The Transalpina (DN67C) is the highest road in Romania, crossing the Southern Carpathians at over 2,100 metres and offering views across the full width of the range on a clear day. It runs through the Parâng Mountains west of Vâlcea county and is most easily reached from Novaci — about 80km from Râmnicu Vâlcea on a good road. The upper section is open from roughly June to October depending on snowfall; outside those months you will find gates across the tarmac and deep drifts above the treeline.
The drive along the crest is genuinely dramatic. Sparse alpine meadows give way to rocky outcrops and, on good days, a horizon that reaches from the Transylvanian plateau in the north to the Wallachian plain in the south. The road is popular with motorcyclists and weekend drivers from Bucharest, and on summer weekends it can feel lively; go on a weekday in early June or late September for the quietest experience. The Urdele pass at the highest point is a natural stopping place, and a well-marked trail continues along the ridge for those who want to walk above the road.
From the Transalpina you can descend north into Transylvania and continue to Sebeș for a full cross-mountain day — roughly 200km in total from Râmnicu Vâlcea. The road surface varies; the highest sections have been resurfaced but some lower stretches remain rough. A standard car handles it fine in dry conditions; be cautious in rain, as the road is exposed and the verges are steep.