Exploring Romania's Scenic Highways - 7 Best Photo Spots along Transfăgărășan and Transalpina Highways
Welcome to Romania, a country where scenic beauty unfolds at every turn. Two iconic highways offer photographers a journey through majestic landscapes. After an initial 4-day stay in the capital city of Bucharest, my family embarked on a visual adventure along the Transfăgărășan and Transalpina Highways. They were among the most exciting part of our Romania road trip, and the photo spots were sure among the most memorable ones.
Transfăgărășan Highway: The Road to Alpine Splendor
Logistical tip
It’s a bit confusing when you search the length, the start and finish point of Transfăgărășan Highway online, you’ll get all kinds of data and conflicting information.
Based on the official data from Romania Tourism and our own experience driving through the entire highway from south to north, Transfăgărășan Highway starts from Curtea de Argeș (95 miles from Bucharest) in the south, stretching along highway DN7C for 71 miles (114 kilometers), zigzagging in the northern section from Balea Lake with numerous hairpin turns, and ends at Carțișoara (30 miles east of Sibiu) in the north. You can plan your trip from both directions.
The road north of Bâlea Glacial Lake, the highest point of the highway, is only open from late June to the end of of October (weather permitting). That’s why we had to do the road trip along Transfăgărășan Highway immediately after Bucharest, where we stayed from Oct 25-29. We wanted to explore Romania without regrets, even it meant we had to explore other parts of the country later without following either clockwise or counter clockwise driving direction.
The bottomline was: we had only 2 days to explore Transfăgărășan Highway before its closing in 2023. We were so happy we did it! If you plan to travel to Romania, Transfăgărășan Highway is a must-see!
1️⃣ Vidraru Dam
Honorable mention. We planned to make our first stop at Vidraru Dam, a colossal structure against the backdrop of the Carpathian Mountains, in the south section of Transfăgărășan Highway. However, we saw four brown bears on the side of the road within 15-minute drive near the dam. We had to abort our plan to visit Vidraru Dam and continued onward.
We did very much enjoyed the fall colors though. Throughout the previous 18 weeks of travel in Europe, we mostly experienced one season - summer. Traveling along Transfăgărășan Highway allowed us to finally explore the fall colors, for the first time in 2023.
2️⃣ Capra Waterfall
Probably too easy to access, Capra Waterfall was right on the road on Transfăgărășan Highway. This however by no means has discounted its beauty and worthiness for your photography.
Capra Waterfall, Transfăgărășan Highway, România
Capra Waterfall is a natural masterpiece, where the gushing waters plunge dramatically down a series of cascades amidst a backdrop of lush greenery and rugged cliffs, providing a captivating setting for photographers seeking to capture the dynamic harmony of nature.
3️⃣ Bâlea Glacial Lake
Bâlea Glacial Lake in Romania is a pristine alpine jewel nestled high in the Fagaras Mountains, providing crystal-clear waters and reflections of the surrounding peaks when there’s no wind.
As the highest point on the Transfăgărășan Highway, this serene glacial lake is surrounded by majestic landscapes, making it a tranquil and picturesque destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers alike.
When we arrived at Bâlea Lake, the temperature dropped to 35F (2C). For the first time during our long trip, we experienced winter. There was high wind and heavy fog, so I couldn’t photograph the reflection of mountains in the lake.
We came back to the lake to enjoy it for the second time on the following day. Perhaps it was a bit overrated, or perhaps I just survived a big fall and injury earlier, I didn’t see the charm. So I only took a few easy snapshots before calling off the day.
4️⃣ Bâlea Waterfall
One of our biggest highlights on the Transfăgărășan Highway, and one of Romania’s most well known waterfalls.
Embarking on the Bâlea Waterfall hike along the Transfăgărășan Highway in Romania is an exhilarating experience. Weaving through the enchanting Carpathian Mountains, the trail was surrounded by lush greenery and alpine landscapes.
The major reward of the hike was the stunning views of the Bâlea Waterfall as well as breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding peaks and valleys.
The hike was moderately challenging, and was supposed to take us about 2 hours out and back. But it took us a lot longer. After clicking dozens of shots at the waterfall in awe, I fell on the trail down. Oh boy, that wasn't fun.
Even my jeans were soaked with blood on my knee for a couple of hours, I refused to go back as suggested by my husband, but rather, limped through a few vantage points I planned to see. Fortunately I didn't break any bones and got most of the photos I wanted. As a result, I had to slow down for the following few days.
Transalpina Highway: A Panoramic Journey to the Sky
Renowned for its scenic splendor, this high-altitude road offers breathtaking views of the mountains, making it a haven for both road-trippers and nature enthusiasts seeking to explore Romania's alpine landscapes.
Logistical tip
Transalpina Highway, the highest road in Romania, also known as the "King's Road", is a captivating mountainous pass that winds through the Southern Carpathians, reaching elevations of over 2,100 meters.
Transalpina Highway begins from Sugag from the north to Novaci in the south, panning over 87 miles (139 kilometers) as part of DN67C in Romania.
Compared to Transfăgărășan Highway, Transalpina Highway was narrower, mostly with only one lane in each direction. We drove from north to south. The view was great along the way, but there were few road side pull-offs. On the upside, Transalpina Highway didn’t have many hairpin turns, making it slightly easier to drive.
We drove the whole length of Transalpina Highway. In fact due to the wrong turn, we drove extra miles from Sebes to Novaci.
We were fascinated by the fall colors in the northern section and the mountain sceneries in the southern section. Due to my knee injury, and lack of roadside pull-offs, we didn’t make many stops, nor went on any hikes.
We had to drive through clouds before reaching the peak, something surprisingly similar to our most familiar Olympic National Park in Washington, where you can find similar terrain and vegetation.
5️⃣ Saua Urdele
Saua Urdele is the highest point of Transalpina Highway, reaching an elevation of over 2,145 meters. If there’s one stop you have to make on Transalpina, this is it!
Renowned for its breathtaking panoramic views of the Parang and Lotru Mountains, Saua Urdele offers you a stunning vantage point to marvel at the vast alpine landscapes and winding stretches of the Transalpina.
As our airbnb was in Sibiu, more than 3 hours drive away, we didn’t stay for landscape photography during my favorite sunset hours.
6️⃣ Tau Bistra Dam
Tau Bistra Dam in Romania is a reservoir nestled within the scenic landscapes along Transalpina, offering a tranquil escape and stunning views of the surrounding nature.
The dam not only serves as a reservoir but also provides visitors with an opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities, surrounded by the pristine beauty of this mountainous region.
Photo tip
The dam might not look strikingly beautiful at first glance, but as a photographer, your skill is to find extraordinary from the ordinary. I typically look for at least one of the following when photographing a new place:
👉 the color: the sky and clouds during sunrise and sunset are great examples. Buildings, walls, flowers, surrounding artworks are great examples that can contribute colors to your photographs as well.
👉 the shape: tall mountains, skyscrapers, structures, trees or geometric shapes formed by connecting points of different objects
👉 the line: architecture, roads, skyline, coastal line etc. The line could be straight, curvy, circular, and in single or repeat patterns.
👉 the light: you can capture great photos in different kinds of light, although some light is friendlier or easier than the others, eg. soft light during golden hours. The direction of the light, or where you and your subject are positioned from the light will all determine the quality of your photos.
If none of the above are in your favor, I’ll switch subjects. Instead of focusing on place or landscape, I can photograph people or still subjects etc. No matter what you photograph, light is always a factor that can make or break a photo.
This is just my quick tip to get great photos almost anytime, anywhere on a trip.
The point is: as long as you have an open mind and are willing to explore, you’ll be able to see beauty, everywhere!
For more details, please check out my free online ebook - 30 Days Photo Tips that I wrote a few years ago.
For an even more accelerated path to photo excellence, and my most recent teaching through videos, take my Document Happiness photography course.
7️⃣ Mănăstirea Obârșia Lotrului
Mănăstirea Obârșia Lotrului in Romania is a serene monastery nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of the Lotru Mountains, offering a peaceful retreat for spiritual contemplation. Surrounded by lush greenery, this monastery provides a tranquil atmosphere for visitors seeking a harmonious blend of natural beauty and spiritual reflection in the heart of Romania.
Romania's Transfăgărășan and Transalpina Highways offer photographers a symphony of natural wonders, from glacial lakes and waterfalls to mountain vistas and historic citadels. As you traverse these iconic roads, each bend reveals a new opportunity to capture the raw beauty and cultural richness of this Eastern European gem. Although both highways are worth seeing, if your schedule only allows you to explore one highway, I’d suggest Transfăgărășan Highway.
This wraps up my favorite photo spots of the part 2 of our 17-day Romania road trip. Coming up next I’ll share our favorite photo spots of two enchanting cities in Romania, Sibiu and Sighișoara.
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