Romania
Romania rewards a road trip more than almost anywhere else in Europe: the Transfăgărășan and Transalpina mountain roads, Saxon fortified towns like Sighișoara and Brașov, and the painted monasteries of Bucovina are spread out enough that a car changes the trip completely. Public transport between smaller towns is slow and infrequent.
Quick facts
- Region
- Eastern Europe
- Recommended trip length
- 8–14 days
- Best months
- May, Jun, Sept
- Climate
- Mild, Cold
- Crowd level
- Low
- Travel difficulty
- Moderate
- Value for money
- 87
- Public transport
- 60
Who it suits
- Road-trippers and self-drive travellers
- History and castle enthusiasts
- Nature and hiking travellers
Who it may not suit
- Travellers without a car who want to see the countryside
- Beach travellers (landlocked route; Black Sea coast is separate)
Estimated budget
Per person, per day — excluding flights.
Budget
€30–€45/day
Comfortable
€55–€80/day
Premium
€100–€150/day
Estimated from manually maintained destination data. Flights and accommodation prices may differ. Estimates last reviewed 2025-06-01.
What this destination is good for
- Road trips95
- Nature80
- History75
- Adventure65
- Food55
- City life40
- Romance40
- Multi-country40
- Family35
- Nightlife30
- Relaxation30
- Beaches10
Main strengths
- Exceptional road-trip scenery, especially the Carpathians
- Well-preserved medieval Saxon towns
- Very low cost of travel
- Genuinely uncrowded outside Brașov and Bucharest
Honest downsides
- Rural public transport is slow and infrequent
- Distances between highlights are longer than they look on a map
- Winters are cold and mountain roads can close
Essential places
- Sighișoara old town
- Bran and Peleș castles
- Transfăgărășan road
- Brașov and Rasnov
Worth adding if you have time
- Bucovina painted monasteries
- Sibiu
- Bucharest old town
Transport guidance
- Public transport is limited — a rental car makes a meaningful difference here.
- A rental car is genuinely useful for reaching places public transport doesn't cover well.