Starting from:
3120 USD
per Adult
Crafted by Corina, travel expert from Romania
RomaniaThe misty mountains and medieval towns of Transylvania hold far more than the Dracula legend. On this journey, the story of Vlad the Impaler opens the door to evocative fortresses, hidden villages, and candlelit citadels shaped by centuries of myth and history.
Wander cobbled streets at dusk, hear ancient legends in family-run guesthouses, and share traditional meals with locals who keep these stories alive. Among Romania trips, this journey blends mystery, culture, and raw Carpathian beauty, with every detail shaped around your curiosity and travel style.
| Day | Location | Activity | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bucharest | • Arrive at Henri Coandă Airport • Private transfer to your centrally located hotel • Optional gentle walk through Bucharest’s Old Town | Bucharest |
| 2 | Bucharest to Brașov | • Visit Târgoviște, Vlad the Impaler’s former royal court • Scenic drive into Transylvania • Explore Bran Castle • Evening at leisure in medieval Brașov | Brașov |
| 3 | Brașov to Sighișoara | • Travel to Sighișoara, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler • Guided introduction to the medieval citadel • Free time for the covered stairway, panoramic views, cafés, and artisan shops | Sighișoara |
| 4 | Brașov to Bistrița | • Journey to Borgo Pass near Bistrița • Walk through forests linked to Bram Stoker’s Dracula • Relax at Colibița Lake • Evening walk through old Bistrița | Bistrița |
| 5 | Bistrița to Cluj-Napoca | • Travel to Cluj-Napoca • Explore streets connected to Jonathan Harker’s fictional first night in Transylvania • Taste paprika hendl in a traditional restaurant | Cluj-Napoca |
| 6 | Cluj-Napoca to Sibiu | • Visit Corvin Castle in Hunedoara • Learn about Vlad the Impaler’s imprisonment and related legends • Guided walk through Sibiu’s medieval Old Town • Evening at leisure in Piața Mare | Sibiu |
| 7 | Sibiu to Bucharest | • Scenic drive through Transylvanian and Wallachian landscapes • Village stops for local food, artisans, and views • Explore Vlad-related sites in Bucharest, including the Old Royal Court and Poenari Castle replica | Bucharest |
| 8 | Bucharest | • Final stroll through Bucharest • Time for souvenirs and photos • Transfer to Bucharest airport for departure | — |
Welcome to Romania. Meet your private English-speaking guide at Henri Coandă Airport in Bucharest and enjoy a comfortable transfer to your centrally located hotel.
Depending on your arrival time, relax after the journey or begin your Romania travel experience with a gentle walk through Bucharest’s atmospheric Old Town.
Explore cobbled streets, lively cafés, and historic buildings that reveal the city’s layered past and vibrant present.
Begin your day with a journey to Târgoviște, once the royal court of Vlad the Impaler. Walk among centuries-old walls as your guide shares stories of his rule and explains why this complex figure remains part of Romania’s national identity.
Continue along scenic mountain roads into Transylvania to visit Bran Castle, the fortress long associated with the Dracula legend. Wander through its atmospheric chambers and trace the line between history, folklore, and Bram Stoker’s haunting imagination.
End the day in medieval Brașov, where cobbled lanes, colorful squares, and Gothic churches set the scene for an evening at your own pace.
Today feels like a step into a fairytale as you leave Brașov and travel to Sighișoara, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval citadels. Begin with a guided introduction to the Old Town, where colorful houses, towers, and cobbled lanes reveal centuries of Transylvanian history.
Then enjoy time to explore at your own pace. Climb the covered stairway, take in panoramic views from the citadel, linger in cozy cafés, and browse artisan shops tucked inside centuries-old houses.
Tips from Corina
Romania Travel Expert
In Sighișoara, go beyond the main square and climb the covered Scholars’ Stairway slowly. It was built to protect students and churchgoers during harsh winters, and it still leads to one of the citadel’s most atmospheric corners. At the top, the quiet cemetery and hilltop church reveal a more haunting, authentic side of the town than the Dracula birthplace alone.
Leave Brașov behind and journey into the wild beauty of Borgo Pass, near Bistrița, where Bram Stoker imagined the setting of Dracula’s castle. Walk through shadowed forests, take in the quiet mountain atmosphere, and let your guide connect the landscapes around you with scenes from the famous novel.
Continue to serene Colibița Lake for time to slow down and recharge. Stretch out in the grass, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and enjoy the peaceful scenery before returning to Bistrița.
In the evening, explore the town’s old streets and discover the place that inspired the Golden Krone Hotel in Stoker’s story.
Travel from Bistrița to Cluj-Napoca, where Jonathan Harker spent his first night in Transylvania on his fictional journey to meet Count Dracula. Stroll through atmospheric streets lined with elegant historic buildings, sensing the contrast between the world of the novel and today’s vibrant university city.
Pause in a traditional restaurant to taste paprika hendl, the local dish described in Dracula, and let this literary detail bring Harker’s journey vividly to life.
Travel from Cluj-Napoca to Hunedoara to explore Corvin Castle, one of Europe’s most striking medieval fortresses. Your guide brings together the history and legends surrounding Vlad the Impaler, who was once imprisoned here, and explains how fact and folklore helped shape his dark reputation.
Continue to Sibiu for a guided walk through its charming medieval Old Town. Discover fortified walls, hidden courtyards, and elegant squares before enjoying an evening at your own pace in Piața Mare. Relax in a local café and take in the city’s authentic Transylvanian atmosphere.
Leave Sibiu in the morning and enjoy a scenic drive through Transylvanian and Wallachian landscapes. Pause in traditional villages to taste local food, meet artisans, and take in panoramic views along the way.
In the afternoon, your private guide reveals Bucharest’s connection to the Dracula legend. Explore the Old Royal Court of Vlad the Impaler and hear how the first written mention of Bucharest appeared in his letter to Brașov.
Continue with a visit to the replica of Poenari Castle, Vlad’s true mountain fortress, recreated by King Carol I. With insider insight, flexible pacing, and time for photos, the city’s hidden medieval side comes to life.
Enjoy a final stroll through Bucharest, with time to pick up last souvenirs and capture a few more photos of the city’s lively streets and historic corners.
At the scheduled time, head to Bucharest’s airport for your flight home, taking with you stories of castles, medieval towns, and the enduring legend of Dracula.
Think of this itinerary as a starting point rather than a fixed package. Corina, one of our Romania local experts, created this example route, but every trip is adapted to the traveler - with destinations, pace, activities, and accommodation style tailored to create a journey that feels personal from beginning to end.