Anda
I mean that! Peles is not only the most beautiful castle in Romania, but it can compete with any other castle in this part of Europe. Let’s look a little into its history before starting a tour of Peles Castle.
About Peles Castle
The first king of Romania, Carol I, visited the village that is now Sinaia during his first year in Romania. He fell in love with the landscape and decided to build a summer residence here. It took a few years to acquire the land, find a suitable plan, and organize the estate. The king didn’t want a castle similar to his family’s Hohenzollern Castle, but one to reflect his new life. In 1875, the first stone was finally laid at the foundation of the future Peles Castle.
At the same time, several other buildings started on the estate, lodging for the guards, a power plant and stables, as well as a hunting lodge called Foisor.
Peles Castle was inaugurated in 1883 and was host to kings and queens, to artists and musicians of the time. The interiors reflect the different personalities of the royal couple. King Carol I was an austere and strong-willed man who put his duties above personal convenience. Queen Elisabeth was an artist. She wrote poetry and surrounded herself at Peles Castle with musicians and writers.
At the same time, Peles was a very modern castle for its time. It had electricity from its own hydro plant, heating, more than 30 bathrooms, and a retractable glass roof.
Later on, the second royal couple of Romania, King Ferdinand I and Queen Mary built their private residence on the same grounds, Pelisor Castle.
Getting to Peles Castle
Sinaia is about 125 km from Bucharest and only 45 km from Brasov, another popular destination in Romania. Though it is relatively close to Bucharest, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend driving. There is a lot of traffic on most days and the parking lot near the Castle gets very crowded, especially during weekends and summer months.
If you’re on a road trip, or just prefer driving, there are 2 parking lots, close to Peles Castle, and the fee for one day is 10 to 15 lei (about 3€)
I prefer getting to Sinaia by train from Bucharest. It takes about an hour and a half, and I don’t need to worry about traffic or parking. A ticket is 36 lei (that’s roughly 7.5€). From the train station, the walk to Peles Castle takes about half an hour. However, the hike is uphill, and you might prefer to catch a cab from the station and walk back to the station.
Another option is to take an organized day trip from Bucharest. It includes transport and guided visits to both castles on Peles estate.
A Tour of the Castles
Outside Peles Castle
Just outside the castle park, the alley is full of stalls selling souvenirs, wood decorations, and traditional snacks. As you browse through them, Peles Castle appears suddenly after a curve of the alley.
The walk from the gates up to the castle is also very pleasant. Everything is green all-around, and the castle looks like part of a fairy-tale.
Before entering the castle enjoy the terraces and gardens. Take a moment to appreciate the view. The statue of King Carol I, in a military attitude, overlooks the grounds.
In the lateral garden, there is a statue of Queen Elisabeth, also known by her pen name, Carmen Sylva.
Wood features and painted walls decorate the interior courtyard. This is also where the tours start.
Inside Peles Castle
There are two types of tours:
-the ground level only tour takes about 45 minutes and costs 30 lei (about 6.5€).
-the longer tour takes 75 minutes and also takes you to the first floor of the castle. It costs 60 lei (about 13€).
If you want to take photos, there is an additional 35 lei fee (roughly 6.5€). The photos are for personal use only, which means they are not to be published anywhere, not even on social media.
Getting back to the tour, you’ll get to see:
- the Grand Hallway, an impressive 3-story high room with exquisite carved wood covering the walls
- the Grand Armory – a huge collection of weaponry with pieces from the 14th to the 19th century
- the Small Armory where mostly Ottoman and Arab arms are displayed
- the Imperial Suite, which was ready for the second visit of Emperor Franz Joseph I. The visit didn’t take place after all.
- the Turkish Parlour where gentlemen could retreat to smoke their pipes
You’ll also see a few other rooms, salons, and even private apartments. All decorations were carefully selected. Peles Castle is richly decorated but not overwhelming. Every piece of decoration has a story, be it an Italian artist piece, a carpet brought from Izmir, or the Anatolian copperware.
Pelisor Castle
You can also visit the smaller Pelisor Castle. It was the private residence of the second Romanian King, Ferdinand I, and his wife -Queen Mary.
The interior of Pelisor Castle reflects much of Queen Mary’s personal taste. It relies on an Art-Nouveau style but is also influenced by Byzantine art elements, which Queen Mary was fond of.
The entrance ticket for Pelisor Castle costs 20 lei (about 4€).
Opening Hours
To visit both castles, plan your visit Wednesday to Sunday from 9:15, except for Wednesday when the complex opens at 11. The last group will enter at 16:15 to any of the castles. The last long tour of Peles Castle starts at 15:30.
One thing you should be aware of is that you need cash to pay for the tickets.
Other Things to See in Sinaia
Besides Peles Complex, the Romanian Royal family left their mark on many other places in Sinaia. On your way to Peles Castle, stop for a few minutes at Sinaia Monastery.
Another place to see in Sinaia is the casino in Dimitrie Ghica Park. The casino was ready in 1913 and became a major attraction in the years between the wars.
There are 6 visiting tours every day from Wednesday to Sunday (at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 15:30, 16:30). The tour tickets cost 15 lei (a little more than 3€) and will get you through the casino salons and the art gallery.
Dimitrie Ghica parc just in front of the casino is where locals spend their afternoons. It is host to many outdoor events throughout the year, and the surrounding buildings still have a royal retreat feeling.
Another place you shouldn’t miss is the Royal (of course) Station in Sinaia. It’s a small station with a rich history. Also, the cafe there hosts a train exhibit which is very popular with kids (and adults) waiting for the next train.
Disclosure:
Some of the above may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only recommend companies, activities, or products that I use myself. Thank you for your support in keeping my blog live!
Did you visit Peles Castle? Are you planning to? Which is your favorite castle in Europe? Tell me all about it in the comments below.
If you love visiting castles, you can also see Cantacuzino Castle in Busteni, close by. Another castle worth visiting and not very far from Peles is Bran Castle in Transylvania.
If you’re planning a trip to Romania, take a look at my posts about Alba Iulia Citadel and the best of Timisoara.
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I’ve not been to Romania, but this castle is really impressive. Like something from a fairy tale!
I hope you can visit it someday, it feels like stepping into a fairy tale world!
Its a majestic castle! And I’m impress for its modernity. Worth visiting in Romania. Thanks for this article!
Thank you Vinn, I hope you visit Peles Castle soon!
Beautiful pictures and castle, have enjoyed reading about your visit. Romania in general hasn’t really been on my priority list if I am honest, but lately, a lot of bloggers and friends have recommended it to me and shared some really interesting places in Romania to check out. Hope travel will return soon!
Carolin
Oh, I hope so! Romania has a lot of places worth visiting 😀
Wow this is my dream to visit, thanks for recommending. Actually all castles
in Romania. Looks so fabulous with so much greenery..
I hope you can visit Peles Castle soon, Gabi. It’s a beautiful place, indeed!
Oh wow Romania looks beautiful! Thanks for writing this it looks like a really interesting place 😊
I’m so happy you liked it, it’s a beautiful place to visit. Thanks for stopping by!
I won’t miss this on my next Romanian trip. The charge and the non publishing rule on the photos is a bit surprising though. What’s the point so. I remember having the same in a Hungarian castle.
That said it’s a beauty and a splendid building.
I know, the photo rule doesn’t make much sense for me either. I’m sure you’ll love the place though!
I hate to admit that I’ve never considered travel in Romania. Your post makes me want to go!
I’m so glad I added Romania to your wishlist 😀
This looks like a wonderful trip! I appreciate all the detailed tips on how to travel to the castle, what the costs are, and how to pay. It’s good to know cash is needed! Also, it seems to be OK to take pictures outside and publish them? I noticed you did not have any photos of the palace interior. The grounds and exterior castle photos are beautiful.
I would love to visit Romania once the COVID pandemic is over. We were supposed to go to Croatia this year, but that trip was cancelled.
Hey, I’m so happy you liked it! Yes, it’s ok to take photos of the outside and publish them. For the interior, even if you pay the extra fee to take photos, it is very clearly specified that you are not allowed to publish them anywhere.
Wow this is the most beautiful castle I’ve seen there! The interior courtyard walls are stunning!! Beautiful post!!!
Thank you so much!
Thanks for sharing, this looks a great place to visit 🙂
Nic | Nic’s Adventures & Bakes
I’m glad you like it, Nic!
Adding this to my list, would love to visit it someday
Glad to hear that and I hope you wil get to visit soon. Thanks for the comment 😀
I’ve not yet been to Romania, so reading about Peles Castle gives me another reason to visit. I like the story behind it, and the architecture is so unique too.
It is a stunning place and I hope you will visit someday, Lisa! 😀
Another great post that has me excited to visit Romania!
I’m so glad to here that!
Beautifully written. I like the way how you have documented in detail. Amazing!
Thank you so much!
What an amazing place, Anda! I love that the castle had 30 bathrooms and a retractable glass roof!! If I ever make it back to Bucharest, I’d definitely visit Peles Castle 🙂
I’m happy to hear that, Lannie! It was very advanced for its time, indeed.
This is gorgeous – I have never thought to go to Romania but this has me second thinking that decision!
That’s nice to hear 😀 I’ll try to talk about more places worth visiting in Romania.
Hola,
This place is amazing. I love the architecture. It’s a great post, thanks for sharing.
Adriana
Thank you so much, Adriana. I’m glad you liked it 😀
It looks gorgeous ! It was never on my list tbh, but now I might add it!
Crazy to think they had electricity, bathrooms and all at that time!
Thanks for sharing, very informative article.
This castle looks absolutely beautiful! I hope to visit Romania in 2021, after coronavirus is over 🙂 It’s awesome thank you for sharing!
It’s a gorgeous place. I hope you’ll be able to visit Romania next year 🙂
Wow, this place is so beautiful! I can’t wait until travel is safe again so I can start seeing places like this again! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, I miss traveling too 🙁 Hopefully next year we’ll be able to travel again. Thanks for stopping by, Lex!
Wow! This castle is awesome and the surrounding views are simply breathtaking! Maybe one day…..I just might visit. Thank you so much for sharing.
It is a beautiful place and I hope you’ll visit Peles someday. Thanks for stopping by, Brenda!
Rumania was in our bucket list for 2020. Unfortunately our plans have changed a lot during the last period.
However, we hope to visit it soon and definetely implement all your amazing tips for Peles Castle
Thanks for this amazing post.
I know, a lot of plans changed this year. Well, maybe things will get back to normal in 2021 and I hope you’ll travel to Romania soon after that. Thank you for the comment.
Wow so much info, looks fascinating. I would love to visit
romanian castles, love the paintings inside..
It’s a beautiful place, I hope you can visit Romania soon. Thanks for reading, Gabi!
Romania has always been in my wish list. Reading your post about Peles Castle makes me wanna visit Romania even more. This castle look so enchanting and magical. Thank you for opening up my world.
Well, maybe next year. The trip to Peles Castle is easy enough from the capital. Thanks for the comment, Fadima!