Transylvania Romania
5
Day Itinerary •
Romania
Five days in Transylvania gives you the full extraordinary depth of the finest medieval heritage region in southeastern Europe, from the remarkable Brasov Black Church and Bran Castle to the extraordinary Sighisoara UNESCO citadel, the fine Viscri Saxon village and Biertan, the outstanding Sibiu old town with the Brukenthal Museum, the remarkable Cluj-Napoca cultural capital and the extraordinary Turda Salt Mine underground world. This extended route covers Transylvania completely. Brasov and castles on Day 1, Saxon villages on Day 2, Sibiu on Day 3, Cluj-Napoca and Turda Salt Mine on Day 4, and the extraordinary Hunedoara Gothic castle and Retezat National Park on Day 5.
Best Time To Visit
May to October, finest autumn colours in October
Getting There
Fly into Bucharest (OTP) or Cluj-Napoca (CLJ)
Getting Around
Hired car essential throughout Transylvania
Budget Per Day
Approx 50 to 140 EUR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, optional mountain hiking
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
CLUJ-NAPOCA
MORNING
CLUJ-NAPOCA HISTORIC CENTRE
The extraordinary Cluj-Napoca, the finest and largest city in Transylvania and the cultural capital of the region, where the remarkable St Michael's Church from 1349, the outstanding Unirii Square and the fine National Museum of Transylvanian History create the most complete medieval-to-modern urban heritage in the region. The remarkable Babes-Bolyai University, the largest in Romania, gives the extraordinary student energy that makes Cluj the finest city in Transylvania for culture, food and nightlife. 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
CLUJ-NAPOCA ART MUSEUM AND BOHEMIAN QUARTER
The extraordinary Cluj-Napoca Art Museum in the remarkable Baroque Banffy Palace from 1785, the finest building on the Unirii Square, with the outstanding collection of Transylvanian and Romanian art. The fine bohemian Pata district with its remarkable street art, the extraordinary independent bookshops and the fine craft beer scene make Cluj-Napoca the most exciting and underrated city in Romania. 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
TURDA SALT MINE
The extraordinary Turda Salt Mine 30km south of Cluj-Napoca, one of the most remarkable industrial heritage sites in Europe, where the extraordinary 19th-century salt extraction chambers have been transformed into the most extraordinary underground amusement park in the world, with a remarkable underground boat lake, the fine Ferris wheel, the outstanding amphitheatre and the extraordinary Mini Golf in the remarkable salt galleries 120 metres below the surface. Entry approx 50 RON.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Turda Salt Mine underground boat lake, where the remarkable rowing boats navigate the extraordinary salt-saturated lake 120 metres underground in the fine 19th-century mining chamber, is the most unexpected experience in Romania. The remarkable salt therapy benefits of the extraordinary microclimate and the fine underground Ferris wheel make this the most unusual heritage site in Transylvania.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cluj-Napoca hotel Outstanding Romanian breakfast in the fine Cluj-Napoca Old Town. Extraordinary local cheese and remarkable fresh bread. | Lunch: Klausen, Cluj-Napoca The finest traditional Transylvanian restaurant in Cluj. Extraordinary Saxon and Hungarian cuisine. | Dinner: Cluj-Napoca evening Outstanding dinner at a fine Cluj-Napoca restaurant. The remarkable local restaurant scene is the finest in Transylvania.
DAY 5
WILD TRANSYLVANIA
MORNING
HUNEDOARA CORVINESTI CASTLE
The extraordinary Hunedoara Castle, the finest Gothic castle in Romania, a remarkable 15th-century Hunyadi fortress with the outstanding drawbridge, the extraordinary Knights' Hall and the fine chapel. The remarkable castle was built by John Hunyadi, the extraordinary military governor who defeated the Ottoman Empire repeatedly, and the fine Gothic architectural detail rivals any castle in Hungary or Bohemia. Entry approx 30 RON. 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
RETEZAT NATIONAL PARK AND HAITIAN LAKE
The extraordinary Retezat National Park, the finest natural area in the Transylvanian Carpathians, where the remarkable glacier-carved landscape of over 80 glacial lakes, the outstanding beech and pine forest and the fine bear and wolf populations create the most extraordinary wilderness in Romania. The remarkable Bucura Lake at 2,040 metres, the largest glacial lake in Romania, is accessible by a fine 3-hour walk from the trailhead. The extraordinary Retezat massif is the finest mountain in Romania. 2 hours drive
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO BRASOV OR BUCHAREST
The extraordinary final drive across the remarkable Transylvanian plateau from the Retezat foothills back across the fine Fagaras depression and the outstanding Olt valley to Brasov or Bucharest. The remarkable Transylvanian landscape of rolling hills, the extraordinary forested ridges, the fine scattered villages and the outstanding stork nests on every chimney in summer create the finest farewell drive in Romania.
💎 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: Hunedoara area hotel Good breakfast before the Hunedoara Castle. | Lunch: Retezat trailhead Simple provisions for the extraordinary Retezat mountain walk. | Dinner: Brasov or Bucharest on return Fine farewell Romanian dinner before departure.
Where To Stay
Rotating Hotels Brasov, Sighisoara, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca. Approx 150 to 400 RON per night. Budget Pensions and guesthouses. Approx 80 to 150 RON per night throughout. Viscri Traditional Saxon guesthouses. The finest home-cooking in Romania. Book ahead.
Top Tips
1. Hire a car before arriving. Transylvania is impossible to explore properly by public transport.
2. Viscri guesthouses are the finest traditional accommodation in Romania. Book months ahead.
3. The Turda Salt Mine is extraordinary. Buy tickets online to avoid the queue.
4. The Retezat National Park requires a hire car to the trailhead. Bears and wolves are present.
5. Sighisoara is finest before 10am. The extraordinary citadel fills with tour groups by mid-morning.
6. Romanian wine is extraordinary and inexpensive. Try Feteasca Neagra and Tamaioasa Romaneasca.
Total Budget
190 to 830 RON/day