
Poiana Brasov is a very appreciated international ski resort, referred in
SKI directories all over the world.
In the center of the resort there is a lake surrounded by very nice
hotels.
Trips to Brasov medieval town, the citadel of Rasnov (14th century) 12 km
away and Bran Dracula Castle (15th century) 15km away.
Poiana boasts 12 ski runs (an Olympic run, three downhill and giant slalom
runs, one special slalom run, two jumps, etc.).
In 1909 took place here the first Ski competition. In 1951 Poiana hosted
The Winter International Olympic Games for Universities.
Activities and services: sports (tennis, minigolf, football, basketball),
indoor swimming-pools, Sports and Fitness Centers, Sauna.
Altitude 1050 - 1800 m. Clean, ozone-rich air, marked ionization and nice
temperature (average: 21 C summer, -2 C winter).
Poiana Brasov (1030m-1750m altitude) is the best known budget ski resort in
Europe, with visitors from England, US, Germany and all over the world.
Poiana is referred in all SKI directories. Poiana has the best developed
skiing facilities in Romania with 2 cable-cars, one gondola, 7 ski-lifts
Poiana Brasov is renowned as one of the best resorts in Europe. It has more
majestic hotels than French ski-resorts, classy restaurants, very good
multi-language ski trainers, nice indoor swimming pools and treatment
facilities. Since, 1895 when it was created, the biggest ski event hosted
here was the International Winter Olimpic Games for Students (Univerisada in
1951).
Poiana Brasov has 12 ski slopes of various difficulty degrees (one special
run for slalom, an olympic run, three downhill and giant slalom runs). There
are 2 cable-cars, one gondolla and several ski-lifts.
The resort altitude is 1030m, the highest peak Postavarul is at the altitude
of 1803m. The resort is situated at 180 Kms from Bucharest and 12 Kms from
Brasov city.
The area offers many choices for dining, from pizza parlors to elegant
dining. Prices will please every discerning diners. The nightlife is chic
and elegant. Lively bars and nightclubs are waiting for you to enjoy and
dance the night away.
Poiana Brasov SKI Map:
Poiana Brasov was rated top Value-For-Money by English guests many of whom
return year after year. Set amidst the beautiful pine forests of the
Carpathian Mountains, the picturesque, purpose-built resort of Poiana Brasov
has a compact lift system and offers an excellent range of skiing
particularly suited to beginners. Nursery slopes are situated in the village
and on the plateau at the top of the mountain. The ski area offers easy
progression to the main pistes with the added advantage of skiing back to
the village on a long blue run. For non-skiers there is a great range of
activities and excursions available, not to mention the real Dracula's
castle.
Total Lifts: 11
Capacity: 7000 pers/h
Drag Lifts: 8
Cable Cars: 3
Ski Pistes: 12
Poiana Slopes:
| SKI Piste Name (Pârtia) | DIFFICULTY | LENGTH | LEVEL DIFFERENCE |
| Sulinar | Intermediate | 2441 m | 645 m |
| Kanzel 1,2 | Intermediate | 350 m | 134 m |
| Ruia 1,2 | Advanced | 540 m | 200 m |
| Cable-Car (Sub teleferic) | Advanced | 1000 m | 300 m |
| Red Way (Drumul Rosu) | Beginner | 3821 m | 630 m |
| Pine Tree (Bradul) | Beginner | 458 m | 77 m |
| Slalom Poiana | Intermediate | 575 m | 217 m |
| Camelia | Beginner | 450 m | 30 m |
| Stadion | Beginner | 300 m | 32 m |
| Wolf (Lupului) | Advanced | 2860 m | 775 m |
Beginners
The wide, gentle nursery areas in the centre of the resort - with 2 snow
cannons on main 'learn to ski' Bradul slope - and the plateau at the top of
the mountain, reached by gondola, provide areas ideal for beginners. Very
effective, English or German - speaking instruction is provided by the ski
school.
Beginners soon progress on to the main ski area and, by the end of the week,
most will be skiing all the way back to the village on the long,
confidence-building blue run from the top of the Christianul Mare.
Intermediates
Having a compact system means that there is plenty of scope for
intermediates to improve. Three red runs provide skiing over varied terrain,
and if you want to take it easy and perfect your parallel turns, there is a
long, enjoyable blue run leading back to the village. You are recommended to
take advantage of the instruction provided by the local ski school: It's
really good value for money.
Advanced
Advanced skiers will find Poiana Brasov good because there are some
challenging runs. Lupului (Wolf) black run has almost 3 kilometers long and
800m altitude difference, is recommended for advanced skiers.
Snowboarding
The gentle slopes are ideal for mastering the basics. Beginners should book
a 'Learn to Snowboard' package. Only Ski boots available in resort.
Cabana Cristianul Mare
(1800 m altitude, mountain restaurant accesible with
Kanzel Cable Car)
Tel. (068) 18 65 45.
The ski chalet directly below the cable car station at the top of the
mountain is a good place to fill up on fast food, beers and beautiful views.
Coliba Haiducilor
Tel. (068) 26 21 37. Open 11:00 - 24:00.
This well-known and central situated restaurnat been serving gourmands over
40 years. Considered to be one of the best restaurants in Romania, the
Outlaws Hut serves traditional Romanian food in a wooden building near the
ski slopes. Sit at one of the long wooden tables and have a second look at
the decoration: guns, dried peppers and cobs of corn and lots of skins
(boars, sheep, wolves and one bear). If you can stand it, order the bors de
miel (lamb soup) which comes with half a lamb's skull so you can spoon out
the tongue and brains. Wash it down with a tuica (plum brandy), served in a
blue ceramic treetrunk and impossible to drink without spilling.
Sura Dacilor
Tel. (068) 26 23 27. Open 11:00 - 24:00.
The Dacians Shed (Sura Dacilor) is housed in a couple of wooden tepees on
the west side of the lake. The old, traditional customs were never forgotten
in Sura Dacilor: waiters dressed in Dacian (ancient people living here
before the Roman Empire). Inside, furs and dried herbs adorn the walls, you
sit on a block of wood covered by a sheepskin. The English/French-language
Menu features typical Romanian dishes, as well as some age-old recipes like
'Dacian chunk' (oven baked polenta with cream) and 'Shepherds Sarmale'
(filled cabbage rolls).
The prices are very attractive for the powerful Euro. Outside, spoiling the
illusion, is a monstrous stone courtyard fountain decorated with plastic
parsley. SURA DACILOR - TRADITION & GREAT CUISINE
Ask anybody in Poiana Brasov about a good traditional restaurant and mostly
everybody will tell you to try Sura Dacilor. All the customers in here join
an archaic atmosphere where the Romanian hospitality is on home ground. A
shot of boiled 'tsuica' - the traditional Romanian spirit - served by a camp
fire and a piece of smoked sheep meat will send you way back in time.
A dinner inside the restaurant gives you the chance to choose one of the
four dining rooms at Sura Dacilor, each of them individually decorated. The
dishes are prepared mostly on ingredients coming from their own farm. A
delightful 'taraf' (traditional Romanian music band) will make your dinner
here even more interesting. In the autumn you can take a peek in the
traditional food storage room where you can see how the ancient people kept
their pickles, sausages, and smoked meat.
Number of places: 300
Stâna Turistica
Tel. (068) 47 59 48. Open 10:00 - 01:00.
The Tourist Sheepfold, housed in a working sheep farm 1,5km off the main
road, has animal skins covering the walls, wooden blocks to sit on and pine
branches covering the floors. Herbs and dried peppers dangle from the
ceiling and the floors are completely covered with freshly cut pine
branches. Popular with tourists, the prices are relatively high. The cold
starters consist of generous portions of homemade cheeses, vegetables and
sausages served on a slab of wood together with delicious bread. If you're
still hungry after this, the main course, huge chunks of meat served in a
way that would cause vegetarians to faint, will get you filled up all right.
There's live music (brilliant - ask for 'Tulips from Amsterdam' and they'll
happily play 'Rosamunde' for you), and afterwards monotonous taped
traditional Romanian that gets on your nerves quickly.
Vânătorul
Tel. (068) 26 23 54. Open 12:00 PM - 02:00 AM.
Vanatorul is the restaurant with hunting cuisine in Poiana Brasov.
Located on the left side of the road taking you to the Kanzel cable car,
nestled amid tall pine tree.
The Vanatorul restaurant offers you the great savour of hunt meat, such a
rare and exclusive delight for gourmets; you can try here some delicious
deer, bear, boars, wild pig.
Vanatorul is a rustic, elegant restaurant on three floors with terrace. The
restaurant has two dining rooms and a small waiting room with a bar. A
typical Romanian 'taraf' (folk music band formed by 4-5 players) will
welcome you inside the restaurant, or if the weather is nice you might find
them on the summer terrace at Vanatorul. The fresh air coming from the wood
nearby will make your dinner on the here a real treat. The food is mostly
Romanian, but what make Vanatorul unique are the real great game dishes:
deer salami, bear pastrami, mixed game meat flambeau. The wine list includes
more than 70 different kinds of wines including the most popular Romanian
wines and a selection of French wines that go great with the dishes prepared
by the chef in Vanatorul restaurant. The owner at Vanatorul is a great host
for special events: private parties, business mixers, and official dinners.
No of Places:140 inside the restaurant, 60 on the terrace
Credit Cards Accepted: MasterCard and VISA
Romeli Day & Night Pub
Tel. (068) 26 22 56. Open 20:00 - 03:00.
Grab a seat on the patio and enjoy the sublime view of the mountains or sit
inside and admire the artificial brick interior. You can expect omelettes,
cascaval pane (fried, breaded cheese) and pork chops. Remember that anything
else you order, such as potatoes or vegetables cost extra. Foreign and
domestic beer available, as well as an abundance of cheesy pop music.
Pizzeria Vinga NEW!
Tel. (068) 26 23 34. Open 11:00 - 20:00. Closed Mon.
This good pizzeria is one of the first venues to have unblocked views
through large windows - hurrah. Plonk down in modern chairs and select from
a limited list of pizzas or other dishes. Food comes with a cute can of
ketchup.
Romania SKI resorts - top
| Poiana Brasov | * * * * * |
| Sinaia | * * * * |
| Predeal | * * * * |
| Azuga-Busteni | * * |