135km (84 miles) N of Bucharest

Right near the Wallachian border with Transylvania, in the beautiful Prahova Valley at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, Sinaia is regarded as the "Pearl of the Carpathians." When Romania became a kingdom in the late 19th century, this was chosen as the site of the royal summer palace, an absolute must-see on any Romanian itinerary. It's also an extremely popular weekend getaway for well-to-do city folk, and one of the country's most popular ski destinations, centered on Mt. Furnica.