Poenari Citadel — Attraction in Arefu

Poenari Citadel is worth the climb. The fact that it is officially closed didn't stop me from climbing around the anti-tourist wrought iron fence at the top. There is no indication anywhere that I could find that it is actually closed, so having climbed the 657,459 steps I wasn't going to be put off by the prospect of certain death. Anyway, it's actually quite easy to circumvent the perimeter, and wheelchair access is no problem as long as jet packs are fitted.

The citadel is wholeheartedly worth the effort as the whole thing feels completely precarious perched on a skyward needle. Every view yields a stomach churning punctuation, and to get that insight into the building and manning of this fort is quite unique. It's not a citadel, in the sense that I understand, more of an extremely defendable look-out.

The walkways and stairs are in good enough condition, even though it is closed with no clues. The walk up is actually extremely easy as the laid path and railings are still in good repair. The biggest issue was spider's webs, but the spiders are quite small (less than 3 feet in diameter).

Do it, is my advice, you wont regret it, and you will really appreciate what it have must taken to build and man, and you'll also gain some excellent photos for your holiday album.

I am told the bears roam this area, but that wasn't my experience.

I should say that my route started on the unofficial entry at the far end of the public parking opposite and to the right right of the campsite. Don't go back through the campsite unless you like awkward conversation with grumpy men quoting spamolicious bunkum.

I gave it 5 stars because in all honesty it is, but the whole experience is less because of the arcane challenges required in executing the experience - it would get 4 for that. But, I am guessing as you read this far, you are probably a...

The trip to Poenari Citadel was definitely worth the 2 hour drive especially if it means getting out of the road-nightmare of Bucharest. It was one of the main reason I visited Romania. It's not very big but climbing the 1480 steps was an experience by itself and admission is less than $1.50 US. The ruins of the fortress are interesting but the views are breath-taking. Experiences seem to vary but it's true one can only go up with a guide at either 10am or 2pm (times may be subject to change; the "2" was handwritten over a different number) per a sign at the front gate. I got there at 10 and was able to go up with the guide by myself. He was pleasant despite the language barrier. He explained there are wild animals that cause them to restrict when people go up. Everything was fine on the way up but on the way down he seemed concerned and increased our pace descending the stairs. The climb up can be taxing for older individuals, smokers or people with respiratory ailments but there are landings and benches to...

Visiting this place was a disaster for us. The stairway isn't wide at all, it pretty much is for one person only... which is virtually impossible because there are tens - if not more than a hundred - of people going both ways at the same. There is no sense of social distancing whatsoever in these troubled times. That also applies for the ruins - because they are just a bunch of ruins, there isn't much to see at all. There are over a hundred people crowded in a small space, nobody is keeping track of them, or they just don't care even if they are. What does it matter that it's outdoors when people are so close one to another. You wait your turn minutes on end just to take a couple of photos and the panorama isn't that great either. Note that climbing those 1480 steps is quite energy consuming, especially if you're not used to effort. All in all, it was really not worth visiting this and we...