A beginner skier's guide to Poiana Brasov
If this guide were made by a hotel, accommodation would be the top priority, of course. However, since this guide is made by instructors, this is the main thing to do: call us at 0727133521 or write to us on WhatsApp.
If you are fully decided, you can make a direct reservation here.
Obviously, the earlier you book, the better your chances of finding something closer, cheaper, and nicer. The easiest way is to search on Booking.com.
There is also the possibility of staying in Brasov and coming to Poiana daily, if you would like to spend your afternoons in the most beautiful city in the country.
Here, our top recommendations are Brasov Ski Residence and Bike House, depending on your theme and preferences.
There are several scenarios here, all involving road vehicles, whether they are buses, personal cars, or taxis. There are only two roads to reach Poiana Brasov.
By Car:
a. from Brasov – via DN1E – a 12km road, well-paved and maintained, often crowded during peak hours (11:00-13:00 uphill and 15:00-16:00 downhill) on weekends.
b. from Rasnov – via DN1E – which starts near the town center, passes by DinoPark, and climbs for 10.3km on asphalt of almost identical quality to the one from Brasov.
By Public Transport
RATBV Line 20 (Brasov's public transport company). It costs 4 lei (one way) and runs every 20 minutes, even more frequently on weekends. Tickets can be bought at the bus station, via the 24pay app, or directly with a card on the bus. We don't recommend riding without a ticket, as inspections are extremely frequent and the chance of being fined is around 60-70%.
During winter, you can also take a direct bus from Brasov Train Station, Line 100, which drops you off at the Gondola. However, since you are here for your first lesson, the Gondola area might not be the best spot unless we specifically agree to ski on the Stadion slope.
Pro Tip: If you are in Livada Postei and just missed the bus, try "hitchhiking" (la ocazie); someone will likely pick you up within 5 minutes.
Skip this chapter if you are staying at a hotel in Poiana or if you are arriving by bus 20 or 100.
In Poiana, there are several public parkings and some private ones, all paid.
Public Parkings
They have the lowest rates (3 lei/hour or 24 lei/day) and the most spots.
The first one, coming from Brasov, is the multi-story parking in Poiana Mica (434 spots), from where you can take a free shuttle to the center.
The second is the Main Parking (Parcarea Mare) – you can't miss it. It has almost 700 spots.
The third is slightly behind the main one, on Poiana Ursului street.
The fourth is near Sura Dacilor restaurant, opposite the bazaar.
The fifth, which is almost always full, is at the Gondola.
Private Parkings:
Often slightly or much more expensive than public ones. Beware of "tourist trap" parkings that can charge over 100 lei/hour during peak dates.
Poiana Brasov probably has the most rental centers in Romania. For your first lesson, we just recommend they be clean and the right size.
We recommend the center we use: Bradul Ski Land. It is a no-frills place where you walk out directly onto the slope, and it has the lowest prices on the Bradul slope. Claudiu, the host, is a great guy as long as you aren't late.
On the opposite end, premium quality can be found at InterSki near the Gondola, where everything is top-tier.
Although there is a single card for the whole resort, the variety of pass types is EXTREMELY high.
In short, you can buy passes based on points or based on time.
Pro Tip: If you are not a fast skier, do not buy time-based passes; they are a waste of money. If you aren't skiing for several days, don't buy too many points, as they expire at the end of the season.
Check the Complete Cable Transport Guide in Poiana Brasov here.
Every ski lesson begins with a short but effective warm-up session. We recommend doing it before meeting us, so we can maximize our time on skis.
We recommend that after every lesson, you practice on your own for at least 2 hours ONLY the things you just learned. This helps internalize new skills, allowing us to move on to new techniques in the next lesson instead of repeating the old ones. This can reduce the time needed with an instructor by half.
Pro Tip: Don't forget to stretch.
If there's one thing Poiana Brasov doesn't lack, it's food.
Up on the mountain, there are the Postavaru and Yager chalets, where the food is delicious. Also, don't miss the street food: langos with cheese and garlic or the delicious Kurtos Kalacs.