One Week Transylvania Itinerary + costs and advice for your trip to Romania!
Below is my suggested one-week Transylvania itinerary, based on the route I took through Romania myself. Costs are stated at the bottom of the post! Let me know if you have any questions 🙂
Romania is one of the most fascinating countries I’ve ever visited and, unexpectedly, remains my favourite holiday destination in Europe. Home to the friendliest locals, an intriguing history that has since inspired fantastical tales and the second-longest mountain chain in Europe, which is the dramatic backdrop to the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Transylvania deserves to be on your radar.
One week Transylvania itinerary, Romania
- Cluj-Napoca
- Explore real-life ‘Dracula’s birthplace’ in Sighisoara
- Visit the nature and history surrounding Brasov
- Sibiu
WHY THIS ROUTE?
If you are flying from the UK or many other countries in Europe, this itinerary will work perfectly as it begins & ends at airports. If you start from Bucharest, do this itinerary in reverse. I chose the below locations for our trip as the travel times weren’t too extensive. Using this route, you will also see a great mix of traditional Romanian culture, surprisingly trendy modern towns, historical sites and touristy must-sees.
MORE THAN A WEEK?
You can definitely spend more time in any of the locations I visited, but if you have just over a week, consider staying in BraÈ™ov for longer. Many activities can be reached from here, and you’re close to National Parks where you can hike in the Summer or ski in the Winter. Alternatively, you could check out the capital Bucharest (direct trains go here from BraÈ™ov), continue North to picturesque MaramureÈ™ from Cluj-Napoca, or go West towards Timisoara (which has another airport) and explore Western Romania.
LESS THAN A WEEK?
Brașov is an excellent base for a huge variety of activities. (See below.) You can also do Sighișoara as a day trip from Brașov rather than an overnight stay.
IS IT SAFE TO VISIT ROMANIA?
Honestly? I’ve never felt safer. I’ve never encountered friendlier locals; I have the utmost respect for the people we met there. Whether or not they spoke English, people would help us with directions, call us taxis and even not make fun of us when things got lost in translation, and we accidentally ordered something that was, like, 19763% alcohol. Oops
We had Airbnb hosts drive us to airports or get up at 6 am to get on a bus with us, even paying for our bus tickets. One taxi driver immediately turned off his metre when we arrived at our accommodation, despite the fact that we couldn’t get in and waited with us for 20 minutes.
I have so many stories like these, but my fingers would fall off before I could type them all.
If you’re heading to Romania for the first time, this local travel guide for first-time visitors tells you everything you need to know.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO GET AROUND TRANSYLVANIA?
Getting around Romania is all part of the fun. Imagine peering out of your train window to see farms with horses dragging carts across the fields – that’s Romania.
The following Transylvania itinerary will work with both car rental and public transport. Although trains and buses can be sporadic, I found the train system reliable and easy to use. Always check times beforehand, and note that some tickets must be reserved in advance. For more details, check out my post here: How to Get Around Transylvania
ONE-WEEK TRANSYLVANIA ITINERARY!
DAY ONE – Cluj-Napoca
Arrive in Cluj-Napoca
If you arrive in the late afternoon, take a walk through the city centre and get your first look at the colourful architecture you’ll see throughout Transylvania. Each stop on this itinerary is one of the ‘Siebenburgen’ (Seven Fortresses), originally built by the Saxons in the 12th century, and is arguably the best-preserved medieval town in Europe.
But if you’ve got the whole day? Take a trip to Turda Salt Mine for the craziest amusement park you’ll ever see. Here you’ll head underground to a crazy underground fairground (Ferris wheel and mini-golf in a cave, anyone?), or you can rent a rowing boat across the underground lake.
If you’re pressed for time, look into the Ethnographic Museum and Botanical Garden or head to Cetatuia Park for a lovely view of Romania’s second-biggest city.
Spend the night in Cluj-Napoca.
DAY TWO – SighiÈ™oara
Travel from Cluj-Napoca to Sighișoara.
This is the longest stint of travelling on this itinerary, but well worth it: Sighișoara is not only famous for being the birthplace of Vlad Țepeș Dracula (also known as Vlad the Impaler and the inspiration for the very famous vampire), but also the gorgeous historic centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Drop your luggage at your accommodation. Spend the afternoon walking through the walled old town. Check out the many streets of coloured houses and the citadel (which is the last inhabited citadel in Europe). Admire the stunning Clock Tower before visiting the Church of the Dominican Monastery and the church on the hill.
Whilst I’d usually recommend avoiding vampires, head to Casa Vlad Dracul for dinner, where you can try some traditional Romanian food where his namesake was born. For a small cost, you can head upstairs to see his ‘old room’… if you’re brave enough!
By the way… DRACULA WAS A REAL PERSON
Have you even been to Transylvania if Dracula doesn’t become part of your itinerary?
I’d already heard of Vlad Tepes Dracula, but I knew him as Vlad the Impaler, the notorious leader who impaled people back in medieval times. Skip ahead if you’re squeamish! His victims were impaled through the (ah-hem) anus and out through the mouth. Despite his limited anatomy knowledge at the time, he’d purposefully miss the vital organs to ensure a slow, painful death. Hmm, lovely.
The famous vampire doesn’t sound so bad now, huh? Both Draculas had a taste for blood…. if only according to a few Romanian legends. There’s no objective evidence to suggest Vlad Tepes drank the blood of his most fierce enemies, but at least it makes for a nice bedtime story.
Having already visited another key Dracula destination – Whitby, England – it was super interesting to get another perspective here in Romania.
AND MANY REGARD DRACULA AS A HERO…
When he was captured by the Turks in his youth, Vlad may have collected knowledge about their tactics, which would later help him defeat them and become a fearsome ruler. Along with his giant poking sticks. Yay.
The thing is, despite his gruesome tactics, he actually protected the country from its enemies and is regarded as a hero… so don’t head off to rural Romania and start telling them Dracula’s a vampire.
Discover the most popular tours in Sighisoara.
Tip: vegans can try traditional Romanian food too! Try polenta or vegetable sour soup. My favourite was zacusca, which is a cold but tasty vegetable paste you have with bread.
If you want to make the most of your time here, you can also take a walking tour with a local! This is a great way to ensure you don’t miss out on the most beautiful parts of the town, alongside learning about the real history and some unique facts.
Spend the night in Sighișoara.
DAY THREE
Spend the morning in Sighisoara, taking in the historical sights for the final time. Walk the back streets to get a sense of what life is like here, as the following two destinations are much more modern.
Travel from SighiÈ™oara to BraÈ™ov. Check out the rural areas you pass, where horses still pull the carts on the farms, and before long, you’ll spot the Carpathian Mountains in the distance.
Take a relaxing walk around Brasov after checking into your accommodation. You can do this as part of a free walking tour (every day beginning at 1800, starting at Piata Sfatului, aka the main Square) for some insider knowledge or go independently using the following route:
View from the Black Tower, and Catherine’s Gate – both in Brasov
Tip: Easy walking route around Brasov Centre
- Start at the Council Square (Piata Sfatului) and pass the gothic Black Church.
- Head to Rope Street (Strada Sforii) – one of the narrowest streets in Europe
- Next, you’ll pass the picturesque Catherine’s Gate and also the Schei Gate.
- Next, take a walk through the Schei district. From the 13th to the 17th centuries, Romanians settled here while Saxons ruled the town and forbade them from entering the citadel walls. You can check out St Nicholas Church while you’re there.
- You’ll spy many of the town’s defensive fortifications on this walk! Head up the hill to the Black Tower and then the White Tower – both built-in 1494. Once used for defence, they now offer great views of the town and the old city walls.
- Stop at the Graft Bastion on your way back to the centre.
With dinner, ask for some Romanian plum brandy – Èšuică. As I don’t have an iron stomach, I got a relatively weak version to sip, as is traditional, before my meal.
Spend the night in Brașov.
At Bran Castle, everyone takes the same photo in this archway. You can practically hear Dracula rolling his eyes. 🙂
DAY FOUR
Are you ready to see Dracula’s Castle? (And by Dracula’s castle, I mean a groovy castle in Romania that has very little to do with Dracula… but no Transylvania itinerary would be complete without it!) Head to Bran by local bus, car or tour company and visit the striking Bran Castle.
On my day trip, I also visited Rasnov Citadel, where I particularly enjoyed the view from the top of the fortress.
Unfortunately, I did not have time to see the famous PeleÈ™ Castle, which is said to be the most beautiful in all of Romania. I recently saw it pop up on Netflix’s ‘The Christmas Prince’, mind you, so that’s something… I guess.
This is currently the highest-rated tour from Brasov to the surrounding castles on GetYourGuide, stopping at Bran Castle, Râșnov Citadel AND Peles Castle.
Side note: the public toilets in Romania were so clean. It was weird how clean they were.
Spend the night in Brașov.
I almost preferred Rasnov Fortress to Bran Castle – look at that gorgeous view from the top!
DAY FIVE
Get some exercise and hike Mount Tampa. The 960m high mountain looks over the city and has its own Hollywood sign. You can take the cable car back down. The trail begins at the centre of Brasov, so no extra planning is necessary for this walk!
TIP: Head right towards the letters when you get to the top for the best view of BraÈ™ov BEFORE going towards the cable car, where you can’t get the same view.
Alternatively, hiking trails in nearby National Parks can be taken independently or with a guide. Surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, you’re spoilt for choice. It is reasonably easy to access Poiana Brasov, which is a 15-minute drive or a 30-minute bus ride; there’s a cable car to the top of Postavarul Mountain for amazing views.
If you’re feeling ambitious, the Bucegi Mountains / Piatra Craiului National Park may be worth checking out. If going independently, be sure to research your route beforehand! You can also book a small-group tour with an English-speaking guide to take you hiking in the National Park here: GetYourGuide
If you’re not too tired from your hike, here are some ideas for how to spend your afternoon:
Even more things to do in Brasov:
Libearty Bear Sanctuary (where previously mistreated bears are now taken care of)
Bear and wolf-spotting excursions
Solomon’s Rocks – a quiet scenic spot south of the Schei area
Visit the first Romanian School
Extend your stay at Poiana Brasov for more hiking or skiing
Head inside the Black Church
Seek out the Urban Civilisation Museum
Or visit the History Museum in the main square
Spend the night in Brașov.
Next up on our Transylvania itinerary? Checking out the sights of Sibiu.
DAY SIX
Travel from Brașov to Sibiu
Spend the morning in Brasov or head straight to Sibiu. When you arrive in Sibiu, take time to walk around and eye up the Big Square and Little Square, the Holy Trinity Church, the impressive Orthodox Cathedral, the Lutheran Cathedral and the colourful back streets.
And don’t be shy about having a good look – the houses stare right back!
Head to one of the city’s museums, such as the Pharmacy Museum, Natural History Museum or Ethnography Museum.
Tip: Download the Sibiu City App for helpful information on what to do here!
Spend the night in Sibiu
DAY SEVEN
Your Transylvania itinerary is coming to an end. Head to the ASTRA Traditional Folk Civilisation Museum to ensure you end your trip on a high note.
Catch your flight home from Romania or head to your next destination.
COSTS
Despite the varied activities on this Romania itinerary, thankfully, the overall costs remain low.
ACCOMMODATION: My friend and I stayed in private rooms or small apartments through Airbnb for £4-9 each night. At a glance, a bed in a hostel dorm seems to be 56 lei (£10.40, $15), and nice hotel rooms start from around 214 lei (£40, $57)
FOOD: Example cost for a two-course meal for two with wine: 121 lei, £22.83, $32.44. You could pay 15 lei for freshly squeezed juice, 5 lei for polenta and 25 lei for the main course.
TRANSPORT: An example train ticket cost for a 2hr45m journey would be 39 lei (£7.30, $10.46), and a return inner-city bus ticket is around 2 lei (£0.37, $0.52). Taxis cost us 10 to 18 lei for 10–15–minute journeys (So £1.88 – £3.75 or $2.62 – $5.25)
ACTIVITIES: Nearly all the activities I did in Transylvania were free. The exceptions were as follows: Bran Castle (40 lei, £7.49, $10.62.) and Rasnov Fortress (10 lei, £1.87, $2.66) – we chose to travel with a tour company to these attractions, which was an additional 120 lei (£22.40, $31.87) for four hours. We visited the Astra Museum (17 lei, £3.18, $4.51) in Sibiu. To take the cable car back down Mt Tampa costs 16 lei (£2.99, $4.25).
FLIGHTS: A return plane ticket from the UK was about £80 – this was pricier than usual as we travelled over the Easter holiday weekend.
TIP: I used the currency converter app ‘XE Currency’ to check how much I spent throughout the trip. It works offline too – phew.
I hope my Transylvania itinerary comes in useful! Is Romania on your Balkans bucket list?
Vegan & Vegetarian Romanian food + costs and where to eat in Transylvania.
How to Get Around Romania – Transylvania Travel Tips
Brașov was the place where I ended up staying longer than planned. In the evening the Council Square fills with people sitting outside cafés, and when the lights come on around the Black Church the whole medieval center feels very atmospheric.
There’s honestly so many amazing places to visit! I might have not seen your comment in time, but hope you have an amazing trip to the Balkans and let me know if you still need any advice. Cassie x
Hello! We’re going to the Balkans next coming two months. do you have any particular recommendations on where to go, what to see, etc. etc. Thank you for sharing.
As a Bram Stoker fan, I’d love to see Transylvania and this helpful post will make my trip much easier. Sighisoara looks beautiful. I know a few people who have been skiing in Brasov but never said how beautiful it was.
I have always wanted to visit this part of the world, never realised how colourful it is!
Hoping to go later this year (who knows these days)
I’ve always wanted to go to Romania! I could probably only stay for 3-4 days with timing but this is a great guide!
Delightful and thorough itinerary!
Very true that US flights would make a big difference, despite the low cost upon arriving. Possibly one to tag on to a bigger Europe trip one day; it borders many wonderful countries which are accessible by train (though I admit I haven’t been to them either)! x
Honestly, I never considered Romania for my bucket list, but now I’m going to have to rethink that. Though flights from the US would significantly add to costs.
Thanks so much Ain! I tried to give as much info as I could, but really Transylvania speaks for itself. Really worth visiting if you’re ever near by 🙂 x
Transylvania only reminds me of one thing every time – Dracula. And yet, it’s still one of my top places to go to! I mean, it’s a beautiful country and your pictures proved it as well. I’m definitely bookmarking your post because this is a well written itinerary and thank you for sharing everything! x Ain (www.captaineverland.co.uk)
Hi Kat, thank you!
It’s a really worthwhile destination if you can ever make it there 🙂 x
I would love to go to Transylvania. It always looks so pretty there. Great travel advice and itinerary. Your photos are beautiful.