In Romania’s Maramureș County there is an old train converted into a small hotel with a restaurant. Even tough this kind of accommodation unit is not new for the international travelers, a train hotel concept still sounds like an exotic place to sleep. For this discovery, we should thank the guys from Zig Zag Through Romania (we wrote a small article about them a while back).
“Carpatia Express” is the first train hotel created in Romania and can be found in the north part of the country, in the small town called Vișeu de Sus, Maramureș. Baia Mare is the closest city it will soon become an international airport. However, the most handy solution is to arrive at Cluj, the biggest city in Transylvania, and start your trip from there.
The train was especially created for railway enthusiasts interested in the European railways history, as well as for adventurers exploring Maramureș county.
The train is located next to the CFF railway station, close to an impressive collection of locomotives dating from different periods of the 20th century. It consists of a steam locomotive constructed in Romania in the 1950s, two sleeping cars and a dining car originating from the East German Railway.
The “Carpatia Express” has 20 sleeper compartments that can host up to 40 guests. It has all the facilities necessary and a restaurant with fully equipped kitchen is open all day, a place where you can serve traditional food. Outside the train there is a lounge area where people can relax in the evenings and enjoy the clear sky. The price per night for one person (including breakfast) is 64 Ron (around 15 euros).
For booking and extra information click here.
Usually, the train hotel is a good night refuge for those who are making the trip with the Mocănița train. Vișeu de Sus is the end of a forestry railway system that stretches along the Vaser river valley, approaching the Ukrainian border. From here, you can take the old steam train that runs through curves, bridges and several tunnels, introducing a wild valley that goes up through the Carpathian Mountains.
During the trip with the Mocanița train, common roads and villages are left behind, as the train enters into a vast area of isolated forest and mountains, where wolves and bears can sometimes be seen.


Mocănița steam train in Vaser Valley
For a trip with the Mocănița, the price of a ticket starts from 11 euros per adult. There are also special prices for age categories and many group packages. More information here.


Mocănița steam train passing the sheep herds.
2 Comments
ALFRED KEAN
February 17, 2018 at 7:23 pmDear Sir / Ma
I am writing this email to make reservation in your hotel as from April 1st to April 14 for 14 nights and please kindly provide me with some information about this hotel.
My name is Alfred Kean, my wife,and 2 children, we are a family of ( 4 ) Adults respectively decided to spend our vacation in your hotel. We require One double room and 2 single room, kindly send the availability and price, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner inclusive if available and also with free internet access if available.
Kindly check and send the price for a Cancellable and Modifiable, our next mail will include the Credit Card information to charge for the total bookings as we are ready to pay for the reservation in ADVANCE to secure our rooms if possible,
We are eagerly waiting to hear from you.
Yours Faithfully
Alfred Kean
Tudor
February 19, 2018 at 11:21 amHi, Alfred!
Thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately, we cannot help you with the reservation. We are a travel blog, not a travel agency.
All we can do is to share the booking page for Carpatia Express:
http://www.booking.com/hotel/ro/carpatia-express.html?aid=848583&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1
Please do let us know if you need more help.
We wish you a great trip!