Romania is where medieval myths meet modern momentum. Born of Dacian roots and shaped by Roman, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian influences, it offers fortified churches and frescoed monasteries alongside grand 19th-century boulevards. You’ll move between the culture-packed capital Bucharest and storybook Brașov, with the Carpathians rising like steeples behind red-tiled roofs.

Expect deep-dives into Transylvania’s headliners—Peleș Castle, a jewel-box royal residence, and Bran Castle, the cliff-top fortress that fueled the Dracula legend—plus a close look at the world’s heaviest administrative building, Bucharest’s Palace of Parliament. Between museums and cobbles, you’ll warm up with ciorbă (sour soup), smoky grilled mititei, and plum brandy, and wind down in palm-fringed thermal pools.

Practical notes: the currency is the Romanian leu (RON); cards are widely accepted, and tipping 10% is appreciated. Trains are reliable between major cities; weekends bring mountain traffic, so book early. Bring a passport for the Palace of Parliament. Spring and fall mean crisp hikes and fewer crowds—ideal for this 7-day itinerary.

Bucharest

The capital is a collage of Neoclassical palaces, 1930s modernism, and Communist-era monumentalism. Stroll Calea Victoriei, peer into 18th-century monasteries tucked between glass towers, and browse the photogenic Cărturești Carusel bookshop. By night, the Old Town hums with convivial wine bars and inventive Romanian cooking.

• Don’t miss: Palace of Parliament, Revolution Square, Stavropoleos Monastery, the Village Museum, Herăstrău (King Michael I) Park.
• Eat and drink: Simbio (garden-brunch plates), M60 (specialty coffee, Nordic-leaning bites), Kane (modern Romanian tasting menus), Caru’ cu Bere (vaulted beer hall classics), Pâine și Vin (Romanian cheeses, wood-fired flatbreads, great wine list), Fix Me a Drink (foraged cocktails), Control Club (indie music and late nights).
• Where to stay: Browse stays on VRBO Bucharest or compare hotels on Hotels.com Bucharest. Consider addresses near Old Town, University Square, or Calea Victoriei for easy walking.
• Getting in: Fly into Bucharest Henri Coandă (OTP); search flights on Omio (Flights in Europe). For domestic rail (e.g., to Brașov), check Omio (Trains in Europe) and Omio (Buses in Europe).

Day 1: Arrive and Ease into the Old Town

Afternoon: Arrive and settle in. Shake off the flight with a gentle walk along Calea Victoriei to Revolution Square for a quick primer on 1989 history. Duck into the tiny, icon-lined Stavropoleos Monastery, then browse the luminous Cărturești Carusel bookshop.

Evening: Dinner at Caru’ cu Bere for sarmale and crispy pork knuckle, or book Kane for a contemporary “new Romanian” tasting menu. Finish with rooftop views and cocktails at Nomad Skybar or a vinyl-spun nightcap at Fix Me a Drink.

Day 2: History highlights and Parliament power

Morning: Coffee at M60 or Origo (espresso geeks rejoice). Stroll the National Museum of Art courtyard, admire the Atheneum’s dome, then continue down Calea Victoriei for Belle Époque façades and pastry stops.

Afternoon: Tour the mammoth Palace of Parliament—bring your passport and prebook. Fast entry here: Palace of Parliament in Bucharest - fast-track tickets and guide. It’s the world’s heaviest administrative building, with marble staircases and chandeliers the size of small cars.

Evening: Wine and flatbreads at Pâine și Vin (try Telemea with honey and walnuts). For music and craft beer, head to Control Club; for a mellower night, sip țuică in the Old Town’s brick-vaulted bars.

Day 3: Full-Day Transylvania Castles Tour (from Bucharest)

Classic day trip on a scenic route through the Carpathians: Peleș Castle (Neo-Renaissance splendor), Bran Castle (the “Dracula” legend), and a taste of Brașov’s medieval core. Book a small-group outing for skip-the-fuss logistics: Small-Group Day Trip to Dracula's Castle, Brasov and Peles Castle. Expect 12 hours door-to-door, with mountain views, castle interiors, and café time in Council Square.

Day 4: Village vibes and a tropical spa evening

Morning: Head to the Village Museum (Dimitrie Gusti) for timber churches and windmills gathered from all over Romania. Wander Herăstrău (King Michael I) Park and snap the Arc de Triumf.

Afternoon: Late lunch at Lacrimi și Sfinți—homestyle recipes with a refined touch. Then swap city dust for palm trees and mineral pools at Therme Bucharest; it’s family-friendly by day and resort-chic by night. Secure access here: Therme Bucharest Tickets and Water Theme Park.

Evening: Float under glass domes until sunset; the saunas and pools make jet lag a memory. Alternatively, back in town, graze through modern tapas at Energiea and turn in early—tomorrow it’s up to Brașov.

Brașov

Nestled at the foot of the Tâmpa massif, Brașov is Transylvania at its most cinematic: pastel facades on Council Square, the soot-darkened Black Church, and lanes that knot into the forest. You’ll taste rural flavors in hearty soups and polenta, then walk them off on city walls and mountain paths.

• Top sights: Council Square (Piața Sfatului), Black Church, Rope Street (Strada Sforii), Schei district, White & Black Towers, Tâmpa cable car, nearby Râșnov Fortress and Bran village.
• Eat and drink: La Ceaun (stews and polenta), Sergiana (Transylvanian classics), Bistro de l’Arte (seasonal plates, artful ambience), Dei Frati (homemade pasta), Sub Tâmpa (forest-edge grill), Dr. Jekelius – Pharmacy Café (vintage apothecary theme), Tipografia (coffee-culture by day, bar vibes by night).
• Where to stay: Look near the Old Town for cobblestone convenience—browse VRBO Brașov and Hotels.com Brașov. Favorites include central boutique guesthouses near Piața Sfatului, business-class comfort at Kronwell (near the station), and classic rooms at Aro Palace (pool, spa).
• Getting here from Bucharest: Morning trains take about 2.5–3.0 hours (typically ~35–60 RON / $8–$13). Check schedules and fares on Omio (Trains in Europe) or coaches on Omio (Buses in Europe).

Day 5: Train to Brașov, medieval streets, and mountain views

Morning: Depart Bucharest by train to Brașov (aim for 8–9 a.m.). Grab seats on the left for valley views. Taxi or walk to your stay and drop bags.

Afternoon: Coffee at Tipografia then a gentle loop: Council Square, the Black Church (check the Anatolian carpet collection), and Rope Street, one of Europe’s narrowest. Walk up to the Black and White Towers for town panoramas.

Evening: Dinner at La Ceaun (try the bean soup in a bread bowl) or Sergiana (smoked ham hock, horseradish, pickles). Finish with apothecary-themed cocktails at Dr. Jekelius.

Day 6: Tâmpa Mountain and fortresses

Morning: Ride the Tâmpa cable car for a spruce-scented walk along the ridge; the Hollywood-style “BRAȘOV” sign viewpoint is a perfect photo perch. Fit hikers can descend on forest paths back to the Old Town.

Afternoon: Short trip to Râșnov Fortress, recently restored, to stroll ramparts with mountain views. If you didn’t make it to Bran earlier, continue 20 minutes to the village for market stalls and castle exteriors; otherwise linger at a rural terrace for ciorbă and papanși (doughnuts with sour cream and jam).

Evening: Feast under the trees at Sub Tâmpa (grilled trout, polenta, wild mushrooms). Nightcap on Piața Sfatului as the square glows against the mountain.

Day 7: Last sips, Black Church organ, and departure

Morning: Slip into the Black Church for organ recitals if the schedule aligns; otherwise, enjoy a final coffee at Bistro de l’Arte and pick up pretzels (covrigi) from a local bakery.

Afternoon: Depart for Bucharest by train or bus (2.5–3 hours). If you’re flying home today, allow buffer time to reach OTP. Limited seasonal flights operate from Brașov-Ghimbav Airport; most travelers return via Bucharest.

Evening: If you’ve one more night in the capital, celebrate with a tuk-tuk glide past floodlit landmarks: Tuk Tuk Bucharest Tour - Unique Experience in town!.

Optional add-ons (time permitting)

• Salt Cathedral of the Carpathians: subterranean halls and salt-sculpted galleries on the Slănic Salt Mine Day Trip from Bucharest.

  

• Ghost stories after dark: legends in Lipscani on the Bucharest Ghosts Stories and Mythology walk.

Logistics at a glance

• International flights: compare options on Omio (Flights in Europe); fly into/out of Bucharest OTP.
• City-to-city rail: Bucharest ⇄ Brașov 2.5–3 hours; book via Omio (Trains in Europe). Buses are similar in duration (Omio Buses).
• Where to stay: Central Old Town or Calea Victoriei in Bucharest; near Piața Sfatului in Brașov. Compare on VRBO Bucharest, Hotels.com Bucharest, VRBO Brașov, and Hotels.com Brașov.

With one foot in medieval Transylvania and the other in modern Bucharest, this 7-day itinerary balances castles, cafés, and countryside. You’ll come home with mountain air in your lungs, a few new favorite soups, and a deeper sense of Romania’s layered, resilient story.