Everything worth seeing in southern Romania, arranged so no day holds more than two stops and no drive exceeds two hours. Gentle mornings, long lunches, and time to actually enjoy each place.
The Romanian Athenaeum is the loveliest building in the city; even without a concert, the frescoed concert hall is worth the visit. Then a slow wander through Old Town, which is small, flat, and full of terraces for a long lunch.
One sight today, and it earns the day: the Palace of Parliament is the heaviest building on earth, and the guided tour through its marble halls is genuinely astonishing. Book the tour a few days ahead and keep the afternoon free for rest.
Ninety minutes north, Peleș Castle rises out of the Sinaia forest like something from a storybook. Take the guided tour, then check in to a guesthouse in Brașov, forty minutes further on.
The Black Church and Council Square are next door to each other, so today is more sitting than walking. Benches, cafés, mountain air. If energy allows, the cable car up Tâmpa does the climbing for you.
An hour and a half north, Sighișoara Citadel is a lived-in medieval town on a hill: cobbled lanes, the clock tower, covered wooden stairs. Take it slowly; it is small, and that is the point.
Piața Mare in Sibiu is one of the grandest squares in Eastern Europe, ringed by pastel baroque houses. One square, one museum, one very good dinner. That is the whole assignment.
Finish above the clouds. The Transfăgărășan road (summer) or the cable car (the rest of the year) brings you to Bâlea Lake, a glacial lake at 2,034 meters with an easy flat path along the shore. Then home, gently.
May to June and September to October are the best months: mild weather, green or golden hills and fewer crowds. July and August are warm and busy in Brașov and Sighișoara. The high mountain road to Bâlea Lake is usually open only in summer, roughly from early July to October, so check its status before you plan Day 7. Winter suits snow and Christmas markets.
Trains connect Bucharest, Brașov, Sighișoara and Sibiu, but they are slower than in much of Europe, so allow extra time. A rental car or a private driver gives more freedom for the mountains and the villages. Roads in the mountains can be slow and busy at weekends. In cities, use ride apps or official taxis.
Book the Palace of Parliament tour in advance, and take your passport or ID, since it is required for entry. Check the opening days of Peleș Castle and Bran Castle, as both close on certain weekdays. In summer, reserve rooms in Brașov and Sighișoara early. Book a driver or a car if you plan the mountain road.
Pack layers, since mountain weather changes fast, plus a rain jacket and shoes with grip for cobbles and trails. Churches and monasteries ask for covered shoulders and knees. Bring a power bank, sunscreen in summer and warm clothes for the high lake, which can be cold even in July.
Try sarmale (cabbage rolls), mămăligă with cheese and sour cream, mici, ciorbă soups and papanași for dessert. Local guesthouses often serve the best home-style meals. Restaurants in the old towns are convenient but busier. Ask for house wine or tuica, the local plum spirit, in small quantities.
Check entry rules for your passport. Romania uses the leu, not the euro, and cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry some cash for villages. Confirm opening hours of castles and fortified churches, and allow a buffer for slow roads.
Day 2 is better if you book the Palace of Parliament tour for the morning and spend the afternoon in a park or café. On Day 3, go to Peleș early and reach Brașov by late afternoon, since the train from Bucharest to Brașov takes roughly two and a half to three hours. Days 5 and 6 are easy walking days, so keep them unhurried and leave the evenings free for a long dinner. See the Bucharest guide and the Transylvania guide for more on each stop.
Add the full plan, choose your dates, then reorder or remove any stop.
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