Transylvania had been on my list of places to visit for years now. We visited Romania as one of the destinations on our babymoon. In this blog, I am detailing the best of Transylvania, Romania, with a list of things to do, some tips, cities to visit, and recommendations on places where you can find vegetarian food.
The best time to visit Transylvania, Romania
Many years ago, I came across photos of a social media influencer from her travels to Transylvania during the winter. The cities were covered in this soft blanket of snow, making the colourful towns look mystical and somewhat magical. Since then, I had been dreaming of experiencing that. As a blogger and traveler myself, I should have known that everyone’s experiences are different, and if your heart is set on something, you might end up being disappointed.
Transylvania and Romania in general were something like that for me. If you travel in the right season, your experience could be different from ours and hopefully worth some beautiful memories. We travelled in March, which was an off-peak season, and in my opinion, kind of a dull time to visit the country (and other countries like Georgia).
My recommendation would be to travel in winter to experience snow or in peak summer to witness the lush green nature and the magic offered by this region.
Best of Transylvania, Romania: Things To Do and Hidden Gems
There are a few popular destinations in Transylvania that can be easily covered in four days. I am detailing each of these destinations along with attractions and places to eat below.
Brasov
Brasov, the capital of Transylvania, is surrounded by the stunning Transylvanian Alps. While the old town is stunning, featuring Gothic architecture and medieval Saxon walls from the 16th Century, people usually use this city as a base to explore the surrounding areas in Transylvania. During our visit, Brasov was the only city that was not dead; the restaurants and cafes were open and generally felt lively.
There are several things you can do in Brasov:
- Start your day from The Council Square (Piata Sfatului). It’s the town centre and the stroll around the numerous alleyways. There are several gift shops and small boutiques dotted around the old town.
- If you are a history buff, you can visit the Black Church (Biserica Neagra) – a Gothic church built in the 14th century
- In the evening, visit the Black Tower (Turnul Negru) and White Tower (Turnul Alb) – both towers were built in the 15th century. It’s located outside the city wall and is a short, steep climb up the hill. The views of the old town from here are fantastic.
- If you visit during winter, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride – you should be able to arrange a sleigh ride near Poiana Brasov.
Below are our recommendations for places to eat and drink in Brasov:
- La Birou Bistro: A cosy cafe with outdoor seating in Brasov. We had a lovely breakfast here on our first morning.
- Book Coffee Shop: Just next to La Birou Bistro is this cute little coffee shop with amazing brew.
- Brunch House: Another amazing brunch restaurant. We went here twice for breakfast.
- Panner Maison Finesse: If you are in Brasov, you can not miss this dessert restaurant. It was the highlight of our trip. Amazing desserts that will melt in your mouth.
- Brasserie Luther: We had dinner here one of the nights. There were a few vegetarian options, but the highlight was the stunning decor of the restaurant.
Rasnov and Bran Castle
Rasnov and Bran Castle can be covered in one day as they are within 10 minutes’ distance.
Bran Castle, also famously known as Dracula Castle, is one of the highlights of Transylvania. It’s a small 14th-century hillside castle and fortress with stunning Romanian views around. Although the Castle originally had no connection to Dracula, it gained fame as Dracula Castle after Bram Stoker’s fictitious Count Dracula character, which was loosely based on Bran Castle in Transylvania.
Rasnov is a smaller town in Brasov County, primarily known for its Rasnov Citadel. You can either hike up there or take a funicular from the center. You should visit the citadel for some amazing views of the town and the Transylvanian landscape.
Unfortunately, during our visit, most of the town was closed, and we didn’t find any good restaurant serving vegetarian food. In fact, even the Rasnov citadel was closed for renovation. So we only took the funicular up, walked until the citadel gate, and came back down as it was almost closing time.
Sighisoara
Sighisoara was one of the cities I was most excited to visit in Transylvania. It’s an easy day trip from Brasov, about a 2-hour drive one way. This colourful city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a medieval citadel which is still inhabited. The old town is beautiful, famous for its pastel colored houses.
However, in early May, the old town was dead. None of the shops or restaurants were open, and there were hardly any tourists. It does give a good photography opportunity, but other than that, I would have preferred a little livelier atmosphere.
There are several things you can do in Sighisoara:
- Climb up the clock tower: The clock tower operates like a museum, and there is an entry fee of 12 lei for adults and 4 lei for children. It’s a great experience for children walking up the narrow stairs, and the view from the top is stunning.
- If you are into history and enjoy visiting churches, you can climb a hundred-odd stairs to the top of the hill and see the Church on the Hill. The view from the top is stunning.
- Visit Casa Vlad Dracul. There is a Dracula tour you could take; however, we just had our lunch here, as that was one of the only restaurants open in the town.
Also read:
Read about our other adventures from around Europe:
- A weekend getaway guide to Budapest
- Travel to this magical city in Europe
- Exploring Venice in Winter
- The sun-kissed beaches of Algarve
- We hated our vacation to Albania, but you won’t!
- Lisbon, the hilly capital of Portugal
- The Best of Budva, Montenegro: Travel Blog
Where to stay in Transylvania, Romania
We decided to make Brasov our base for several reasons. Brasov is closer to Bucharest, so the trip back and forth is easier. Also, being a bigger city, there are more options for restaurants serving vegetarian food. We booked a room via booking.com right in the old town, which was very handy, especially with a small kiddo.
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