Places to go from Bucharest

Day trips from Bucharest

Probably you have already finished visiting the capital of Romania. You’ve visited the Palace of the Parliament and seen the Old Centre of Bucharest. The traditional Romanian life already enchanted you with its old houses, windmills and hundreds of folk arts and hand-crafted decorations in the Village Museum.

Now it’s time to take a look at your options outside Bucharest. Fortunately, the Romanian history is full of events and the country has lots of landmarks worth visiting. When it comes to Romania, most people think of Dracula and his castle due to Bram Stocker’s novel. To begin with, let’s say that Dracula did really exist, but not as Bram Stocker portrayed him. His real name was Vlad the Impaler, and he was the prince of Wallachia (one of Romania’s main historical provinces) and one of the most notable rulers in Romanian history. Dracula was more of his code name for the knight order, and he got the nickname “the Impaler” because of his preferred execution method, impaling. His horrible death and the fact that his remains can’t be really located may indeed add a little more energy to the urban myths about him turning into a vampire.

 

Visit Peles Castle

If you’re looking forward to seeing Dracula’s Castle then you can opt for a Private Dracula Castle Tour, with Peles Castle and Brasov included. The first place you’ll get from Bucharest is in Sinaia, the Peles Castle. The royal castle was built by the first king of Romania, Carol I of Hohenzollern. Its rooms are built in many European architectural styles. The best-known room is the Great Armory Room, hosting some of the finest collections of arms and armour, with over 4,000 pieces of weaponry that were collected or received as a gift. 

 

Visit Pelisor Castle

If you’ve got the time you should consider going inside the Pelisor Castle as well. It’s the smaller castle near Peles, and it hosts Queen Mary’s heart. It’s also said that her perfume can still be felt in some rooms even today.

 

Visit Bran Castle

The next stop on your day trip is Bran Castle. Even though Bran Castle is known as Dracula’s Castle, Vlad the Impaler had almost nothing to do with it. Nevertheless, the castle is built atop a 60-meter cliff has amazing architecture and myth created around Bram Stoker's character gives it a special energy. Bran Castle was the favorite home and retreat of Queen Marie, and after her death, it was inherited by her daughter, Princess Ileana, who ran a hospital there during World War II. 

 

Visit Brasov

Your day trip from Bucharest will end with a visit to the medieval city of Brasov. Here, you will take a walking tour of the city and explore its most popular tourist landmarks: The Council Square and The Black Church. This Gothic-style church is set in the heart of Brasov, right in the historic centre of the city. The name "Black Church” was given after the church was destroyed by a great fire set by the invading Habsburg forces in the 17th century, having its walls turning black. After the incident, it was repaired and completed in a Baroque style.

By the end of the day, you’ll head back to Bucharest and arrive just in time for dinner.

 

Visit Liberty Bear Sanctuary Zarnesti reserve

Maybe you would like to see a little more nature than buildings. If that’s the case, you can go on a one-day family trip to Transylvania. Your guide will pick you in the morning from the hotel and get you to the bear reserve in Zarnesti, a wildlife sanctuary in the Carpathian Mountains. Here, you will have the opportunity to see bears climbing trees, playing in the water pools or just lazing in the meadows. Here’s the place where over 100 real bears live here together.

After the Bear Sanctuary, your day trip will continue with the Bran Castle and Brasov. Afterwards, you will get back to Bucharest.

You may have heard of Transfagarasan from Top Gear that it’s „the best road in the world”. Get your backpack and go for Transfagarasan Road Trip.

Before getting to Transfagarasan, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and get you to the first destination at Curtea de Arges Monastery. According to the legend, the secret behind this monastery is the human sacrifice. The legend says master builder Manole cemented his wife, Ana, into the foundation of the building as a gift to God.  The monastery was completed in 1517, after 5 years of work, and today it serves as the necropolis of the Romanian Royal Family.

 

Visit Poenari Castle

Close to Curtea de Arges, on top of an isolated cliff, located 850 meters above the ground, sits the Poenari Castle which you may consider the real Dracula Castle.

The Poenari Castle was built between the 13th and 14th centuries, but it was shortly abandoned. When he came to power in Targoviste, Vlad the Impaler seized many of his enemies and political opponents and forced them to work on expanding the Castle. After months of slave labour, many of those who constructed the castle died, and in the end, those that were still alive were impaled.

 

Visit Vidraru Dam

Not far from Poenari Castle is the Vidraru Dam, one of the tallest dams in Europe, with a height of more than 160 meters. You should use this stop to enjoy the beautiful scenery as an opportunity to shoot some amazing photos of the surrounding area.

 

Take the road on Transfagarasan

In the last part of your trip on Transfagarasan road, you will enjoy a ride over the amazing road Top Gear praised. Transfagarasan was built in the 1970s during the rule of Nicolae Ceausescu, at a great cost of human life. Although the official numbers say that 40 people died during its construction, many claims that the numbers are actually in the hundreds.

In the last part of your trip, you will enjoy a ride over the amazing road Top Gear praised. Transfagarasan was built in the 1970s during the rule of Nicolae Ceausescu at a great cost to human life. Although the official numbers say that 40 people died during its construction, many claim that the numbers are actually in the hundreds.

 

Off-road on Bucegi Mountains Plateau

If you’re looking for something different, then you should try an off-road tour from Bucharest through the Carpathian Mountains. Have a 4×4 adventure Bucegi Mountains Plateau around the high-altitude lakes. Admire the geography, flora, and fauna and visit the picturesque mountain villages of Magura and Pestera. You’ll be amazed all day by the gorgeous landscape offered by the Piatra Craiului and Bucegi Mountains. By evening, you’ll be back in Bucharest. 

 

Visit Veliko Tarnovo

If you’re in the region, you may want to take the chance to learn more about Eastern Europe. With a Day trip to Bulgaria from Bucharest, you will be crossing the Danube River and at approximately 100 km from the Romanian border, you will find the city of Veliko Tarnovo, a UNESCO heritage site.

The fortress, the palaces, the houses, the museums, and the monasteries will make you feel like you traveled back into the Medieval Ages.  Your Bulgaria day tour will continue with the Tsarevets Fortress, surrounded by thick walls, up on the hill. The market consists of two streets bordered by shops, craftsmen's workshops, and inns.

On the way back to Bucharest, you will stop near the village of Arbanassi, known especially for the mural paintings in the churches and will also visit the Nativity Church.

Other trips from Bucharest can be found on our website.