The PERFECT Romania Itinerary: 10 Days Visiting the Country

If you want to spend 10 amazing days in Romania, this itinerary is exactly what you need, as it will help you see some of the most important attractions the country has to offer.

While ten days won’t be enough to explore every corner of Romania, it’s more than most travelers manage, and still a great start to help you fall in love with the country.

By the end of these 10 days in Romania, you’ll have walked medieval streets, seen castles straight out of fairy tales, soaked in the history of the Revolution, and probably eaten more sarmale and papanasi than you planned… but you’ll be happy and that’s all that matters!

Note: There are many possible starting points, but in this case, we’ll go with Bucharest as it’s the most popular entry point. Also, this is by far an exhaustive list of things to see: many stones are still left unturned, including the Danube, its delta, the beautiful monasteries and most of the southern area of the country.

But I’m sure that it will be enough to convince you that a return visit is mandatory. Let’s begin!

At a Glance

If you want the details of a specific day/city, click the entries in the table below, and you’ll be taken there:

• Day 1-2: Bucharest
• Day 3: Sinaia, Peles Castle & Brasov
• Day 4: Sighisoara
• Day 5: Sibiu
• Day 6: Alba Iulia
• Day 7-8: Cluj Napoca & Turda
• Day 9: Oradea
• Day 10: Timisoara

The Perfect Itinerary: 10 Days in Romania

We will be visiting 9 cities in these 10 days, so you know it’s going to be a race to get from one point to another. But the best thing about my itinerary is that you can adjust it as you see fit.

1. Day 1 & 2 – Bucharest

Bucharest itself deserves more than just 1 day and a bit (depending on when you arrive), but we’ll have to cram in as many things as possible during this short stay.

First of all, make sure to tick off the map the Old Town area – that’s the most touristy and most beautiful part of the city.

If time is tight and you can’t roam freely, make sure it’s the Old Town that you visit. There, you will find beautiful architecture, great (and affordable) places to eat amazing Romanian food, as well as a few other attractions nearby.

For example, close to the Old Town, you will have the Casa Poporului (aka the Palace of the Parliament) – another of Romania’s landmarks.

Remember! If you decide to tour Casa Poporului, you will have to register one day in advance and expect to spend around 2 hours there (it’s that big!)

Depending on when you arrive, the nearby People’s Salvation Cathedral – another similarly huge building – might be open for business. Even if it’s not, it’s still worth looking at this other mammoth located next to the Palace of the Parliament.

Finally – and especially if you’re traveling when the weather is decent – take a walk through Bucharest’s iconic Cismigiu Park and the surrounding areas, the Opera to the left and the the Romanian Athenaeum to the Right.

Alternately, you can hop in a taxi or grab a metro and go all the way to Herastrau Park as locals call it (King Michael I Park officially) and enjoy the huge and amazing Village Museum there to see how people used (and sometimes still use) to live in the Romanian villages.

Where to Stay & Eat

Stay near the Old Town or Piata Romana for easy access – here are all my recommended hotels in the area (or go directly with my top choice, Novotel).

For food, try Caru’ cu Bere or Hanu Lui Manuc, both classic restaurants with hearty dishes and live music, or La Mama for a casual traditional meal.

2. Day 3 – Sinaia, Peles Castle & Brasov

This is going to be a full day and you will surely go to sleep extremely tired, but it’s worth pushing it a bit today! It’s also early in the trip, so you probably have more energy to do it.

Early in the morning, you should leave Bucharest for Brasov as early as possible. Trains are regularly leaving the capital every 20 to 40 minutes, so aim to catch the one between 7 and 8 AM.

We’re making a stop along the way to Brasov in Sinaia, a charming mountain resort where the beautiful Peles Castle awaits.

The Peles Castle itself is one of the most beautiful palaces in the country (yes, a palace, despite its name), while Sinaia is charming and worth walking around for 30 minutes or so.

You should move quickly to be able to catch a train from Sinaia to Brasov anytime between 2 to 3 PM. The train ride takes an hour, and gives you just enough to scratch the surface in Brasov.

IMPORTANT: Double-check in advance! The schedules change constantly. There are also a few private train companies, usually CHEAPER, like Regio Calatori and Softrans. You can also look at Infofer, which aggregates all trains.

When you get to Brasov, you will only have time to explore the central area, which is still good since you have the Black Church there, some amazing restaurants, as well as views towards the mountains.

If you have time and energy, walk up to Tampa Mountain viewpoint (or get the cable car for a quick ride) for sweeping views, or check out Rope Street, one of the narrowest in Europe.

You can check out the full list of things to do in Brasov here.

Where to stay? I recommend Safrano Palace Hotel (this is where we stay and where we took the photo above – it’s right in the heart of the Old Town!) Eat at La Ceaun (there are two locations in the old town area) for a hearty, tasty, Romanian meal.

3. Day 4 – Sighisoara

Catch the morning train (around 9 AM) to the medieval town of Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage site that looks straight out of the Middle Ages. The trip takes 3.5 hours.

Following the race in the previous day, things will be more relaxed today as the small city is entirely walkable and you should be able to see everything it has to offer even in half a day.

Make sure to book your stay on the Cetate Street (at the Pensiune Citadela, which was built back in the 1820s and looks amazing!) and experience a bit of the medieval life.

Walk up the street to the Clock Tower and the Evangelical Church, then go back and climb up the unique covered stairway all the way to the Church Up the Hill (Biserica din deal).

Sighisoara is also the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the historical figure behind the Dracula legend. There’s a small museum at his supposed birthplace – a must-visit for some awesome photos.

Enjoy beautiful views and still somewhat unspoiled medieval greatness in Sighisoara! And make sure to read my article detailing the top things to see in the city.

4. Day 5 – Sibiu

Getting from Sighisoara to Sibiu can be tricky by train. There’s just one direct morning train leaving at 7AM, and then a connecting one after 10, but I wouldn’t wait that long.

So you should either wake up early and catch the first train, or consider arranging a ride via ride sharing app BlaBlaCar (risky, as sometimes some of the drivers don’t show up) or renting a car in advance.

Once in Sibiu, head straight to the Historic Center, as everything worth seeing is nearby. Explore Piata Mare (Large Square) and Piata Mica (Small Square), climb the Council Tower, and stroll along the Stairs Passage.

Finally, cross the Bridge of Lies (make sure you don’t tell your loved one that you care for them while on the bridge, as your relationship won’t last!) and visit the Citadel Park nearby.

Note: speaking of this, here are some Romanian superstitions you should read about during a train ride.

Sibiu has a relaxed, artsy vibe and is one of the most photogenic old towns in Romania (also one of the cities where you can see the famous “houses with eyes”). And if you still have time, make sure you check out all the things to see and do in Sibiu.

Where to stay? Art Hotel is a great choice (4-star hotel in the heart of the city), while YellowBoot Aparthotel is a budget-friendly alternative, also close to the old town.

5. Day 6 – Alba Iulia

At the moment of writing, there’s just one train from Sibiu to Alba Iulia, and it leaves at 3:45 PM, which is too late. The other option is a connecting train before 7AM, and that should be the one you take unless you can find a bus or other options (car rental/sharing). Check out departure times for buses here.

While Alba Iulia is a beautiful city that improved a lot in the past few years, it can still be covered in just a few hours if you only choose to visit the Citadel in the center and enjoy the views over the city.

So why visit Alba Iulia? It’s a city of major significance for the country’s history, as this is where modern Romania was born, when the union was declared in 1918.

Where to stay? Choose Carolina Heritage if you want to spend a night in the Citadel, or go for Hotel Hermes for a more budget-friendly option (but still close to the citadel).

And when there, make sure to find time to eat at La Conac – you’ll love it and they have plenty of Romanian dishes, but also tasty options from other cuisines.

6. Days 7 & 8 – Cluj Napoca & Turda

From Alba Iulia, we’re heading towards Cluj Napoca, another iconic city in the country. We’re going to spend two days here, including a day (or, better, half a day) trip to Turda to visit the Saltworks there.

Start with the Old Town, full of lively squares and cafés, then climb up to Cetatuia Hill for a panoramic view over the city, and finally relax in the Botanical Garden – a peaceful break after so many travel days.

Where to stay? Even though Cluj Napoca is expensive, I recommend sticking to the central areas: Hotel Victoria is a good choice if you look for a solid ratio between budget-friendliness and location.

As for food, my opinion is that you must try Roata restaurant for traditional Romanian food, or go to Cimbru Restaurant for more options and delicious food.

Day Trip to Turda Salt Mine

The Salina Turda is one of the most impressive salt mines in the world, and it became even more famous after popular YouTuber MrBeast spent seven days here, showing the entire world just how amazing this place is.

The Salt Mine itself is now a vast underground chamber turned into an amusement and wellness complex. Just make sure to bring a jacket, as the temperature underground is around 10°C year-round.

To keep things as simple as possible, I recommend getting this skip-the-line tour when visiting – you depart from Cluj and are returned to the city, so no worries about trains or finding alternative means of transport.

7. Day 9 – Oradea

On day 9, I recommend heading to Oradea. If you’re traveling during the summer, take a day off to relax in the amazing Aquapark Nymphaea – one of the largest and most beautiful in the country.

Alternately, you can take a trip to the nearby Baile Felix and enjoy the thermal waters there.

If you’re not traveling during the summer, you should spend the day exploring the central areas of the city.

You won’t have too many attractions to visit here unfortunately, so you can recharge your batteries in a pub or restaurant on the Crisul Repede shores, or explore the central areas with its beautiful buildings, the Black Eagle Palace and the nearby churches.

I wrote more about Oradea here, if you need to find out more things to do in the city.

9. Day 10 – Timisoara

It’s the last day of our 10 day trip in Romania and we’re finishing in style in Timisoara – a place with a major international airport, offering you multiple options to leave the country, as well as a quick flight back to Bucharest.

But while in the city, make sure to visit its old town area, where the Romanian Revolution in 1989, the one that got the country rid of the communist regime, started.

There are still some buildings with huge bullet holes in the facade, which is both scary and charming at the same time to see.

In the area, you will have most of the attractions in the city, like the Maria Theresa Bastion, the charming Unirii Square with the nearby cathedral, as well as the iconic Victoriei Square, a must-see pedestrian area stretching from the Opera to the Metropolitan Cathedral.

All in all, the entire central area and all the museums, piazzas, beautiful buildings and tons of cafes are a place to spend a beautiful day (or more) exploring. For everything you should see, check out my article about the things to do in Timisoara (and also check out the best restaurants here).

Before You Go

The itinerary is just part of what you must know before embarking on this adventure. Here are my other recommendations, including budgeting tips and other personal suggestions I have.

1. Book in advance (ideally, 1 month or more) to make sure that you find the best deals – those dry up quickly.

2. Expect to spend around €80-100 per day, including mid-range hotels, meals, and local transport. Since you’re constantly moving, it will be more expensive than spending 10 days in a single location.

3. Mobile data is cheap and reliable. Consider getting a prepaid SIM (Orange, Vodafone, or Digi) if yours doesn’t include internet/calls.

4. Keep in mind that trains in Romania are usually late. This is why I recommend direct rides instead of connecting ones.

5. The local currency is the Romanian Leu (RON). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but you should still carry some cash just in case. Remember: you can’t pay in Euros or US Dollars!

Wrapping up

This 10-day Romania itinerary takes you through the country’s most important cities and manages to cover both a nice distance and tick off the list some really important attractions.

Of course, it leaves out some regions, but that’s the beauty of Romania – it always gives you reasons to return, and I am sure you will want to come back.

If you have questions or comments (maybe alternative itineraries to suggest?), let us all know by commenting below!