Tihuța Pass is one of those rare mountain crossings that combines stunning natural scenery with a genuinely spine-tingling legend — this is the real-life 'Borgo Pass' immortalised in Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. Sitting at 1201 m in the Eastern Carpathians, it links Transylvania with the Dornelor Depression to the east, and the crisp, ozone-rich air hits you the moment you step out of the car.

The landscape here is quintessentially Carpathian: rolling forested ridges, open alpine meadows and the twin summits of Măgura Calului to the east and Piatra Fântânele to the west framing the pass. Summer brings long hiking days with sweeping views across the Bârgău Mountains. Autumn transforms the forests into a blaze of amber and crimson — perfect for the Dracula atmosphere. In winter, the nearby Piatra Fântânele resort offers ski slopes and sledging runs, making it a great family destination.

• From Bistrița (west) — follow national road DN17 / European route E58 towards Vatra Dornei; the pass is directly on the road, accessible by car year-round.
• From Vatra Dornei (east) — same DN17 road heading west through the scenic Bârgău Gorge.

• A hotel designed as a replica of Count Dracula's castle from Stoker's novel is located right at the pass — a popular stop for fans of the book and its 1931 film adaptations.
• Piatra Fântânele resort (1201 m) offers ski runs and sledging slopes, open in winter.
• The long-distance Via Transilvanica hiking trail (1428 km across Romania) passes through the area.
• Nearby attractions include Colibița Lake and the Tinovul Poiana Stampei peat bog nature reserve.

The road over the pass was built between 1812 and 1817 on the orders of the Austro-Hungarian Army War Council — and nearby there is a mysterious ~12 km stretch of ancient stone-paved road whose origins remain disputed to this day, with some historians arguing for Roman roots.