3-Day Tour of Transylvania’s Landmarks from Bucharest

You will then leave Bucharest, driving north to Sinaia: a mountain resort located in the historical region of Muntenia. Named after Sinaia Monastery, the picturesque town is nestled in the Carpathians (aka Transylvanian Alps). Here you will visit King Carol I’s stunning Peleș Castle. This landmark dates back to 1873 and blends Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival architecture, with a heavily Baroque-influenced interior loaded with luxurious linens and intricately carved woodwork.

Before reaching Brașov, you will also visit nearby Bran Castle. This landmark is a favorite among visitors because of its inaccurate association with Vlad Țepeș, aka Vlad Dracula. In reality, there is no evidence that Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula, was influenced by Bran Castle, and the fortress has no proven associations with Vlad the Impaler. Despite Bran Castle’s questionable connection with the literary legend, the castle remains a worthwhile and historic destination. In fact, the original fortress on this site dates back to the early 13th century; however, Mongols destroyed the first wooden edifice in 1242. The King of Hungary granted local Saxons authority to build the stone castle at their own expense and labour in 1377, and the site is now a museum housing Queen Marie of Romania’s furniture and art collection.

Framed by the Carpathian Mountains and resplendent with gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture, Brasov is one of the most beautiful and visited places in Romania. Brasov was founded, in 1211, by the Teutonic Knights, on an ancient Dacian site. In the 13th-Century Brasov was settled by the Saxons and shortly became one of Transylvania's seven walled citadels Siebenburgen.

The Medieval citadel sits on top of a hill, fortified by a formidable 930-meter ring of walls, 14 defense towers and five artillery bastions. Sighişoara’s Historic Center features opulent, well-preserved merchant houses, complete with charming pastel colors, Medieval German architecture and local craftsmen peddling their artistry. The Clock Tower looms as the tallest point in this magnificent city and dates back 700 years. During your walking tour of Sighişoara, you’ll also climb the 180-step Covered Staircase, Scara Şcolarilor or “Scholars’ Stairs,” to reach the Gothic-style Biserica din Deal, or Church on the Hill, and Saxon Cemetery. Of course, no visit to Sighişoara would be complete without seeing the 1431 birthplace of Vlad Tepes, the 15th century Prince of Wallachia that inspired Bram Stoker’s fictional Count Dracula.

Biertan is one of the regions most important Saxon villages protected by fortified churches. In fact, Biertan’s Fortified Church served as Transyvania’s Lutheran Evangelical Bishop’s seat from 1572 to 1867. Transylvanian Saxons founded the town sometime between 1224 and 1283, and it served as an economically significant commerce role until declining in significance with the rise of the nearby cities of Mediaș, Sighișoara and Sibiu.

Sibiu’s Old Town remains strikingly German in appearance, and the area is still encircled by portions of the ancient medieval wall that once protected its citizens. Three of the city’s original 39 towers remain standing today. In Sibiu, you will also see other extraordinary landmarks, which include Great Square; Brukenthal Palace, a late-Baroque architectural masterpiece housing one of Romania’s most impressive museums; the hopelessly romantic Bridge of Lies, Podul Minciunilor; Haller House, a beautiful preserved Renaissance residence with Sibiu’s trademark window structure; multiple visually striking and historically significant Churches and countless other potential destinations.

If your trip takes place during July through September, we’ll then travel through Romania’s famous Transfăgărășan Highway. This aesthetically striking mountain road crossing though the southern section of the Romanian Carpathian, dissecting the nation’s highest peaks--Moldoveanu and Negoiu--and unifying Transylvania and Wallachia. If the Transfăgărășan Highway is not open, your guide will instead take you through the scenic Olt Valley, which is nestled between the Căpăţânii, Lotru and Făgăraş mountains. Romans forged this ancient trade route, which was later used by merchants of the Middle Ages as they journeyed deep into Transylvania. Regardless of your route, after your rewarding day of sightseeing your guide will return you to Romania’s capital to prepare for your departure.

Romania hosts around 600 Orthodox Christian monasteries in total; however, Curtea de Arges is a unique treasure: Seamlessly unifying architectural influences from both Georgia and Armenia with Islamic geometric motifs. Constructed between 1515 and 1517, Curtea de Arges is also well known for the many stories surrounding its construction by Meșterul (aka Masterbuilder) Manole and commissioning by Prince Negru Voda (Radu Negru)--with more than 100 different versions of this legend circulating.