Plizio Visual Lab

Transalpina

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

—°4

ℹ️

Practical info — Transalpina

▾

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

The Transalpina is only open during the summer months, typically from June to October. Always check the official road status before planning your trip, as dates depend on weather conditions.
There are very few petrol stations along this high-altitude road. Make sure to fill up your tank in the towns at the base of the mountains (like Sebeș or Novaci) before you start your ascent.
The weather in the mountains can change in an instant. Even on a sunny summer day, pack layers, including a waterproof jacket, as temperatures can drop significantly at altitude.
While the road is fully paved, it is narrow and full of hairpin turns. Drive carefully, use your horn on blind corners, and be prepared for slow-moving vehicles or even animals grazing on the road.
The highest point is the Urdele Pass (2,145m). Plan a stop here, but for the best views with fewer crowds, pull over at the smaller lookout points just before or after the pass.

🍽 Food

🍽

Shepherd's Polenta (Bulz Ciobanesc)

This is a hearty polenta dish filled with salty cheese and often cooked on a grill. Look for an authentic 'stână' (shepherd's hut) where the shepherds prepare it fresh.

🍽

Grilled Cured Mutton (Pastramă de oaie la grătar)

A specialty of the region, this grilled, cured mutton is a must-try. You'll often find it at the same shepherd huts and stalls that sell bulz, especially around the Obârșia Lotrului area.

🍽

Blueberry Liqueur / Fir Syrup (Afinată / Sirop de brad)

Try the homemade blueberry liqueur (afinata) or the fir tree syrup. Local vendors often sell these in repurposed bottles at the main lookout points.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍

Bellows Cheese (Brânză de Burduf)

This is a strong, salty sheep's cheese. For the most authentic experience, buy it directly from the shepherds at the 'stâne' (sheepfolds). It is sometimes wrapped in fir bark for extra flavor.

🛍

Honey and Forest Fruits

You'll find vendors along the road selling jars of local mountain honey and seasonal forest fruits like blueberries, cranberries, and raspberries. The quality is excellent.

🧘

Side Valleys

When you pull over at a safe spot, you can often follow short hiking trails into the side valleys. Just a few hundred metres from the road, you'll find complete silence and untouched nature.

🧘

Lake Oașa

Located at the southern end of the Transalpina, this large reservoir is a peaceful spot for a picnic. Its shores are vast and you can easily find a secluded spot.

🧘

Sunrise at Urdele Pass

If you are staying nearby, get up early and drive to the highest point to witness the sunrise. At that hour, you'll have the pass almost entirely to yourself.

Transalpina (DN67C) is the highest paved road in Romania, reaching its peak altitude of 2145 meters at the Urdele Pass. Often called 'The King's Road' because it was rebuilt under King Carol II, it provides a dramatic passage between Transylvania and Oltenia. Unlike the steep serpentines of Transfăgărășan, Transalpina glides over high alpine plateaus, offering vast, unobstructed views of the Parâng Mountains often above the cloud line. The resort of Rânca, located at 1600 meters, is the primary stop for travelers, offering modern villas and ski slopes. Due to extreme weather, the road is strictly seasonal and typically remains closed from late autumn until late spring. Obârșia Lotrului is another key scenic point where several mountain rivers converge. Along the route, visitors can experience authentic pastoral life, purchasing fresh sheep cheese directly from shepherds at traditional huts known as 'stâne'.