The Best of Western Romania in 10 Days | Travel Itinerary and Guide
Romania – A country that is located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, sharing its borders with Bulgaria to the south, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Ukraine to the north and Moldova to the east. Romania is without a doubt one of the best countries to visit in Europe, that I have been lucky to visit not once, but twice.
Danube Delta – where Europe’s second longest river, River Danube flows into the Black Sea, after meandering through 10 countries, is one of Romania’s best kept secrets, just like the picturesque Transylvanian towns, the famous Transfagrasan Highway – which is one of the Most Scenic Road Trips in Europe.
I highly recommend everyone to Experience Romania at least once during their Euro Trips. If you are a solo traveller, you’ll be glad to know that Romania is one of the Cheapest Countries in Europe, and one of the best Solo Traveller Destinations in Europe. In case you are wondering, Romania is perfectly SAFE for Solo Women Travellers.
This 10 day Eastern Romania Road Trip Itinerary includes the best of the experiences in cities like Bucharest – capital of Romania, Brasov – home to the largest gothic church in Eastern Europe and also the narrowest street in Europe, Sighișoara – one of Europe’s best preserved medieval citadels, Oradea – Art Nouveau Capital of Romania, Bihor county, Timișoara – Cultural Capital of Romania and also includes a trip to the Instagrammable Corvin Castle or Hunedoara Castle and the famous Dracula Castle aka Bran Castle.
Contents
Western Romania – 10 Day Road-Trip Travel Itinerary
PS – Useful Travel Resources that will help you plan better for your Trip to Romania with the help of this 10 Day Romania Travel Itinerary –
- Book your Europe train tickets at Omio or Trainline
- Book your Rental Car in Romania on Discover Cars and RentalCars.com
- Book the best Romania Tours at GetYourGuide or Viator
- Book the best Culinary / Food Experiences in Europe on EatWith
- Book your Accommodation in Romania on Agoda or Booking.com
- Book your flights at the cheapest rates on Kiwi.com
- Get an eSIM by Airalo to stay connected and Save on Roaming Fees
- Sign up for a Priority Pass before flying to Romania, to enjoy premium Airport Lounge Access.
- Sign up for a Travel Insurance to enjoy a hassle free vacation in Romania.
Day 1 – 2 – Bucharest
Not only is Bucharest the capital of Romania, it is also the perfect place to kickstart an epic trip to Romania, with this 10 Day Romania Road Trip Itinerary, as it is well connected with all major cities in Europe by flight.
Arrive in the morning, and check into your property.
PS – Make sure to book a hotel that’s in Bucharest city centre and walking distance from the Old Town Bucharest. Keep an eye on the check in time, and book your flights accordingly.
If you are wondering where to stay in Bucharest? Here’s my recommendations :
Budget Properties / Hostels – Pura Vida Sky Bar and Hostel, Little Bucharest Old Town Hostel
Mid Range Properties – Mercure Bucharest City Centre, ibis Styles Bucharest City Centre, Novotel Bucharest City Centre
Luxury Properties – JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel Bucharest
Freshen up, and head out to explore Bucharest on foot. As it’ll be your first time in Bucharest, I highly recommend you spend the day, by joining a few of the free walking tours, such as the free walking tour by Walkabout Free Tour or the Bucharest Alternative Tour and Bucharest Hidden Gems Tour by InterestingTimes Bucharest. Not only will you get a good idea about what’s where, but you’ll also get acquainted with the history of Bucharest.
Also, don’t forget to check out Carturesti Carousel, while strolling in Old Town Bucharest, which is not only one of the most Instagrammable locations in Bucharest, but also one of the most beautiful bookstores in the World. Getting some instagrammable pictures clicked at Carturesti Carousel is definitely one of the unique experiences, you should definitely have in Bucharest.
If time permits, do visit Therme Bucuresti – The largest relaxation and wellness centre in Europe, which is just 10 minutes away from the city.
FYI – The best and most economical way of travelling around Bucharest is on electric mopeds by Blinkee.city
On Day 2, you can explore the best of Bucharest on your own, and a suggested Bucharest One Day Itinerary , to tick off 5 of the most iconic sights in Bucharest can be as follows :
Start the day by strolling around the cobbled stone streets of Bucharest Old Town, understanding the history of the different structures, then head towards the Palace of Parliament for a guided tour (check the timings and tickets here).
Thereafter head back towards Bucharest Old Town, covering both Arcul de Triumf and Romanian Athenaeum. If time permits, do spend some time surrounded by greenery by visiting one of the three major parks in Bucharest such as the Herăstrău Park. Come evening, make your way to Pura Vida Sky Bar for a couple of drinks, whilst enjoying the sunset.
And finally around 8ish, start making your way on foot towards Piața Unirii, to witness the musical fountains. Post this, you can go on a Pub Crawl in the Bucharest Old Town, have a hearty traditional meal, such as the sumptuous Gulas, and call it a day.
Day 3 – Brasov
Start the day early, and head towards Brasov. Plan your trip from Bucharest to Brasov in such a way that you reach Brasov around lunch time. This way, you will get plenty of time to explore the best sights of Brasov, after having a hearty meal, and checking in to your property.
If you are wondering where to stay in Brasov? Here’s my recommendations :
Budget Properties / Hostels – BED STAGE Hostel, SECRET Boutique Hostel
Mid Range Properties – Kronwell Brasov Hotel, RAMADA Brasov
A Brasov walking tour, covering sights such as Piața Sfatului – the Council Square, the Black Church – largest gothic church in Eastern Europe, Strada Sforii – the narrowest street in Europe, among others and should not take more than a 3-4 hours, which means, you can head to your hotel, around 6-7 PM, freshen up, step out for a sumptuous Romanian dinner, and call it a night soon after.
Alternatively, rather than staying in Brasov, my recommendation would be to book a room in a hotel such as Teleferic Grand Hotel or Aurelius Împăratul Romanilor located in Poiana Brasov – Romania’s most popular Ski Resort town, just a 15 kms drive from Brasov. The views from the hotel are simply magnificent. If you opt for this, you could head towards Poiana Brasov around 6 PM, after your Brasov walking tour, giving you plenty of time to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy the charm of Poiana Brasov.
Day 4 – Brașov – Sighișoara – Oradea
This is probably going to be the longest stretch on the road during your 10 Days in Romania.
You will be covering a total of 450 off kms on Day 4 of this 10 Day Romania Travel Itinerary, starting from Brasov to Oradea, stopping over twice in between. First a quick stop at Feldioara Fortress, within 30-45 minutes of starting from Poiana Brasov, and then the second at Sighișoara a further 100 kms away.
Sighișoara, located in the historic region of Transylvania in Romania is popular for its well preserved walled old town, which is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and is considered to be one of the best-preserved medieval citadels in all of Europe.
While I only spent a few hours in Sighisoara, I realized that, only some places leave a long lasting impression on a traveller and this medieval town of Sighișoara in Romania, did exactly that. Check out these 20 photos of Sighisoara, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Sighisoara also makes for a great pit stop for some sumptuous Romanian lunch coupled with some locally produced palinka. Alternatively, you can try out Langoș, a traditional street food in Transylvania and one of the Best Street Foods in Europe, with Hungarian roots or a sumptuous portion of Gulas / Goulash – a meaty vegetable soup with a lot of spices, also with Hungarian roots.
Infact, both Langos and Goulash are one of the best foods to have in Budapest when you are Hungry in Hungary.
Thereafter, carry on for another 300 kms or so, from Sighisoara to Oradea, which will take you roughly 4-5 hours. Directly reach the hotel, freshen up, have a quick dinner and call it a night.
And if you are wondering where to stay in Oradea? I highly recommend you check out RAMADA by Wyndham Oradea – has a Wine Spa, a rooftop jacuzzi and sauna area or DoubleTree by Hilton – has an indoor swimming pool or the Continental Forum.
Day 5 – 6 – Oradea
Day 5 and 6 of this 10 day Romania Travel Itinerary is reserved for Oradea – also known as the Art Nouveau capital of Romania. Oradea is one of the hidden gems of Romania, in the historic region of Transylvania, that is often overlooked by tourists and travellers.
Interestingly the city of Oradea, that is based on either shores of the Crişul Repede river is located just 8 miles from the Hungarian border.
My recommendations for you would be to do a Oradea Cultural Walking Tour on the first day in Oradea, ticking off these 5 sights and attractions in Oradea, starting from the Roman Catholic Cathedral, then to Oradea Fortress via Republicii Boulevard and Podul Intelectualilor, and finally towards Piata Unirii.
You will also be walking past Biserica Romano – Catolica Sfantul Spirit, Rimanoczy Kalman Sr. Palace, Moskovits Miksa Palace, Stern Palace and Poynár House which are also some of the most photographed and Instagrammable locations in Oradea. The whole route is roughly a stretch of 5 km on foot, but will take you almost 3-4 hours or even more, as you’ll be making plenty of stops enroute.
PS – I just made your life a lot more easier, as here is the entire Oradea Walking Tour marked on Google maps.
Keep your day 2 in Oradea reserved for a day trip to Bihor county for some kayaking in the Crişul Repede river, and via ferrata on one of the three routes up the vertical walls of the Crișul Repede Gorge.
You could always just chill out at the hotel, get some spa treatments, just stroll around Oradea or visit the waterpark – Aqua Nymphae, but am sure as hell, that you wouldn’t want to miss out on the opportunity of opting for this crazy adventure of kayaking and via ferrata in Bihor county, during your 10 day road trip in Romania.
Day 7 – Oradea – Timișoara
Post breakfast, start your journey from Oradea to Timisoara – the last destination in this 10 day Romania Road Trip Itinerary, which for your information has been selected to be the European Capital of Culture in 2021 which was postponed to 2023 due to the COVID – 19 pandemic. The distance between Oradea and Timișoara is around 175 kms and should roughly take you 2-3 hours.
If you time it right, you should reach Timisoara by lunch time.
The first thing you should do is check into your hotel.
If you are wondering where to stay in Timișoara? I highly recommend you check in to Hotel Del Corso – a boutique luxury hotel, located at walking distance from the city centre with a rating of 9.5 on Booking.com.
Rather than stepping out, take it slow, and rest in your room for some time. Around 5ish in the evening, head towards Crama Aramica vineyards which is a 45 min – 1 hour drive from Timisoara, for a nice wine tasting session.
Ideally you should drop a text to Crama Aramica, via their Contact page, and fix up a trip to the Silagiu Winery, in advance.
Day 8 – 9 – Timișoara
Day 8 of this 10 day road trip in Romania, is reserved for a full day tour around Timisoara.
When it comes to recommending places to visit in Timișoara, most of them are in the vicinity of Piața Victoriei (Victory Square) and Piața Unirii (Union Square).
Frequently referred to as ‘Little Vienna’, Timișoara known for its secessionist architecture is Romania’s most cosmopolitan city as well as the third largest city and the social and cultural capital of Romania.
The Timisoara of today has plenty of open spaces, public squares, and is surrounded by nature. Interestingly Timisoara is also known as the ‘City of Flowers’.
As you experience the best of Timisoara over the 2 days, make sure to take things at your own pace, rather than rushing it. If you are lucky, you might just get to witness some sort of a cultural show or something similar, after all Timișoara is Romania’s Cultural Capital.
Just like you started your experiences in Timisoara, with a trip to a vineyard, make it a point to visit a brewery too. It’ll be the cherry on top.
Castel Royal Moșnița – a 4-star hotel-restaurant and a brewery, located just 8 kms from Piața Victoriei Timișoara, makes for one amazing place to have lunch with a couple of beers on the tap on day 9 of this epic 10 day Romania road trip.
Day 10 – Timișoara – Bucharest
The best way to make the most of the last day of this 10 day Romania travel itinerary, is to break the journey from Timisoara – Bucharest into 3 segments.
First up, start the day early, and within 2-2.5 hours of driving from Timisoara, you will reach the first pit stop – Corvin Castle, also known as Hunedoara Castle – A Gothic – Renaissance Castle. It is one of the largest castles in Europe and figures in the list of the Seven Wonders of Romania. It is without a doubt one of the most instagrammable locations in Romania. 1 hour is more than enough to spend time in this fairytale castle.
Fun fact about Romania’s Bollywood connection – Corvin Castle was one of the 5 iconic locations in Romania, where the Akshay Kumar starrer Singh is Bliing was shot.
Next up, is Bran Castle aka Dracula’s Castle, which is a 3-4 hour drive from Corvin Castle. Truth be told, Bram Stoker never really travelled this side, however the name is derived from the historical accounts that Vlad Tepes aka Count Dracula may have spent some time in this 14th century fortress.
Having visited both, Corvin Castle is way better, and if I had to choose, I probably would miss out on visiting Bran Castle.
The third leg of the journey from Timisoara to Bucharest, is the drive from Bran Castle back to Bucharest, which will take another 3 hours of your time.
So ideally if you start your journey from Timișoara early around 8 AM, you should reach Corvin’s Castle by 10 – 11 AM. Spend an hour exploring the instagrammable castle of Romania, and then by 4 PM reach Bran Castle. You can grab a quick lunch enroute, and spend an hour at Bran’s Castle. And then by 8-9 PM you should be back in Bucharest, bringing this epic 10 day Romania road trip to an end.
If however, you wish to break the journey, you might want to do so, by staying the night at Brasov or Sibiu. Which will mean you will visit Corvin Castle on 1 day and Bran Castle on the next.
Travel Tips and Recommendations
# If you have got 3-4 more days in hand, I would recommend you stay for a night or 2 in Cluj – Napoca on your way from Sighisoara to Oradea, and 1 night in Sibiu, on your way from Corvin Castle to Bucharest via Bran Castle, and have 1 day buffer. It’s always to have a buffer day at your disposal, and If you do this, you might also be able to add Peles Castle on your journey from Bran Castle to Bucharest.
# Also, if the weather is in your favour, and you are interested in spending time experiencing the outdoors in Romania, stay for a day or 2 in Bihor County, and go for a hike, or join a cycling tour or explore the Show cave network or do a bunch of different nature themed activities for which Bihor county is famous for.
Where to Stay in Romania?
Bucharest
Budget Properties / Hostels – Pura Vida Sky Bar and Hostel | Little Bucharest Old Town Hostel
Mid Range Properties – Mercure Bucharest City Centre | ibis Styles Bucharest City Centre | Novotel Bucharest City Centre
Luxury Properties – JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel | Intercontinental Hotel Bucharest
Brasov
Budget Properties / Hostels – BED STAGE Hostel | SECRET Boutique Hostel
Mid Range Properties – Kronwell Brasov Hotel | RAMADA Brasov
Luxury Properties in Poiana Brasov – Teleferic Grand Hotel | Aurelius Împăratul Romanilor
Oradea
RAMADA by Wyndham Oradea | DoubleTree by Hilton | Continental Forum
Timișoara
Hotel Del Corso | Hotel Tresor Le Palais | Hotel Timișoara
When to visit Romania ?
While you can visit Romania at any time of the year, the best time to visit Romania is from mid May to mid September. The weather will be perfect, the sun will be out, and the flowers will be in full bloom.
Souvenirs to Buy in Romania
…..to remind you of your Trip to Romania
- Locally produced Palinka and Tuica
- Romanian Wines
- Horezu ceramics
- Ia – the traditional Romanian blouse
- Fridge magnets
- Dracula themed souvenirs
- Folk inspired accessories
- Walnut Jam
- Painted eggs
- Traditional Honey
Summary – 10 Day Romania Travel Itinerary
Day 1 – Land in Bucharest | Bucharest walking tour
Day 2 – Bucharest Sightseeing
Day 3 – Bucharest – Brașov | Brașov walking tour
Day 4 – Brașov – Sighișoara – Oradea | Sighișoara walking tour
Day 5 – Oradea full day walking tour
Day 6 – Day trip to Bihor county from Oradea for kayaking and via ferrata
Day 7 – Oradea – Timișoara | Visit to vineyard near Timișoara
Day 8 – Full day Timișoara walking tour
Day 9 – Visit the Brewery
Day 10 – Timisoara – Corvin Castle – Bran Castle – Bucharest
And if you want to read more about Romania, check out these Romania Travel resources also written by me here on the Eat | Travel | Live | Repeat blog:
- The Best of Timișoara in 2 Days
- 5 Iconic Landmarks in Oradea
- Experience Bucharest – Top 5 Sights and Attractions
- Sighișoara Photo Blog
- 5 Iconic Gems of Romania
- Experience Romania – A Weekend in Danube Delta
I hope you found this 10 Day Romania Travel Itinerary, to be of help to you, as a reliable Travel Resource for planning your Trip to Eastern Romania. Don’t forget to Pin these images, and save this 10 Day Western Romania Road Trip Itinerary, for future travel planning.
And if you like reading the content I create and curate, I will be really thankful if you could
LIKE | COMMENT | SHARE and SUBSCRIBE
Also, if you’re on Facebook, I would love to have you as a part of
the Eat Travel Live Repeat Travel Community
