Lala Lake, Rodna Mountains, RomaniaVideo: Marian Cepeha, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Romania
Romania, made simple: painted monasteries, Carpathian castles and medieval Saxon towns
Romania is one of Europe's great undiscovered road trips: a lively capital of grand boulevards and garden bars, the fortified Saxon towns and castles of Transylvania, wooden churches in Maramures, painted monasteries in Bucovina, the wild Carpathians and the bird filled Danube Delta. It is good value and welcoming, but trains, cash habits, distances and a new language can feel daunting. This guide takes the guesswork out.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, seasons, safety advice and health, answered
- LandingOtopeni airport, SIM cards, lei and your first night in Bucharest, explained
- Your days in RomaniaCastles, mountains, food, trains and village life, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cash, cards, taxis, tipping and typical budgets so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Romania should feel like an adventure, not a worry. We answer the questions about entry, money, trains, taxis and safety before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming home from Italy, Spain, Germany, the UK or North America to see family, or visiting your grandparents' village for the first time? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your RomaniaCity breaks, castles, mountain hiking, village life or wildlife: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, the right season and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for restaurants, cafés, bars, museums, markets and stays across the country.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link Bucharest, Transylvania and beyond at a realistic pace.
Everything your Romania trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Bucharest, Brasov, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca, Maramures and the Danube Delta, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, castles, museums, bars, hikes and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Bucharest, Cluj, Sibiu and beyond, and stays in every region.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Romania trip
Bucharest, Transylvania and the Carpathians
Most first trips start with two nights in Bucharest, then take the train north through the Prahova valley to Brasov. From there Bran Castle, Peles Castle in Sinaia, Rasnov fortress and the walled citadel of Sighisoara are easy outings. Continue to Sibiu for its painted rooftops and the Transfagarasan road in summer, then on to Cluj-Napoca. Ten days covers the heart of the country; two weeks lets you add Maramures, Bucovina or the Danube Delta.
- Peles Castle and Bran Castle in the mountains
- The medieval citadel of Sighisoara
- Sibiu's squares and the eyes on its rooftops
- The Transfagarasan mountain road in summer
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, Transylvania, the north and the delta fit together.
Romania destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Romania rewards a little preparation: entry rules checked for your passport, realistic travel times on slow trains and mountain roads, licensed taxis or ride apps instead of airport touts, and the right season for hiking, skiing or the delta. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic train and road times between regions
- The right season for mountains, delta or Christmas markets
- Where to base yourself in Transylvania
Where to go in Romania
From the capital Bucharest to the Saxon towns of Brasov and Sibiu, student city Cluj-Napoca, the wooden villages of Maramures and the wild channels of the Danube Delta.
Bucharest
Bucharest
A big, lively capital of belle epoque mansions, communist boulevards, garden bars and some of Europe's best value city nights.
Read the guidePhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Transylvania
Brasov
A Saxon old town under forested mountains, and the best base for Bran Castle, Peles Castle and the castles of Transylvania.
Read the guidePhoto: Pudelek (Marcin Szala), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Transylvania
Sibiu
A restored walled city of squares and painted houses, with the Transfagarasan road and Saxon villages close by.
Read the guidePhoto: Chainwit., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Transylvania
Cluj-Napoca
A young, creative university city with cafés, festivals and the Turda salt mine, and the gateway to Maramures.
Read the guidePhoto: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dobrogea
Danube Delta
A vast UNESCO wetland of reed channels, lakes, pelicans and fishing villages reached only by boat.
Read the guidePhoto: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Romania safe to visit?
Romania is generally safe, with low violent crime. Watch for pickpockets on busy transport, taxi overcharging and card skimming. Read your own government's travel advice before you go, especially for areas near the Ukrainian border.
What is the capital of Romania?
Bucharest, in the south of the country, about thirty to forty minutes by road or train from Henri Coanda International Airport at Otopeni.
Do I need a visa for Romania?
Romania is part of the Schengen area. Many passports, including those of the EU, UK and United States, can visit without a visa for short stays, but rules vary by nationality, so check the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before you book.
What money is used in Romania?
The Romanian leu (plural lei), not the euro. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry some cash for villages, markets and small guesthouses.
Is Dracula's castle real?
Bran Castle is marketed as Dracula's castle because it matches the novel's description, though Bram Stoker never visited Romania. The real Vlad the Impaler is linked more closely to Sighisoara, where he was born, and Poenari fortress.
Can BlissPoint Travel book my trip?
We are a free travel guide, not a tour operator. Use our trip planner to shape your route, and our partner links to compare flights and stays.
Ready to find your Bliss in Romania?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.