Harghita County, located in Transylvania, is famous for its picturesque landscapes and its rich culture. In winter, winter sports lovers will find a variety of ski resorts in Harghita, suitable for all levels of experience.
From beginner slopes to challenging runs for advanced skiers, Harghita has something to offer every member of the family.
The 9 most popular ski resorts in Harghita
Harghita County is dominated by the Harghita Mountains, part of the volcanic chain of the Eastern Carpathians. They stretch from north to south, with the highest peak, Harghita-Mădăraș (1,801 m), and offer a climate favorable to winter sports, numerous mineral springs and spectacular scenery.
Together with the Giurgeu Mountains and the Gurghiu Mountains, the Harghita Mountains shape the county's relief and create an ideal natural setting for outdoor activities all year round.
1. Toplița
Located near the town of the same name, Toplița Resort has two ski slopes, Bradul (easy) and Măgheruș (intermediate), suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers. The resort is easy to reach and offers a range of accommodation options and restaurants.
A distinctive feature of Toplița is its natural thermal springs. The Bánffy and Urmánczy open-air pools use mesothermal waters of about 26–27 °C, perfect for relaxing.
2. Borsec
Known for its mineral waters and their therapeutic properties, Borsec is a tourist resort of national interest with a spa tradition that also offers skiing. Its three slopes are suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers.
The resort has accommodation facilities, restaurants and equipment rental shops.
Borsec – skiing in Harghita
Borsec mineral water, bottled since 1806 and awarded a prize in Vienna in 1873, is rich in calcium, magnesium and carbon dioxide and is beneficial for digestive, kidney and metabolic disorders.
In addition to its winter sports infrastructure, Borsec also offers facilities for spa treatments and wellness.
3. Mădăraș
Located in the Harghita Mountains, Mădăraș is known for its panoramic views and varied slopes, from beginner runs to difficult ones. Its higher altitude usually ensures good snow throughout the season.
It offers good conditions for skiing and snowboarding, usually from December to April. The ski area has five slopes, served by ski lifts.
The ski area is named after Harghita-Mădăraș Peak, the highest in the Harghita Mountains.
4. Bucin
On the Bucin Pass there are two small ski areas: Havas Bucsin, with a gentle slope suitable for families and beginners, and Bogdán, with an intermediate slope and an easy one. The atmosphere is relaxed. Bucin is an option for those who want a quiet ski experience and accommodation in a spectacular natural setting.
5. Ciumani
Ciumani is a smaller resort, but one with a special charm. It is ideal for those looking for a quiet experience who want to enjoy the mountain scenery. Its two slopes, one intermediate and one difficult, are suitable for intermediate and advanced skiers, and the area offers accommodation and traditional restaurants.
6. Harghita-Băi
Located on the southeastern slope of the Harghita Mountains, at an altitude of 1,250–1,400 m, Harghita-Băi is one of the most popular resorts in the county, with well-developed infrastructure.
A distinctive feature of the Harghita-Băi resort is its cold mountain climate, which favors a long-lasting natural snow cover.
The ski area includes slopes of varying difficulty. The resort is also known for its mineral springs and mofettes.
Harghita-Băi
The resort has plenty of accommodation options, restaurants and equipment rental shops.
7. Băile Homorod
Part of the town of Vlăhița, Băile Homorod has one ski slope, Lobogó (400 m), of easy to intermediate difficulty. Because of its low altitude, it does not offer a long ski season.
Besides skiing, the resort is known for its mineral waters and wellness facilities, making it a destination for relaxation.
8. Băile Tușnad
The spa resort of Băile Tușnad has a smaller but well-maintained ski slope (500 m), suitable for intermediate skiers, with night skiing. Besides skiing, visitors can enjoy spa treatments, hiking and the area's picturesque scenery.
The resort has an invigorating climate and mineral springs rich in carbon dioxide, used to treat cardiovascular and nervous system disorders.
See accommodation near Tușnad.
9. Vărșag
Vărșag is a village in a picturesque mountain area, with a ski slope of about 1 km, served by a chairlift, of intermediate difficulty, suitable for experienced skiers. The area is also known for its local traditions and the hospitality typical of the Székely region.
See accommodation near Vărșag.
Why choose Harghita for your ski vacation?
Variety of ski areas: Whatever your level of experience, you will find suitable slopes in Harghita.
Spectacular scenery: The Harghita Mountains offer stunning views throughout the winter season.
Winter
Authentic atmosphere: Discover the local culture and traditions, the hospitality of the people and the region's distinctive cuisine. Harghita has been named European Region of Gastronomy for 2027
Accessibility: Harghita County is easy to reach from Romania's major cities, both by car and by public transportation.
The road network is well developed, and the main access roads are the national roads DN12 (Chichiș, near Brașov – Miercurea Ciuc – Toplița), DN13A (Sovata – Praid – Odorheiu Secuiesc – Miercurea Ciuc) and DN13B (Gheorgheni – Praid).
There are direct rail connections to Miercurea Ciuc, Gheorgheni and Toplița.
For those who prefer to travel by coach, there are regular routes from major cities such as Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov and Târgu Mureș.
The closest international airports to Miercurea Ciuc are Brașov-Ghimbav Airport (about 105 km), Bacău Airport (about 125 km) and Transilvania Airport Târgu Mureș (about 145 km).
Good value: Compared with other ski destinations in Europe, Harghita offers affordable prices for accommodation, food and ski passes.
Weather in the Harghita Mountains
The weather in the Harghita Mountains is known for being fickle and changeable. Although summer brings sunny days and pleasant temperatures with fresh mountain air, evenings can be cool and rain is not out of the question. In winter, the landscape turns into a fairy-tale land with abundant snow.
Current weather in the Harghita Mountains and for the next 7 days:
Conclusion
For the best experience at the ski resorts in Harghita, it is essential to plan your vacation ahead of time, especially in peak season, and to make sure you have checked the weather forecast.
Besides the well-known resorts, we invite you to discover other destinations in Harghita, such as Praid, with smaller, accessible slopes (the Praid Salt Mine is closed to the public following the 2025 floods), and Izvorul Mureșului.
Besides winter sports, the region offers many natural and cultural attractions, such as Lake Saint Ana or the Bicaz Gorges, rounding off an active vacation with moments of relaxation and discovery.
Red Lake
With spectacular scenery, infrastructure suited to skiers of all levels and affordable prices, Harghita remains an ideal destination for winter sports lovers.
We also recommend our articles on the top 3 cheapest ski destinations in Romania, CNN including Romania in its top 25 destinations to visit in 2025, and Mălini Resort
