a 2-3 day plan · December to March · bookings from October
In winter, Bucovina changes its rhythm. Sometimes you will find the monasteries quieter and the roads less busy, while the snow wraps the landscape in a special light. At other times, the weather changes your plans. What remains is the joy of a warm hot tub under the open sky, with snowflakes melting on your shoulders. The plan below offers a few ideas for two or three days, which you are free to adapt to the weather, the monasteries’ opening hours and the state of the roads.
What changes compared with summer
The monasteries stay open and take on a different kind of beauty: Voroneț blue against the snow looks as if it was painted yesterday. Outside the busy periods, visits can be quieter, and the monastery courtyards make for lovely photos.
The roads are tarmacked all the way to the gate and are normally cleared of snow. On days with snowfall or black ice, check the state of the road before you set off and come equipped for winter conditions. For the road to Rarău, check beforehand, as the Transrarău may be closed.
The sleigh ride depends on the weather and on there being enough snow; when there is no snow, we go by horse-drawn cart.
A three-day plan
You arrive on Friday afternoon. The fire is lit, and the evening asks for nothing more than the long table and your people. If you let us know in advance, we will have the hot tub ready for your arrival.
On Saturday morning you go to Voroneț and Humor, twenty minutes away. In the afternoon, a sleigh ride or a few steps through the white forest, then the hot tub, until the stars come out.
On Sunday, choose your pace according to the weather and the journey ahead of you: a stop at the Museum of Wood Art in Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Cacica Salt Mine or one more coffee, taken slowly, before you head home.
Festive days in the village
Between Christmas and Epiphany, the surrounding villages still keep their winter customs: carols, New Year wishes, games with masks. They aren’t shows for tourists; they happen because that is how it has always been done, and that is exactly why they are so beautiful.
Over the holidays, Artcetera Lodge is booked for a minimum of three nights, with the whole house just for you. Christmas and New Year’s Eve come with a Welcome Box of seasonal treats, and the evenings have time for long meals, stories and a fire in the fireplace. There is only one house, so if you can see yourselves here for the holidays, write to us early about availability and details.
What to bring
Layers, waterproof boots and spare gloves for going out in the snow. For the walk from the hot tub to the house, we provide thick bathrobes and towels.
For children: a snowsuit, spare clothes and a sledge, if you have one; the snow in the yard is all theirs.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to the gate in winter?
The roads are tarmacked all the way to the gate and are normally cleared of snow. On days with snowfall or black ice, check the state of the road before you set off and come equipped for winter conditions.
Can the hot tub be used in winter?
Yes, the water heats up to 40°C, even when it is snowing outside. It is a hydromassage hot tub clad in wood like a traditional Romanian ciubăr, and the contrast between the warm water and the cold air makes it all the more special.
When should we book for New Year’s Eve?
Ideally, as early as October. We have only one house, so whoever books it first gets it.
Book your winter in the autumn
The whole house, a single group, hot tub included. At weekends, 1,500 lei a night; over the holidays, 2,000 lei a night, for a minimum of three nights.
