January 20, 2022
We love it when fellow travel writers share their honest experiences in Romania. This post by BlondeAtlas is a great example — a detailed account of a Transylvania road trip that covers some of the region’s most iconic stops. Some nice tips and some good words about their experience in Romania. I particularly liked her choice of restaurants: Bistro de l’Arte in Brasov and Kulinarium in Sibiu are also two of our favourite restaurants.
Having visited more destinations in Europe than I can recount from memory, I’ve grown to be quite a confident traveler when exploring any new destination on this particular continent…that is, until I arrived in Romania. Don’t get me wrong, this country is stunning and someplace that absolutely deserves a spot on your travel list. But it’s also a destination that requires doing some homework before you go.
That quote really captures something we hear from visitors all the time. Romania is not a country you can simply wing. The infrastructure between cities can be unpredictable, restaurant gems are hidden away from the main squares, and the most memorable experiences — visiting a local shepherd’s hut, tasting fresh cheese in a Saxon village, or finding the perfect viewpoint over the Carpathians — require knowing where to look.
What a Transylvania road trip typically covers
The classic route takes you through three of Transylvania’s most celebrated cities: Brasov, with its medieval old town, Black Church, and proximity to Bran Castle; Sighisoara, the colorful UNESCO-listed citadel and birthplace of Vlad the Impaler; and Sibiu, the former European Capital of Culture with its elegant squares and outstanding food scene.
Along the way, many travelers also explore the fortified churches scattered across the Saxon villages, drive the dramatic Transfagarasan highway (when it is open), and stop at smaller towns like Viscri, made famous by King Charles III’s conservation efforts there.
Why a local guide makes the difference
We could not agree more with BlondeAtlas’s observation that Romania requires preparation. There are so many things to do that benefit from having an insider who knows the country. The classic DIY tourist experience often means worrying about car rentals, navigating roads without clear signage, and missing the best this country has to offer — the family-run guesthouses, the artisan workshops, the viewpoints that do not appear on Google Maps.
This is exactly where we can help. Whether you join one of our Transylvania tours or ask us to design a custom itinerary, we smooth out the rough edges so you can focus on enjoying the journey.
And one more thing: BlondeAtlas skipped Bucharest entirely on this trip. We love Transylvania, but skipping the capital is simply not acceptable — there is far too much to discover there.