Anonymous
07/22/2025 16:48
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
Anonymous wrote:Op here. Unfortunately driving is not an option for us.
We have to go by public transport or taxi between cities and do the day tours or do it on our own and use taxi/uber/bolt for drop off's.
Why is driving not an option? If you don’t drive, the trip will suck. Truly. You should just pick another destination if that is the case, but why cant you drive?
Anonymous
07/22/2025 16:43
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
You can do the castles in one day if you have a guide with a car. Another advantage of that is that the guides get you in faster - not sure if they officially pay to the museums, pay someone under the table or make reservations as a small group, but we’ve just walked in as opposed to standing in line with all the individual visitors.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 16:37
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
Don’t forget to check your holy water and wooden stakes!
Anonymous
07/22/2025 16:30
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
Anonymous wrote:On recs from posters in the other thread to visit Romania in the summer, I came up with this. Those who have been, please help me tweak this itinerary:
Day 1 - Bucharest - arrive. Explore. Palace of Parliament, landmarks along Calea and Victorei roads
Day 2 - GetYourGuide Day trip $57pp - Transfagarasan road (winding road):
Vidraru Dam, Bâlea Lake, Transfagarasan Highway
Day 3 - Train to Sinaia - luggage drop in station, see Peles Castle (20 min from train station), stay the night or continue to Brasov?
Day 4 - Train to Brasov - Explore Brasov (free walking tours)
- Medieval quarter
- Central Square, cable car/hike to top of hill overlooking city for views
- Stay in Brasov
Day 5 - Bran Castle - taxi/bus to castle?
- Stay in Brasov
Day 6 - Bolt Taxi to Sighisoara - on the way explore Feldioara citadel, Harman, Racos - Emerald lake, Racos volcano and basalt columns - all three in same location.
- Stay the night at Sighisoara
Day 7 - Spend the morning in Sighisoara - luggage where to store?? - 3:30pm Flixbus/Bolt taxi to Cluj- Napoca.
- Stay the night at Cluj- Napoca
Day 8 - Downtime - Explore Cluj - Stay at Cluj-Napoca
Day 9 - GYG Day trip to Salina Turda, Alba Iulia citadel and Corvin castle in Hunedoara $139pp or bus/taxi to these places at our own pace with an extra night at Cluj
- Stay the night at Cluj-Napoca
Day 10 - Checkout and Taxi to Sibiu. Check in hotel and explore Sibiu
Stay the night at Sibiu
Day 11 - ASTRA outdoor ethnographic museum near Sibiu
Stay the night at Sibiu
Day 12 - Back to Bucharest and flight out
Does this sound reasonable? Anything I need to change? Anything I can cut or add on?
I did the research to see where all these places are and came up with this and am only interested in feedback from people who have been there done that since it will actually help me.
Those who haven't been to Romania, please stay away from this thread.
I think you could spend one more day in Bucharest but agree that Transylvania is the most stunning part of Romania. This itinerary is a lot of moving around but if you want to see a lot, it should be fine.
Any interest in hiking at all? There are quite a few cabins around the Bran area where you can actually hike around the villages. I also only used buses and trains (and made some friends on the train out of Bucharest!) but it is a lot of logistics/moving around. So I ended up spending 3 days in the Bran area just relaxing. I went in May and the weather was beautiful.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 16:27
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
What a nightmare of a trip this will be!
Anonymous
07/22/2025 16:25
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
Anonymous wrote:Op here. Unfortunately driving is not an option for us.
We have to go by public transport or taxi between cities and do the day tours or do it on our own and use taxi/uber/bolt for drop off's.
Don’t worry— I did not drive and spend about ten days there. I LOVED the trains and buses. They were well marked and went all over. We also used individual taxis a lot.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 15:55
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
It doesn't make sense to do a day trip to Transfagarasan Highway. It's a one way drive and ends up near some of the cities you want to see. Just take that from one place to the next.
I would spend a max of one day in Bucharest, agree with another poster it was the least interesting part of the trip for us. We loved the smaller towns.
I would go to Bucovina rather than Cluj if you can get there. It's a different landscape so will provide variety. The Painted Monasteries are incredible.
I would spend a max of one day in Bucharest, agree with another poster it was the least interesting part of the trip for us. We loved the smaller towns.
I would go to Bucovina rather than Cluj if you can get there. It's a different landscape so will provide variety. The Painted Monasteries are incredible.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 15:49
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
Op here. Unfortunately driving is not an option for us.
We have to go by public transport or taxi between cities and do the day tours or do it on our own and use taxi/uber/bolt for drop off's.
We have to go by public transport or taxi between cities and do the day tours or do it on our own and use taxi/uber/bolt for drop off's.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 15:04
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
From what I remember of my trip to Romania in 2012, we went straight from Bucharest to Brasov and used it as a base to visit both Bran Castle and Peles Castle and took a car/driver to visit a selection of nearby villages for the fortified churches (must do this, a real insight into rural Transylvania). Sighisoara was one night. Small place but charming. Sibiu is bigger and bustling and very enjoyable and spent a few days there, with local day trips, including fortified churches.
In Bucharest, the best thing we saw was https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimitrie_Gusti_National_Village_Museum
Absolutely worth visiting.
Then we went up to northern Romania to see the painted monasteries before returning to Bucharest for the departure flight.
Loved the country.
In Bucharest, the best thing we saw was https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimitrie_Gusti_National_Village_Museum
Absolutely worth visiting.
Then we went up to northern Romania to see the painted monasteries before returning to Bucharest for the departure flight.
Loved the country.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 13:42
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You need a car. Doing this all by train would be exhausting and not fun.
Trust me, driving in Romania is almost less fun than the train. A lot of 2 lane roads, not marked well.
That will be an intense itinerary. I'd personally spend 5 days in Bucharest and do a day trip to Brasov, then maybe 4 days in Cluj. Don't miss the Therme in Bucharest.
You’re ridiculous. I have driven all over Romania without incident. This itinerary using all trains will be a nightmare.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 09:44
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
When we went to Romania we also went to the Black Sea.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 09:36
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You need a car. Doing this all by train would be exhausting and not fun.
Trust me, driving in Romania is almost less fun than the train. A lot of 2 lane roads, not marked well.
That will be an intense itinerary. I'd personally spend 5 days in Bucharest and do a day trip to Brasov, then maybe 4 days in Cluj. Don't miss the Therme in Bucharest.
I think Bucharest is less interesting than Transylvania. I agree that OP's schedule is intense, but the focus on Transylvania is merited.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 06:22
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
Anonymous wrote:You need a car. Doing this all by train would be exhausting and not fun.
Trust me, driving in Romania is almost less fun than the train. A lot of 2 lane roads, not marked well.
That will be an intense itinerary. I'd personally spend 5 days in Bucharest and do a day trip to Brasov, then maybe 4 days in Cluj. Don't miss the Therme in Bucharest.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 06:09
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
You need a car. Doing this all by train would be exhausting and not fun.
Anonymous
07/22/2025 01:32
Subject: Romania itinerary- interested in feedback only from people who have actually been there.
On recs from posters in the other thread to visit Romania in the summer, I came up with this. Those who have been, please help me tweak this itinerary:
Day 1 - Bucharest - arrive. Explore. Palace of Parliament, landmarks along Calea and Victorei roads
Day 2 - GetYourGuide Day trip $57pp - Transfagarasan road (winding road):
Vidraru Dam, Bâlea Lake, Transfagarasan Highway
Day 3 - Train to Sinaia - luggage drop in station, see Peles Castle (20 min from train station), stay the night or continue to Brasov?
Day 4 - Train to Brasov - Explore Brasov (free walking tours)
- Medieval quarter
- Central Square, cable car/hike to top of hill overlooking city for views
- Stay in Brasov
Day 5 - Bran Castle - taxi/bus to castle?
- Stay in Brasov
Day 6 - Bolt Taxi to Sighisoara - on the way explore Feldioara citadel, Harman, Racos - Emerald lake, Racos volcano and basalt columns - all three in same location.
- Stay the night at Sighisoara
Day 7 - Spend the morning in Sighisoara - luggage where to store?? - 3:30pm Flixbus/Bolt taxi to Cluj- Napoca.
- Stay the night at Cluj- Napoca
Day 8 - Downtime - Explore Cluj - Stay at Cluj-Napoca
Day 9 - GYG Day trip to Salina Turda, Alba Iulia citadel and Corvin castle in Hunedoara $139pp or bus/taxi to these places at our own pace with an extra night at Cluj
- Stay the night at Cluj-Napoca
Day 10 - Checkout and Taxi to Sibiu. Check in hotel and explore Sibiu
Stay the night at Sibiu
Day 11 - ASTRA outdoor ethnographic museum near Sibiu
Stay the night at Sibiu
Day 12 - Back to Bucharest and flight out
Does this sound reasonable? Anything I need to change? Anything I can cut or add on?
I did the research to see where all these places are and came up with this and am only interested in feedback from people who have been there done that since it will actually help me.
Those who haven't been to Romania, please stay away from this thread.
Day 1 - Bucharest - arrive. Explore. Palace of Parliament, landmarks along Calea and Victorei roads
Day 2 - GetYourGuide Day trip $57pp - Transfagarasan road (winding road):
Vidraru Dam, Bâlea Lake, Transfagarasan Highway
Day 3 - Train to Sinaia - luggage drop in station, see Peles Castle (20 min from train station), stay the night or continue to Brasov?
Day 4 - Train to Brasov - Explore Brasov (free walking tours)
- Medieval quarter
- Central Square, cable car/hike to top of hill overlooking city for views
- Stay in Brasov
Day 5 - Bran Castle - taxi/bus to castle?
- Stay in Brasov
Day 6 - Bolt Taxi to Sighisoara - on the way explore Feldioara citadel, Harman, Racos - Emerald lake, Racos volcano and basalt columns - all three in same location.
- Stay the night at Sighisoara
Day 7 - Spend the morning in Sighisoara - luggage where to store?? - 3:30pm Flixbus/Bolt taxi to Cluj- Napoca.
- Stay the night at Cluj- Napoca
Day 8 - Downtime - Explore Cluj - Stay at Cluj-Napoca
Day 9 - GYG Day trip to Salina Turda, Alba Iulia citadel and Corvin castle in Hunedoara $139pp or bus/taxi to these places at our own pace with an extra night at Cluj
- Stay the night at Cluj-Napoca
Day 10 - Checkout and Taxi to Sibiu. Check in hotel and explore Sibiu
Stay the night at Sibiu
Day 11 - ASTRA outdoor ethnographic museum near Sibiu
Stay the night at Sibiu
Day 12 - Back to Bucharest and flight out
Does this sound reasonable? Anything I need to change? Anything I can cut or add on?
I did the research to see where all these places are and came up with this and am only interested in feedback from people who have been there done that since it will actually help me.
Those who haven't been to Romania, please stay away from this thread.