Transylvania Romania
3
Day Itinerary •
Romania
Three days in Transylvania delivers the most extraordinary medieval heritage in southeastern Europe, from the remarkable Brasov Black Church and the extraordinary Bran Castle to the fine Sighisoara UNESCO living medieval citadel, the outstanding Saxon village of Viscri championed by King Charles III, and the extraordinary Sibiu, the finest small city in Romania. This focused route covers the essential Transylvania experience. The extraordinary Brasov old town, Bran Castle and Rasnov fortress on Day 1, the remarkable UNESCO Sighisoara medieval citadel, the fine Viscri Saxon village and the extraordinary Biertan UNESCO fortified church on Day 2, and the outstanding Sibiu old town with the Brukenthal Museum and the genuine Dracula fortress at Poenari on Day 3.
Best Time To Visit
May to October, Saxon villages finest in summer
Getting There
Fly into Bucharest (OTP) or Cluj-Napoca (CLJ), train or hire car to Brasov
Getting Around
Hired car essential for Saxon villages and Poenari
Budget Per Day
Approx 50 to 130 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, some castle steps
DAY 1
BRASOV
MORNING
BRASOV BLACK CHURCH AND OLD TOWN
The extraordinary Brasov Old Town, the finest medieval Saxon city in Transylvania, where the remarkable Black Church, the largest Gothic church in Romania built between 1383 and 1477 and blackened by a 1689 fire, dominates the extraordinary Piata Sfatului council square. The fine Baroque council house, the remarkable medieval walls with their guild towers and the outstanding streets of the Saxon merchant city create the finest Transylvanian urban heritage. Black Church entry approx 15 RON. 20 min drive
MIDDAY
BRAN CASTLE
The extraordinary Bran Castle on its remarkable rocky crag at the mountain pass, the most famous castle in Romania and the fine Dracula connection. The remarkable 14th-century fortress with its extraordinary towers, secret staircase and the outstanding Queen Marie furniture collection are the finest castle experience near Brasov. The extraordinary Bran village market with the fine Romanian handicraft stalls surrounding the castle is the best craft market in Transylvania. Entry approx 45 RON. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
RASNOV FORTRESS AND COUNTRYSIDE
The extraordinary Rasnov peasant fortress above the fine Transylvanian town, one of the best-preserved Saxon defensive citadels in Romania, where the remarkable community fortress sheltered the entire Rasnov population during the extraordinary Ottoman invasions of the 15th to 17th centuries. The fine interior village of stone houses within the fortress walls and the outstanding views over the remarkable Transylvanian plain to the distant Bucegi mountains are the finest fortified heritage near Brasov. Entry approx 20 RON.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Poiana Brasov ski resort 10km from Brasov, the finest ski destination in Romania, is also the finest walking destination above the Transylvanian city in summer, with the remarkable cable car giving the finest elevated view of the Bucegi mountains and the extraordinary Brasov valley below. The fine forest walking trails and the remarkable Postavarul peak at 1,799 metres are the finest hiking accessible from Brasov.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Brasov hotel or cafe Outstanding Romanian breakfast in the remarkable Brasov Old Town. Fine cozonac sweet bread and extraordinary kefir. | Lunch: Bran village restaurant Outstanding traditional Transylvanian lunch near the extraordinary Bran Castle. Fine papanasi doughnuts and remarkable ciorba. | Dinner: Brasov Old Town restaurant Outstanding dinner in the extraordinary Brasov old town. Fine Transylvanian goulash and remarkable local palinca brandy.
DAY 2
SAXON VILLAGES
MORNING
SIGHISOARA MEDIEVAL CITADEL
The most extraordinary living medieval city in Transylvania and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the remarkable Sighisoara Citadel rising above the Tarnava Mare River on a forested hill with nine remarkable defensive towers still standing. The fine cobblestone streets, the outstanding coloured merchant houses and the remarkable Clock Tower from 1345 with its fine mechanical figures are the most extraordinary medieval urban survival in southeastern Europe. The birthplace of Vlad the Impaler in the fine painted house on the main street. Entry approx 15 RON. 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
VISCRI FORTIFIED CHURCH AND SAXON VILLAGE
The extraordinary Viscri, the finest and most beautifully preserved Saxon village in Transylvania, with the remarkable 12th-century fortified church on the hilltop and the outstanding traditional Saxon peasant houses that King Charles III has championed in his remarkable conservation work in the village. The fine white geese on the village road, the extraordinary uninterrupted agricultural landscape of the Transylvanian plateau and the remarkable interior of the fortified church are the finest Saxon heritage in Romania. Entry approx 10 RON. 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
BIERTAN FORTIFIED CHURCH UNESCO
The extraordinary Biertan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the finest fortified church in Transylvania, where the remarkable triple ring of defensive walls and the outstanding hilltop church create the most impressive fortified religious complex in the country. The fine reconciliation room in the church where married couples who wished to divorce were locked together for two weeks is the most remarkable marital institution in Romanian history. Entry approx 15 RON.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Apuseni mountains west of the Transylvanian plateau, the finest karst cave landscape in Romania with the remarkable Scarisoara Ice Cave, the outstanding Vadu Crisului gorge and the fine traditional Motii mountain communities, are the most extraordinary hidden natural region in Transylvania. The remarkable Scarisoara Ice Cave with its extraordinary underground ice block from 3,500 years ago is the finest natural wonder in Romania.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Sighisoara hotel Outstanding breakfast in the extraordinary medieval citadel. Fine local saxon bread and remarkable Transylvanian cheese. | Lunch: Viscri village Simple outstanding lunch in the remarkable Viscri Saxon village. Extraordinary home cooking at a local guesthouse. | Dinner: Sighisoara Old Town Outstanding dinner in the extraordinary Sighisoara citadel. Fine goulash and remarkable local Transylvanian wine.
DAY 3
SIBIU
MORNING
SIBIU OLD TOWN AND BRUKENTHAL MUSEUM
The extraordinary Sibiu, the finest and most beautifully preserved Saxon city in Transylvania and one of the most remarkable small cities in Europe, where the fine Piata Mare and the remarkable Piata Mica with the eye-shaped dormer windows on the house roofs create the most extraordinary medieval townscape in Romania. The outstanding Brukenthal National Museum, the finest art museum in Romania, contains the most remarkable collection of European paintings in the country. Entry approx 30 RON. 45 min drive
MIDDAY
SIBIU HISTORIC BRIDGES AND LOWER TOWN
The extraordinary Liars Bridge in Sibiu, the first cast-iron bridge in Romania from 1859, connecting the remarkable upper and lower towns over the fine Ocnei passage, with the outstanding view of the lower town rooftops and the extraordinary Saxon stepped-gable houses visible from the bridge. The remarkable lower town with its fine guild halls, the outstanding medieval towers and the extraordinary salt-water spring that gave Sibiu its economic importance are the finest hidden Sibiu heritage. 1.5 hours drive
AFTERNOON
TRANSFAGARASAN SOUTH APPROACH AND AREFU
The extraordinary southern approach to the Transfagarasan Highway from Sibiu through the remarkable Curtea de Arges valley, passing the fine ruins of Poenari Castle, the actual 15th-century fortress of Vlad the Impaler, the genuine Dracula's castle on the extraordinary cliff above the Arges gorge. The remarkable 1,480 steps to the ruined castle and the outstanding views over the gorge are the finest Dracula experience in Romania. Entry approx 5 RON.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Astra Open Air Museum 4km from central Sibiu, the finest outdoor museum of traditional Romanian rural architecture and crafts in the country, with the remarkable collection of 400 traditional buildings from every Romanian ethnographic region in an extraordinary lakeside forested park setting, is the finest museum experience in Transylvania. The outstanding working mills, presses and forges are the finest living craft heritage in Romania. Entry approx 35 RON.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Sibiu hotel Good breakfast before the Brukenthal Museum. Arrive at opening for the finest experience. | Lunch: Crama Sibiu Vechi The finest traditional Romanian restaurant in Sibiu. Extraordinary Transylvanian cuisine in a remarkable vaulted cellar. | Dinner: Sibiu restaurant Outstanding farewell dinner in the extraordinary Sibiu old town. Fine sarmale and remarkable local Feteasca wine.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Brasov Hotel Aro Palace or Casa Wagner. Old Town views. Approx 200 to 450 RON per night. Sighisoara Casa Saseasca or Hotel Sighisoara. Citadel location. Approx 150 to 350 RON per night. Budget Pensions and guesthouses throughout. Approx 80 to 150 RON per night.
Top Tips
1. Visit Sighisoara early morning before tour groups arrive. The extraordinary citadel is finest before 10am.
2. Hire a car for Day
2. The Saxon villages between Sighisoara, Viscri and Biertan require a car.
3. Viscri guesthouses offer the finest traditional Saxon home-cooked meals in Romania. Book ahead.
4. Poenari Castle requires 1,480 steps. Bring water and allow 1.5 hours return. Closes early in autumn.
5. The Brukenthal Museum in Sibiu closes Monday. Plan accordingly for the extraordinary collection.
6. Romanian palinca plum brandy is extraordinary. Try it at every guesthouse and pension in Transylvania.
Total Budget
170 to 800 RON/day