Self-Launched Romania: Bucharest to Transylvania in 5 Days

Start early in Bucharest. Book the Palace of Parliament tour online in advance (around £8–10, passport required for security, and slots sell out — the English tours run roughly hourly). Walk from there up Calea Victoriei past the Romanian Athenaeum and Revolution Square, then break for a cheap lunch of covrigi (pretzel-like pastries) and a mici or ciorbă in the Old Town (Lipscani). In the afternoon take metro/tram out to the open-air National Village Museum (entry ~£3), and loop past the Arch of Triumph on the way back. Finish with a beer in Lipscani. Stay in a hostel in the Old Town or Universitate area.

🚌Arrive into Bucharest however you like; within the city use the STB metro/tram/bus system — a 24h card is around £3–4. Airport to centre by train (Henri Coandă Express, ~£1) or bus 783.

🛏Hostel dorm in Bucharest Old Town / Universitate (~£15–20/night)

• →Palace of Parliament guided tour (pre-book online)
• →Calea Victoriei, Athenaeum and Revolution Square walk
• →National Village Museum (Muzeul Satului)
• →Arch of Triumph
• →Old Town (Lipscani) evening wander

This is the tricky day to do independently. Option A (cheapest, most flexible): take an early train or bus from Bucharest to Pitești or Curtea de Argeș (buses run from Autogara Militari, roughly 2–2.5 hours), see the Curtea de Argeș monastery and royal church, then continue by local bus/train toward Sibiu in the afternoon. Option B (if you want Poenari Castle and the Transfăgărășan, June–September only): join a small-group day tour from Sibiu or Bucharest, or hire a shared minibus — Poenari is remote, up 1,480 steps and effectively unreachable by public transport. Once in Sibiu, walk the Old Town: the Large and Small Squares, the Bridge of Lies and the Evangelical Cathedral tower (small entry fee). Evening in the old squares with a plate of sarmale.

🚌Bucharest → Curtea de Argeș by bus from Autogara Militari (~£5–7, 2.5h); Curtea de Argeș → Sibiu by bus/train with a change (~£7–10, 4–5h). Optional day tour with Poenari/Transfăgărășan ~£30–45.

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Sibiu Old Town (~£18–25/night)

• →Curtea de Argeș Monastery and Royal Church
• →Poenari Castle (only realistically via a tour or shared minibus)
• →Sibiu Old Town: Large Square, Small Square, Bridge of Lies
• →Evangelical Cathedral tower climb

Morning train or bus from Sibiu to Mediaș (about 1.5 hours), then a short local bus or taxi to Biertan to see the UNESCO-listed fortified church and its famous locking sacristy door (entry ~£3). Back to Mediaș and continue to Sighișoara by train (roughly 1 hour). Dump your bag and spend the late afternoon in the Sighișoara Citadel — the Clock Tower, the Scholars' Stairs, the Covered Stairway and the Church on the Hill. Free walking-style self-tour with a map; the citadel is small enough to cover on foot in a couple of hours. Sleep inside or just below the citadel.

🚌Sibiu → Mediaș by train (~£2–3, 1.5h); Mediaș → Biertan by local bus/taxi (~£3–5); Mediaș → Sighișoara by train (~£3, 1h).

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Sighișoara Citadel area (~£18–24/night)

• →Biertan Fortified Church (UNESCO)
• →Sighișoara Citadel and Clock Tower
• →Covered Stairway and Church on the Hill
• →Scholars' Stairs and Vlad Dracul house

Train from Sighișoara to Brașov (about 2 hours, scenic through the Olt valley sections). Leave your bag at the hostel or station lockers, then take bus 20 or a shared minibus out to Bran (around 45 minutes) for Bran Castle — buy tickets on arrival or via the castle's own site, roughly £10–12. Wander the castle and the market stalls below; grab a cheese-and-palinka tasting from the village stalls instead of a paid tasting. Return to Brașov and do the Old Town on foot: Council Square, the Black Church (small entry fee, closed Sundays), the Rope Street (the narrowest in Europe) and the old city walls and Catherine's Gate. Evening at a cellar restaurant on Piața Sfatului.

🚌Sighișoara → Brașov by train (~£4–6, 2h). Brașov → Bran by bus 20 or shared minibus (~£2–3 each way).

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Brașov Old Town (~£18–25/night)

• →Bran Castle
• →Brașov Council Square and Old Town walking route
• →Black Church
• →Catherine's Gate and the medieval city walls
• →Rope Street

Early train Brașov → Sinaia (around 1 hour). Walk or take the local bus up to Peleș Castle and book the ground-floor or full tour on site (~£10–12; closed Mondays, so check the calendar). Combine it with the smaller Pelișor Castle next door, then visit Sinaia Monastery before catching a train onward to Bucharest (about 1.5–2 hours). If time allows, hop off or take a local bus/taxi to Snagov Monastery, the island monastery in Lake Snagov linked to Vlad the Impaler — it's a detour north of Bucharest and easier by taxi from the Gara de Nord area. Arrive back in Bucharest in the late afternoon/early evening.

🚌Brașov → Sinaia by train (~£3–4, 1h); Sinaia → Bucharest by train (~£5–7, 1.5–2h); optional Snagov taxi detour (~£15–20 return shared).

🛏Hostel in Bucharest if staying another night, otherwise onward travel (~£15–20/night)

• →Peleș Castle (pre-book or buy on arrival)
• →Pelișor Castle
• →Sinaia Monastery
• →Snagov Monastery (optional detour)