Two riders are enjoying a horseback ride in the valley.
Donji Milanovac signage
woman in brown and white dress holding brown woven basket
A couple of horses standing on top of a lush green hillside
a group of houses with thatched roofs in the mountains

Holiday in Transylvania

Region in Romania — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇷🇴

Country

Romania

Type

Region

Best time to travel

May to October. June-September for hiking and the Transfăgărășan (open only June-October). September-October for autumn foliage. Winter for skiing in Poiana Brașov.

Budget/day

Getting there from Germany

Flight to Sibiu or Cluj-Napoca (about 2h). Car rental recommended for fortified churches and Transfăgărășan. Brașov also accessible by train.

About Transylvania

Transylvania — just the name conjures images of misty mountains, Gothic castles, and forests where imagination knows no bounds. But Romania's central highlands are much more than the home of Dracula's legend: it is one of the last great wilderness areas in Europe, a living open-air museum of medieval villages, and a cultural landscape like no other. The Carpathians form the dramatic backdrop: dense beech forests, home to Europe's largest population of brown bears, wolves, and lynxes, alternate with flower-strewn alpine meadows and rugged peaks. The Transfăgărășan road, described by Jeremy Clarkson as the "most beautiful road in the world," winds in breathtaking serpentine curves over the mountains, offering panoramas that leave even seasoned Alpine drivers in awe. The Saxon fortified churches are Transylvania's hidden treasure: built by German settlers in the 12th century, over 150 fortified churches stand in the villages — seven of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Viscri, the favorite village of King Charles III, consists of colorful houses along a single street, dominated by a mighty white fortified church. Here, farmers still work their fields with horse-drawn carts — a scene from a bygone era. Sibiu (already captured separately), Brașov, and Sighișoara form the urban triangle of Transylvania: Brașov enchants with its Gothic Black Church and the cable car to Tâmpa Mountain, while Sighișoara — the birthplace of Vlad Țepeș, the historical Dracula — is one of the best-preserved medieval citadels in Europe. The atmosphere of these cities combines Habsburg elegance with Romanian warmth and a surprisingly vibrant nightlife.

Nature
90
Culture
88
Adventure
80
Romance
70
Families
60

Top 5 highlights in Transylvania

The places you absolutely must not miss.

1

Transfăgărășan Road

The "most beautiful road in the world": 90 km of serpentine curves over the Southern Carpathians with breathtaking panoramas and the Bâlea Glacier Lake.

2

Viscri Fortified Church (UNESCO)

King Charles III's favorite village: colorful peasant houses, horse-drawn carts, and a mighty Saxon fortified church from the 13th century.

3

Brașov & Black Church

Gothic gem of an old town at the foot of Tâmpa Mountain with the largest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul.

4

Sighișoara (UNESCO)

The best-preserved inhabited medieval citadel in Europe — birthplace of Vlad Țepeș, the historical Dracula.

5

Bear Watching

Europe's largest population of brown bears lives in the Carpathians — guided observation tours from hides at dusk.

Hotels in Transylvania

Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.

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Hotels in Transylvania vergleichen

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Reise-SIM für Transylvania

Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM

Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen

Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie

Best time to travel for Transylvania

Recommended travel time

May to October. June-September for hiking and the Transfăgărășan (open only June-October). September-October for autumn foliage. Winter for skiing in Poiana Brașov.

Summer

22-30°C in the valley, cooler in the mountains

Winter

-5 to 2°C, snow in the Carpathians

How much does a holiday in Transylvania cost?

Average costs per person per day

🎒

Budget

25-40 €

Hostel, Street food, Public transport

🏨

Mid-range

Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions

🌟

Luxury

120-250 €

Boutique hotel, Fine dining

Book a package holiday to Transylvania

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4 travel tips for Transylvania

Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.

Car rental is a must: The fortified churches, villages, and mountain roads are only accessible by car — Transylvania is a road trip destination.

Transfăgărășan timing: The road is open only June-October. Travel during the week, weekends can be crowded. Start in the morning for the best views.

Stay overnight in Viscri: Spend the night in one of the guesthouses in Viscri — in the evening, when the day tourists leave, the village becomes magical.

Book bear tours responsibly: Only book with certified providers who use hides with a minimum distance — never feed or lure wild bears.

Food & drink in Transylvania

These specialties you must try!

Sarmale — cabbage rolls filled with minced meat, rice, and herbs, slowly stewed in sauerkraut — Romania's most popular dish.
Mici (Mititei) — grilled minced meat rolls with garlic and spices — the quintessential Romanian barbecue, served with mustard and bread.
Kürtőskalács — chimney cake: yeast dough twisted over charcoal with sugar and walnuts — the famous Transylvanian pastry.
Ciorbă de burtă — sour tripe soup with garlic and cream — sounds unusual, but it's incredibly delicious and the perfect hangover breakfast.
Țuică — plum brandy, Romania's national drink — served as an aperitif before meals, often homemade.
Suitable for:CarpathiansFortified ChurchesRoad TripBearsMedievalUNESCOHiking

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