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So you want to visit Transylvania, Romania? Well, you’ve come to the right place to learn all about it! I visited Transylvania in October of last year after spending 2 days in Bucharest, Romania. This region has always been on my bucket list, and visiting in the fall was truly a dream come true. Picture: castles, quaint cafes, falling leaves, mountainous peaks, stunning architecture… it’s a dream here! Here’s everything you need to know about traveling from Bucharest to Transylvania.
Disclaimer: This blog post is written in collaboration with adidas. I have linked a few of my favorite products in this blog post, but as always, all opinions written below are my own.
Where Is Transylvania Located?
Transylvania is a historic Eastern European region located in central Romania. It has been an official part of Hungary twice in its history, and also an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire in the 16th-17th centuries. The area is completely surrounded by mountains — which adds to its beauty and also makes for some fantastic hiking and road trips throughout the area. In the north and east are the Carpathian Mountains, which are the most well-known range in the country. In the south there are the Transylvanian Alps. The region is known for medieval towns, mountainous borders and castles like Bran Castle, a Gothic fortress associated with the legend of Dracula.
The region is the largest and most popular in Romania.
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Cities In Transylvania
Transylvania is scattered with remote and charming villages. However, there are a few main cities you should know about before planning your trip from Bucharest to Transylvania. Popular cities in Transylvania include:
Sighisoara
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. In this small, fortified medieval town you can find the largest inhabited medieval citadel in southeastern Europe.
Cluj-Napoca
The second most populous city in Romania. Located in northwestern Romania, this is the unofficial capital city of the Transylvania region. It’s home to universities and lots of student life, vibrant nightlife, and many landmarks dating back to the Hungarian rule. The largest square in Cluj is Unirii Square. Other notable sights include the gothic St. Michael’s Church and Old Banff Palace in the main square, which now houses the National Art Museum.
Sibiu
Sibiu is a mid-size city full of Germanic architecture in its old town, and medieval walls and towers. The Upper Town houses the Brukenthal Palace and National Museum. The Great Square in the Upper Town is where the annual Christmas markets are held!
Brasov
Brasov is one of the most beautiful and visited cities in Transylvania. It was founded in 1211 and is known for its colorfully painted and ornate baroque buildings that line the Old Townhall Square. There are many ancient walls, bastions, and Saxon towers here as well. The expansive Council Square is ringed by colorful baroque buildings, and the towering Gothic Black Church is worth seeing too. You can also ride a vernacular or hike up to the “Brasov” sign perched high on the mountainside.
They also have a bear sanctuary here for rescued bears from zoos!
The city is located in southern Transylvania, so it’s a common place to stop when traveling from Bucharest to Transylvania.
How Do You Get To Transylvania?
By Car / Bus
Transylvania is located in the center of the country. There are several large cities in the region that are easily accessible. For example, to reach Brasov when traveling from Bucharest to Transylvania via car or bus, you can expect it to take a little under 3 hours (~190 km). A Bucharest to Transylvania tour is by far the easiest and most direct way to visit the region — I actually did so in just a day trip! Traveling from Bucharest to Sibiu will take about 4 hours by car. Bucharest to Cluj is about 6 hours.
By Plane
Other options include flying or taking a train. If you want to reach Transylvania from a more far away, international country, I would fly into Bucharest. The main airport in Romania is the Otopeni International Airport in Bucharest. All major airlines fly to and from Bucharest. From here, you can reach Transylvania via car, bus, or train.
If you’re hoping to fly right into Transylvania, one of the largest and most central cities is called Sibiu. Here you can utilize the Sibiu International Airport, which is located in the heart of the region. Airlines including Lufthansa, WizzAir, and the local Romanian airline, Tarom, all fly here.
By Train
You can also travel from Bucharest to Transylvania by train. The Bucharest North Railway Station is the largest in Romania. From here, you can find trains to take you to every major Transylvanian city. Additionally, Timisoara North Railways Station is a great choice if you’re coming from Vienna, Budapest, or Belgrade.
Best Time To Visit Transylvania
The best time to visit Transylvania, Romania is undoubtedly during the autumn season. As with most other European destinations, I always recommend people visit during the shoulder seasons. Visiting during the months of March – May or September – November will still bring about pleasant weather, but far less crowds and lower costs.
However, this region is so famous for its vampire fables and lore, you really MUST visit during spooky season! I visited in mid-October last year and thought the weather was perfect. The temperature was warm enough to wear just hoodies and some shorts (no jacket needed!), and the leaves were just starting to change with the fall foliage. This region is so mountainous and known for its natural beauty, it really comes to life during the autumn season.
Plus, walking through Dracula’s castle a few days before Halloween is sure to put you in the seasonal spirit!
Castles In Transylvania
Bran Castle
Bran Castle is located in Bran, which is located about 30 km southwest of Brasov (about 35 min via bus / car), and 2.5 hours or 160 km from Bucharest. The castle was built for Louis I of Hungary in 1377 by Saxons. It is a national monument and landmark in Romania, along with a well-known sight for its fictional Transylvanian vampire tales.
It costs 70 Lei for adults to visit Bran Castle (about $16 USD).
Pro-tip: The grounds of this castle are stunning. Be sure to spend time in the small town (Bran), which has a market for souvenirs, food, etc. However, be warned — the castle itself is empty. I actually prefered Peles Castle (below), due to its ornate furnishings and decor. Bran Castle mostly has stone-filled, empty rooms, however, this does add to its eeriness! Expect some long queues through the tight hallways during peak seasons.
Historical Background On Vlad The Impaler & Count Dracula
Bran Castle supposedly inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula. Dracula is a fictional vampire, however Vlad the Impaler (Vlad III) did indeed spend some time in this castle in 1459, and inspired Bram’s writing. During this time, Vlad the Impaler passed through Bran to attack Brasov over disagreements regarding higher taxes. He was so vicious, he burned the city’s suburbs and ruthlessly murdered hundreds of Saxons across Transylvania. People across all of Europe became scared of his harsh methods for ruling.
Vlad III’s lineage comes from the “Order of the Dragon”. Dragon in Romanian = “Dracul”.
Bram Stoker invented the character Dracula, and depicted Dracula’s castle in his work based upon the description of Bran Castle that became available to him through word of mouth across Britain. Bram Stoker never actually visited Romania, but since Bram Castle is the only one in Transylvania that fits Bram Stoker’s description of the castle, it has become known throughout the world as Dracula’s Castle. This “vampire” is a Transylvanian Count that sits in a “castle high above a valley perched on a rock with a flowing river below in the Principality of Transylvania”.
The novel “Dracula” was first published in England in 1897 and is still a well-known legend. Aside from the beauty of the Bran Castle, the associated fables attract most tourists today.
Peles Castle really impressed me! It’s a beautiful, spacious, and ornate castle nestled within the Transylvanian countryside. This castle is about 400 YEARS newer than Bran Castle (Europe really is something else, huh?). It was built between 1899 and 1902 and functioned as a royal summer residence for Prince Ferdinand and Princess Marie, the Royal Heirs to the throne of Romania throughout the 1900s.
This place is more of a palace than a castle, but it was the first castle in Europe to be built with electricity, using its very own power plant… that’s how “modern” it is.
Peles Castle is also special as it’s the only building in Romania to be left untouched by communism. It was finished in the early 1900s and everything is original.
Pro-tip: Guided tours here will take about 1.5 hours and cost 50-150 Lei ($12-34 USD) to visit depending on the tour you book. 50 Lei will grant access to just the ground floor, 100 Lei is for the ground + first floors, and 150 Lei will grant you access to most of the castle.
Bucharest To Transylvania Tours
There are several full-day tours that can bring you from Bucharest to Transylvania! I booked this tour that left early in the morning from the center of Bucharest, returning around dinner time at night, AND included stops to ALL of the sights mentioned above. We visited Peles Castle first, then went to the town of Bran to tour the Bran Castle, and ended with free time in Brasov, touring the beautiful Transylvanian countryside along the way.
If you are tight on time with your trip to Romania, I would HIGHLY recommend this option! I spent 2 days in Bucharest, Romania exploring the city and then spent one full day in Transylvania since this was just a weekend trip. If I had more time, I probably would’ve spent about 2 days in Bucharest, and an additional 3 days in the Transylvanian region, exploring the various villages and staying overnight. I also wish I had time to hike. If you plan to hike in Transylvania, be sure to pack some waterproof hiking shoes. However, just note — it IS doable to travel from Bucharest to Transylvania in just one day on a tour.
That brings us to the end of another blog post! I loved this region so much and would love to revisit in my lifetime. I hope this guide answers all your questions before you plan a trip from Bucharest to Transylvania of your own!
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Dracula place is amazing
Author
It is!
Hi, I am planning this trip with my daughters. Do you mind sharing the bus you used from Bucharest to Brasov? Thank you!!!!
Author
Hi Emily! I did the tour linked in this blog post to travel from Bucharest to Brasov for a day! It was provided through the tour, so I didn’t book a private transfer or use a public bus. Highly recommend this tour though! Then you can stay in Brasov after.
The information you spread is bery good. Thanks buddy