Best of Romania: Overview

Many of us associate Romania with vampires, creepy stories and the infamous gypsies that roam Europe. And many of us actually have no idea what Romania ACTUALLY has to offer!

I kept getting asked by so many people, why are you going to Romania for a week? Now, imagine a country full of castles and citadels, legends and traditions, mixed with beautiful landscapes of colorful forests, lakes and mountains, medieval towns, fairytale houses and kind welcoming people… Welcome to Romania! Romania is more than definitely worth visiting for a week.

Best of Romania: My Romania One Week Itinerary

Before we get into the cities, here’s everything you need to know to plan the trip:

BEST OF ROMANIA: THE ESSENTIALS

Getting Around Romania / The best way to explore Romania is by rental car — it gives you the flexibility to combine cities and reach places like Corvin Castle and the Turda Gorge that aren’t easy to reach otherwise. Hire through DiscoverCars — they compare rates across all providers so you always get the best deal.

Getting to Romania / Bucharest (OTP) has its own international airport, well-served by budget European airlines. Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) is also a good entry/exit point if you want to do the itinerary in reverse or fly home from a different city. Book your flight here

Connect / Pick up a local eSIM before you travel so you have data from the moment you land. Sim Local ships to the UK — use code TRAVELWITHPAU for a discount.

Get Insured / Don’t travel without cover. Get a quote from World Nomads before you go.

Days 1-2: Bucharest

BUCHAREST ESSENTIALS

Getting There / Bucharest has its own airport which is serviced by many budget European airlines and flights are usually cheap. Book your flight here. You can also arrive by train or bus from neighbouring countries. Book your train here.

Transport / Bucharest is walkable in the centre. If you’re picking up a rental car, DiscoverCars is the best place to compare rates. I’d recommend collecting the car on Day 3 when you head to Transylvania rather than driving in the city.

Tours /
Bucharest City Highlights Walking Tour
Bucharest Walking Food Tour
Bucharest Evening Tour with Traditional Dinner
Parliament Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket

Stay /
The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection $$$
Concorde Old Bucharest Hotel $$
Old Town Boutique Hotel $

Eat /
Traditional Romanian: Caru Cu Bere or Hanul lui Manuc (oldest operating hotel building in Bucharest, now a restaurant).
Drinks with a view: Linea / Closer to the Moon rooftop terrace

Things to do in Bucharest

Take a walking tour!

This is my number one recommendation for Bucharest, especially if you arrive in the afternoon. The city highlights walking tour is excellent for getting your bearings and identifying which secondary attractions are worth your time. There are also food tours if you want to eat your way around the Old Town ( their donuts called ‘papanasi’ and their meat sausage ‘mici’ are non-negotiable must trys), and evening tours with dinner if you arrive late. Many of the tourist spots will be covered in the tour itself already and my tour even covered some spots that were the coolest and that I would have definitely not found on my own.

Discover all the Old Town gems

Chances are you’ll cover most of these on the tour, but not all! Make sure you visit the gorgeous library Carturesti Carusel, the unique French style bifurcating passages Pasajul Villacrosse & Macca, and the most instagrammable street Pasajul Victorei. Get a drink in the terrace of Linea / Closer to Moon for one of the best views of the city. Eat at the best traditional restaurants in the city starting with Cara Cu Bere (“beer wagon”) where you need to also get a beer and make sure you check out the inside which is gorgeous. Follow with Hanui Lui Manuc or Manuc’s Inn, the oldest operating hotel building in Bucharest today a restaurant.

Admire the Palace of Parliament

It is hard to describe how big the palace of parliament is, but it would help to say it takes an hour to walk around the entire complex. Built during Romania’s communist chapter, its story is fascinating. You’ll learn about it in the walking tour but you can also visit it inside. To do so book it here, their official website is useles and you’ll get turned down if you just show up. Bring your passport, you’ll need it to get inside.

Relax in the beautiful parks

Stroll through any of Bucharest’s parks or gardens; there are quite a few! They are the perfect places to get away from the crowds for a bit of just sit back and relax. I loved the Cismigiu Gardens, and if you have a bit more time venture to Herastrau Park, it’s huge!

Where to stay in Bucharest

For the full Bucharest experience, stay in or right next to the Old Town. If you want to splash out, The Marmorosch is one of the most extraordinary hotels in Romania — a restored 19th-century bank building with a cocktail bar set inside the original vault. For something more mid-range, Concorde Old Bucharest is a solid boutique 4-star with some rooms overlooking cobbled streets — just request a quieter room away from the bar street. On a budget, Old Town Boutique Hotel is central and consistently well reviewed for value.

Search all Bucharest accommodation on Booking.com →

Day 3: Day trip to Brasov, Peles & Bran Castles

TRANSYLVANIA ESSENTIALS

Transport / This day works best as a self-drive or guided tour from Bucharest. It’s a long day covering a lot of ground. The tour option removes all the hassle.

Tour / From Bucharest: Transylvania Day Trip — covers Peleș Castle, Brașov and Bran Castle in a small group.

Stay / If you want to stay overnight in Brașov rather than returning to Bucharest:

Saffrano Palace $
Palazzo Brașov $$

Eat / La Ceaun on Piața Sfatului — great traditional food right on the main square

This is a 12-hour day trip from Bucharest, and it’s one of the best days of the entire trip.

Peleș Castle is a Neo-Renaissance castle in the Carpathian Mountains, built between 1873 and 1914 — genuinely one of the most beautiful castles I’ve ever seen. Brașov is a beautifully preserved Saxon city worth at least a couple of hours; have lunch at La Ceaun on the main square. Bran Castle is famous for its Dracula connection, and while the Dracula link is somewhat mythologised, the guided context makes it genuinely interesting.

The small group tour format is what makes this day — you can ask questions throughout, and the guide’s knowledge of the historical context is what turns it from a sightseeing checklist into something you’ll actually remember. You can book the tour here.

Where to stay in Brasov

If you’d rather base yourself in Brașov and use it as a hub for Transylvania or a stop in your Romania itinerary, both Saffrano Palace and Palazzo Brașov are excellent. I’ve also pre-filtered the best options here →

Day 4: Sibiu

SIBIU ESSENTIALS

Transport / Sibiu is about 2.5 hours from Brașov by car. If you’re not driving, there are trains and buses, though they’re slow. A rental car really earns its keep on this leg — pick one up via DiscoverCars.

Tours /
Sibiu Sightseeing Tour
From Sibiu: Day Tour to Sighișoara

Stay / Hotel Împăratul Romanilor $$ — the oldest hotel in Sibiu; I can’t recommend this place highly enough!

Sibiu is one of the seven Siebenburgen — the Saxon cities of Transylvania — and it’s my favourite city in the whole of Romania. The architecture is immaculately maintained, the colourful houses with their distinctive roof windows that seem to look back at you are unlike anywhere else in Europe, and the restaurant and café scene is genuinely excellent. If you have the time, give it a full day rather than rushing through in an afternoon. What I loved the most about Sibiu is that the houses are… looking at you! You’ll realise immediately that the roof of most houses have little narrow windows that, with the curved effect of the rooftop tiles acting as eyelids, look like eyes!

Things to do in Sibiu

A walking tour is the best way to start. The highlights are the Lutheran Church of St Mary (you can climb the tower), the Bridge of Lies (Podul Minciunilor — Romania’s first cast iron bridge, with associated local legends), and the general Saxon architecture of the main squares, which are some of the best-preserved in central Europe. If you want to combine Sibiu with Sighișoara in a single day, there’s also a day tour that connects both cities.

Where to stay in Sibiu

Hotel Imparatul Romanilor is the oldest hotel in Sibiu, and it’s extraordinary — royals and dignitaries have stayed here for centuries, and it’s been maintained to match. The rooms are tastefully decorated, the breakfast is delicious (fresh ingredients, vegan options, and in summer they open the retractable ceiling over the breakfast room), and there’s a spa and gym included. It sits right on the main square. Book it. Find it on Booking.com →

Day 5: Sighisoara, Alba Iulia & Corvin Castle (Hunedoara)

SIGHISOARA, ALBA IULIA & CORVIN CASTLE ESSENTIALS

Transport / You need a car or a tour for this day. Sighișoara is about 1.5 hours from Sibiu; Corvin Castle (near Hunedoara) is a further detour that’s easier to do from Cluj on Day 6. Plan your routing based on where you’re spending the night.

Tours /
Sighișoara 2-Hour City Tour
From Cluj: Day Trip to Corvin Castle and Alba Carolina if you prefer to combine Corvin with Day 6 from Cluj


Stay /
Sighișoara: Central Park Sighișoara $ — my choice; central and good value
Search all Sighișoara hotels

Alba Iulia: Hotel Medieval $$
Search all Alba Iulia hotels

Hunedoara: Vila Corviniana $
Search all Hunedoara hotels

Arriving in Sighisoara is a bit like stepping back in time. It is a tiny medieval city of winding cobbled alleys, steep stairways and secluded squares. It is a prettier, smaller, quieter and slower version of Brasov or Sibiu. I got the impression that nothing here ever happens quickly and so I dutifully slowed down too taking an entire day to explore it, whilst you really only need 3-4 hours.

Things to Do in Sighișoara, Alba Iulia & Corvin Castle

Sighișoara: A 2-hour walking tour is ideal. Highlights are the Clock Tower (climb it for breathtaking views over the citadel rooftops) and the house where Vlad Țepeș — the historical figure behind the Dracula legend — was born.

Alba Iulia (if you have a car and an extra half-day): The Alba Carolina fortress is a star-shaped Vauban-style citadel built in 1715 under Emperor Charles VI. I regret not making time for this — every person who visited said it was extraordinary.

Corvin Castle (near Hunedoara): This is the most magical castle in Romania, in my opinion — a Gothic fortress with multiple towers, crenellations and a long wooden bridge over a dry moat. It’s accessible via a full-day tour from Cluj or by car.

Where to Stay

I stayed at Central Park Sighișoara, which was perfectly located and great value. Book it here. If you decide to stay in Alba Iulia then choose Hotel Medieval $$, or in Hunedoara choose Vila Corviniana $.

Day 6: Turda Salt Mine, Turda Gorge & Rimetea Village (from Cluj)

TURDA SALT MINE, TURDA GORGE & RIMETEA VILLAGE ESSENTIALS

Transport / Cluj-Napoca is your base for this day. The Turda Salt Mine, Gorge and Rimetea are all within reach by tour or rental car.

Tours / These tours are honestly some of the best value in Romania. I’d book in advance as they fill up.
From Cluj: Turda Salt Mine, Gorge & Rimetea Full Day Trip — the full experience including the gorge hike
From Cluj: Turda Salt Mines & Rimetea Day Trip — alternative with a shorter hike

Stay /

Cluj:
Hotel Confort $ — where I stayed; good value, well located
Hotel PASO $$ — my first choice but fully booked; well reviewed
Search all Cluj hotels

Turda: Hangers $ — if you want to stay closer to the mine
Search all Turda hotels

As this trip ends in Cluj-Napoca, and looking for things to do in the area, I found several tour companies were offering tours to Turda Salt Mine & Rimetea Village. Ever since I visited Wielizcka Salt Mine in Krakow, I just love a salt mine so I knew this was for me. When researching tours, I found a tour which included a hike to Turda Gorge on top of the visit to the Salt Mine and thought, why not?

The Turda experience goes well beyond a salt mine visit. The mine itself has an underground salt lake where you can row a boat, which is surreal and brilliant. Then the Turda Gorge hike offers some of the most spectacular natural scenery I’ve seen in Romania, and Rimetea is a beautifully preserved traditional village. There’s also a zipline if you’re feeling adventurous.

The tour guide, Tudor, was exceptional — flexible, knowledgeable and adaptable. My 64-year-old mother (who is relatively fit) completed the gorge hike without any issues. It was, genuinely, the best decision I made on the entire trip.

Where to stay in Cluj-Napoca & Turda

The night before and after the tour I stayed in Cluj as this is where I was picked up by the tour guide, I stayed at Hotel Confort which was great, and Hotel PASO was my first choice but it was fully booked. If you are staying in Turda, I’d recommend Hangers. If these are unavailable, these are the top picks in Cluj & Turda.

Day 7: Cluj-Napoca

CLUJ ESSSENTIALS

Transport / Cluj has its own international airport (CLJ) served by budget airlines — good for flying home at the end of the trip. The city centre is very walkable.

Tours /
City Tour in Cluj-Napoca

Stay
Hotel Confort $ — reliable, central
Hotel PASO $$ — first choice if available
Search all Cluj hotels on Booking.com

Eat /

Brunch: Eggcetera
Dinner: Bujole — my favourite restaurant of the whole trip

Cluj-Napoca is a dynamic, youthful university city — the capital of Transylvania and the second most populous city in Romania. It has a different energy to the medieval towns you’ve been through: more modern, more student-driven, more restaurant and café culture. It’s a brilliant place to end the trip.

Things to do in Cluj-Napoca

A city walking tour covers the essentials well: St Michael’s Church and Unirii Square are the main sights, and the small group format means you get a proper local perspective.

One thing the tours don’t cover: the Botanic Garden. Trust me — go. It’s one of the most beautiful botanic gardens I’ve seen anywhere in Europe, and almost nobody talks about it.

For dinner, Bujole is outstanding — the best meal I had in Romania. Eggcetera is the place for brunch or a lazy morning before your flight.

Bonus: More Places to Visit in Romania

Should I have had more time in Romania, there’s two more things I would have chosen to do:

2 Days: Maramureș Tour

Tour: From Cluj: 2 Days in Maramureș — includes accommodation

Maramureș is in northern Romania and focuses on meeting locals in traditional handmade costumes, visiting homes, and experiencing regional traditions, cuisine and craftsmanship. This is for nature lovers, tradition enthusiasts, and anyone interested in architecture, history or religion. I discovered it too late to include it in my trip and genuinely regret missing it.

2 Days: Bucovina Painted Churches Tour

Tour: From Cluj: 2-Day Bucovina Painted Monasteries Tour — includes accommodation

Bucovina features seven UNESCO World Heritage painted monasteries, of which Voroneț Monastery is the most famous. The region also has beautifully preserved traditional houses and stunning landscapes. Perfect for art, architecture and nature lovers.most famous painted monastery in the world, Voronet Monastery. This tour is for art, architecture and nature lovers. Book it here.

Best of Romania: How to Get Around

Car rental is the best option by far. Romania is easy to drive in and a rental car lets you reach places that simply aren’t practical without one — Corvin Castle, the Turda Gorge, the smaller villages in Transylvania. Book via DiscoverCars — they compare rates across all major providers.

Trains run between the major cities via the Romanian national rail network (CFR Călători). They’re slow and not always clean, but the scenery is genuinely beautiful and the journey is part of the experience.

Buses can be booked via autogari.ro. The booking interface is confusing and the terminals are often inconveniently located, but they can work for some routes.

Best of Romania: Best Tours

Romania is cheaper than major European countries, to me this is a big advantage as I see the tours as the most efficient and enjoyable way to explore new places! You can pack more in than if you do your trip DIY (specially if you don’t have a car). But most importantly you are learning about the location from an expert while giving back to the local economy. These are Romania’s best tours:

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