The perfect itinerary in Romania: 2-week tour by car

Have you planned a trip to Romania? You will have a great time, and to be sure that everything goes as planned, below are a lot of tips and advice on what you can do if you want to spend two wonderful weeks in Romania.

No matter how beautiful Romania looks in photos, it is even more picturesque seen up close. Romania means untouched wilderness and charming, cobbled cities dating back centuries. Traveling through rural Romania, with the people who still use horses and carts for agriculture, you will realize how traditional this country really is. A visit to traditional Romania is like going back in time!

Although Romania's relatively recent history is dominated by communist leadership, dictators and then corrupt governments, in recent years life has started to get better for the locals, who are even happy to talk about it.

A two-week trip to Romania is sufficient and excellent to enjoy the best of this beautiful country. But if you don't have that much time, you can also do shorter itineraries, and below you will find a one-week itinerary in Romania and another 10-day itinerary.

Overall, Romania is a safe, friendly and beautiful country that you absolutely must explore, so stop thinking about it. Get all the information here and then book your tickets!

The best time of the year for a trip to Romania

The best time of the year to visit Romania is subjective, and depends on the type of trip you are looking for: you can be in search of the sun, or you can come here to ski. Romania can be visited throughout the year, without ever getting bored. You just have to be prepared!

Spring (March-May) - the weather can be gloomy and unpredictable until May, when temperatures rise to an average of 23°C.
Summer (June-August) – average temperatures are between 26 and 35°C. The sun is shining, and Romania is becoming a crowded destination, but also with higher prices. Don't leave this country without visiting the Black Sea beaches as part of your itinerary in Romania.
Autumn (September-November) – the days become shorter and the temperatures drop, but it is a good season to explore Romania in a less crowded period and with lower prices.
Winter (December-February) – temperatures are around 0°C. It is the perfect season for mulled wine, hearty meals with Romanian food and skiing in the mountain resorts. Romania covered with snow looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Where to start your trip in Romania?

Bucharest. The most common way to reach Romania is the flight with landing in Bucharest. Search on profile websites and you will find the best prices for flights to Romania.
Cluj-Napoca. Known as the "capital of Transylvania", Cluj is also an ideal point to start an itinerary in Romania. Many tourists rent a car in Cluj and return it to Bucharest, stopping at the destinations on the route.
Timisoara. If you have been on a trip through Central Europe, it is possible to arrive in Romania from Hungary or Slovakia, in which case you will most likely arrive in the westernmost city of Romania - Timisoara - either by land or by air, because there is also an international airport in Timisoara.

Conditions for car rentals in Romania

– Minimum age: 21 years.
– Additional tax for drivers under 25 years of age.
- Driving license for at least 12 months.
– For citizens from outside the European Union, international driver's license.
- Proof of identity (valid passport, for example).
– The same documents are required for each additional driver.
- The maximum age for renting a car is usually 70 years.

Tips for car rentals in Romania

- Use professional websites, such as Rentalcars.com, to find the best prices for car rentals. Prices generally start from 110 euros per week.
- If you leave the car in another location, you will have to pay an additional price. You decide if it's worth it, for your convenience.
- You will probably have to pay extra for each driver.
– Manual cars are the norm in Romania, but you will also find automatic cars for rent, at a higher cost.
- Reserve the car as early as possible, in the peak season, to get the best prices.
- Usually, you will have to pay taxes if you want to cross the European borders.
- Don't forget the travel insurance.
- Take photos of the car, the mileage and the gas gauge before leaving the rental company or the place where you pick up the car.
- Always keep your proof of insurance and your identity document handy when driving in Romania.

How to drive in Romania

- In Romania, you drive on the right.
- The speed limit in the city is 50 km/h.
– The speed limit on the highway is 120 km/h.
- The World Economic Forum ranked the quality of roads in Romania at 120 out of 137, which is not good at all!
- Roads in urban areas are in good condition, but those in rural areas are not.
- Snow removal is intermittent, so you must drive carefully in winter. Make sure you have winter tires for icy roads.
- You can only park on the right, facing the direction of traffic.
- The traffic law in Romania is strict. The police can issue fines on the spot and take away the driver's license for a period of up to three months.
- Children under the age of 12 are not allowed on the seat to the right of the driver.
– You will find plenty of parking spaces in Romania, some with payment, some without. The fee will be somewhere around 1 euro or 5 lei per hour.

Can you travel this route with public transport?

All the destinations you will find below can be connected by train or bus. You can make train reservations on the CFR Calatori website and bus reservations on the Autogari.ro website.
The only location inaccessible in this way is the Transfagarasan, but you can take a trip on the Transfagarasan from Brasov or from Bucharest.
However, you can also use carpool services, ideal for traveling cheaply around Romania.
Useful tip. Be smart when traveling in Romania: trains are famous for their slowness, but most of the places in the itineraries below are close. Travel in the morning or evening to see the city on the day you arrive.

How much time to spend on a trip in Romania?

It would be ideal to be able to spend two weeks in Romania, and even then it is possible that you will not be able to see everything there is to see. But if time is limited, you can also make a shorter itinerary - 1 week or 10 days - and still catch the most important moments.

Itinerary of 1 week in Romania

Start from Bucharest or Cluj Napoca and take a tour through Transylvania. Brasov must be added to the list. For a 7-day itinerary in Romania, choose either Sibiu or Sighisoara or visit one as a day trip from the other. Here is how such an itinerary would look:

Days 1-2 – Bucharest
Days 3-4 – Brasov (includes Catelul Peles from Sinaia, on the route)
Days 5-6 – Sibiu or Sighisoara
Day 7 – Cluj Napoca

10-day itinerary in Romania

During a 10-day itinerary in Romania, you will have time for both Sibiu and Sighisoara, you will be able to relax and enjoy the trip.

Days 1-2 – Bucharest
Days 3-4 – Brasov (includes Catelul Peles from Sinaia, on the route)
Days 5-6 – Sibiu
Days 7-8 – Sighisoara (go on Transfagarasan, on the way from Sibiu)
Days 9-10 – Cluj Napoca

2-week itinerary in Romania

The main difference from the two itineraries above is that the 2-week itinerary also includes Timisoara, a beautiful city in western Romania. Although it is quite far from Transylvania, it will definitely impress you.
If you are on a longer trip and come from Central Europe (Hungary, Slovakia or Austria), Timisoara is a convenient stop, especially since the city also has an international airport.
This 2-week itinerary in Romania allows you to stay overnight in Sinaia, not just to visit Peles Castle on the way from Bucharest to Brasov.

Days 1-2 – Bucharest
Days 3-4 – Sinaia
Days 5-6 – Brasov
Days 7-8 – Sibiu (go on Transfagarasan, on the way from Brasov to Sibiu)
Days 9-10 – Sighisoara
Days 11-12 – Cluj Napoca
Days 13-14 – Timisoara

What objectives do you have to see in an itinerary through Romania?

Bucharest

If for some tourists Bucharest is extremely attractive and special, with its architecture and sights and especially with its night life, for others the capital of Romania is one of the least pleasant cities. But if you take a trip to Romania, you will most likely end up here at some point...

In the heart of Bucharest is Centrul Vechi, practically the newest historical center in the world, full of bars and restaurants, nightlife and a veritable hive of people at almost any time.
Stay at least one day in Bucharest and do not miss a visit to the Palace of the Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world.
Carturesti Carusel is another place where it would be good to make a stop, the location being voted as the most beautiful bookstore in the world.

On the second day in Bucharest, you can spend some time discovering the hidden treasures of the city, including estates hidden on side streets, Orthodox churches and cathedrals, the Armenian Quarter and Piata Obor, the largest local market in Bucharest. You will not miss the street art or the different places, and if you like nightlife, you will find enough options in Bucharest.

rail

The real journey through Romania begins when you leave the big city behind. Sinaia and the world that begins with it seems from a different reality compared to the crowded capital.
The distance from Bucharest is 148 km, which you will cover in 2 hours by car, or you can try a one and a half hour train journey from Bucharest.
If you only have a week or ten days in Romania, visit Sinaia as a quick trip on the road between Bucharest and Brasov. Stop in Sinaia, take a tour of Peles Castle, then resume your journey for another hour and a half, to finally reach Brasov.

The beauty of Sinaia sheltered in the mountains is undeniable. Not only the surrounding rocky mountains will leave you speechless with amazement, but you will find that the area is also home to some fairy tale castles, which will ignite your imagination.

Once you arrive in Sinaia, explore Peles Castle, built in 1873. If you've ever been to Germany, you'll probably recognize the German Renaissance style with dark wood and exposed beams. The catel has 160 rooms and over 2000 paintings.
In the summer you can go hiking in the Bucegi Mountains. You will find plenty of marked trails in Sinaia, ranging in difficulty from easy to difficult, and in winter you can ski in Sinaia or admire the scenery.

Brasov

Located at a distance of 48 km from Sinaia, or an hour and a half by car and 148 km from Bucharest (3 and a half hours by car), Brasov is one of the most beautiful cities in Romania. You can get here by train and bus.

Brasov is somewhat larger and more crowded than the smaller cities in Transylvania. This is the best place from which to visit the famous Dracula's Castle, a dream stop for all foreign tourists who arrive in Romania.

If you have time, you will need at least two nights to explore Brasov. Don't miss a walk and an ice cream through Piata Sfatului, a visit to the Black Church and the Ecaterinei Tower, sneak along Strada Sforii (the narrowest street in Romania) and visit the Museum on Strada Sforii, take a tour of the oldest school in Romania, near the Saint Nicholas Church, take a walk through the forest to the White Tower and the Black Tower and necessarily a hike to the Hollywood sign with the city's name.

Eat traditional Romanian food in the bistros and restaurants of the city and don't miss the varied range of coffees that you can enjoy on a coffee tour around the city.
If you still have time, take a trip to Bran Castle, stopping at Rasnov Fortress on the way back.

This iconic location is famous as Dracula's Castle, but you will soon find out that it is an exaggeration in the middle. Although the character of Bram Stoker's Count Dracula is based on Vlad Tepes, the Romanian voivode nicknamed Vlad the Impaler because of the terrible ways in which he killed his enemies, the author never visited Bran Castle.
Even if it is not really Dracula's Castle, it is still worth visiting Bran Castle.

Transfagarasan

Some would say that you cannot visit Romania without going on Transfagarasan, a famous road, also featured in the British show Top Gear.
Although it is not exactly on the road between the standard stops in Transylvania, it is worth making an effort to get there.

The construction of Transfagarasan was ordered by the former Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu. It lasted four years and unfortunately 38 workers died in this process.
This famous road is part of the DN7C, connecting the cities of Bascov and Cartisoara, where it connects with the E68 road that connects Brasov and Sibiu. For this reason, it is easy to visit Transfagarasan on the road between these two locations.

If you want to reach Transfagarasan as a short trip, it is closer to Sibiu, and if you are afraid to drive, there are also organized tours. Transfagarasan can be driven from June to October, because in the winter months it is closed due to the high degree of danger.

Sibiu

The distance between Transfagarasan and Sibiu is 2 and a half hours by car, and if you want to get here directly from Brasov, you can take a bus for a two-hour journey or the train for a three-hour journey.

Are you bored of traditional cities? I hope not, because Sibiu is as charming as can be but also old school. In addition, it is unique because here the houses have eyes. The eye-like slits on the roofs of the houses were invented, apparently, to provide ventilation to the attics, but they seem to be careful eyes on everything that happens in the city.

Once you arrive in Sibiu, walk on the Bridge of Lies and learn something about its morbid history, admire Cetatii Street with its colorful houses, climb the Council Tower, walk along the Nicolae Balcescu pedestrian street to Piata Mare and eat traditional dishes in restaurants with a Romanian specialty.

Sighisoara

If you are eager to discover more of Transylvania in your itinerary through Romania, there is no place more idyllic or more picturesque than Sighisoara, often described as the last inhabited medieval city in Europe.

Don't expect too much from the evening activities, because Sighisoara is a small town, but you will have something to discover if you walk through its small and picturesque streets.
Sighisoara is located at a distance of 93 km from Sibiu, or one hour and 40 minutes by car, or a two-hour train ride from Sibiu.

After a week spent in big cities, Sighisoara is the ideal place to relax. Visit Casa Vlad, the birthplace of Vlad Tepes - one of the few places that Romania capitalizes on for tourism aimed at vampire enthusiasts -, climb the Clock Tower for impressive views and visit the History Museum from the top, climb the Scolarilor Staircase and visit the Church on the Hill. Don't miss the various towers of artisans, such as the Tinichigiilor Tower and the Franghierilor Tower, and wander the colorful streets.

Cluj-Napoca

The second largest city in Romania, Cluj has the largest student population in the country, which makes it extremely attractive and full of life for an itinerary in Romania.
Despite the fact that it is in the heart of Transylvania, it is a perfect place for the art scene and nightlife and has nothing of the atmosphere of a small town.
It is located at a distance of 155 km from Sighisoara or three hours of driving. You can also get here by bus in a 3-hour journey or in a 3-and-a-half-hour journey by train.

If you have two days to spend in Cluj, definitely enjoy the panoramic views from the Cetatuia Park, admire the elegant National Opera, relax in the Botanical Garden, walk through the Central Park, enter the Gothic Church of St. Michael and visit the National Museum of History of Transylvania and the Pharmacy Museum. Don't miss the traditional art gallery at Banffy Castle or the IAGA Contemporary Art Gallery. If you have more time, take a walk to Cheile Turzii and explore the Turda Salt Mine.

Timisoara

Beautiful Timisoara is a relaxed city, with an open atmosphere and friendly locals, the ideal terminus for a trip in Romania.
The places seem a bit more modern than in quiet Transylvania, and because the city is on the border with Serbia, here you can even taste Serbian food. A diverse and lovely city, located 314 km from Cluj (4 and a half hours drive or 6 hours by train), Timisoara should not be missed.

Explore Unirii Square with its beautiful buildings, including the Canons' Houses, the Art Museum and the Bruck House, enter the huge Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, with a capacity of 5000 guests, explore Victory Square and Liberty Square, learn something about the past from The Communist Consumer Museum, take pictures on the street with colored umbrellas and enjoy the special air of the city.

More destinations from Romania

The itineraries above cover quite a lot, but it is only a part of Romania, a country that has much more to offer. Below are some other places, as inspiration in case you have more to spend in this country, or in case you plan another itinerary here.
The Danube Delta - the home of a fascinating fauna and flora.

The Mamaia resort on the Black Sea - full of beaches with fine white sand and a lot of terraces and restaurants.
The painted monasteries - especially those in the North of Moldova, where you will find beautiful buildings painted with scenes from the life of the 15th century.
The Vesel Cemetery in Sapanta – a bizarre place, where the colored graves tell the story of the death of those buried there.

Source: https://www.wheregoesrose.com

Image source: freepik.com