Mountain Views, Spa Breaks & Coworking: My Honest Review of the Sinaia Nomad Retreat

When I first heard about a digital nomad retreat in Sinaia, Romania, I pictured quiet streets, misty forests, and a sleepy little mountain town.

I definitely didn’t expect to find myself swimming laps during my lunch break, sipping local wine with new friends from all over the world, and finally finishing that work I kept putting off.

But that’s exactly what happened.

I joined The Better Neighbors retreat without high expectations, and maybe that’s why it ended up being such a refreshing experience. It struck a really nice balance: moments of solitude when I needed them, community when I craved connection, and a calm setting that made it surprisingly easy to focus.

Working Remotely From Sinaia, Romania – My Review

A group of people sitting around a large brown table with several laptops — One of the coworking spaces

The Better Neighbors organizes nomad retreats in Sinaia several times per year. I joined them in June, and with this review I hope to paint an honest picture of what these retreats are like.

First Impressions: A Town That Grows On You

Sinaia is a cute, small town. It’s the kind of place that slowly wins you over.

Nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, Sinaia has a peaceful charm; mountain views, fresh air, and quiet streets that invite you to slow down.

In June, most days were sunny, with some short rain showers. It’s a perfect time of year to go hiking, and to escape the heat in Bucharest, which is only a 90-minute train ride away.

Sinaia is the kind of destination that makes you breathe slower. And when you’re often busy juggling work and traveling, settling down here for a month feels like a nice break.

Also Read: How to Stay Productive While Working Remotely

What the Retreat Actually Looked Like

The Better Neighbors doesn’t offer traditional coliving. So no big communal house where everyone lives.

Instead, you stay in a hotel and get access to coworking spaces, a spa and gym, local discounts, group activities, and a ready-made community of remote workers.

I stayed at RINA Cerbul, right in the center of town. The hotel itself was… fine. A little old, the wifi wasn’t the most reliable, but the location was great.

Every morning I would cross the street to Hotel Sinaia, where one of our two coworking spaces was located, and also the spa and the gym.

And that’s where I developed a really nice new routine: coffee and a few hours of solid work in the coworking space, then a midday swim or sauna session, and then back to my laptop feeling completely refreshed.

A traditional looking wooden and stone hotel building with a train track in front of it — Pensiunea Piscul Cainelui

There was also another accommodation option: Pensiunea Piscul Cainelui. I really liked the more modern feel of the rooms there, as well as the communal areas and shared kitchen. But it’s located right next to the train track, and as a light sleeper, the noise made it a no-go for me.

Working from Sinaia: Not Bad at All

A bright, modern looking cafe with several people working on their laptops at small wooden tables — Working from The Lobby Bar

There were two coworking spaces we could use.

My favorite was the Lobby Bar at Hotel Sinaia. Bright, modern, with comfy seats and good wifi. And yes, conveniently located right across the street from my hotel.

Some found the music here a bit loud though, and it’s really a bar not a coworking space, so if you prefer a quieter alternative with good office chairs and a more classic coworking vibe, then Vila Luminita will be the better place for you.

A large brown table with 8 white and brown office chairs around it — One of several coworking areas in Vila Luminita

Vila Luminita is a historic home with lots of character. Plus it has a kitchen, so it’s perfect if you want to prepare some food while you’re working.

Wifi was solid in the coworking areas, more hit-or-miss in the hotel rooms. But with a SIM card as backup, I never had any issues.

The Power of a Good Community

8 people sitting at a table with a white table cloth and several empty wine glasses — One of the nomads organized a wine tasting

One of the things that made this retreat special was the people.

We ranged in age from late 20s to early 60s and came from all over (Guatemala, Germany, the US, Romania, and more). Some had been digital nomads for years, others were on their first remote adventure.

Several had remote jobs, others were freelancers or entrepreneurs. I loved the diversity and how, despite our diverse backgrounds, we really connected and worked well as a group.

There was no pressure to join every group dinner or group activity, but when you did show up, it felt easy. Familiar. Like the kind of group where you could talk about work challenges one moment and the best local desserts the next.

Also Read: The Challenges of Being a Digital Nomad (And How to Handle Them)

Organized Activities: As Chill (or Active) as You Want

Several people walking on a paved, historic looking square surrounded by old yet well preserved yellow and white buildings with orange and brown roofs — A day trip to Brasov

The Better Neighbors does a great job of offering structure without making anything feel mandatory.

On weekends, they plan optional group outings — think visits to Bran Castle (yes, Dracula’s Castle), or the Libearty Bear Sanctuary, hiking trips into the Bucegi Mountains, and day trips to nearby cities such as Brașov.

Evenings usually included dinner plans for anyone who wanted to join, and every week they had organized a Romanian language class through the local NGO, Roots.

A man standing in front of a screen with a presentation showing the text "design thinking" and several icons — One of the nomads hosted a life design workshop

On top of that, every nomad was encouraged to organize their own activity. And that made it all even more diverse! From a mastermind to a wine tasting and a presentation on how to effectively use TikTok… It made the retreat feel less like a prepackaged experience and more like something we were all creating together.

Spa Breaks & Local Perks

Here’s the part I didn’t expect to love as much as I did: the wellness aspect. Having free daily access to the hotel spa and gym really added something to my quality of life.

I’m usually pretty bad at work-life balance, but when you’ve got a sauna next to your “office” and discounts on spa treatments, it’s kind of impossible to say no.

Yes, about those discounts. The Better Neighbors had arranged a 20% discount at various local restaurants, a discounted buffet breakfast at Hotel Sinaia, and a 15% discount on spa treatments, the nail salon, and the hairdresser.

And for anyone who likes giving back, The Better Neighbors works with a local NGO called Roots. Roots works on a lot of community events, activities, and education, and every nomad is encouraged to volunteer their skills. I think this is a really nice touch and a way to connect with the local community.

Hotel vs. Coliving: My Honest Take

8 people sitting at a long table in a restaurant smiling at the camera — One of our many shared dinners

I’ve stayed in classic coliving setups before, meaning shared homes, communal kitchens, and sometimes even shared bathrooms and bedrooms.

This retreat is slightly different. More private.

On the days I felt introverted, I could just retreat to my room without worrying about being social. On the days I wanted company, there was always someone to grab a coffee with or go for a walk with.

I was very happy not to share a bathroom, and definitely wouldn’t sign up for a coliving space where I’d have to share a bedroom.

But, I have to admit I did miss having a communal space to hang out in the evenings, or a kitchen to make myself a quick breakfast (yes, we did have that kitchen at the coworking space, but I’d rather make breakfast before leaving the house, or hotel in this case).

But honestly? I appreciated the privacy and my alone time. Maybe that’s the introvert in me, but by not being in a crowded coliving space I felt more comfortable just taking some time for myself, yet still felt part of a group with plenty of social interaction.

Final Thoughts: Is This Nomad Retreat For You?

The inside of a very colorfully decorated church, with several tourists inside — Sinaia offers stunning nature and a rich history

If you’re looking for a party scene or big-city buzz, Sinaia probably isn’t for you.

But if you’re craving a slower pace, nature all around you, a cozy work routine, and easygoing people to share it with, this retreat might surprise you the way it surprised me.

It gave me space to breathe, people to connect with, and just enough structure to stay productive without feeling boxed in.

Would I do it again? 100% yes.

Oh, and if this sounds like your kind of experience, The Better Neighbors is organizing retreats in Sinaia in March, May, June, and November.

And they also host nomad retreats in Lloret de Mar, Spain, if you prefer beach views over mountain air. I actually joined their retreat in Lloret as well and wrote a separate review about that, in case you want to compare the two.

Tip: Want to see more of what day-to-day life in Sinaia looked like during the retreat? Check out the Instagram stories I posted while I was there.

And if you have any questions about the retreat, just post a comment below!

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Or read one of my guides for specific digital nomad destinations: