3-day itinerary
3 days in Bușteni: a nature long weekend
A slower trip than a single weekend, with room to actually rest between hikes. This plan mixes an easy day, a hard day, and a lighter third day so you go home tired in a good way, not wrecked.
Day 1
Arrival and an easy first walk
Check in at Complex Caraiman
Whether you arrive by train or car, take the afternoon slow. Walk the town center, see the cable car station and figure out tomorrow's early start.
Urlătoarea Waterfall
An easy 3.6 km trail, about 1h15 to 1h30 each way, a gentle introduction to the area that doesn't tire you out before the harder day ahead.
Dinner at Complex Caraiman
Our restaurant is open until 22:00, an easy first night with nowhere to walk to for food.
Day 2
The full mountain day
Breakfast at Complex Caraiman
Eat well, this is the hardest day of the trip and the plateau has nowhere reliable to buy food.
Omu Peak, or the plateau by cable car
Experienced hikers with a full day and good weather can walk to Omu Peak, about 11 km and 6 to 7 hours from Bușteni. A more relaxed version takes the cable car up and explores the Sphinx, Babele and the Heroes' Cross on foot instead.
Start early, watch the weather
Afternoon storms build quickly on the plateau in summer. Aim to be heading back down by early afternoon regardless of which route you choose.
Dinner at Complex Caraiman, then rest
This is the hard day of the trip. Eat well, then get an early night before a lighter final day.
Day 3
Forest trails, or a day trip out
Breakfast at Complex Caraiman
A slower breakfast this time, you've earned it after yesterday's plateau day.
Quiet forest trekking
Lower, gentler paths through spruce and beech forest below the cliffs, an easy way to close out the trip without more elevation gain.
Day trip to Sinaia
15 minutes by car or train, for Peleș Castle and the rest of Sinaia's sights, a change of pace from three days of trails.
Check out, head home
Bucharest is about 2 hours by car or train, an easy return whichever option you picked for the morning.
Three days needs a comfortable base
Rooms and a restaurant in the center of Bușteni, two minutes from the station and a short walk from every trailhead in this plan.