TRAVELLING THROUGH TRANSYLVANIA
Ok, let's get the ‘D’ word out of the way first: it's very unlikely that you're going to get bitten by anything in Transylvania other than a genuine love for the hills and history of central Romania. Yes, you can go on Dracula tours around the castles of Sinaia and Bran, and yes they're great fun, just don't travel to Transylvania wearing strings of garlic around your neck or with a crucifix in your back pocket – you'll never make it through customs.
A far better way for travellers to discover life beyond Bram Stoker’s book is to go walking in the Carpathian Mountains or take a self drive holiday between Saxon villages. You can even stay as a guest of an actual Romanian Count. Sometimes facts are much more fun than fiction but, in the words of one of our accommodation hosts, Count Kalnoky: “My favourite myth about Dracula is that it's a myth.”
Our Romania Holidays
Carpathian Mountains holiday, conservation & culture
Wolves, bears and sightseeing
From
£1199 to £1249
8 days
inc UK flights
Transylvania holiday accommodation
Stay at a Count's guesthouse
From
€49 to €118
per person per night
Transylvania holiday, Dracula tours in Romania
Follow the steps of Harker in search of count Dracula
From
€999 to €1369
7 days
ex flights
Transylvania walking and nature holiday in Romania
A scenic nature tour of Transylvania
From
€826 to €966
7 days
ex flights
Transylvania self-drive holiday in Romania
Traditional Landscapes & Cultural Heritage - beyond Dracula.
From
£795 to £950
14 days
ex flights
Romania holidays, Transylvania to the Danube Delta
Village stays, painted monasteries and wildlife in the delta
From
£1875
14 days
ex flights
Romania holiday, Discover Romania
A superb trip around the best of Romania
From
€975 to €1450
8 days
ex flights
Romania walking holiday, self guided
Take a walk through the heart of Transylvania
From
£654
8 days
ex flights
Halloween tour in Transylvania
Take a fascinating and historical tour in Transylvania
From
£499 to £1199
3 days
ex flights
Transylvania winter holiday in Romania
Explore Transylvania’s wintery charms, history and folklore
From
£1299
8 days
inc UK flights
Romania holiday, Transylvania and its Saxon heritage
Medieval Villages and Countryside, the Best of Transylvania
From
€1250 to €1465
9 days
ex flights
Motorbike tours in Romania
Join us on a motorbike ride in Transylvania, Dracula's land
From
€1399
7 days
ex flights
Romania walking holiday
Discover the Padis karst plateau, a heaven for hikers.
From
€457
7 days
ex flights
Horse riding holidays in Transylvania
Enjoy Europe’s last riding heaven
From
€1180
7 days
ex flights
Romania small group holiday
Family escape in the highlands of the Apuseni Mountains.
From
€540
6 days
ex flights
Romania activity holiday, Western Carpathians
A multiactivity escape for adventurous travelers.
From
€445
4 days
ex flights
Halloween holiday in Transylvania with party at Bran Castle
Enjoy a relaxing break in Transylvania during Halloween
From
€379
2 days
ex flights
Cultural tours to Transylvania, Romania
Choice of 3 cultural tours of Transylvania
From
£968 to £1459
7 days
ex flights
Romania wildlife holiday, bear watching and tracking
Memorable trip in Romania focused on wild bears
From
£655 to £880
5 days
ex flights
Romania walking holiday, Along the Enchanted Way tour
Explore the stunning scenery of remote Romania
From
£1795
10 days
ex flights
Romania highlights small group holiday
Take in the cultural highlights of Romania
From
£1130 to £1240
8 days
inc UK flights
Transylvania wildlife holiday, lynx watching and tracking
Lynx watching and tracking in the land of Dracula
From
£484 to £890
6 days
ex flights
Transylvania farm and guesthouse
Enjoy the peace and quite of the Transylvanian country side!
From
€72 to €114
per person for 2 nights
Horse riding holiday in Romania
An eco-horse riding facility in Transylvania
From
€920 to €1560
7 days
ex flights
Transylvania cultural holiday, Romania
Discover rural life, medieval sites and walk in nature.
From
£590 to £1150
8 days
ex flights
Rural traditional accommodation in Transylvania
Back in time experience in the heart of Transylvania.
From
€149
per accommodation per night (sleeps 4-6)
Romania tour, Return to Nature and Traditions
Travel back in time in the famous Maramures region
From
€1120
9 days
ex flights
WHERE TO GO IN TRANSYLVANIA
Carpathian Mountains
Transylvania holds history within its fortified churches, Saxon villages and medieval architecture but for many it’s the wooded foothills of the Carpathian Mountains that steal the show. Rising to the east and south of Transylvania, they have long provided a strategic base and a scenic setting for kings and travellers alike. The region as a whole is roughly five times the size of Wales and all manner of animals are known to inhabit the steep forested slopes, including bears, wolves, owls and lynx, while white tailed eagles wheel in the thermals over valleys and gorges. Travelling by train is an ideal way to bypass unsurfaced roads although hiring a car presents plenty of scope to explore. Take on the kicks, cuts and hairpins of the Transfagarasan Highway to cross over the southern Carpathians into Wallachia and the Danube Delta.Brasov
In southeast Transylvania and the pretty market town of Brasov, and the legendary Bran Castle, attract the crowds in summer while walkers make the most of surrounding slopes, even in the winter. Brasov county also features Piatra Craiului National Park and the fantastic Libearty Bear Sanctuary for some really wild adventures.
Covasna
East of Brasov, the county of Covasna is recommended for anyone looking to spot storks on chimney pots as they hitch a ride on horse-drawn hay carts. Stay in the Hungarian-style village of Miklósvár and you'll think you've stepped through a time portal. Walks in wooded hills and over flower-filled meadows make great escapes from the modern world with guesthouse accommodation, at the bequest of Count Kalnoky, adding extra ambience to an already authentic rural experience.Sibiu
This onetime European Capital of Culture promises plenty of parks, pedestrianised squares and a succession of cycle paths to allow sightseeing from all sorts of angles. Germanic influence reigns supreme in Sibiu with the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Bridge of Lies and the Passage of Stairs all worth spending at least a couple of days strolling around in summer.Maramures
North of Transylvania, via the nature reserves and medieval monuments in Bistrita, are the mountain creeks and riverside villages of Maramures. This fascinating region may not be strictly Transylvanian but the carved wooden churches, ornate cemeteries (such as Merry Cemetery in Sapanta) and the forested valleys and protected pastures of Rodna National Park, are definitely worth bearing in mind if you're in this neck of the woods.THINGS TO DO IN TRANSYLVANIA
Wildlife
Aside from hunting for bats in Transylvania there are bears, too. In fact, you can actually go bear watching and tracking with an expert naturalist guide. Another brilliant bear encounter in Transylvania is at the Libearty Bear Sanctuary near Brasov. This beautiful outdoor environment provides a safe haven for rescued Romanian bears within the peaceful confines of protected beech, oak and hazel forests. You can also volunteer to help out with the day-to-day running of the sanctuary.
Elsewhere, Piatra Craiului National Park provides plenty more opportunities to see native animals in their natural environment. Bears, boars, bats and beavers are all known to inhabit the lower valleys and beech forests with guided wildlife watching tours the best way to spot woodpeckers, flycatchers and the occasional Ural owl.
Walking
Throughout the Carpathian foothills are several series of single tracks and hardly any roads. Self guided walking tours include a local map, information guide and luggage transfers – great for lightening the load as you trek between guesthouses. From challenging ascents over limestone peaks and jagged outcrops to woodland paths leading to medieval towns and Saxon villages, there's nothing like walking in Transylvania for loving life outdoors. Why not seek out the Siebenburgen (German for ‘seven cities’) as you stroll through Saxon settlements before settling into a different guesthouse every night? Also, did you know that southeastern Transylvania has more 13th to 16th century churches than anywhere else on earth? Tailor made cultural tours can help you find out more as well as offering insight into the traditional arts and crafts still practised in Transylvania.Dracula
Ok, there's no denying Dracula enthusiasts when it comes to travelling in Transylvania. Quirky, fun and steeped in folklore, these small group tours embrace the region's cultural heritage as you visit the sites related to Vlad the Impaler and Bram Stoker’s Jonathan Harker. Medieval castles, tales around camp fires and even a Gothic masquerade party will all feature on a Dracula tour of Transylvania with an English speaking guide bringing locations, and legends, to life. You'd be bats to miss it.Our top Romania Holiday
Carpathian Mountains holiday, conservation & culture
Wolves, bears and sightseeing
From
£1199 to £1249
8 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2019: 4 May, 15 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct
2019: 4 May, 15 Jun, 29 Jun, 6 Jul, 27 Jul, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 24 Aug, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 5 Oct
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Romania or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
BEST TIME TO GO TO TRANSYLVANIA
Try trekking in Transylvania during October as beech and oak woods are alight with amber, and lush green meadows are sprinkled in purple saffron. Blue sky days, snow-tipped mountains and warming harvest soups and plum brandy make autumn in Transylvania extremely atmospheric.
Spring is another great time to go to Transylvania for colourful countryside as wildflowers cover the Carpathian foothills and rivers rush through wooded valleys. May, however, can get wet so pack a mac, just to be on the safe side. Places like Brasov and Sibiu are also less busy during April and May, compared to the peak summer season.
Spring is another great time to go to Transylvania for colourful countryside as wildflowers cover the Carpathian foothills and rivers rush through wooded valleys. May, however, can get wet so pack a mac, just to be on the safe side. Places like Brasov and Sibiu are also less busy during April and May, compared to the peak summer season.
Summers can actually get pretty hot, especially in the cities and towns, so your best bet is to head into shaded woodland or hike on higher ground for fresher temperatures. Transylvania covered in snow is an amazing sight. Winter walking and snowshoeing holidays are fabulous for getting out and about before cotching up in a warm, cosy guesthouse. Snow is also very handy when it comes to tracking wildlife; there's nothing that beats the thrill of finding a wolf print whilst out walking with an expert local guide. Bears typically hibernate in winter, although many of the rescued bears at the sanctuary have lost the instinct to do this so you can see them all year round.
HOW TO VISIT TRANSYLVANIA
Many Transylvania holidays start off in Bucharest, around four hours by road or rail from central Romania. Small group tours will usually comprise four to 15 travellers and an English speaking tour leader. Solo travellers often value this type of tour as it offers the chance to make new friends and also enjoy time alone, thanks to single room supplements, if requested. You’ll enjoy several daily meals plus welcoming home comforts at locally owned guesthouses, although expect rustic rather than Ritz.
Self guided tours offer a more personalised alternative to a small group tour with flexible travel dates. You can explore under your own steam with the added reassurance of half board accommodation booked for you, plus luggage transfers and detailed trip notes. Self guided walking holidays in Transylvania are an excellent way to meet local people so practise saying salut (hello) and expect a smile and nod in return. Self drive tours are also an option here. Although road signs can be tricky, directions and points of interest will be covered in English within your trip notes. This allows you to drive a rental car between hotels and guesthouses with confidence as well as full insurance and emergency contact details for extra peace of mind.
Taking a cultural tour of Transylvania with a local guide will reveal more about Saxon heritage and folklore tales of old. Wildlife watching tours, also, can be undertaken with an expert guide who will be able to point out signs of life whilst walking in the woods. Early starts and evenings in bear hides are guaranteed to get hairs standing up on end, and not just because of you-know-who flapping about in castle crypts.
Self guided tours offer a more personalised alternative to a small group tour with flexible travel dates. You can explore under your own steam with the added reassurance of half board accommodation booked for you, plus luggage transfers and detailed trip notes. Self guided walking holidays in Transylvania are an excellent way to meet local people so practise saying salut (hello) and expect a smile and nod in return. Self drive tours are also an option here. Although road signs can be tricky, directions and points of interest will be covered in English within your trip notes. This allows you to drive a rental car between hotels and guesthouses with confidence as well as full insurance and emergency contact details for extra peace of mind.
Taking a cultural tour of Transylvania with a local guide will reveal more about Saxon heritage and folklore tales of old. Wildlife watching tours, also, can be undertaken with an expert guide who will be able to point out signs of life whilst walking in the woods. Early starts and evenings in bear hides are guaranteed to get hairs standing up on end, and not just because of you-know-who flapping about in castle crypts.
More about Romania
The best time to go to Romania is spring or autumn, for wildflowers and fiery foliage. Winter brings snowy adventures, and in summer head to the mountains to escape the heat.
Prowl through our Romania travel guide and you'll discover there's much more to Transylvania and the surrounding regions than you might have first thought...
Find out how to make the most of your time in Romania with our interactive map, plus sample travel times and suggestions on what to see and do...
From intricately woven carpets, to karst mountains and UNESCO listed wooden churches, this is one country that won't leave you short of holiday activities...
Navigating Romania’s roads as they cross the Carpathians from one historic region to the next is easy with route notes, local maps and overnight stays at locally owned guesthouses.
Joining an expert tracking guide is the best way to undertake bear watching holidays in Romania.
The eight UNESCO-listed painted churches of Romania are all nestled in the northeast of the country, surrounding the city of Suceava.
Romania has an array of activities to suit the whole gang. Fairytale castles, Halloween frights, hiking, biking and horse-drawn carts - and that's just Transylvania...
With health and safety advice, suggestions from tour leaders (and a real life Count!) and tips from our holiday reviews, this is your one stop shop for travel advice in Romania...
Treading lightly is best when it comes to holidays in Romania - one of Europe's poorer countries, but with huge riches when it comes to wildlife and habitats...
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Horia Varlan] [Top box: NH53]
[Brasov: Andrei-Daniel Nicolae]
[Wildlife - bears: Nicolas Vollmer]
[Best time to go: Alexander Slash]
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