I have a favorite tradition: gifting myself a trip for my birthday. This way, every year I create unforgettable memories in a brand-new destination. This time, at the very last minute, we decided to go on a road trip through Transylvania and explore the magic of Romania.
If you’re planning a similar adventure, this guide is for you. Here, you’ll find our complete 3-day itinerary covering all the must-see spots: the underground world of Salina Turda, the colorful streets of Sighisoara, gothic Brasov, and the legendary Corvin and Bran castles. I’ve also included practical travel tips, real prices, and everything you need to plan your perfect trip.
If you’re planning this trip and want to see what these places actually look like, check out my YouTube vlog. I show you the hotels, the sights, and the unfiltered atmosphere of Romania.
Watch my full Transylvania road trip vlog here .
To be honest, I completely fell in love with Romania. I had only visited Bucharest about a decade ago, but Transylvania… that’s a whole different world!
The classic Romanian itinerary that most tourists follow usually includes the Therme in Bucharest, Brasov, Sinaia, and Bran Castle. However, I decided to dig a little deeper and put together a more unconventional route.
We only had 3 days (two nights) for this entire road trip. I won’t lie-it was a lot of driving. Most people stretch this exact itinerary over 4 or 5 days, but we were short on time and wanted to see it all. And we made it work!
Our 3-Day Transylvania Road Trip Itinerary (Day by Day)
The Scenic Drive: Crossing the Carpathian Mountains
Why is Transylvania a Must-Visit Destination?
Day 1: Starting from Vidin and a Surprise Stop in Orsova.
Transylvania: The place where vampire legends come to life, medieval castles are everywhere, the houses have eyes that watch you, and the beautiful Carpathian Mountains enchant you with their views! And so, our adventure began in Vidin. We set off from there, and our first stop along the way was Orsova. We only stopped here for lunch, but we were highly impressed by how much they have developed their tourism along the Danube River. They offer boat tours that include lunch and several stops along the Danube-exploring caves and various natural landmarks. After this short break, we continued our journey toward our first destination
Corvin Castle (Hunyadi) – A Fairytale from the Knight’s Era
Corvin Castle is also known as Hunyadi Castle, as it was built by the Hunyadi family in the 14th century. According to local legends, the infamous Vlad the Impaler-better known as Vlad Dracula-was held prisoner in this very castle for 7 long years.
In the castle’s courtyard, there is a well that drops about 30 meters deep. The story goes that it was dug by three Turkish prisoners who were promised their freedom once they found water. They dug for 15 grueling years, but when they finally reached their goal, the promise was broken, and they were executed. That is why an inscription on the well still reads today: “You may have water, but you have no soul.”
To be completely honest… I completely missed seeing this well! The castle is truly massive. There are countless narrow staircases and rooms-some of which lead to absolutely nothing interesting-but there’s something wonderfully mysterious about getting “lost” inside. The atmosphere is magical, and the view from the highest towers of Corvin is spectacular. It is absolutely worth seeing, and we didn’t regret for a second detouring about 40 minutes off our main route to visit it.
Corvin Castle Ticket Prices and Practical Info
We bought our tickets on the spot. It’s very convenient that you can pay with either cash (RON) or a card. If you prefer to skip any potential lines, you can also purchase them online in advance.
Here is the essential info for your visit:
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Adult ticket: 45 RON
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Child/Student ticket: 11 RON
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Time needed: Set aside about 1 hour to explore the castle at a relaxed pace.
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⚠️ Warning for families: Some areas (like the torture chambers) are strictly not recommended for children under 12.
🎫 Official website for Corvin Castle tickets
Sibiu – The City with Eyes
After a long day of driving and exploring Corvin Castle, our next stop was Sibiu. Unfortunately, we were quite pressed for time and a bit exhausted, so we only managed to wander around the historical center.
But what a center it is! The city is incredibly beautiful, with a massive main square and aristocratic architecture. I can’t quite explain it, but the whole place gave me strong Italian vibes. And why “the city with eyes”? If you look closely at the roofs of the old houses, you’ll notice their unique attic windows. They literally look like half-closed eyes watching your every move!
I know Sibiu has many other famous attractions, but since I didn’t visit them myself, I won’t list them here. In this blog, I only share real, unfiltered experiences from places I’ve actually seen!
Accommodation Recommendation: Where to Stay in Sibiu?
If you’re short on time and want to stay right in the heart of the city, I highly recommend T House.
It’s within walking distance of the historic main square and all the major sights. The place is exceptionally clean, well-maintained, and absolutely perfect for a short stay during a fast-paced road trip. (A huge bonus for road trippers is that they offer private parking)
🏨 Check availability and current prices for T House in Sibiu
The Symbol of Sibiu: The Houses with Eyes
We definitely didn’t miss the city’s most distinctive feature, though-the famous roofs. The traditional architecture here features small attic openings designed for natural ventilation, but their shape strikingly resembles half-closed eyes. To be completely honest, walking around at night with the feeling that hundreds of eyes are watching you is a bit creepy, but it’s also incredibly fascinating and unique!
We wrapped up the day with a delicious dinner at a cozy spot near the main square and headed back to our accommodation to recharge for tomorrow.
💡 My top tip for Sibiu: Set aside at least one evening and half a day to explore it at a relaxed pace-it’s absolutely worth it. Keep in mind that this part of Romania has strong Hungarian and Saxon influences, which is evident in the architecture and makes it feel completely different from the rest of the country.
Day 2: Astra National Museum Complex – Is it worth it?
The Astra Museum Complex is one of the largest open-air museums in Europe, spreading across a massive 96 hectares. Picture a sprawling traditional village with hundreds of authentic Romanian houses from different historical periods, craft workshops, and a beautiful lake in the middle surrounded by old windmills.
Practical tip for your visit: You generally need at least 3 hours to explore it properly. We only spent about 2 hours because we hit a massive heatwave in Romania. Thankfully, most of the park is heavily wooded and shaded, but the area around the lake and the windmills is completely exposed to the sun, so plan accordingly.
My honest take: I’ll be completely straightforward here—while the place is objectively interesting, I actually felt a bit of FOMO and regretted not spending those hours exploring more of Sibiu’s historical center. If I could redo my itinerary, I would probably skip this attraction. It’s just not “my cup of tea,” as I’m a different type of traveler. However, if you love ethnographic museums and long, peaceful walks in nature, you will absolutely love Astra!
Astra Museum Ticket Prices and Parking Info
We bought our tickets right at the entrance. It’s very convenient that they accept both card and cash (RON) payments. If you’re someone who loves to plan ahead, you also have the option to buy them online.
Here is the essential info:
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Adult ticket: 35 RON
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Child ticket: 9 RON
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Parking: There is a large, completely free parking lot right in front of the complex (an absolute lifesaver for road trippers!).
Salina Turda Salt Mine – An Underground Alien World
The salt mine in Turda (Salina Turda) is one of the most otherworldly places I have ever visited. Honestly, this place alone makes the entire Transylvania road trip worth it! I never imagined that such a fairy tale could exist 130 meters underground. I’ve traveled quite a bit, but it’s been a long time since a place left me so thoroughly amazed.
Practical Info: Tickets, Parking & Temperature
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🎟️ Tickets: 50 RON for adults, 30 RON for children. We bought ours at the entrance, but you can also book online.
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🅿️ Parking: There is a large paid parking lot right outside.
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🌡️ Temperature: It’s a constant 12-13°C (53-55°F) inside, so definitely bring a jacket!
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⏱️ Time needed: Set aside at least 2 hours.
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🚨 CRUCIAL WARNING: All the attractions and souvenirs inside the mine are CASH ONLY (in RON)! Make sure to bring physical money with you, as there are no ATMs at the bottom.
The Descent: Stairs or Elevator?
To reach the actual mine, you walk through a 300-400 meter long corridor leading to the old entrance. When we reached the first main hall, we were literally speechless. The sheer scale of the place is breathtaking.
To get down to the attractions, you have two options: a staircase (equivalent to about 13 floors) or a glass elevator. We took the elevator, which was a thrill. Keep in mind that it only holds 4-5 people, so there’s usually a queue. The staircase, on the other hand, is quite narrow, meaning you often have to wait for oncoming groups to pass, making it a slow descent.
First Level: A Theme Park 130 Meters Underground
We felt like we were in a sci-fi movie! Standing in that massive hall, looking up and realizing we were 130 meters below the surface… wow, it was almost a bit scary. It makes you feel incredibly tiny.
They’ve built an actual theme park down there: a Ferris wheel, table tennis, mini-golf, and more. Kids can play here for hours, which is brilliant because the whole mine acts as a giant salt room, and we all know how great that is for respiratory health.
Second Level: Boating on an Underground Lake
To reach the lowest chamber, you go down another 13 floors. Here, the scenery changes completely—there’s a subterranean lake formed by flooding many years ago. You can rent a wooden rowboat and paddle around the illuminated island. We couldn’t miss this, and it was absolutely thrilling! I mean, rowing a boat on a lake 130 meters underground… how often do you get to do that?!?
There is also a separate gallery set up like a mini-museum, showcasing the original salt mining equipment and telling the history of the site.
Final thoughts: Salina Turda is an absolute must-visit. Every single kilometer driven to get here is 100% worth it!
Sighisoara – The Colorful Citadel and Dracula’s Birthplace
Our next stop was Sighisoara, which turned out to be our ultimate medieval adventure in Transylvania! What is this town most famous for? According to historians, this is the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, better known as Vlad Dracula. While there isn’t 100% concrete proof, it is officially recognized as his hometown. The actual house is located in the old town and currently operates as a restaurant and souvenir shop.
As we started our walk through the old town, I couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful it was and the magical atmosphere it held. It’s not very big, but every corner and cobblestone street hides its own charm. And once again… I ran out of time! We arrived around 6 PM and only got to see Sighisoara by night. If I could, I would have spent at least 2-3 more hours exploring in the daylight. But even so, we were absolutely captivated by what we saw.
The Citadel and Main Attractions
The historical part of the city is called The Citadel. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and houses all the medieval buildings. From the top, you get an incredible view of the city, which once again gave me strong Italian vibes. The most fascinating part is that even though it feels like a massive open-air museum, local people still live in these centuries-old houses!
Here is what we managed to see:
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The Clock Tower: This is the most striking building in town. Standing at about 60 meters tall, it was built in the 14th century and served as one of the main gates to the fortress (which originally had 14 defensive towers). Its mechanism was crafted in Switzerland, in the exact same place where the mechanism for Prague’s iconic astronomical clock was made.
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The Covered Staircase (Scholars’ Stairs): Built in 1642, this wooden staircase leads up to the old school and the church at the highest point of the Citadel. It was covered specifically to protect students from rain and snow during bad weather. Walking up those 200 or so steps immediately reminded me of the famous Covered Bridge by Kolyo Ficheto in Lovech, Bulgaria!
Where to Stay in Sighisoara
I highly recommend staying inside or right next to the Citadel so you can experience the town’s true magic at night after the day-trippers leave. We stayed in a very convenient location right in the center, which even offered parking-a massive bonus if you’re on a road trip!
💡 Pro Tip: During weekends and summer, central accommodations book up extremely fast.
🏨 Check availability and current prices for Casa Cu Usi – House of Doors in Sighisoara.
Day 3: Brasov – The Heart of Transylvania
I really didn’t want to leave Sighisoara, but we had to keep moving toward Brasov. We only had about 3-4 hours to spare here, as this was our final major stop before driving straight back to Bulgaria.
The city instantly won me over! I am still amazed by how incredibly clean everything is across Romania. I also love their city planning—almost every town features a massive, vibrant square right in the center. 
The Narrowest Street (Strada Sforii) – Is it worth the hype?
While wandering around, we stumbled upon Strada Sforii (Rope Street), famous for being one of the narrowest streets in Europe. To be completely honest… I wasn’t overly impressed. I had previously visited an even narrower street in Prague that actually had a pedestrian traffic light so people wouldn’t get stuck! Still, it’s a fun spot for a quick photo.
”Brasov is my Hollywood”: Riding the Cable Car
As soon as we arrived, we spotted the iconic white “BRASOV” letters high up on the mountain, looking exactly like the Hollywood sign. We found out there was a cable car going to the top and instantly knew this was our priority. When you’re short on time, you just have to pick what excites you the most!
We used Google Maps to find the lower station, which is very central—only about 600 meters from the main square. We didn’t have to wait long to board.
Cable Car Info:
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Tickets (Round trip): 35 RON for adults / 20 RON for kids. You can buy them on the spot.
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Hiking option: You can buy a one-way ticket. Many people choose to ride up and hike down through the forest trails.
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Warning: The mountain is a nature reserve. If you hike, be aware that it’s entirely possible to encounter wildlife, including foxes, wolves, or even brown bears!
There is a small café at the top station, but it doesn’t offer a panoramic view. You have to walk about 300 meters through the woods to reach the viewing platform right behind the giant letters. The view of Brasov from up there is absolutely spectacular! We definitely didn’t regret spending our limited time doing this.
Traditional Romanian Food in Brasov
The food in Romania is fantastic. Before hitting the road, we sat down at a great restaurant right near the square. We ordered traditional goulash and their famous cabbage rolls (sarmale). Everything was incredibly delicious and gave us the energy we needed for the long drive back to Bulgaria.
Bran Castle – Marketing, Crowds, and the Legend of Count Dracula
Bran Castle is Romania’s ultimate calling card. It is the most famous landmark in the country, widely known simply as “Dracula’s Castle.” But why is that? When Bram Stoker wrote his famous novel Dracula, he described a castle that looks exactly like this one. And even though his character is fictional, the historical prototype was Vlad the Impaler. The truth is, there is almost no evidence that the real ruler ever even set foot in this castle!
Nevertheless, the Romanian marketing is so brilliant that out of all the attractions we visited in Transylvania, this was by far the most packed with tourists.
My honest review: From the outside, the castle is absolutely stunning. Perched high on a rock, it looks incredibly imposing. But that’s about it. The interior didn’t impress me at all, and honestly, I slightly regretted going inside. Because of the massive crowds, you can barely see anything, the spaces are cramped, and there aren’t many interesting exhibits. However… once you’ve traveled all the way to this part of the country, you simply can’t skip its most famous spot!
How to buy tickets for Bran Castle?
This turned out to be the most expensive entrance fee we paid during our entire Romanian road trip.
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Adult ticket: 70 RON
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Child ticket: 20 RON
💡 Practical Tip: Right at the entrance, there are automated ticket machines where you can buy your tickets directly with a credit card. There are plenty of machines, so the wait isn’t long, meaning there’s really no need to buy tickets online in advance (at least, that was the case for us).
The area around the castle is packed with hotels, restaurants, and souvenir stalls. It is so well-developed that I genuinely admire how the Romanians handle their tourism. We could definitely learn a thing or two from them!
Where to stay near Bran? (My Recommendations)
If you decide to spend the night in this area, here are two great options worth checking out:
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For an authentic vibe and top location: I highly recommend Pensiunea Restaurant Al Gallo. The atmosphere there is fantastic. Check available dates and prices for Pensiunea Restaurant Al Gallo here
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For luxury, peace, and escaping the crowds: This renovated guesthouse Akasha Retreat is just perfect for relaxing. See photos and availability for Akasha Retreat here.
What we missed: Peles Castle
Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit Peles Castle in Sinaia, but we will definitely make it a priority on our next trip to Romania! If you have enough time, I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary. I’ve read incredibly positive reviews about it, with many people claiming it is far more beautiful and lavish than Bran Castle.
Final Thoughts…
And that wraps up our short but highly intense tour through the pearl of Romania. We left feeling incredibly satisfied and recharged with wonderful emotions. Despite the long drive and the miles we covered in just 3 days, every single minute was worth it!
Transylvania isn’t just a destination you check off a map. It’s a feeling-of mysticism, history, and breathtaking Carpathian views that stay with you long after you return home. I hope this 3-day itinerary and the practical tips have been helpful and inspired you to pack your bags for Romania!
Now it’s your turn! Which of these places seems the most interesting to you, or have you perhaps already visited some of them? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! If you have any questions about the roads or prices-drop a comment, I’m here to help.
