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On the road in Romania

Top Sights and Highlights of Romania

Romania combines medieval Transylvanian towns, royal castles and one of the most spectacular mountain roads in Europe, and much of it combines beautifully into a single road trip. The DN1 forms the classic route from Bucharest via Ploiești and Brașov into Transylvania, but the absolute highlight lies on a side road up into the mountains.

5highlights in this guide
1of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
🚗all easy to combine on a single road trip
Photo: Transfăgărășan · Clay Gilliland · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

The DN1/E60 runs from Bucharest via Ploiești and Brașov to Sighișoara and on to Cluj, forming the backbone of a classic Transylvania road trip. The Transfăgărășan (DN7C) is a stunning detour up into the Făgăraș Mountains — note that this road is generally only open from around July to October, and lies under snow outside the season.

Bran Castle on a rocky hill near Brașov

Bran Castle

A 14th-century castle perched on a rocky outcrop, known worldwide as "Dracula's castle" and one of the most visited sights in Romania, with turrets, courtyards and views over the Bucegi Mountains.

📍About 30 km southwest of Brașov via the DN73, easy to combine with a stopover in Brașov itself.
Peleș Castle in Sinaia with mountains in the background

Peleș Castle

The Neo-Renaissance summer palace of King Carol I in Sinaia, built between 1873 and 1914, with richly decorated interiors and a dramatic setting against the Bucegi Mountains. One of the finest castles in Europe.

📍Right on the DN1/E60 between Ploiești and Brașov, an easy stopover on the classic route into Transylvania.
Hairpin bends of the Transfăgărășan in the Făgăraș Mountains

Transfăgărășan (DN7C)

One of the most spectacular mountain roads in Europe, with dozens of hairpin bends climbing to Lake Bâlea at over 2,000 metres. Only open in summer and early autumn.

📍Connects Curtea de Argeș in the south with Sibiu in the north. Allow half a day to a full day for the entire route with stops.
The Palace of the Parliament at the end of Bulevardul Unirii in Bucharest

Bucharest, Palace of the Parliament

The second-largest administrative building in the world, built under Ceaușescu, seen from the wide Bulevardul Unirii. An impressive, somewhat overwhelming calling card of the Romanian capital.

📍Starting point of the A1 as well as the A2 and A3, the logical first or last stop on your route through Romania.
Panorama of the medieval fortress town of Sighișoara

Sighișoara

One of the best-preserved medieval fortress towns in Europe, with the 64-metre-high Clock Tower and colourful houses in the inhabited citadel. Birthplace of Vlad Țepeș. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

📍Right on the DN13/E60 between Brașov and Târgu Mureș, one of the easiest stopovers on the route through Transylvania.

This selection is a starting point. Combine it with the prices and validity periods of the Romanian vignette to complete your route.

Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons) Bran Castle: Calatorinlume, public domain · Peleș Castle: Geluxc, CC BY-SA 3.0 RO · Transfăgărășan (bends): Cristian Bortes, CC BY 2.0 · Bucharest, Palace of the Parliament: Ștefan Jurcă, CC BY 2.0 · Sighișoara: MarculescuEugenIancuD60Alaska, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Hero (Transfăgărășan): Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0