Transfăgărășan & Transalpina

4 days · 3 driving roads · 188 miles of them · best July–September

Romania's two great mountain roads, both built for reasons that had nothing to do with driving pleasure. The Transfăgărășan switchbacks to 2,042 metres past Bâlea Lake; the Transalpina runs higher still along the ridge. The Bicaz Gorge threads a limestone canyon barely wider than the car.

Getting there

⛴ Eurotunnel Le Shuttle — Eurotunnel, about 36 min, up to 4/hour. Check sailings.

Worth knowing: Both roads open roughly July to October and close hard outside that — the Transfăgărășan's high section is gated. It's a long drive out; most people fly and hire, but the crossing is there if you're taking your own car.

The roads, in order

1. Transfăgărășan DN7C · Cârțișoara → Curtea de Argeș · 71 mi · 2 h 30 min ⚠ High section closed roughly Oct–Jun (snow)
2. Transalpina Pass DN67C · Novaci → Sebeș · 92 mi · 3–4 h ⚠ High section closed roughly Nov–May (snow)
3. Bicaz Gorge DN12C · Gheorgheni → Bicaz · 25 mi · 1 h ⚠ Rockfall nets overhead — heed closures

Drive it

Open this run in the planner →

Add your meeting point and pit stops, then share the whole thing with your club as one link. Free, no account, works offline.