider and better fitted piste for adults trying their skis on for the first time.
- Intermediate Skiers: Sulinar Slope is a perfect red run with a length of 3 km.
- Advanced Skiers: Lupului, Kanzel and Subteleferic offer black runs where skiers can test their limits and improve their style, with Subteleferic offering unequalled views over Poiana Brașov.
This is the ideal ski resort for a family whose members have different ski levels but want to spend time together during their ski breaks.
Skiing & Snowboarding (Poiana Brasov)
Slope Statistics
Here's a breakdown of the slopes by difficulty:
| Difficulty | Length | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 5.8 km | 43% |
| Intermediate | 2.8 km | 20% |
| Difficult | 5.1 km | 37% |
| Total | 13.7 km | 100% |
Getting To and Around Poiana Brasov
Poiana Brașov is very easily accessible by car or by public transport. Regular buses operated by Brașov Transit (RATBV) serve the 12 km (7.5 mi) route between Brașov and Poiana Brașov (lines 20 and 100). Bus no. 20 leaves Brașov (from Livada Poștei) to Poiana Brașov every 30 minutes and the trip takes approximately 20 minutes. A ticket costs only €1.
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Here's some of the transport options:
- Bus: From Brasov, take the #20 bus from the Livada Postei bus-stop to Poiana Brasov. This will get you to Poiana Brasov in just 20 minutes, with buses departing every half hour.
- Car: If you are driving, you can park your car in the big public parking area at the entrance in Poiana Brașov or in the smaller one that is located in the centre of the resort. Prices are €2.4 for the whole day. Hotels and restaurants have private parking which are much more expensive (they start at €3 per hour).
- Train: The resort is not directly accessible by train, however, the closest train station is in Brasov with direct trains from most major cities in the country.
Beyond the Slopes: Activities and Attractions
Situated only 12 km away from the stunning medieval city of Brașov, a ski holiday in Poiana Brașov can offer much more than just skiing. Dracula’s Castle is only an hour away and Brașov itself offers a lot of après-ski activities from local cuisine and international restaurants located in centuries old buildings in the historic centre, to hidden away bars in medieval cellars and a romantic promenade under the Tâmpa Mountain, overlooking medieval roofs.
Thick spruce forests criss-crossed with hiking and biking trails blanket the surrounding hillsides, a playground for active visitors in the summer months.
Practical Information
- Currency: The currency of Romania is the Romania Leu (RON or lei).
- Language: The official language spoken in Poiana-Brasov is Romanian. Many people will also be able to speak French, Spanish, and Italian, and many people speak English especially in the service industry at hotels and restaurants.
- Safety: Poiana-Brasov is a very safe destination for tourists with crimes against visitors being very rare.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Poiana-Brasov is during the winter months which are the perfect time to visit for skiing, snowboarding, and other adventures. Springtime can be a great time to visit as well as summer and autumn, there is no snow between the middle of March until the middle of November, but there are all sorts of outdoor activities to enjoy in the region including hiking, riding, and cycling. The mountains are carpeted in beautiful blooming flowers during the spring months.
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