Moldoveanu Peak
2,544 m
Romania
Also known as Молдовяну, Moldoveanu, +3Also known as
Молдовяну · Moldoveanu · Monte Moldoveanu · მოლდოვიანუ · Vârful Moldoveanu
- Elevation
- 2,544 m
- Prominence
- 2,042 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 2
AdvisoryReported 12 Jun 2026
Transfăgărășan (DN7C) alpine section reopened on 12 June 2026 between Bâlea Cascadă and Piscul Negru, with traffic allowed 07:00–21:00. No fixed closing date; it usually closes in October.
itinerant.roWorksReported 1 Feb 2024
Cabana Valea Sâmbetei (1,401 m) on the Sâmbăta approach was demolished in February 2024 and a new hut is under construction; work was temporarily halted in November 2024 over permit deviations. As of August 2026 no opening was confirmed.
infoalpin.ro
Routes
2Sources differ: T3 (Camptocamp (Viștea Mare–Moldoveanu section from Podragu))
The shortest way to Romania's highest summit: from the road end above Victoria the red-triangle path climbs the Viștea Mare valley past the Izvorul Viștii shelter (1,558 m) to the main ridge at Portița Viștei (2,310 m), then scrambles up Viștea Mare (2,527 m) and crosses the chained notch of Spintecătura Viștei to Moldoveanu. About 6½–7 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 23.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +2,683 m
- −693 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,544 m
- Time Up
- 13h 16m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 10h 37m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the town of Victoria drive about half an hour south up the Viștea Mare valley to the end of the forest road, where a signpost gives 6 h 30 min to Moldoveanu. The red-triangle path climbs through forest without great difficulty to the Refugiul Izvorul Viștii (1,558 m), a small shelter at the edge of the forest, in about 2 hours. Above the treeline the path climbs the long upper valley and its glacial cirque to the main ridge at Portița Viștei (2,310 m), where the Refugiul Viștea Mare bivouac shelter stands and the red-stripe ridge path arrives from Podragu and Sâmbăta. The climb from the saddle to Viștea Mare (2,527 m), Romania's third-highest summit, is steep and needs hands in places (30–45 minutes). From Viștea Mare the red-dot path follows the narrow ridge south-east over the sharp, rocky notch of Spintecătura Viștei, protected with chains, to Moldoveanu in about 30 minutes. Allow about 4½ hours from the shelter to the summit. Descend the same way, or continue along the ridge west to Cabana Podragu or east to Fereastra Mare a Sâmbetei. It is a very long day (13–14 hours return for most); many parties bivouac or use the shelters. The ridge has no shelter from thunderstorms, and the Făgăraș are home to a large brown bear population.
Start
Valea Viștea Mare553 m
- Train or bus to Victoria (via Ucea on the Brașov–Sibiu line); the 30-minute drive to the road end needs a car or taxi.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valea Viștea Mare → Moldoveanu | 23.5 | 2,683 | 693 | 13h 16m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Valea Viștea Mare553 m
About 30 minutes by car from Victoria
- Col: Portița Viștei2,306 m
Main ridge; Refugiul Viștea Mare shelter nearby
- Shoulder: Viștea Mare2,514 m
- Summit: Moldoveanu2,544 m
Key Passages
- Forest climb to the Izvorul Viștii shelter
- Upper Viștea valley to Portița Viștei
- Steep scramble from Portița Viștei to Viștea Mare
- Chained notch of Spintecătura Viștei
Equipment
0/8 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
Romania's highest summit (2,544 m), on the main ridge of the Făgăraș Mountains in the Southern Carpathians. Every approach is long: a full-day valley climb from Victoria or a two-day walk along the ridge from Bâlea Lac, finishing with a short chained scramble from neighbouring Viștea Mare.
Moldoveanu stands a little south of the main east–west ridge of the Făgăraș Mountains, the highest range of the Southern Carpathians, in Argeș County. Its name means 'the Moldavian'. With a prominence of over 2,000 m it is one of Europe's ultra-prominent peaks. It is linked by a short, sharp ridge to Viștea Mare (2,527 m), the third-highest summit in Romania, which stands on the main crest; almost all routes reach Moldoveanu over Viștea Mare.
The Făgăraș ridge is a long, narrow crest of crystalline schist with glacial cirques and lakes on both sides, steep forested valleys to the north towards the Olt and gentler, remote valleys to the south. There are few huts on the ridge, and much of the walking is above 2,000 m with no easy escape. The summit itself is a small rocky top; the final traverse from Viștea Mare crosses the notch of Spintecătura Viștei with chains.
There is no technical difficulty beyond short scrambling and chained passages in summer, but the length, the weather and the remoteness make it a serious undertaking. The Făgăraș have one of Europe's largest populations of brown bears.
Climbing Notes
Expect a 12–14 hour return day from the Viștea valley, or plan two or three days along the ridge with nights at Cabana Podragu or in the unstaffed shelters (Portița Viștei, Fereastra Mare). Good fitness, sure-footedness on rocky ground and a head for the chained, exposed passages are needed; altitude is not an issue.
Start early: thunderstorms build quickly over the ridge in summer, fog is frequent and there is little shelter. Snow can remain on north-facing sections into July and returns in October; outside summer the chained sections become icy and crampons, ice axe and winter experience are required. The Transfăgărășan road to Bâlea Lac usually opens in June or July and closes in October.
Bears are common in the forests and increasingly seen on the ridge: make noise in the forest, store food carefully, never approach a bear and check current Salvamont advice. Register your route or tell someone your plans; the mountain rescue number is 0SALVAMONT (0725 826 668) or 112. The former Cabana Valea Sâmbetei on the Sâmbăta approach was demolished in 2024 and is being rebuilt; do not rely on it.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; serious avalanche and ice hazards; for experienced winter mountaineers only
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Winter conditions; avalanche risk
- Apr
- Deep spring snow; Transfăgărășan closed
- May
- Snow on the ridge; ice axe and crampons needed
- Jun
- Snowfields remain; Transfăgărășan usually opens in June (12 June in 2026)
- Jul
- Best season; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Best season; busy on the ridge
- Sep
- Often the most stable weather
- Oct
- First snow and ice; Transfăgărășan can close any day from mid-October
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Cabana Podragu (about 70 places, staffed in summer): by phone (+40 745 319 766). Ridge shelters (Portița Viștei, Fereastra Mare, Izvorul Viștii) are unstaffed and cannot be booked.
- Rules
- Transfăgărășan (DN7C) alpine section is open only in summer and early autumn; in 2026 traffic was allowed daily 07:00–21:00
- Wild camping is common on the ridge; use the shelters and lakesides responsibly and keep food away from bears
- Getting There
Victoria
Sibiu (SBZ)
- Car: Victoria, then about 30 minutes up the Viștea Mare valley forest road to the trailhead
- Car: Transfăgărășan (DN7C) to Bâlea Lac when open; otherwise cable car from Bâlea Cascadă
- Sâmbăta approach: Sâmbăta de Sus and Complexul Turistic Sâmbăta (670 m), near Brâncoveanu Monastery
- Rail: Brașov–Sibiu line serves Ucea and Făgăraș; onward by taxi
Hazards
- Weather
- Exposure
- Remoteness
- Avalanche
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,136 m