Highlights
- Day 1: Welcome to Bucharest
- Day 2: Discover Bucharest
- Day 3: Carpathian mountains and Peles Castle
- Day 4: Brasov medieval city and the Bran Castle
- Day 5: Explore Sighisoara
- Day 6: Targu Mures and Turda salt mine
- Day 7: Discover the Apuseni mountains
- Day 8: Corvin Castle and the Bear cave
- Day 9: Deva fortress and Alba Iulia
- Day 10: Take a long walk in Sibiu
- Day 11: Drive on Transfagarasan
- Day 12: Good-bye, Romania!
Details of the tour:
Welcome to Bucharest
In the evening, you can have a delicious dinner at one of the restaurants in the old town. This way, you can also feel the party atmosphere of this place.
Accommodation in Bucharest
Day 1
Visit the best-known attractions in Bucharest
You can find here the second largest building in the world – the Parliament palace, which deserves a stop. The Parliament Palace can be visited only on a guided tour, and to enter you will need an ID or a passport.
Once you get here, you will go through a filter like the one at the airport, so as not to bring dangerous objects.
Inside you can see some of the attractions that made the building famous: a huge 2-ton chandelier, red velvet curtains with gold and silver thread, glass ceilings and pink marble columns.
If you need a quick preview of the different regions of the country, take a long walk in the Village Museum. It houses monuments of traditional architecture: households, churches, and craft workshops. He also owns ethnographic and folk art pieces: traditional clothing, pottery, and wood and glass icons.
If you need, we can recommend you a good restaurant in the area to try also some Romanian traditional food.
In the evening come back to your hotel.
Accommodation in Bucharest
Day 2
Carpathian mountains and Peles castle
On day 3 leave Bucharest behind and drive to Sinaia, a mountain resort at the foot of the Carpathian mountains. You can visit here an amazing castle: Peles castle.
The Peles castle is built on the royal estate of Sinaia, in a place with wonderful landscapes, away from the hustle and bustle of the mountain resort. It has 160 rooms and more than 30 bathrooms and over time has hosted members of the Romanian royal family.
At the end of the 19th century, Peles Castle was one of the most modern European royal residences, being the first fully electrified castle in Europe.
Once you have explored the beautiful castle, continue your Romanian road trip to the next mountain resort, Busteni. Here, you can take the cable car to the top of the Carpathians and see some natural wonders: Babele and Sphinx stones. From the cable car station, you will have a short walk to these two natural landmarks.
Come back to Busteni and continue to drive until you reach one of the most beautiful cities in Transylvania: Brasov. Here is your last stop for today.
Accommodation in Brasov
Read also: Facts and legends about the Romanian Sphinx in Bucegi mountains
Day 3
Brasov medieval city and the Bran Castle
The narrow and cobbled streets, the colourful houses and the specific red roofs, all these elements harmoniously combined, give charm to Brasov. In order to discover the best of Brasov, we have prepared a self-guided walking tour in the city centre.
Here you can stop in the Council Square, at one of the traditional restaurants, you can visit the Black Church or you can climb Tampa, the mountain at the foot of which the city was built.
In the afternoon, go by car to visit the best-known attraction in Romania: Bran Castle. Bran Castle is known as the castle of the famous Count Dracula, a fictional character inspired by Vlad Tepes, a cruel Romanian ruler. A visit here will tell you the story of this leader, but also of the Romanian royal family whose history is intertwined with that of Bran.
In the evening come back to Brasov for a delicious dinner.
Accommodation in Brasov
Day 4
Explore Sighisoara
On the way from Brasov to Sighisoara, you can stop to visit some of the traditional villages in the area. A part of them hosts other UNESCO heritage sites in Romania: the beautiful fortified churches of Transylvania.
Accommodation in Sighisoara
Day 5
Targu Mures and Turda salt mine
In Targu Mures, you can have a delicious lunch (Targu Mures is famous for its tasty restaurants). But don’t spend too much time in Targu Mures, because in the afternoon you should visit one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Romania: the Turda salt mine. This incredible salt mine dates back from Roman times. Today, inside you can play games, visit the salt museum or even take a boat trip on the underground lake.
Accommodation in Turda
Day 6
Discover the Apuseni mountains
But whatever you do, you cannot miss Scarisoara cave that hides the biggest glacier in Romania. Usually, the temperature in the cave is minus several degrees, reaching only a maximum of 0.5 degrees Celsius in summer. Therefore, in any season you come here, it is good to come prepared with warm clothes. Outside the season, it is better to call the cave’s guide before getting there, to make sure that you can visit it.
In the evening, drive to Arieseni, a beautiful mountain resort where you will spend the night.
Accommodation in Arieseni
Day 7
Corvin Castle and the Bear cave
From Bears’ cave go to Hunedoara. Your day will end in Hunedoara, with a beautiful fairy tale castle: Corvin castle.
The story of Corvin Castle begins in 1409, on these lands where there was a stone fortification. Decades later, Iancu de Hunedoara, voivode of Transylvania and illegitimate son of the then king of Hungary, built the amazing castle that still stands today.
Children and adults love it for its medieval air, large interiors and princely atmosphere. A visit inside, after you cross the beautiful bridge at the entrance, will unveil to you the legend behind the castle and its true history.
Accommodation in Hunedoara
Try also the 10-day Grand tour of Romania
Day 8
Deva fortress and Alba Iulia
Once you go up by the funicular you will have a 360 view of the Mures valley and you will see why this place was chosen to build it.
Back on the road, there are other attractions that can be included in your Romania road trip itinerary depending on your wishes: amazing gardens, ancient fortresses etc.
In the afternoon you can explore a beautiful city with a star-shaped fortress: Alba Iulia. This place has enormous meaning for Romanians all over the world because this is the place where the grand unification took place.
In the evening, go to Sibiu, probably the most beautiful city in Transylvania.
Accommodation in Sibiu
Day 9
Take a long walk in Sibiu
Sibiu is like poetry. Wherever you walk, its romantic atmosphere will enchant you. The narrow streets, the old houses, the tile roofs with their small windows like eyes that seem to follow you everywhere, all increase its charm.
In order to discover them all, but also to find out the story behind them, you can explore Sibiu using our self-guided tour.
Accommodation in Sibiu
Day 10
Drive on Transfagarasan
It’s time to go back to Bucharest, but on the road, you still have to experience probably the most beautiful road in the world: Transfagarasan. This is the most famous road in Romania since the Top Gear TV show named it the best road in the world.
You must be a good driver because Transfagarasan will test your limits. On the way you can stop on top, to see the Balea lake, on Vidraru dam and in Curtea de Arges to visit the beautiful monastery.
Accommodation in Bucharest
Do you have only one day? Book the day tour to Transfagarasan.
Day 11
Good-bye, Romania!
Your self-drive tour in Romania ends on day 12. Drop off your car rental at the airport and take your plane back home. You have gathered a lot of beautiful memories during this tour and every time you miss Romania, it will welcome you with its arms wide open. So don’t hesitate to come back!
Not ready to say “pa, pa”? Extend your stay with another trip perfect for families – Dobrogea and Danube Delta tour.
Reviews
Clear filtersThere are no reviews yet.