Hiking in Brașov, Romania | Walks & Trails Near the City

I’ve taken many opportunities for long walks or hiking in Braşov and the rest of the county since moving to the city. Most of these include getting into the beautiful Carpathian Mountains of Romania. Many routes here are well-trodden, and others are not. Some routes have cable cars to avoid some very challenging ascents, leaving you to enjoy time near the stunning peaks.

Braşov, as with most of Romania, has clearly defined seasons, so there are great opportunities to see the countryside in these. The winters are cold, and the higher in altitude you are, the more chance there is of snow. Autumn is ideal for seeing all the changing colours in the wood-covered trails. Spring and summer can get rather warm, but blooming flowers and wide meadows make the sweating very worthwhile.

Planning a Hike Near Brașov

One of the best apps to find routes to suit you is Komoot, which has some significant information on trails in the area. You can use the app to plot a route before embarking on your hike and send a copy to a friend so they know your route in case of issues.

Walks & Hiking Routes Near Braşov

Here are some walks I have blogged about in the local area. There are many mountains in Braşov County, including many walking routes to choose from.

Exploring Mount Tampa

Tampa Mountain is well worth the climb for city views from above. If you’re not into hiking, a cable car can take you to the top for amazing scenery. A bucket list item of mine was to walk in the Carpathian Mountains. Thus, one of my activities was to ascend Mount Tampa and to see the famous Hollywood sign up close.

The panoramas from Tampa are fantastic, whether towards the city or up the valleys into nature. Many routes lead up the mountain, including a snake-like path on the city side. Wildflowers are abundant in spring and summer, and you may also spot rare wildlife.

This is possibly the one ascent any visitor to the region should do, purely to enjoy the majesty of the area. For nature lovers, there’s lots of wildlife to see. While hiking, we saw a bear descending the mountain, a rare occurrence.

Braşov Old Town Walls Walk & Map

The medieval city walls of Braşov Old Town make for a good sightseeing walk. Plenty of benches let you sit down. Alternatively, many bars with outdoor seating let you enjoy a refreshment on your wander. You can see the Black Church and other significant historical buildings on this walk.

The route has vantage points, including the towers, where you can enjoy views of the city’s red-tiled roofs. You can pick up a walking map at many places, including the Mt Tampa Cable Car and tourist information points in the city. There are also big ones on display in various locations.

As a starting point, I suggest Carrefour Supermarket, then head to the nearby Bastionul Postăvarilor and go clockwise around the city. You can get easily distracted on this walk in Braşov. However, I highly recommend using the walls as a rough route. The Black Church is visible from some points on the wall, and I recommend popping in. Mount Tampa is also a perfect place to view the city walls and the red rooftops from above. A cable car trip up the mountain makes it easy to reach the top and offers city views on the short ride up or down.

Walking around the medieval walls is suitable in all seasons. In the summer, it might be too hot for some. In the winter, some slopes get slippery on frosty or snowy days.

From Solomon’s Rocks in The Carpathian Mountains

Solomon’s Rocks are located not far away from the central areas of Braşov; in fact, a short bus ride or a longer walk will get you there. This is a great place to hike or have a barbecue with friends or family. The rocks are impressive, with caves, streams and peaceful woodland to enjoy walking in. There are many short circular walks from here and longer ones onwards to the Poiana ski resort or to the peaks of Postavarul.

The picnic area at Solomon’s Rocks is an ideal start or endpoint for a hike in the mountains. Komoot.com lists many routes that start or end here. This includes going back to the city via the mountains or onwards through the Postavarul mountain range. As a bonus, the picnic area is a tranquil place to chill out and have a post-walk beer. There is also a bus service to and from the rocks.

Lake Noua

One of the easier countryside walks I did was walking in the hills near Braşov Zoo. The walk starts at Adventureland by a lake with a picnic area and heads uphill into the forest. You can explore many wide forest trails, as well as narrow, steep ones.

There are many options for circular hikes here, or you could venture onwards into the Postavarul Massif range for a full-day adventure. I’ve spotted lots of deer here when off the main paths, which is nice.

Climbing Postavarul Massif

One of my favourite hikes is to the peak of the Postăvarul Massif, where the views are fantastic in all seasons. You can also walk to it from the city via Mt Tampa or from Poiana Braşov using various routes.

I visited in winter and took the chairlift near the top, as it was very busy with people skiing the runs. The views from the top here are breathtaking, with many other peaks nearby. Exploring the ski resort in winter is lovely if you are experienced in hiking in the snow. For less experienced visitors, there are some nice trails toward the bottom.

Hikes and Walks Near Brașov

Seven Ladders Canyon

Seven Ladders Canyon is popular in the warmer months and is a mountainous, wooded area. The key feature here is navigating the canyon by ladders and walkways, which are rather special. Climbing the ladders is challenging for those less able, but it’s still a good experience. Getting to the canyon from the main car park or bus stop involves a rather pleasant walk through meadows, streams and woodland. The woodland also has a zip line from the top, so it’s an easy, fun way of returning to the start point.

Racoş Volcano and The Emerald Lake

In the north of the county is Racoş, a fascinating place to hike. The area has quite a few stray dogs and loose cattle, so it is not the ideal place for a dog walk. However, there are plenty of interesting things to see on a walk in the area. Emerald Lake is a man-made lake, a former quarry that has become a haven for wildlife, including frogs, birds, and some birds of prey.

From Emerald Lake, you can explore Racos Volcano and the basalt columns, both pretty special geological attractions. In the village of Racos, you can also see the local castle to round off a hike in the area.

Furnica in the Bucegi Mountains of Romania

Above the mountain town of Sinaia is the peak of Furnica in the imposing Bucegi Mountains. This is a great place for a winter hike with the help of various cable cars. The views here are breathtaking. You can take various routes in this range on the edge of Braşov County.

Wildlife Spotting Near Braşov

The mountains and countryside near Braşov are full of wildlife, some common and others rarer. Our most breathtaking wildlife encounter was seeing a bear while hiking in the mountains. I’ve also encountered lots of deer while on quiet trails in the area.

Many trails from the city have awareness posters warning you about animals you may encounter in the area. These include bears, vipers, wild boar, or, if you’re really lucky, the elusive lynx.

Review of hikes in this part of Romania

Braşov County has many trails in its mountains for people of all abilities. My favourite view currently is from the top of Postavarul in the snow. It felt like being on top of the world, and the climb was challenging, even though I used the cable car for much of the route.