The secret story of Dracula tour

The secret story of Dracula is a perfect day trip from Bucharest for those who want to know who was the one that inspired the myth of Dracula. You will visit the Targoviste royal court and the Curtea de Arges monastery. If Poenari castle, the real castle of Dracula, is open you can climb the 1400 stairs to explore it or you can just see it from the road. In the end, you will admire from outside a replica of Poenari in Bucharest.

When you visit Romania for a short period of time and you land at Henri Coanda airport near Bucharest, you can book a hotel in the capital of Romania and do some day trips from Bucharest. One or two days are enough to explore the city and you can do that on your own or with a guide. After that, you can start discovering Bucharest surroundings.

Fortunately, there are quite a few attractions near Bucharest, known and less known, closer or further, but enough for many days.

Here is a list of some places to visit near Bucharest and day tours from Bucharest to get you to those places:

Places to visit near Bucharest

Especially suitable when you have only a few hours available, the trips around Bucharest disconnect you from the noise of the city and show you less-known attractions. Some of the attractions you can visit near Bucharest are:

Mogosoaia Palace and Snagov Monastery

Placed in the north of the capital, you can visit these 2 places separately or together.

The Mogosoaia estate includes the palace and the surrounding park. If you want to stay in nature without driving a lot, the meadow from Mogosoaia is excellent for a picnic. The palace is located on the shore of the lake and can be visited inside to get a feeling of how people lived back then.

Snagov Monastery is one of the most visited churches outside Bucharest. It is different from other monasteries, being built on an island. It is said that Vlad Tepes (the ruler who inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula) was buried here. And his tomb is actually marked inside. This rumour attracts the monastery’s fame among foreign tourists in search of Dracula.

Comana Monastery and Neajlov Delta

Another place to see near Bucharest, this time to the south, is the Comana forest. A trip to Comana starts at Comana monastery, the monastery founded by Vlad Tepes right on the bank of the Neajlov river. The monastery has thick, white walls that make it look like a fortress.

From Comana monastery a road goes to Comana forest and Neajlov delta. You can stop in Comana Adventure Park and try the trails on trees. You can also walk the alleys until you reach the heart of the delta, rent a boat to explore the delta without disturbing its inhabitants or go on a train ride around the area.

This way you can admire the different birds and animals that live here: swans, dragonflies, wild ducks etc. Neajlov delta has over 141 species of birds, 19 species of fish and 31 species of mammals, ranking second as biodiversity after the Danube Delta reservation.

Near Comana adventure park starts the forest. Get lost on its paths and go visit the Walnut fountain.  It is also a great place for biking.

On weekends the location is quite crowded, but during the week it is a pleasure to spend time here, especially if you want to explore a delta, but you don’t have enough time for the Danube Delta.

Attraction near Bucharest: Chitila Dendrological Park

A very neat place near Bucharest is the Chitila dendrological park. It is not very crowded and it is a perfect location for a nature getaway. After a walk through the park, you can continue on the path near the lake, which sinks through the forest.

In autumn, the colours of the leaves here show you that you don’t have to go far to enjoy the autumn’s shades. The forest paths are excellent for those looking for bike routes near Bucharest.

Trip to the monasteries near Bucharest

There are several monasteries around Bucharest that you can visit if you want to discover the orthodox culture. The Cernica monastery and Pasarea monastery have the advantage of the surrounding forest. After you visit them, you can rest in the shade of the trees.

To the south, until you reach the Comana monastery, you will meet the Delta Neajlovului monastery on the way. Spring looks gorgeous on the river bank, coming out of the yellow rapeseed field planted in front of it.

South from Bucharest is the church of St. Nicholas, in Draganescu, known for his paintings by Arsenie Boca. The best known of these paintings is the one with the modern man talking on the phone.

To the north of Bucharest, next to the Snagov monastery, you will find the Caldarusani monastery, a church surrounded by thick walls that looks like a fortress.

Day trips from Bucharest to the Bucegi mountains

When you have at least one day available and you want to enjoy the coolness and the beautiful landscapes of the mountain, there are several locations that you can visit and get back to your hotel in Bucharest in the evening.

Day tour to Peles castle and Sinaia

Among the most popular day trips from Bucharest are a getaway to Sinaia and a visit to Peles castle. You can get to Sinaia by train. Several trains go from Bucharest to Sinaia in the morning and they all depart from Gara de Nord.

Those who prefer going by car can rent a car and drive or the pampering option is to book a private day tour to Sinaia with a guide.

Once you arrive in Sinaia, you can either walk through the resort and visit the well-known attractions or go up on the mountain.

Among the attractions in Sinaia that are worth stopping by are Peles Castle, Pelisor Castle, the Sinaia Casino and George Enescu’s house.

Peles Castle was built as the summer residence for the first royal couple of Romania, King Carol I (1866-1914) and Queen Elisabeta. It has about 170 rooms and was the first fully electrified castle in Europe. A tour inside it will reveal to you parts of the royal family’s story and important details about Romania’s history.

To go up in the mountains, you have several options: gondola, cable car or the healthy option, walking through the forest.

Transbucegi road

If you want to enjoy incredible views from the car, you can drive on Transbucegi, the mountain road that climbs from the Sinaia-Targoviste road to the Piatra Arsa chalet. The road is not for everyone, is full of steep curves, quite narrow and sometimes crowded, so be careful when driving! The landscapes above are worth the effort!

Once you reach Piatra Arsa you can leave the car (sometimes you need to pay for access to Bucegi Park) and go trekking on one of the marked routes from Bucegi mountains: to the Caraiman chalet or to Babele and Sfinx. Those who like longer routes can go on to Omu Peak or to the Cross.

To Babele and Caraiman chalet the route is quite easy and goes on the plateau. These are 2 mountain trails that are suitable for children, as well.

Another option on Transbucegi is to descend to Lake Bolboci and further to Ialomita Cave. On summer weekends, however, it is extremely crowded, so it is better to go during the week.

Prahova Salt mine and Cheia mountain resort

Prahova Valley (with the popular resorts Sinaia, Busteni and Predeal) is quite crowded, so you can try some alternative routes when going to Bucegi mountains: to Cheia or to Rucar-Bran.

A day trip to Cheia mountain resort can include a stop at the Slanic Prahova Salt Mine (also known as Unirea salt mine), the largest salt mine in Europe, with an underground descent and a salty breathing session. It is a great place to visit and from here you can go further to Cheia or you can combine it with a wine tasting session in the area or with the Muddy volcanoes.

If you prefer Cheia, take the road that goes further, through the mountains, until it reaches the mountain resort. In the resort, you can look for a cool place in the shade of the forest or go on the mountain trail to the Red Mountain.

Campina and Doftana valley

Another option for a trip near Bucharest can be the Doftana Valley. To reach the Doftana Valley, go through Campina and you can stop here to visit Iulia Hasdeu Castle, a place full of mystery. The castle was built by Bogdan Petriceicu-Hasdeu, Iulia’s father, according to the plans she transmitted to him from beyond death, during the spiritualism sessions.

Once you enter the Doftana Valley, go to the Paltinu dam to admire the lake from above. If you cross the lake, you will see that the crowd is already reduced and you have a chance to find a suitable place to stop near the forest.

Day trip on Transfagarasan high-way

One of the most beautiful day tours from Bucharest seems to me Transfagarasan. Although it is always crowded, when there are 40 degrees in Bucharest, you can be sure that at Balea you can find at least 15 degrees less.

A day trip on Transfagarasan starts with a stop at Curtea de Arges Monastery. If you go around the church to study its twisted towers, you can see the place where the legend says that Ana, Manole’s wife, was buried.

The route on Transfagarasan continues with a stop at Poenari, the fortress of Vlad Tepes, accessible only if you climb the 1480 steps through the forest. From above, you can see far away the view of the mountains.

After Poenari you will pass on the Vidraru dam and from there the road winds smoothly through the forest, on the shore of Vidraru lake. In this part, you have great chances to meet bears. Don’t get out of the car because you don’t know how they react, although most of them are used to tourists.

The last stop will be at Balea Lake, after an ascent on the winding road on the bare slopes of Fagaras and passing through the 800-meter tunnel. At Balea, after you have regularly parked the car, you can go to the lake or you can admire Transylvania from above and the curves that descend on the other side of the mountain.

The return to Bucharest is made on the same road or descending on the other side and then coming back to the Olt Gorge.

Transfagarasan is not an easy road to drive on and if you want to enjoy the best views of the mountains, it is better to have a guide with you. He knows where it is safe to park and where is the best place to take a picture of Transfagarasan road.

Day trips from Bucharest to Transylvania

Rucar-Bran passage and Bran Castle

Harder to access than Prahova Valley, but more spectacular, the Rucar-Bran passage throughout the Bucegi mountains is another option for a day trip from Bucharest. On the way to Rucar, you can stop on Mateias hill where a mausoleum was built for the soldiers who fell in the First World War.

After Rucar you enter the Piatra Craiului National Park where there are a lot of mountain trails.

By car you can easily reach the Dambovicioara cave, passing through the Dambovicioara gorges. After Dambovicioara you will get to Moeciu driving on a beautiful road framed by Bucegi mountains on one side and the Piatra Craiului mountains on the other side.

From Moeciu you can go up to the beautiful, isolated villages of Pestera and Magura.

At the end of the Rucar-Bran passage, you will find the best-known attraction in Romania: Bran Castle. If you are interested to visit just the castle, you can book a Bran castle tour from Bucharest. Inside you will discover what is the real history of the castle and what are its connections to count Dracula, the famous vampire.

Usually, a day trip from Bucharest to Bran castle includes also a visit to Peles Castle in Sinaia and a tour of Brasov old town.

Day trip from Bucharest to Brasov

If you love the medieval charm and the cobbled, narrow streets, a day trip from Bucharest to Brasov is a perfect choice. You can get there by train, also from Gara de Nord (the North Train station in Bucharest) or by car.

Once you arrive in Brasov, take a tour of the old centre of Brasov, climb on Tampa mountain next to the city, either by cable car or on foot and have a delicious lunch in Council Square.

These are the must-do in Brasov, but if time allows, you can also go to Poiana Brasov to feel the mountain better.

Do you want to explore Brasov on your own?

Day trips from Bucharest to Bulgaria

Considering the proximity of Bucharest to the border with Bulgaria, when you want to experience something new, you can visit also our neighbours. And they have a lot to show, even if little is known.

But when you take a day tour from Bucharest to Bulgaria, don’t forget that you have to cross the border, so make sure you have all the needed documents.

Visit Veliko Tarnovo from Bucharest

After crossing the Friendship Bridge from Giurgiu, in less than 2 hours you reach the former capital of Bulgaria: Veliko Tarnovo. Old settlements, ancient fortresses and a special charm make Veliko Tarnovo a very popular destination for a day trip.

On the way back you can also stop at the Hotnitsa waterfall whose watercourse can be explored on a marked route through the forest. And if you still have time, near the border with Romania, 2 churches dug in stone, Unesco heritage sites, invite you to stop and explore them: Basarabovo and Ivanovo.

Lovech and Devetashka cave

Another trip to Bulgaria from Bucharest that can be made in one day is to Lovech, an old town in Bulgaria guarded by the fortress on the hill and known especially for the covered bridge reminiscent of the one in Florence, Italy.

After exploring the city and having a delicious lunch in the centre, on the way back you can visit the Devetashka cave, a wonder of nature. With its roof broken in several parts and the large interior, it attracts a lot of tourists. Fortunately, it is not the only spectacular cave in Bulgaria!

Other trips from Bucharest

Other areas in Romania can be visited in short trips with a departure in the morning and return in the evening.

One day trip from Bucharest to the seaside and Constanta

Outside the summer season, when the crowd of tourists is heading to other destinations and the weather is too cool for swimming, the sea acquires another charm. And this is the time for a trip to the seaside.

The highway is free so you have a chance to get to Constanta in 3 hours. After a walk on the seafront and through the old town, you can enjoy lunch at one of the terraces in Ovidiu Square.

The afternoon can be dedicated to a beach session in Mamaia, the best-known sea resort in Romania. You will find the beach free just for you.

Wine tasting in Dealul Mare region

Close to Bucharest, at a maximum of an hour and a half drive, there is the Dealu mare wine region and a lot of wineries to visit. A visit to the winery, with a walk in the vineyard and wine tasting, is one of the most beautiful autumn trips from Bucharest. Read here about other places to visit in autumn in Romania.

There are many wineries in Dealu mare specialized in wine tourism. Some also accept groups of 2-3 people, but most require a minimum number of people to organize a tasting.

Day tour to Targoviste

One of the most beautiful cities near Bucharest and also a tourist one is Targoviste. Targoviste is the former capital of Wallachia and it is known especially for hosting the Royal court of Vlad the Impaler.

Until you reach Targoviste, it is worth stopping in Bucsani, at Zimbraria Neagra to admire the bison and the forest.

In Targoviste you can explore the Royal Court, the Chindia Tower and the Museum of Printing and  Old Books. You can then walk through Chindia Park, on the shore of the lake or you can continue your way to Dealu Monastery.

Located very close to Targoviste, Dealu Monastery is the place where the head of Mihai Viteazu is (beheaded by the Turks) and the tomb of Vlad Dracul, Vlad Tepes’ father, are sheltered.

Day trips from Bucharest to Buzau county

One of the most interesting areas to explore in Romania is Buzau County. Underestimated from a tourist point of view, Buzau has so many beautiful places to visit that a day trip is not enough.

You can dedicate a day to the area between Ploiesti and Buzau. Here you will find in Naeni the stone church, the prehistoric caves and, after a half-hour route accessible with children, the stone sculpture camp. From the route, you will see on one side the mountains of Buzau and their spreading peaks and on the other side the plain.

On another day trip, you can visit the Muddy volcanoes in Berca. Paclele Mari and Paclele Mici offer a selenium landscape hard to find in other parts of the country. On the way back to Bucharest you can stop at the sculpture camp in Magura and the Bradu fortified monastery.

And if you want to discover other mysterious areas, try a third trip to the Trovanti(the living stones) in Ulmet and the cave settlements in the Buzau mountains. You can start from Alunis, visiting the cave church or from Nucu, more difficult to reach by car.

One day tours from Bucharest I wouldn’t recommend

When you read different articles on the Internet recommending day trip destinations it is easy to assume they are right, especially when you find organized tours with the same destination. However, there are several destinations that I wouldn’t recommend visiting as a day trip.

Those who propose them either have not been there or just want to tick the place on their bucket list.

Sibiu

A charming city and probably the most beautiful city in Romania, Sibiu attracts its visitors with narrow streets, medieval walls, old buildings and modern, delicious restaurants. A tour of the old town in Sibiu takes around 2 hours. Read here what you can do in Sibiu.

You can visit Sibiu on a day tour from Bucharest only if you are willing to spend at least 8 hours in the car. But considering that Oltului Gorge is a busy highway, the driving time can only increase. Several times, it took us more than 5 hours to get from Bucharest to Sibiu.

In these conditions, you can plan a relaxed multi-day itinerary in Transylvania and properly enjoy Sibiu.

Danube Delta

Another very recommend a day trip from Bucharest is the one to Danube Delta. To explore the delta, you must go to Tulcea, a large city on the Danube where the boat trips start. But a roundtrip Bucharest-Tulcea-Bucharest takes at least 8 hours.

The issue with this tour is actually the boat trip. It is done with a speed boat and it is hard to enjoy the delta when you know you are disturbing the environment and the animals that live there. Plus, for tourists means sitting in the car and then sitting in the boat. If you choose this trip, just be sure you want to sit all day long.

These are some destinations for a Bucharest day trip. Some places will need more than one day if you really want to discover them. Others are not so rich in attractions, so you can include some extra stops in your itinerary.

When you have several days at your disposal, you can venture further. There are many beautiful places to visit in Romania and some of them are unknown to many. Otherwise, it doesn’t make much sense to spend a lot of time in the car to spend very little time in the chosen place.