Romania’s Transylvania Road Trip + Map 🚗
Romania has a habit of sneaking up on you in the best way. You start with a flat white in Bucharest’s Old Town and, before you know it, you’re climbing into the Carpathians with the windows cracked, pine in the air and a cheeky castle on the hill. Think royal rooms at Peleș, Gothic spires in Brașov, scuffed cobbles in Sighișoara and pastel squares in Sibiu, then a big, dramatic finish at Corvin Castle. If the Transfăgărășan is open, add a day of hairpins and high views to seal the deal. 😎
Romania’s Transylvania Road Trip 🚗🇷🇴
🚗 Quick Trip Facts
- Trip length: 7–10 days
- Best seasons: May–June and September–October for mild weather and lighter crowds
- Good to know: The Transfăgărășan mountain road is seasonal. If it’s closed, you can still ride the Bâlea Lake cable car from Bâlea Cascadă when conditions allow
- Driving admin: Buy a rovinietă (road vignette) before using national roads
- Rules: Zero alcohol tolerance for drivers; carry your licence and car documents at all times
- Payments: Cards widely accepted, but small sites and village shops may be cash-only (RON)
🚗 Recommended Car Rental: DiscoverCars Romania
📍 The route at a glance
Bucharest → Sinaia (Peleș Castle) → Bran (Bran Castle) → Brașov → Rupea → Viscri → Sighișoara → Sibiu → Hunedoara (Corvin Castle) → Bucharest
Optional scenic leg: Transfăgărășan between Curtea de Argeș and Bâlea Lake when open.
🗺️ Itinerary (7–10 days)
Day 1: Bucharest warm-up 🏛️🍻
Shake off the travel day with a gentle wander around the capital’s historic heart, then settle into a cosy dinner and an early-ish night before the road trip begins.
📍 Things to do
- Explore Lipscani (Old Town) for café-hopping and people-watching
- Book a tour of the Palace of Parliament and gape at the scale
- Stroll Calea Victoriei at golden hour
- Pop into the Village Museum for a crash course in rural Romanian architecture
- Grab small plates and local wine at a modern bistro
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Bucharest traffic can be busy. If you’re collecting the rental today, choose a pick-up outside rush hour.
Day 2: Bucharest → Sinaia → Bran → Brașov 🏰⛰️
A castle sandwich with alpine scenery between the slices. Start with elegant Peleș, swing by Bran, and roll into Brașov for dinner on a pretty square.
📍 Things to do in Sinaia (Peleș)
- Tour Peleș Castle for carved wood, stained glass and royal rooms
- Wander the castle grounds and neighbouring Pelișor exterior
- Coffee stop on Sinaia high street
📍 Things to do in Bran
- Visit Bran Castle for the lore, the narrow staircases and hilltop views
- Browse the market stalls below for local snacks and crafts
📍 Things to do in Brașov (evening)
- Dinner around Council Square (Piața Sfatului)
- Night stroll past the Black Church and along Strada Republicii
- Optional: Tâmpa Mountain viewpoint by cable car if you arrive in time
👉 Good to know: Peleș is usually closed Mon–Tue. Plan the order of stops accordingly.
Day 3: Brașov in depth 🏘️⛪
Today is for cobbles, courtyards and viewpoints.
📍 Things to do in Brașov
- Step inside the Black Church and spot the Ottoman rugs
- Ride or hike to Tâmpa for a full sweep over the rooftops
- Wander Schei quarter to find the Catherine’s Gate
- Coffee-and-cake crawl on Strada Michael Weiss
- Quick taxi out to Râșnov for citadel views (gardens and exterior areas are the focus while restoration continues)
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Book dinner on the square and linger. The mountain backdrop at sunset is a mood.
Day 4: Brașov → Rupea → Viscri → Sighișoara 🏯🕍
Fortresses, fortified churches and a storybook citadel by night.
📍 Things to do en route
- Rupea Fortress: climb ramparts for rolling-hill views
- Viscri village: slow amble past painted houses, visit the fortified church, and keep an eye out for traditional crafts
📍 Things to do in Sighișoara
- Climb the Clock Tower for sunset over the citadel rooftops
- Find the Covered Stairway and the Church on the Hill
- Night photos on Strada Tâmplarilor without the daytime bus tours
👉 Good to know: Streets are cobbled and uneven in Sighișoara. Trainers are better than sandals.
Recommended Tours and Tickets From Get Your Guide
Day 5: Sighișoara → Sibiu 🧀🏛️
Pastel squares, bridges with legends and an open-air folk museum in the forest.
📍 Things to do in Sibiu
- Do the square trio: Piața Mică, Piața Mare and Huet Square
- Cross the Bridge of Lies and listen in on the local tales
- Pop into Brukenthal National Museum if it rains
- Spend 2–3 hours at ASTRA Museum wandering wooden churches, mills and farmsteads
- Golden-hour photos from Turnul Sfatului (Council Tower)
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: ASTRA is huge. Grab a paper map at the entrance and pick two themed circuits so you don’t sprint the whole time.
Day 6: Transfăgărășan Day Trip or Sibiu Slow Day 🏔️🌀
Pick adventure or chill depending on road conditions and energy levels.
✅ If the Transfăgărășan is open
- Drive to Bâlea Lake via hairpins and glacier scenery
- Short walk around the lake and roadside viewpoints
- Picnic at a lay-by with a view
✋🏼 If the road is closed / you fancy slow travel
- Sibiu markets for cheeses and seasonal produce
- Dumbrava Forest walk near ASTRA
- Coffee tasting at a speciality café and lazy lunch in Piața Mică
👉 Good to know: Mountain weather changes quickly. Pack layers and check conditions early.
Day 7: Sibiu → Hunedoara (Corvin Castle) → Bucharest 🛡️🏰
Finish strong with one of Europe’s most dramatic Gothic castles, then make tracks back to the capital.
📍 Things to do at Corvin Castle
- Cross the drawbridge and look up at those buttresses
- Explore the Knights’ Hall and Capistrano Tower
- Castle courtyard photos from the edges for the full façade
💡 Break-up-the-drive options
- Stop for a late lunch around Prahova Valley
- Detour to Curtea de Argeș Cathedral if you skipped it earlier
Optional Days 8–10: Flex days and side quests 🌲🐻
Extend the trip with more mountains and slower mornings.
📍 Ideas
- Libearty Bear Sanctuary (Zărnești): guided visits only, book ahead
- Transalpina (DN67C): another high road with daytime-only stretches in season
- Apuseni Caves or Făgăraș villages for deeper countryside
- Extra night in Bucharest for galleries, parks and a final feast
💡 We also have another Road Trip:
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
Map will be located under "YOU" and then under "MAPS".
ℹ️ Add the map to your Google Maps app.
After opening Google maps, click YOU and then scroll down to MAPS. It should be located there. Any issues, just get it touch, it’s no problem!
🛑 Pit Stops & Side Detours
- Prejmer or Biertan Fortified Churches for UNESCO tickers
- Hărman church stop just outside Brașov
- Cartișoara lay-bys on the Transfăgărășan for cheeky drone-free panoramas
- Zărnești Gorge walk near Piatra Craiului if you crave a short nature fix
💡 Fact: Transylvania’s fortified churches were community strongholds as much as places of worship, with storerooms and defensive towers.
🍽️ Local Eats Worth Chasing
- Sarmale with mămăligă in Brașov
- Papanași doughnuts in Sighișoara
- Ciorbă de burtă (tripe soup) for the brave, or ciorbă de legume for a lighter bowl
- Sibiu cheeses and cured meats from market stalls
- Kürtőskalács sweet chimney cakes when you need a sugar lift
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Portions are hearty. Share starters so you can still squeeze in dessert.
🎶 Road Trip Playlist
- Romanian classics and road-friendly indie: Phoenix, Subcarpați, Vama, plus your usual road anthems
- Easy listens for mountain bends and misty mornings
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Download offline – signal can drop out.
🎙️ Podcasts to Queue Up
- Bite-size Romanian history episodes
- Language basics for ordering and greetings
- Travel chats about Central and Eastern Europe road tips
🎒 Road Trip Essentials
- Offline maps and a phone mount
- Cash for small sites and village shops
- Layers for mountain swings and a lightweight rain jacket
- Headtorch for late castle exits and dim citadel alleys
- Refillable bottle and snacks for long driving days
- EU travel adapter and spare charging cable
Driving & practicalities 🚘
- Rovinietă: buy online or at fuel stations before using national roads
- Speeds: 50 km/h in towns, 100 km/h on main roads, 130 km/h on motorways unless signed otherwise
- Parking: Pay-and-display in old towns; carry coins or use local apps
- Fuel: Plenty of stations on main routes, fewer in remote valleys. Top up before mountain drives
- Tyres: Winter tyres are required when roads are snowy or icy in colder months
Renting a car? Choose something compact for medieval lanes and tight hotel parking
Rent a Car
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
FAQs
How many days do I need for a Romania road trip?
7–10 days hits the sweet spot for Bucharest, Peleș, Bran, Brașov, Sighișoara, Sibiu and Corvin Castle. Short on time? Do a punchy 3–4 day Transylvania taster: Peleș, Bran and Brașov with one extra night in Sighișoara.
When’s the best time to go?
May–June and September–October bring mild weather and fewer crowds. The Transfăgărășan is seasonal, so shoulder months are perfect if the road has opened. Summer is vibrant but busier, while winter brings snow and short daylight hours.
How do I get the FREE map?
The free map is available via Google Maps with no signup required. After clicking the “View Map” link, go to “Your Places” > “Maps” in the Google Maps app to find the route. Save it for offline use, especially in areas with spotty signal.
Is driving in Romania straightforward?
Yes, with a few basics: buy a rovinietă (road vignette), stick to posted limits, and remember Romania’s zero alcohol rule for drivers. Mountain roads can be slow and scenic, so start early and keep fuel topped up before big climbs.
Do I need cash and an international licence?
Cards are widely accepted in cities and larger sights, but small shops and rural cafés may prefer cash (RON). Most travellers with UK or EU licences are fine, though it’s smart to confirm your rental company’s rules before booking.
Travel Planning Resources
Ready to book your next trip? These trusted resources have been personally vetted to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: Airalo Worldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
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Nick Harvey
Hi, I am Nick! Thank you for reading! The Travel Tinker is a resource designed to help you navigate the beauty of travel! Tinkering your plans as you browse!
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