How to get here
Câmpulung Moldovenesc is situated in the region of Bukovina, in north-eastern Romania. The city is located in the mountain area of the Bukovinian Subcarpathians known as Obcinele Bucovinei, on the banks of the Moldova River.
The city is accessible by both car and train. The European route E58, that links the region of Moldavia with Transylvania, crosses the city. There are two railway stations located in the city: Câmpulung Moldovenesc in the city center and Câmpulung Est in Capu Satului neighborhood.
There are many places of interest located in and around Câmpulung Moldovenesc, such as the Rarău peak in the Rarău Massif and the Giumalău peak in the Giumalău Massif [ro], which at 1,650 m (5,410 ft) and 1,857 m (6,093 ft) are the highest peaks in the region. One can also enjoy the forests which surround Câmpulung Moldovenesc or visit a monastery in one of the nearby villages.
Reaching the start line is simpler than the legends suggest. Modern roads pour into the valley from four gateway airports:
- Suceava International - 81 km, just over an hour’s drive
- Iași International - 187 km, three hours through rolling farmland
- Cluj-Napoca International - 227 km, crossing the Tihuta Pass and Mestecanis Pass
- Bucharest (Otopeni) International - 479 km, a five-hour journey that unites mountains with capital lights
Whether you fly short or long, every kilometre ends in fir-scented air, warm hearths, and a trail that waits to unveil your Mountain Within.
Weather & Climate
The municipality of Câmpulung Moldovenesc has a temperate continental climate in which the winters are relatively long, rich in snow, but not excessively harsh, and the summers are cool, with rich rainfall. Snow usually falls from October to the end of April; the average duration of the snow carpet is about 90 days.
One of the factors that explains the remarkable purity of the urban atmosphere is the breezes – a huge natural fan. Towards evening, a barely felt breeze descends and brings to the city the coolness of the heights and the ozone of the forests: it is the mountain breeze that displaces the “used” air during the day and receives it. Instead, in the morning, under the caress of the sun’s rays, the valley breeze starts, which raises the fog and spreads it slowly, leaving the heavy dewy grasses.
Recent years have seen unprecedented heatwaves in Romania: daytime temperatures in many areas soared above 38 °C, with southern regions reaching 40–41 °C and tropical nights above 20–24 °C. But following the intense heat, weather models and official forecasts showed a sharp drop—temperatures fell by up to 10–15 °C, followed by heavy storms, lightning, and strong winds.
This mix of early‑season heat and sudden storms means runners face dehydration and sun‑stress one moment, then risk exposure to cold rain, wind, or fog the next. In the Carpathian ridges—Rarău, Giumalău, Pietrosul Bistriţei and Călimani—storms can reduce visibility, turn trails slippery, and bring wind chill rapidly. Heatwaves add a layer of fatigue and dehydration even before reaching higher elevations, while post‑heatwave instability brings flash storms on ridges.
