A Practical Guide to Transylvania.
How to get here,what to explore, where to stay, eat, and more!
Transylvania name comes from from Latin “the land beyond the forest”.
Transylvania is known to have some of the best-preserved towns in Europe such as Sibiu, Brasov, and Sighisoara. With Sibiu’s pastel-colored houses and stone-cobbled streets, Brasov’s citadel and medieval architecture, and Sighisoara’s hidden passageways.
A clock tower from the 14th century, and a citadel that’s on top of the hill, there are certainly a lot of places that you can explore in Transylvania.
There are other places that will mesmerise you once you discover what Transylvania is all about.
Are you ready to see the wonderful castles like Bran? People who visited Transylvania can’t just stop talking about this gothic architecture that looks exactly like the one from those fairytale books.
Bran castle isn’t just the only thing that should get your travel gear going. Transylvania also has Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula or Vlad the Impaler that will give you goosebumps.
If you don’t have any itinerary ideas yet, we have listed down some of the famous destinations that you can check out when you go to Transylvania.
If Charles, Prince of Wales fall in love with Transylvania and owns few guesthouses (by the way there are gorgeous and you can book an overnight there) why don’t you try too!
Some of the top attractions in Transylvania
So here’s the thing, we don’t want you to miss out on the best sites when you travel to Transylvania. I mean, you are in one of the most historical regions of Romania and we are here to make sure you get your day’s worth by saving you all the trouble of searching for the right place to go to. Ready? Here we go.
Bran Castle
Bran Castle
Also known as Dracula’s castle (yes, that’s right), this place offers you a chance to personally experience the myth. With this medieval castle sitting on top of the Carpathian mountains, it has a breathtaking view regardless of the fact that it once held Vlad the Impaler prisoner for a time. It is open as a museum that largely devotes to Queen Marie of Romania and is known for hosting the spookiest Halloween experience for every tourist.
Rasnov Fortress
Rasnov’s fortress will take your adventure to the next level. This castle was built in the 14th century with the sole purpose of protecting its people and nearby villages from invasions. During that time, people would gather their cattle and seek refuge into the fortress. When you visit Rasnov, it would also be hard to miss Dino Parc which is a theme park that contains life-sized dinosaur models that will surely entertain you.
Rasnov Fortress
Piatra Craiului
Piatra Craiului
Piatra Craiului, which is only a few kilometers from Brasov, is considered to be a national park and one of the best hiking destinations of the country. It has several trails that pass through small mountain villages and extraordinary view once you’ve reached the top. The park extends up to 9,900 hectares and a home to different species of animals. No wonder this is protected by the government since 1938!
Sibiu
Sibiu was built in the 12th century by the Saxons , and was the largest and the wealthiest from the seven Saxon cities.However, Sibiu Old Town keeps the its opulence from the early days and has one of the most distinctly Saxon influence.
It’s a walking friendly city with the Upper Town which was the wealthier and the Lower Town probably where the laborer area.
The historical centre includes the Great Square, Huet Square, the beautiful Passage of Steps connecting the upper town to the lower town, the well-known Bridge of Lies, Goldsmiths’ Square and the Small Square.
In Sibiu was printed the first book in Romanian language in 1544, also has the first pharmacy in Romania, and in Sibiu was buit the first hospital in 1292.
Brasov
Brasov
Probably the most beautiful city in Romania! Was built by the Teutonic Knights in 1211 on an ancient Dacian site and settled by the Saxons as one of the seven Saxon cities.
Cluj Napoca
Cluj Napoca became a city centre today after this was conquered from the Dacians. During the 1st and 2nd centuries, this was known to be the capital of the Roman province and played a crucial role as one of the most important cities in the Eastern Roman Empire. Another trivia is that this city was considered as the Heart of Transylvania because of the role it contributed to the economic and historical development of this part of the region. It was the capital of the empire’s province during the 18th century when Transylvania was still under the colony of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Alba Lulia
Alba Iulia was considered to be Transylvania’s capital during the 14th century. When Transylvania, Walachia, and Moldavia was united in 1599, Alba Iulia was the place where Michael the Brave declared the three provinces’ unity. It was also in this place where the union of Transylvania and Romania was proclaimed in 1918. Here, you can visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral that dates back to the 13th century and explore the highly valued manuscripts and several incunabula.
Peles Castle
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Traditional Villages
From the name itself, the Peasant Museum
shows Romania’s ethnography and illustrates Neo-Romanian style which was inspired by the Brancovean tradition. It contains around 90,000 relics that depict early Romanian’s way of life. These displays are categorized into interior tapestry, costumes ceramics, religious objects, wood objects, and other visual objects like graphics, videotapes, and glass sheets.
General Transportation Information
The easiest way to get to Transylvania is by plane. Some of the airlines with service to the region: Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Tarom, WizAir, Ryanair
By Air: Major airports
Travel to Transylvania by train or bus
There are several daily trains and buses from/to Bucharest and other major cities in Romania to Transylvania region. :
- Alba Iulia, Bistrita, Brasov, Cluj Napoca, Medias, Miercurea Ciuc, Sebes, Sfantu Gheorghe, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Targu Mures
*** Unfortunately the trains are not very reliable and not the best way way to treavel in Transylvania/ Romania
Private transport:
If you’re in for a little adventure travel, car rental would be the best option for you. All major car rentals are available. For more safe and guided tours, feel free to contact us so we can set up a special arrangement for you. A day tour is more convenient if you have a car with you.
