Peleș Castle Guide 2026: Tickets, Opening Hours, Closures and How to Get There from Bucharest
In short: Peleș Castle is in Sinaia, in the Carpathian mountains of the Prahova Valley, about 2 hours by car from Bucharest and 1 hour from Brașov. It is open Wednesday to Sunday (Wednesday 10:00–17:00, Thursday to Sunday 09:15–17:00, last entry 16:00) and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. An adult ticket for Peleș Castle costs 100 lei (about €19) and is sold for a time slot, online at bilete.peles.ro or at machines near the castle. Important: Peleș Castle is closed from 2 November to 1 December 2026 for cleaning and conservation work. On summer weekends, book your ticket ahead.
This guide is for international visitors planning a trip to Peleș Castle in Romania from Bucharest or Brașov. It covers the 2026 closures, opening hours and time slots, ticket prices and how to book online, what to expect inside, a short history, and how to get there by car without losing half the day in traffic. Facts last checked on 4 November 2026 against the museum's official website.
Is Peleș Castle open now? Closures in November 2026
Peleș Castle: closed from 2 November to 1 December 2026, for general cleaning and preventive conservation. You cannot visit the interior during this period.
Pelișor Castle, the smaller castle next to Peleș, was closed from 28 September to 3 November 2026. That closure period has now ended.
The museum announces closures on its website. Before you drive to Sinaia, always check the announcements page on peles.ro. If your trip falls between 2 November and 1 December 2026, plan your visit to Peleș for December instead.
Peleș Castle opening hours and time slots
| Day | Peleș Castle | Pelișor Castle |
|---|
| Monday | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesday | 10:00–17:00 | 10:00–17:00 |
| Thursday–Sunday | 09:15–17:00 | 09:15–17:00 |
| Last entry | 16:00 | 16:15 |
Tickets are sold for a time slot. Within your slot, entry is first-come, first-served.
| Day | Peleș Castle time slots |
|---|
| Wednesday | 10:00–12:45, 12:45–14:30, 14:30–16:00 |
| Thursday–Sunday | 09:15–11:00, 11:00–12:45, 12:45–14:30, 14:30–16:00 |
Free guided tours in English
The museum runs free guided tours in English at fixed times. You do not book them separately: you join at the entrance at the start time.
- Thursday to Sunday: 09:45, 10:45, 11:45, 12:45, 13:45, 14:45 and 15:15.
- Wednesday: every hour from 10:30 to 15:30.
Choose a ticket slot that includes one of these times if you would like the guided version of the visit.
Peleș Castle tickets and prices 2026
| Ticket | Peleș Castle (ground floor + first floor) | Pelișor Castle (full tour) |
|---|
| Adults | 100 lei (≈ €19) | 30 lei (≈ €6) |
| Pensioners | 50 lei (≈ €9) | 15 lei (≈ €3) |
| Pupils and students | 25 lei (≈ €5) | 7.5 lei (≈ €1.40) |
| European Youth Card | 25 lei (≈ €5) | – |
| Children up to 7 | Free | Free |
Official prices from peles.ro. Euro amounts are approximate, at about 1 EUR ≈ 5.3 lei. Peleș and Pelișor have separate tickets and separate time slots.
How to buy Peleș Castle tickets online
- Go to the official ticket shop, bilete.peles.ro. This is the museum's own site; the main website is peles.ro.
- Choose the castle (Peleș, Pelișor or both), the date and the time slot.
- Select the ticket types (adult, pensioner, student, child) and pay by card.
- Keep the ticket on your phone or print it, and arrive within your slot.
You can also buy tickets at the self-pay machines near the castles, with cash or card. Two rules matter before you pay:
- No refunds and no rescheduling. A ticket is valid only on the chosen day, so book once your plans are fixed, and allow for traffic on the drive up.
- Daily capacity is limited: 2,000 visitors at Peleș and 1,500 at Pelișor. On summer weekends and public holidays, book online in advance, because daily capacity is limited.
Travelling as a group? Group bookings are made by phone on 0244 314 552. The museum's other phone numbers are out of service.
Inside Peleș Castle: what to expect
Peleș is built in a neo-Renaissance style with Gothic Revival elements. The castle has more than 170 rooms and about 30 bathrooms. The standard ticket covers the ground floor and first floor.
The castle was also technically ahead of its time: Peleș was the first castle in the world fully powered by locally produced electricity, from its own power plant.
- Photography: amateur photos inside are allowed without flash. Professional photo and video shoots have separate fees.
- Entry: within your time slot, entry is first-come, first-served.
Pelișor Castle
A short walk from Peleș, Pelișor Castle is smaller and quite different in mood. It was built in the Art Nouveau style between 1889 and 1903 by Karel Liman, for King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie. It has its own ticket and time slot, and the full tour costs 30 lei for adults. If you have time for only one, Peleș is the main visit; if you have the whole morning, Pelișor adds a more intimate counterpoint.
Nearby, the Foișor Hunting Lodge is a presidential residence and is not open to visitors.
Peleș Castle history in brief
- 1873: the foundation stone was laid on 22 August for King Carol I of Romania, in the Carpathians at Sinaia.
- 1883: the castle was inaugurated. Works continued until 1914.
- The architects: Johannes Schultz drew the original design, Carol Benesch continued it, and Karel Liman later added the towers, including the 66-metre central tower.
- 1947: the castle was nationalised.
- 2007: after a legal process, Peleș was returned to the Romanian Royal Family. It is leased to the state and run as a museum, the Peleș National Museum (Muzeul Național Peleș).
Today the castle receives between 250,000 and almost 500,000 visitors a year, which explains the timed tickets and the daily limit.
Bucharest to Peleș Castle by car
Where is Peleș Castle? In Sinaia, Prahova County, on the Prahova Valley, the main road corridor between Bucharest and Brașov.
| From | Distance | Approx. driving time | Road |
|---|
| Bucharest | about 124–125 km | about 2 h | DN1 via the Prahova Valley |
| Brașov | about 48 km | about 1 h | DN1 |
The DN1 is a busy national road, and it becomes a mountain road as it climbs towards Sinaia. Traffic is much slower on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, and on winter weekends, when skiers head for Sinaia, Bușteni, Predeal and Brașov.
The DN1 is a national road, so a valid road vignette is required. See our guide to the Romania vignette (rovinieta); with an ELEI rental it is already included.
Parking at Peleș Castle
The museum does not manage the car parks. Use one of the paid car parks in Sinaia below the Royal Domain, for example in the area of Aleea Peleșului, and walk up to the castle.
What to combine with Peleș
- Bran Castle: the classic combination. Our Bran and Peleș in one day guide has the full itinerary.
- Sinaia Monastery, in the same town.
- Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni, also on the Prahova Valley, on the way to Brașov.
- Brașov, about an hour away, for an overnight stay or an evening in the old town.
Best time to visit Peleș Castle
- Opening days: Wednesday to Sunday only. The castle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Summer weekends and public holidays: book tickets online in advance, as daily capacity is limited (2,000 visitors at Peleș).
- Autumn: if you are planning to visit Peleș Castle in autumn, check the closure dates first: in 2026 Pelișor was closed from 28 September to 3 November and Peleș is closed from 2 November to 1 December.
- Traffic: the DN1 is much slower on Friday evenings, Sunday afternoons and winter weekends, when ski traffic heads for Sinaia, Bușteni, Predeal and Brașov. The DN1 is a mountain road. ELEI cars have winter tyres in season; read our guide to driving in Romania in winter before you go.
Visiting Peleș with ELEI: a car or a driver for the day
Peleș is one of the easiest day trips from Bucharest, if the logistics are right. You have two calm ways to do it with ELEI:
- Drive yourself: we deliver a premium rental car to your hotel in Bucharest or to Bucharest Otopeni Airport, with the rovinieta included and the contract and support in English. See the fleet in Bucharest and our car rental guide for Romania.
- Let someone else drive: with our chauffeur service, an English-speaking driver takes you in a Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7 Series, or a Mercedes V-Class for groups, so nobody has to deal with the DN1 on a busy day.
Planning the trip? Send us your date on WhatsApp and we'll suggest the right option and confirm the full price.
Frequently asked questions
Is Peleș Castle open in November 2026?
No. Peleș Castle is closed from 2 November to 1 December 2026 for cleaning and conservation. Check the announcements on peles.ro before you go.
What are Peleș Castle opening hours?
Wednesday 10:00–17:00 and Thursday to Sunday 09:15–17:00, with last entry at 16:00. The castle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
How much are Peleș Castle tickets?
100 lei (about €19) for adults, 50 lei for pensioners, 25 lei for pupils and students, and free for children up to 7. Pelișor Castle is a separate 30 lei ticket for adults.
Where can I buy Peleș Castle tickets online?
On the museum's official ticket site, bilete.peles.ro. Tickets are for a specific day and time slot and cannot be refunded or rescheduled.
Do I need to book Peleș Castle tickets in advance?
On summer weekends and public holidays, yes: daily capacity is 2,000 visitors. At other times booking ahead is still the safest option, since tickets are sold by time slot.
Can you take photos inside Peleș Castle?
Yes, amateur photography is allowed without flash. Professional photo and video shoots have separate fees.
How do I get from Bucharest to Peleș Castle?
By car it is about 125 km and around 2 hours on the DN1 through the Prahova Valley, slower on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. A rental car or a car with a chauffeur gives you the most flexibility.
Is there a guided tour in English?
Yes, free guided tours in English start at fixed times. You join them at the entrance, without booking separately.
Sources: peles.ro (opening hours and prices), peles.ro (announcements and closures), Wikipedia (Peleș Castle).
Last updated: November 2026. Questions about a day trip to Sinaia? Call us on +40 750 481 850; we answer in English.
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