Romania
Transylvania, Maramureş, Bucharest
Day 1: After your arrival in Bucharest, get your rental car and drive into the mountains to the town of Braşov, where you will spend the night. After dinner, wander through the old town and square.
Day 2: Today is castle day. First, visit Peleş Castle, a fanciful 19th century creation by Romania’s King Carol I. After your visit, drive to Bran castle, sometimes referred to as Dracula’s Castle (although it has nothing to do with the real or fictional character). Still, it is a must-see sight. If you have time and aren’t tired of castles, nearby Râşnov Castle is worth a look. When you return back to Braşov, climb the hill near the old town for views over the city from the Black and White Towers.
Day 1: After your arrival in Bucharest, get your rental car and drive into the mountains to the town of Braşov, where you will spend the night. After dinner, wander through the old town and square.
Day 2: Today is castle day. First, visit Peleş Castle, a fanciful 19th century creation by Romania’s King Carol I. After your visit, drive to Bran castle, sometimes referred to as Dracula’s Castle (although it has nothing to do with the real or fictional character). Still, it is a must-see sight. If you have time and aren’t tired of castles, nearby Râşnov Castle is worth a look. When you return back to Braşov, climb the hill near the old town for views over the city from the Black and White Towers.
Day 3: After breakfast, visit the Black Church in Braşov and then pack the car and drive to some of the fortified churches in the area. If you are pressed for time, Prejmer, near Braşov, is a great one to visit. These fortified towns with churches in the center were built for protection from Muslim invaders. If you have more time, our personal favorite is in Harmon, which sees fewer visitors but is as good as others. After your tour of fortified churches, drive to the hill town of Sighişoara, where you will spend the night. After dinner, wander the cobbled streets of this well-preserved medieval hill town.
Day 4: You’ll want to get up early because there is a long drive ahead to the Maramureş area in the north of Romania. This is a very traditional region of the country and a highlight of the trip. In Maramureş, it is common to see donkey carts on the road as you drive by. Under previous rulers, the people in this area were permitted to build only churches made of wood. As a result, the wooden churches here are spectacular. To break up your drive, stop whenever you see a wooden church that interests you. Most of them will be locked, but you can admire them from the outside almost anytime during the day. The Brâsana Monastery is a great place to see several of these wooden religious structures. The largest town in the area is Sighetu Marmaţiei, where you will spend the night.
Day 5: In the morning, visit the unique Merry Cemetery. The site is well known by tourists, so it could be busy, but it is well worth a stop. In the cemetery, every grave has a personalized wooden marker where a scene from the deceased’s life is carved and painted. After touring the cemetery, go to the center of town to the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and of the Resistance, where citizens who opposed the government were held in the cells there. After some lunch, take a drive through the countryside to see more examples of traditional peasant life. A good route is between the towns of Călineşti and Budeşti.
Day 6: Get an early start this morning because we have a long drive ahead back to Transylvania. Take a break at striking Corvin Castle, which—while largely empty—is in a great state of preservation and is an excellent example of a period castle. After your castle visit, get back in the car and drive to Sibiu, another wonderful example of a traditional Transylvania-Saxon town (and where you will spend the night). After checking into your hotel in the old town, wander the town’s three beautiful squares while you find a place for dinner. Day 7: After breakfast, visit the magnificent Romanian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral and then take one last look at the quaint town before getting in your car and driving back to Bucharest. After turning in your rental car, spend your last evening in Romania in its capital city. After taking a quick look at the monstrous Palace of Parliament, the largest building in Europe, head to what is left of the old town to visit the ornate Biserica Stavropoleos, a small Romanian Orthodox convent before getting dinner. |
Day 8: After a busy week, take some time before heading back home to reflect on your unique opportunity to visit this incredible country that remains a mystery to many.