Moieciu: what to see, where to eat and where to stay

Moieciu is the kind of place where the first thing you do in the morning is open the curtains. The mountains are right outside your window: Piatra Craiului on one side, the Bucegi on the other, and between them hills with hay meadows, forests and houses scattered all the way up to the ridges. Mist lingers in the valleys, you can hear cowbells, and the traffic noise stays somewhere down below, on the road to Bran.

It isn’t a classic resort, with a main boulevard and hotels lined up one after another. It’s six villages spread across the hills (Moieciu de Jos, Moieciu de Sus, Cheia, Drumul Carului, Măgura and Peștera), and that’s exactly where its charm lies. And quiet doesn’t mean boring. Where else can you fit a ridge walk, a wild cave and a castle into the same day?

What to see in Moieciu

The ridge road between Măgura and Peștera

If you only have time for one thing, this is the one I’d pick. Măgura sits right inside Piatra Craiului National Park, and the road to Peștera follows the ridge, with views of both massifs. On the meadows you’ll come across haystacks and, in summer, flocks of sheep. Go on foot or by bike, take your time, and try to catch the sunset, when the Bucegi turn orange.

Peștera Liliecilor (the Bat Cave)

In the village of Peștera there’s a wild cave, with no lighting and no guide, which you reach along a short path. Bring a head torch and shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Archaeologists have found traces left here by people as far back as the Palaeolithic, so you’re not exactly the first visitor. From November to March the cave belongs to the bats: they hibernate then, and it’s closed to visitors.

Cheile Grădiștei

If you come with children, this is the place they’ll want to come back to. The road to the resort complex runs between the rock walls of the gorge and then climbs to Fundata, where in summer you’ll find a summer toboggan run, a zip line and UTV tours. In winter the complex has a few short slopes, good for a day’s skiing with the whole family.

Full-day mountain trails

A long trail to the Bucegi starts from Moieciu de Sus, and from Moieciu de Jos you can walk through Peștera all the way to Prăpăstiile Zărneștilor (the Zărnești Gorge). Both take a full day and need a reasonable level of fitness, and the one to the Bucegi isn’t one for winter.

Bran Castle

I know, it’s on everyone’s list, and rightly so. It’s a few minutes from Moieciu and worth seeing at least once. Just be aware that at midday in summer you risk seeing more queues than castle. You can buy your tickets on the official website, then go at opening time. You’ll find more in our guide to Bran Castle.

Where to eat in Moieciu

The good news is that you often don’t even need to look for a restaurant. Many guesthouses cook for their guests, so ask about breakfast or half board when you request a quote. After a day in the mountains, a hot ciorbă (Romanian sour soup) a few steps from your room is hard to beat.

If you do want to eat out, Vlahia Inn in Moieciu de Sus serves Romanian food and even has a vegan menu. For the vegan option, call ahead, as it isn’t always available. At Cheile Grădiștei there are restaurants right in the complex, so you can enjoy a good meal and a ride on the summer toboggan. Most of the options, though, are in Bran. A tip: you can eat at the castle restaurant without a museum ticket.

And don’t go home without trying brânză de burduf, sheep’s cheese packed in fir bark, the speciality of the local shepherds. Or without a bulz: polenta filled with sheep’s cheese and browned over embers or in the oven.

Where to stay in Moieciu

It depends on the kind of holiday you’re after.

Moieciu de Jos is the practical choice. You’re next to the main road, a few minutes from Bran, and in winter you don’t have to worry about the climb. It works well with small children or if you’re coming without a car.

Moieciu de Sus is for those who want quiet and the mountains as close as possible. It’s further from Bran, but close to the trails and to Cheile Grădiștei. See the places to stay in Moieciu de Sus.

Măgura and Peștera are the most secluded and, for many, the most beautiful. In winter, ask in advance how to get to the property.

On LocalTravel you get direct contact with the property: request a quote, agree the details together and that’s it, no middlemen.

Getting to Moieciu and what else to know

Driving is easiest. From Brașov it takes about half an hour, while from Bucharest it all depends on how busy the Prahova Valley is. On Friday afternoons, pack plenty of patience too.

In winter the road to Moieciu de Sus climbs steeply. Fit winter tyres, and after heavy snowfall bring snow chains as well.

If you want to spend Christmas or New Year’s Eve here, start looking for accommodation in the autumn. The good places get booked up fairly quickly.

How long should you stay? A long weekend is enough for an easy hike, Bran and an afternoon at Cheile Grădiștei. If you want the long trails too, add a day or two.

And one last tip: get out of your room at least once before breakfast. Moieciu is at its most beautiful in the morning, when the villages are just waking up.