Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Pensiunea Casiana in Ciulpăz, I wasn’t expecting much. The village is tiny, maybe 200 people if you count the dogs, and sits tucked away in the Hunedoara hills where most tourists never venture. But you know what? That’s exactly what makes this place work.
The guesthouse itself is this charming Romanian family-run spot that feels like staying at your grandmother’s house – if your grandmother happened to have excellent taste in renovations. The owner, Casiana (yeah, it’s named after her), actually lives on the property and she’s one of those people who genuinely cares about whether you’re comfortable. She’ll chat with you about the best hiking trails up in the Retezat foothills, or point you toward the little Orthodox church that’s somehow survived since the 1800s. The rooms are simple but clean – think painted wooden furniture and thick quilts rather than designer nonsense. What really got me was the breakfast situation. I mean, we’re talking homemade bread, local honey that’s probably from bees within walking distance, and eggs from chickens I could literally see pecking around the yard. The coffee’s strong too, which matters when you’re planning to explore the area.
The location is honestly perfect if you want to get away from the Brașov crowds but still stay within driving distance of some incredible stuff. You’re about an hour from Hunedoara Castle (which is absolutely worth the trip), and the Retezat National Park entrance is maybe thirty minutes away. Most evenings it’s dead quiet except for the occasional tractor or someone’s rooster having opinions about life. Parking’s never an issue – there’s plenty of space, and honestly, half the time you’ll be the only guests anyway. The cellular signal can be spotty, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? If you need constant internet, this probably isn’t your place. But if you want to wake up to mountain views and the kind of silence that makes you remember why you travel in the first place, then yeah, Pensiunea Casiana gets it right. The 8.6 rating makes sense – it’s not luxury, but it’s authentic in a way that most places aren’t anymore.
You'll need to let the property know in advance what time you'll arrive.
Call us at +380 (95) 796 20 21
