Cârțișoara · Sibiu county
Bâlea Lake
Glacial lake at 2034m in the Făgăraș Mountains, reached by the Transfăgărășan in summer or by cable car year-round from Bâlea Cascadă.
Private car and English-speaking driver · picked up from your accommodation in Brașov · no deposit to see the price.
What the day actually looks like
This is more than one day holds. Saving Piatra Craiului National Park for another visit would bring it back to a day you'd enjoy.
- ~08:30Pickup at your accommodation in Brașov.
- ~09:30Piatra Craiului National Park
5 h here · 55 min drive to reach it
Scheduled first because it is at its best in the morning light.
- ~16:10Bâlea Lake
2 h here · 1 h 45 min drive to reach it
Placed here to keep the route moving in one direction rather than doubling back.
- ~18:10Transfăgărășan Road
5 h here · 5 min drive to reach it
Kept for late in the day — it sits on the return leg, so nothing is retraced.
- ~01:10Back at your door in Brașov.
€425
per vehicle, 1–4 guests — not per person · 16 h 45 min door to door
Too much for one day — we'd suggest removing a stop. Entrance tickets are paid on site and are not included.
Example based on a Saturday in June, two guests. Times are indicative — the planner rebuilds the day around your date, the opening hours that apply to it, and how long you actually want at each stop.
Planning your visit
- From Brașov
- About 2h 30m from your hotel in Brașov.
- Time needed
- Most guests spend 2 hours here.
- Tickets
- Tickets around 50 (cable car) lei per person.
- Best time
- Busy by midday — we aim to arrive in the morning.
- Parking
- There is paid parking about 50 m from the entrance, though with a private car you are set down at the door.
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible; the walking is easy.
Opening hours
Open at any hour — there is no gate to close.
Hours change with the season and with public holidays. Our planner checks the exact date you choose and reorders the day rather than driving you to a closed gate.
What you'll see
- Alpine lake
- Ice Hotel (winter)
- Cable car ride
Weather changes fast — check forecast the morning of
What to combine it with
These sit close enough to fit the same day without the driving taking over.
Common questions
- How far is Bâlea Lake from Brașov?
- About 2h 30m from your hotel in Brașov. It is comfortably reachable as a private day trip, and our planner will build the day around it.
- How long do you need at Bâlea Lake?
- Most guests spend 2 hours here.
- Do you need tickets for Bâlea Lake?
- Tickets around 50 (cable car) lei per person.
- When is the best time to visit Bâlea Lake?
- Busy by midday — we aim to arrive in the morning.
- Is there parking at Bâlea Lake?
- There is paid parking about 50 m from the entrance, though with a private car you are set down at the door.
Read more
See Bâlea Lake without driving it yourself
One car, one driver, your day. We collect you from your accommodation in Brașov, time the stops around the hours that actually apply, and have you home the same evening.