Romania is a beautiful, captivating country with diverse regions, cultures, architecture and landscapes whose topography includes the Carpathian mountains, a hill region, plains, the famous Danube Delta and the Black Sea with its sandy beaches.Sinaia deserves to be called, without reservation "the pearl of the Carpathians”. It was once the summer residence of Romanian royalty, King Carol I. A famous resort and spa, Sinaia offers a pleasant atmosphere anytime of the year.In Sinaia the range of activities and places to visit is extensive.Sinaia offers a peaceful setting for those who would like to have a relaxing time or just ramble in the mountains. During summer the natural surroundings offer many possibilities for excursions, recreation, hiking, or just picking forest fruits. There are a lot of marked trails inviting the visitor to make trips into the Bucegi mountains.A large network of forest roads and single trails, as well as the superb landscape, make these mountains the perfect place for an unforgettable mountain biking holiday. Hang-gliding is also a very popular (extreme) sport in this region. The mountains with their network of caves provides the opportunity to practice caving.In winter it snows heavily, and it begins to snow around the end of September. The snow does not melt until the end of March (the average accumulation is 50 cm). For those fond of winter sports you will find ski slopes with varying degrees of difficulty; bobsled and skeleton tracks; ski lessons (for children, beginners and advanced skiers); centers where you can rent ski equipment; and cable transportation: ie different kinds of funiculars (cable cars), ski-lifts, baby ski, etc. For the enjoyment of the guests, entertaining parties, folklore programs, and carnivals are organized. Sinaia used to be the summer residence of King Carol I and his wife Queen Elisabeth. Their famous castle, Peles- a beautiful building- is now open to visitors. Because of the electrical plant in the Peles Valley, Peles Castle was the first European castle to be entirely lit by electricity. Pelisor, next door, is a smaller palace where Carol I’s nephew and heir, Ferdinand, and wife Marie, use to stay.Foisor Hunting House was the Romanian kings’ favorite place. It was built prior to Peles castle. Today the castle- with its offices, parlors, fancy living rooms, and theater- belongs to the Romanian state and is used exclusively for protocol purposes.The Economat and Guard’s Chambers functioned as the residence for members of the royal personnel every time the king visited Sinaia. The exact size of the royal escort is not known, but it is estimated at 100 persons.Today, with the exception of the hunting house (which has remained a presidential residence) the Peles complex has been re-integrated into the tourist circuit. Another interesting building is the Sinaia Casino. It was also built at the initiative of Carol I. The main shareholder in the casino was Baron of Marcay, who by the way was also a shareholder in the Monte Carlo Casino. Not surprising that the two casinos are very much alike. Players from all parts of the country and from all over Europe arrived by a special train. The casino was the main attraction in the town. Various celebrations and parties were organized here, and around 800 people entered the casino daily. Recognizing the value of the building it later became the scene of exquisite theatre performances, folklore events and concerts. Today it functions as a modern well-equipped conference centre, exclusively for international meetings and banquets honouring presidents and other heads of state.The 17th century Sinaia Monastery is midway along the walking path to the castles. Its inner courtyard has Brancovian-style architectural details, and its museum houses the largest collection of religious art and icons in Romania. To sum up, Sinaia, with its valleys and mountains, as well as historical buildings, is refreshingly unspoilt and inviting and provides a place where you can genuinely get away for an enjoyable and unforgettable holiday!