Efficient Romania Road Trip Itinerary – 7 Days With Map
TL;DR
This is the perfect road trip Romania itinerary if you only have 7 days but still want to explore the best of Romania: Travel beyond Transylvania and visit the Danube Delta, the Black Sea beaches, as well as the capital Bucharest.
Personally, we loved to road trip Romania beyond Transylvania.
Many Romania road trip itineraries in reality only are Transilvania itineraries. Transilvania is a beautiful part of the Romania but the country has a lot more to offer.
With efficient planning, you can visit a lot of places in just 1 week in Romania;
- The castles of Transilvania
- The Danube Delta
- The Romanian Black Sea beaches
- The capital Bucharest.
With our efficient 7 days in Romania itinerary, you don't have to move every night and you don't have to drive excessive hours each day. Like always, we aim to optimize the time spend and try to pack as many attractions into the drives as possible.
1 Week Itinerary Romania
Day 1 – Transfăgărășean and Drive to Transilvania
Start your road trip to Romania by driving the scenic route. The Transfăgărășean is one of the best panoramic roads in the world and the best road in Romania - the views will blow your mind! Yes, you won't be as fast as on the main road but it's well worth it! Stop along the road to buy one of the traditional cheeses as the perfect road trip snack. On the way, you'll also come past Poenari Castle, the real Dracula castle. Contrary to the popular Bran castle, Vlad the Impaler or Dracula as you might know him, really stayed here. Additionally, the Argeș Lake makes for a scenic stop along the way.
Distance: 360km (224 mi)
Sleep: Sibiu is the perfect base to explore Transilvania. It's a cute town with lots of restaurants and bars to relax after a full day of sightseeing. We enjoyed the Delis Restaurant for some traditional Romanian food. The old town with its two town squares is charming and of course, it has a small citadel. Many hightlights of Transilvania are easy to reach from here.
Day 2 – Exploring Transylvania
The number one highlight you should not miss in this area is Hunedoara Castle. This Gothic-Renaissance castle is one of the largest castles in Europe and is hands down one of the prettiest we've ever seen.
If you are looking for a real hidden gem, explore one of the fortified churches of Transilvania. We loved Câlnic – and the best part is that they produce their own wine. Romanian wine is a total recommendation by the way.
Other noteworthy stops for you to explore if you have more time or stamina are the salt lake of Ocna Sibiului or the amusement park in an old salt mine Salina Turda.
Distance: Variable
Sleep: Sibiu
Day 3 – Bran Castle, Rasnov Citadel, and Drive to Buzau
On your drive from Transilvania to Buzau, explore the eastern part of Transilvania. Here, you'll find the famous Bran Castle, which is overpriced and over-touristy if you ask us. But go ahead and see for yourself, maybe you'll have a better experience.
The lesser known alternative is the Râșnov Citadel. It is heavily fortified. Walls have shielded it from invasion and two courtyards provided space for a well and with living areas on the inside. It's beautiful, there are tons of areas to explore and the view is breathtaking – and did I mention that they have a Hollywood type sign?
Distance: 320km (200 mi)
Sleep: Buzau is a good place to interrupt the long journey towards the Danube Delta and get a nights rest.
Day 4 – Berca Mud Volcanoes and Danube Delta
Buzau is a great stop in Romania because you are very close to the Berca mud volcanoes. They are small volcano-shaped structures typically a few metres high caused by the eruption of mud and natural gases. And they are nothing like we've ever seen.
Distance: 240km (150 mi)
Sleep: Tulcea. Here, you can explore the town or the Danube by kayak. Make sure to get enough rest before your full day of exploring the Danube Delta.
Day 5 – Danube Delta Tour
Today your car gets a rest day! If you've been following us for a while you've probably heard us rave about the beauty of the Danube Delta. Definitely take at least one full day to explore the area in depth. We recommend you to take a fast boat, which will take you to the charming settlement of Mila 23 and Letea Forest, the oldest natural reservation in Romania, where you'll have the chance to see wild horses. On the way, you'll have plenty of opportunities to spot the local wildlife, especially the birds. Don't miss the chance to taste the local fish.
Distance: /
Sleep: Tulcea
Day 6 – Beaches in Romania and Drive to Bucharest
On your way to Bucharest make sure to check out some of the Black Sea beaches. Vadu and Corbu are two beautiful natural beaches.
If you are looking for a bit more infrastructure and beach bars, check out Constanta. Constanta also has a nice city centre. Make sure to explore the casino and the archaeological park with Roman-Byzantine relics.
Distance: 350km (220 mi)
Sleep: Bucharest. In the centre of Bucharest, you’ll find the most bar and restaurant options but not as many parking spots. In case you park and sleep a bit away from the centre, the city features decent and cheap public transport.
Day 7 – Explore Bucharest
To make the most of your time in Bucharest, do a free walking tour. This will give you an overview of the history and the most important sights in a short time. Next to the charming old town itself, our must-see recommendations are the Parliament Palace, the largest parliament building in the world, the Revolution Square, the Macca Villacrosse Passage, and the Patriarchal Cathedral. Make sure to leave enough time to relax in one of the many restaurants. We thoroughly enjoyed the traditional restaurant Caru' cu Bere, which translates to the beer wagon.
Enjoy your evening out in Bucharest and hit the amazing bars!
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