Brasov lies in a valley at the foot of the Southern Carpathians, one of the peaks of which is located directly within the city. Mount Tampa (Tâmpa) has an altitude of 960 meters. Its name comes from the Latin root “tempus,” meaning “time”. At the time when this area belonged to the Romans (1st-2nd centuries), this mountain was the place of worship of the god of time, Saturn.

Climbing Tampa is a wonderful opportunity to see the city of Brasov and its historical center from above. There are two ways to get to the top. The first is the cable car: the funicular takes you to the very top in just 3 minutes (just keep in mind that it does not work on Mondays). From the cabin, you can take photos of Brasov from a unique angle. The city is rapidly becoming smaller as you go up: the abundance of tiled roofs in the old center, the triangular central square near the City Hall, and the spire of the Black Church resemble buildings from a children’s model. The second way is to climb on foot. At first, the path goes straight and then begins to meander in a serpentine. So it takes about an hour and a half to climb. On the way, you can admire the remains of fortifications, including Brasovia Citadel. The paths are well maintained, but you need to remember that Tampa is a nature reserve with wild animals. So you may meet a wild boar or even a bear, the symbol of Brasov.

At the top, you can see an observation deck and giant 5-meter letters that form the name of the city (as on the Hollywood Hills). The deck offers a panoramic view of Brasov. If you walk a few hundred meters along the paths, the views change: you can enjoy the beautiful nature of the valleys and hills. There are also several hiking trails starting from the peak. The trails are made to last for several hours and also end at the top of Tampa.

There are several restaurants on the mountain, where you can refresh yourself before descending. Again, there are two options: a funicular or a leisurely walk in the beech forests to the foot of Tampa.