The Bucegi Sphinx is one of Romania's most iconic natural landmarks — a massive rock formation standing at 2,206 m on the open Bucegi Plateau, shaped by millennia of wind and rain into something that looks remarkably like a human face. Stand at the right angle (helpfully marked on the ground around it) and you will understand why travellers have been making the journey here since at least 1900.

At 8 metres tall and 12 metres wide, the Sphinx is not enormous, but its setting makes it unforgettable. The plateau stretches wide around it, with panoramic views in every direction. In summer the area is lively and accessible; in winter snow transforms the landscape into something altogether more dramatic and remote. The neighbouring Babele rock formations are just a short walk away, making this a natural double attraction.

• Bușteni (cable car) — Telecabina Bușteni–Babele gondola, 4,350 m route, 1,235 m elevation gain, approx. 15 minutes ride, capacity 25 persons — easiest option, suitable year-round
• Bușteni (on foot) — blue triangle marked trail along the Urlătoarea Mică and Urlătoarea Mare valleys to Jepi canton, then up to the plateau — recommended in summer only, moderate difficulty

• The oldest known photograph of the Sphinx dates from 1900
• The official name 'Bucegi Sphinx' first appeared in print in 1935 in the 'Alpine Bulletin'
• Cabana Babele guesthouse nearby is currently closed and was listed for sale in 2025
• The site is accessible year-round, but winter visits require proper mountain equipment

The Sphinx has even had a film career — it appeared in the 1967 Romanian historical epic 'The Dacians' and more recently in Netflix's 'Flavours of Romania' documentary. Not bad for a rock.