Self-Launched Dracula Trail: Romania's Castles, Citadels & Transylvania

Arrive in Bucharest and check into a well-rated budget hotel or guesthouse near the city centre. In the afternoon, take a day trip to Snagov Monastery — legend has it that Vlad the Impaler is buried here. You can join a shared minibus day-tour from Bucharest via GetYourGuide (from ~£15pp) or take a local bus to Snagov village and walk to the lake crossing (~£3 return). In the evening, explore Bucharest's old town (Lipscani) and find a traditional Romanian restaurant for your own 'welcome dinner' — try sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls) and mămăligă for under £12.

🚌Fly into Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport (OTP). Take the 783 express bus to Victoriei Square (~£1) or a taxi (~£8–12). For Snagov: join a shared GetYourGuide day tour (~£15) or take bus 440 from Bucharest (~£3 return).

🛏Flowers Garden Hostel or The Yard Boutique Hostel, Bucharest (~£18–25/night for a private room)

• →Visit Snagov Monastery — legendary burial site of Vlad the Impaler
• →Explore Bucharest's Lipscani old town
• →Welcome dinner at a traditional Romanian restaurant in the old town

Take an early morning bus from Bucharest's Filaret bus terminal to Curtea de Argeș (~2.5 hrs, ~£6). Visit the stunning Curtea de Argeș Monastery, one of Romania's most important Orthodox churches. Afterwards, take a connecting bus or minibus to Sibiu (~2.5 hrs, ~£7). Arrive in Sibiu in the late afternoon and explore the beautiful medieval squares (Piața Mare and Piața Mică). Sibiu is extremely walkable — no guide needed.

🚌Bucharest Filaret → Curtea de Argeș by bus (~£6, ~2.5 hrs). Curtea de Argeș → Sibiu by bus/minibus (~£7, ~2.5 hrs). Check timetables on autogari.ro.

🛏Felinarul Hostel or Old Town Hostel, Sibiu (~£15–22/night for a private room)

• →Visit Curtea de Argeș Monastery
• →Explore Sibiu's medieval squares and rooftop 'eye' windows
• →Stroll across the Bridge of Lies
• →Self-guided walk around Sibiu's city walls

This is a packed day following the original tour's highlights. Take a morning bus from Sibiu toward Hunedoara (~2 hrs, ~£5) to visit the jaw-dropping Corvin Castle (Corvinești/Hunedoara) — book entry directly at the gate (~£7). Then continue by bus/minibus toward Turda (~2 hrs, ~£5) and visit the extraordinary Salina Turda salt mine, one of Romania's most surreal attractions (book tickets online at salinaturda.eu, ~£10). From Turda, take a short bus or shared taxi to Cluj-Napoca (~30 min, ~£2–3). In the evening, enjoy a themed vampire-style dinner at one of Cluj's atmospheric restaurants such as Enigma Restaurant or The Pharmacy Bar.

🚌Sibiu → Hunedoara by bus (~£5, ~2 hrs). Hunedoara → Turda by bus/minibus (~£5, ~2 hrs). Turda → Cluj-Napoca by bus or shared taxi (~£2–3, ~30 min). Check autogari.ro for connections.

🛏Retro Hostel or Transylvania Hostel, Cluj-Napoca (~£15–22/night for a private room)

• →Visit Corvin Castle (Hunedoara) — entry ~£7, book at the gate
• →Explore Salina Turda salt mine — book tickets at salinaturda.eu (~£10)
• →Optional: evening Hoia Baciu haunted forest guided night tour via GetYourGuide (~£20)
• →Vampire-themed dinner at an atmospheric Cluj restaurant (~£12–15)

Start the morning with a self-guided walking tour of Cluj-Napoca's gorgeous city centre. Visit St. Michael's Church and Unirii Square — both free. Head to the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania if time allows (~£3). In the afternoon, take a bus to Bistrița (~1.5 hrs, ~£4), the town featured in the opening chapters of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Visit Saint Andrew's Cathedral and the Evangelical Church tower. In the evening, consider dining at the local restaurant inspired by Jonathan Harker's menu — the Hotel Coroana de Aur (Golden Crown) is the most famous Dracula-linked spot in town.

🚌Cluj-Napoca → Bistrița by bus (~£4, ~1.5 hrs). Departs from Cluj Autogară station. Check autogari.ro.

🛏Pensiunea Castel or local guesthouses in Bistrița (~£18–25/night)

• →Self-guided walking tour of Cluj-Napoca's Unirii Square and St. Michael's Church (free)
• →Visit Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania, Cluj (~£3)
• →Visit Saint Andrew's Cathedral, Bistrița
• →Dinner at Hotel Coroana de Aur (Golden Crown) — the Jonathan Harker-inspired menu (~£12–18)

Travel to Sighișoara, one of the best-preserved medieval citadels in Europe and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Take a bus from Bistrița to Sighișoara (~2.5–3 hrs, ~£6 via Cluj or direct). Spend the afternoon exploring the UNESCO-listed citadel on foot: climb the iconic Clock Tower (entry ~£3), visit the Torture Room museum (~£2), browse the Medieval Weapons Collection (~£2), and walk to the Church of the Dominican Monastery. In the evening, have dinner at the legendary Casa Vlad Dracul — the house where Vlad the Impaler was born, now a restaurant (~£12–18).

🚌Bistrița → Sighișoara by bus (~£6, ~2.5–3 hrs, may require a change in Cluj-Napoca). Check autogari.ro or ask your guesthouse about direct minibus options.

🛏Burg Hostel or Casa cu Cerb guesthouse, Sighișoara (~£18–28/night)

• →Climb Sighișoara's Clock Tower (~£3)
• →Visit the Torture Room museum (~£2)
• →Explore the Medieval Weapon Collection (~£2)
• →Visit the Church of the Dominican Monastery (free)
• →Dinner at Casa Vlad Dracul — Vlad the Impaler's birthplace restaurant (~£12–18)

Take an early bus from Sighișoara to Brașov (~2 hrs, ~£6). Drop your bags at your accommodation, then take a local bus or maxi-taxi from Brașov's bus station to Bran (~45 min, ~£1.50 each way) to visit Bran Castle — the iconic 'Dracula's Castle' (~£8 entry, book online at bran-castle.com). Return to Brașov in the afternoon and explore the beautiful old town: visit the Black Church (Biserica Neagră, ~£3 entry), walk the Council Square, and take the cable car up Tampa Hill for panoramic views (~£4 return). Brașov has an excellent range of restaurants — try a local ciorbă soup and papanași (Romanian doughnuts) for dessert.

🚌Sighișoara → Brașov by bus (~£6, ~2 hrs, check autogari.ro). Brașov → Bran by local bus 101 from Brașov Autogară (~£1.50 each way, ~45 min).

🛏Kismet Dao Hostel or Rolling Stone Hostel, Brașov (~£15–22/night for a private room)

• →Visit Bran Castle ('Dracula's Castle') — entry ~£8, book at bran-castle.com
• →Explore Brașov's Council Square and old town (free)
• →Visit the Black Church (~£3)
• →Cable car up Tampa Hill for panoramic views (~£4 return)
• →Traditional Romanian dinner in Brașov old town (~£10–14)

Take an early train from Brașov to Sinaia (~1 hr, ~£4) and visit the magnificent Peleș Castle, one of Europe's finest royal palaces (~£8 entry, book at peles.ro). Then continue by train to Bucharest (~1.5 hrs, ~£5) and make a detour by local train or bus to Târgoviște (~1.5 hrs from Bucharest, ~£3) to explore the ruins of Vlad Tepeș's old court (Curtea Domnească, ~£3 entry). Return to Bucharest by evening. If you have a late flight, the city centre and airport are well connected by express bus 783 or taxi.

🚌Brașov → Sinaia by train (~£4, ~1 hr, check CFR Călători at cfrcalatori.ro). Sinaia → Bucharest by train (~£5, ~1.5 hrs). Bucharest → Târgoviște by train or bus (~£3 each way, ~1.5 hrs). Return to Bucharest Gara de Nord.

🛏Night in Bucharest if needed: The Yard Boutique Hostel (~£18–25/night) or head to OTP airport for onward flights.

• →Visit Peleș Castle, Sinaia — entry ~£8, book at peles.ro
• →Explore Curtea Domnească ruins (Vlad Tepeș's old court), Târgoviște — entry ~£3
• →Final evening in Bucharest — explore Lipscani or grab a farewell meal