Piatra Craiului National Park is crisscrossed by hiking trails and is best explored on foot. Many travelers go with a guide who can recommend suitable routes—whether a gentle stroll or a more challenging ascent up the peaks of the massif—and accompany them. Some hiking tours combine a trek in the park with trips to nearby attractions such as Peles Castle, Bran Castle, and the Libearty Bear Sanctuary at the edge of the park. Thrill-hungry travelers can go canyoning in the park’s caves and climbing on the steep crags.
Piatra Craiului National Park sits in southern Transylvania. Trains run regularly between Brașov and Zărneşti, the main access point for the northeastern and northwestern parts of the park. If you want to reach the less-visited southern and southeastern sections of the park, drive to Dâmbovicioara.
If you plan on hiking, avoid the winter, when snow and ice make conditions difficult. On summer weekends, the northeastern parts of the park attract large numbers of hikers, so go midweek or venture further south to avoid the crowds. The best time to spot brown bears is between March and November.
Located at the boundary of Piatra Craiului National Park, near the Zărnești entrance, is this brown bear sanctuary, which houses animals rescued from circuses, zoos, and private owners. Unable to live in the wild because of their time in captivity, the bears at the sanctuary now roam around a 170-acre (69-hectare) forest enclosure and can be observed on guided tours.