Travel to Romania: itineraries, regions and when to go

From the boulevards of Bucharest to the fortified towns of Transylvania, from the outdoor frescoes of Bucovina to the wooden churches of Maramureș, Romania follows the arc of the Carpathians, its spectacular mountain roads and, in the east, the Danube Delta where canals replace roads.

Why travel to Romania?

Romania, a Latin-language country of around 19 million people, has several UNESCO sites: the historic centre of Sighișoara, the fortified churches of Transylvania, the painted monasteries of Bucovina, the wooden churches of Maramureș and the Danube Delta. A member of the European Union and fully part of the Schengen area since January 2025, it remains one of the most affordable destinations in Europe.

What to discover in Romania?

Bucharest, a capital with two faces

Two days are enough to get a feel for the capital: the old town of Lipscani and its covered passages, Victory Avenue lined with Belle Époque palaces, then the sheer scale of the Ceaușescu era around the Palace of the Parliament, which can only be visited on a guided tour with ID. The open-air Village Museum, beside Lake Herăstrău, gives a good overview of the country's rural houses before you head out to the regions. Henri Coandă airport is about 40 minutes from the centre.

Transylvania and its Saxon towns

The country's tourist heartland, Transylvania deserves at least four to five days. Brașov, about three hours by train from Bucharest, is the base for Bran Castle, some thirty kilometres away, and Râșnov citadel. Sighișoara, the supposed birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, keeps a UNESCO-listed upper town, and Sibiu strings its squares one after another. Between these towns, Saxon fortified churches such as Biertan dot the villages. Further west, Cluj-Napoca, a student city, leads to the Turda salt mine.

The Carpathians and high-altitude roads

The Transfăgărășan crosses the Făgăraș Mountains up to Lake Bâlea, at around 2,000 metres: it is normally open to traffic only from July to the end of October, depending on snow. Further southwest, the Transalpina climbs even higher. At the foot of the Bucegi, Sinaia is home to Peleș Castle, a former royal residence. The Carpathians have a large brown bear population: never feed those that approach the roads and store food carefully when hiking. For gentler, more urban mountains, Austria or Slovakia offer a different Alpine experience.

Bucovina and its painted monasteries

In the northeast, around Suceava, a handful of 15th and 16th-century monasteries carry frescoes on their outer walls: Voroneț and its famous blue, Sucevița, Moldovița, Humor. They are UNESCO-listed and still home to religious communities: cover shoulders and legs, and women may be asked to wear a headscarf. Allow two days by car to link them without rushing, as they are 20 to 50 kilometres apart on country roads. Suceava is connected to Bucharest by train and plane.

Maramureș, a land of wood

The northernmost region, right on the Ukrainian border, Maramureș preserves wooden churches with slender spires, eight of them UNESCO-listed, and tall carved gates in front of the farms. The Merry Cemetery of Săpânța, with blue crosses painted with humorous epitaphs, is the best-known stop. The Mocănița forestry steam train runs up the Vaser valley from Vișeu de Sus, from April to October. Allow two or three days: roads are slow and the villages are best enjoyed by staying in guesthouses.

The Danube Delta

Before flowing into the Black Sea, the Danube forms one of the largest deltas in Europe, a biosphere reserve where pelicans, herons and cormorants nest. From Tulcea, the gateway, Sulina, Crișan or Mila 23 can only be reached by boat, in a few hours. May, June and September are the best months for birdwatching, while July and August bring heat and mosquitoes. An access permit for the reserve is required, usually included in tours. The northern arm of the delta borders Ukraine: check your government's travel advice before you go.

Dobruja and the Black Sea coast

The Romanian coast stretches for around 250 kilometres south of the delta. Constanța, ancient Tomis, has an Art Nouveau casino and an archaeology museum, while Mamaia lines up hotels and crowded beaches in July and August. To the south, Vama Veche, near the border with Bulgaria, draws a more bohemian crowd. The beach season is short, from mid-June to early September: outside it, the coast empties. One or two days are enough unless the sea is the main purpose of the trip.

Cities to visit in Romania

Featured destinations appear first.
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Romania's must-sees

Ten sites that justify the trip on their own, from the capital to the far reaches of the delta.

Palace of the Parliament

A colossal administrative building commissioned by Ceaușescu in Bucharest, open only on booked guided tours, with ID to show at the entrance.

Peleș Castle

A former neo-Renaissance royal residence in Sinaia, with richly panelled interiors, nestled in a forest at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains.

Bran Castle

A medieval fortress near Brașov linked to the Dracula legend, very busy in summer: arrive at opening time to avoid the crowds.

Sighișoara upper town

An inhabited citadel with cobbled lanes, dominated by its Clock Tower and UNESCO-listed, best explored early in the morning.

Biertan fortified church

A Saxon church surrounded by three walls on a hilltop, one of the most impressive of Transylvania's fortified villages.

Voroneț Monastery

Nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the East, its west facade bears a Last Judgement painted in an intense blue that has become iconic.

Merry Cemetery, Săpânța

Blue wooden crosses carved and painted with humorous epitaphs recounting the lives of the dead, in a Maramureș village.

Turda Salt Mine

A former mine near Cluj-Napoca turned attraction, with a Ferris wheel, boats on an underground lake and galleries dug over centuries.

Lake Bâlea

A glacial lake at the top of the Transfăgărășan, reachable by car in summer and by cable car in winter from Bâlea Cascadă.

Mila 23 village

A Lipovan fishing hamlet in the heart of the Danube Delta, reachable only by boat and surrounded by canals full of birds.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for Transylvania?
Allow four to five days for Brașov, Bran, Sighișoara and Sibiu without rushing, a week if you add the fortified churches, Cluj-Napoca and the Turda mine. A full circuit including Bucovina and Maramureș needs ten to fourteen days, ideally with a rental car.
Is Bran Castle really Dracula's castle?
Not really. Bram Stoker's character is fictional, and there is no evidence that Vlad the Impaler, who partly inspired him, ever lived at Bran. The castle owes its fame to looking the part. Inside, it mainly displays the furniture of Queen Marie, who lived there in the 20th century.
When can you drive the Transfăgărășan?
Generally from 1 July to the end of October, with exact dates depending on snow and sometimes shifted. The rest of the year the upper section is closed, but a cable car runs from Bâlea Cascadă to Lake Bâlea, where an ice hotel is built some winters. In summer, set off early to avoid traffic jams.
Can you swim in the Danube Delta?
Yes, especially on the beaches of Sulina and Sfântu Gheorghe, where the river meets the Black Sea. These wild beaches can only be reached by boat from Tulcea. In the canals themselves, swimming is not recommended because of currents and boat traffic.
Are bears a danger in Romania?
Attacks remain rare, but the brown bear population is large and some animals have grown used to human waste, especially around Brașov and on the Transfăgărășan. Stay in your car, do not feed them, make noise when hiking and follow the advice given at mountain huts.
Do you need a car to visit Romania?
For Bucovina, Maramureș and the Saxon villages, yes: public transport there is sparse and slow. Between Bucharest, Brașov, Sibiu and Cluj, trains and buses are enough. Remember to buy the rovinietă vignette if the rental company has not, and expect journeys to take longer than GPS estimates.
Can you combine Romania with a neighbouring country?
Yes, Hungary is easy to reach from Timișoara or Oradea, and Budapest is a few hours' drive from western Transylvania. To the south, Ruse in Bulgaria lies just across the Danube from Giurgiu, about an hour and a half from Bucharest.
What should you wear to visit the Bucovina monasteries?
Shoulders and knees must be covered, and women may be asked to wear a skirt and headscarf, often lent at the entrance. These monasteries are active places of worship: photos are sometimes forbidden inside the churches and silence is expected during services.
What should you eat in Romania?
Sarmale, stuffed cabbage leaves served with sour cream, ciorbă, a sour soup in countless versions, mămăligă, polenta served with cheese and cream, and papanași, fresh cheese doughnuts topped with jam. Țuică, a plum brandy, is often offered in family guesthouses.

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