Planning a 1 week Romania itinerary using public transport? Here’s our guide on how to get around Romania using trains, buses and everything in between without a car! It’s totally possible to travel to Romania without renting a car and you can discover amazing places!
We’ll show you how to plan your 7 day Romania itinerary using public transport, where to stay and some of our favourite restaurants in the country. Read more to plan your one week Romania itinerary!
Romania is a country in Southeastern Europe known for its beautiful region of Transylvania, the capital city of Bucharest and of course, the story of Dracula. By spending 1 week in Romania, you will find a country filled with cosy medieval towns, stunning castles, amazing hikes and lovely countryside.
Romania still isn’t on everyone’s radar, so now is the best time to create your Romania 1 week itinerary and explore what the country has to offer!
There are so many things to do in Romania and it can all be done using public transport such as trains and buses! In this 7 day Romania itinerary, we’ve created a travel guide on how to get around the country, where to stay, where to eat and what to do in Romania!
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Quick Tips for a 1 Week Romania Itinerary
- Currency – Romanian Leu (compare to your own currency here)
- Language – Romanian
- Cuisine – Romanian/Eastern Europe Cuisine (cabbage rolls, polenta, meaty dishes, sweet bread)
- Apps – Bolt (like Uber) & Arga.ro app (to track buses) & WhatsApp (communication with hosts)
- Power Voltage – EU Plugs C & F (230V)
- Payment – Have some cash at all times, although a card is used for most restaurants & hotels
Accommodation in Romania – Booking.com & Hostelworld are the best websites to find hotels or hostels for your Romania itinerary. Read further to find recommendations on where to stay.
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing is a flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay covered during your trip!
Best time to visit Romania
Romania is a great place to visit all year round. However, the best time to visit Romania for this trip would be April to October in the warmer months. April to May and September to October will be less busy than the peak summer season and you may benefit from more choice of accommodation.
Some of the destinations on our one week Romania itinerary turn into an icy wonderland in the winter months (December – February) and if you want to try winter sports or the magical Christmas markets then maybe this is a great time to visit!
How to get to Romania
The best way to get to Romania is by flying or by bus to one of Romania’s cities. We took a night bus from Sofia, Bulgaria to Bucharest using FlixBus and we left Romania by flying from Cluj-Napoca.
How to get around Romania
There are a few ways to get around Romania, such as cars, trains, buses or flying. As this is a Romania itinerary using public transport, we’re going to show you how to travel by train!
The trains in Romania aren’t the fastest and it’s true they don’t go everywhere in the country, however, there’s a lot of Romanian highlights on train routes for a great price! We took 4 trains on our 1 week Romania itinerary and they cost a total of £29.73 each (around 165.88 lei). We booked our train tickets 3 weeks in advance to make sure they didn’t sell out, although you can buy them at the station at any time before departure.
Here’s how you can book all your trains in advance in Romania – CFR Calatori! Head over to the website, create an account, choose your dates of travel (you can only book 1 month in advance) and then pick the train you want to take. We used our Starling bank card to book these train tickets to avoid international bank fees.
- Trains – The budget-friendly way to get around Romania (Romania Train tickets here)
- Buses – Another easy way to get around & cheaper than trains! (Romania Bus tickets)
- Flights – There are airports in Bucharest, Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Oradea and Suceava. – Check Skyscanner for flight times and prices (most likely WizzAir or RyanAir)
- Car Rental – If you do decide to rent a car, there are many companies offering car rentals in Romania.
Want to switch to sustainable travel products before visiting Romania?
Check out our 18 Great Eco Friendly Travel Products guide!
Bucharest | Day 1 – 2
Start your 1 week Romania itinerary in the capital of the country – Bucharest. Bucharest has an international airport and is quite easy to get to from surrounding countries in Europe. If you’re coming from outside of Europe, you may need to change to another airport.
Aim to arrive in Bucharest in the morning or midday to start your Romania 7 day itinerary! We recommend spending 1 – 2 days in Bucharest as that’s a good amount of time to explore the main things and continue your Romania itinerary.
How to get around Bucharest? – In Bucharest, we used the metro, buses and scooters to get around the city as a few things are outside of Old Town, including the bus station to your next destination. The metro or buses can take you around the city.
A metro ticket can be purchased at a machine in the metro station for 3 lei. Bus tickets have to be purchased before you get on a bus from a ticket machine at major stations. Scooter rides are very affordable when using the Bolt app and we used them multiple times during our 7 day Romania itinerary.
Things to do in Bucharest
If you want to buy train tickets at a station, we recommend doing this as soon as you arrive in the city. Here are a few things to do in Bucharest on your 1 week Romania itinerary using public transport:
Visit the National Village Museum (Dimitrie Gusti)
This was the first place we visited on our one week Romania itinerary and it was pretty cool to see these old cultural buildings in an outdoor museum. It made us excited for the rest of our Romania trip! There are also many cats around! The price of entry is 30 lei per person – here’s more info!
Walk around the Old Town
The Old Town in Bucharest is a must-visit on your Romania trip – a town filled with churches, book shops, restaurants, bars and beautiful architecture on all buildings.
- Cărturești Carusel (location) – A beautiful bookshop with a cafe on the top floor
- Stavropoleos Monastery Church – An Eastern Orthodox church from 1724
- Manuc’s Inn (Restaurant Hanu’ lui Manuc) (location) – The oldest operating hotel building in Bucharest and a cultural spot to see in Old Town
Admire The Palace of Parliament
Bucharest is home is the heaviest building in the world – The Palace of the Parliament. It’s also one of the largest buildings in the world and they offer daily tours inside to see around 5% of this huge structure. Price of entry: 40 lei per person.
Visit the Arcul de Triumf
There’s an Arcul de Triumph in Romania?? We were also confused! It was built in memory of WWI troops, and it’s also free to climb to the top for city views. (location)
Stroll down Calea Victoriei
End your time in Bucharest browsing around the Calea Victoriei (Victory Road) – this is where all the nice restaurants are, the best ice cream shops and sometimes you can find musicians performing on the street.
Looking for tours from Bucharest? Check out the top-rated Bucharest tour here taking you to beautiful castles in Transylvania – if you want to do this trip yourself carry on reading!
Where to stay in Bucharest
We recommend staying near the Old Town area in Bucharest so you’re close to many things to do. We stayed close to the Cartierul Armenesc neighbourhood and could walk to the Old Town or use public transport to get around further.
T5 Social $ – South of the Old Town is one of the best hostels in Bucharest and a great place to meet other travellers. There’s a really great atmosphere & it’s super clean – Find them on HostelWorld here!
Spectacular Central Studio 9 $ – A cosy entire apartment just east of the Old Town. A great place to stay if you want private accommodation! Airbnb listing here!
Where to eat in Bucharest
Level Up $ – A great spot to try veganized versions of popular dishes in Romania – here’s the website!
Sublimmme $-$$ – A cafe & bakery serving deliciously healthy and raw food – here’s the website!
Sinaia | Day 2 – 3
On day 2 of your 1 week Romania itinerary, head to Bucharest’s North Railway Station (Gara de Nord) to catch a train to Sinaia. These trains are pretty frequent to Sinaia but we recommend getting a morning train and booking your ticket at least a few days in advance.
The train from Bucharest to Sinaia only takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes and you’ll be greeted with a lovely mountain town as soon as you step off at Sinaia station. It’s one of our favourite places on this 7 day Romania itinerary using trains.
Check out the 11 Best things to do in Sinaia!
Things to do in Sinaia
Sinaia is a lovely mountainous town in the heart of Romania’s Bucegi Mountains. It’s a great spot for hiking and skiing and many people visit here to get away from the capital city, Bucharest. We’ve given 1 day for Sinaia on this 1 week Romania itinerary to see the castle and surrounding area. However, if you’d like to go hiking then you may need to add another day.
Visit the famous Peleș Castle
Peleș Castle is the main reason people visit Sinaia, even on day trips from Bucharest or Brasov. It’s a truly beautiful castle and should be added to your Romania 1 week itinerary. (Tip: If you want to go inside, it’s closed on Mondays) The price for a guided tour is from 50 lei per person, book your tickets here!
Peleș Castle was built for Romania’s first king, Carol I and a short walk away you’ll find Pelişor Palace which was built for Carol I’s nephew Ferdinand. (location)
Admire Sinaia Monastery
The Sinaia Monastery was a royal family residence in the 17th century and was the first electric-lighted place of worship in Romania. It was founded by Prince Mihail Cantacuzino upon the return of his pilgrimage to the great Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt. This is also where the name for the monastery and town came from. It’s free to enter (location)
Take a ride on the Gondola in Sinaia
Adventure to the top of the Bucegi Mountains on a gondola ride in Sinaia. It’s the highest cable car in Romania, reaching an altitude of 2050. It’s also possible to hike up if you’re feeling like a challenge! The price is 60 lei to reach the top or 35 lei at specific times of the day. (location)
Where to stay in Sinaia
On this 1 week Romania itinerary, it’s not essential to spend the night in Sinaia as you can jump on the train and head straight to Brasov. However, the night we spent in Sinaia was lovely – surrounded by mountains with a lovely sunset and we really appreciated the mountain temperatures in the heat of July.
Vila Retezat Sinaia $$ – A cosy stay in the heart of the mountains in Sinaia, they offer free breakfast and the hotel has Neo-Renaissance style decor! Find them on Booking.com here!
Where to eat in Sinaia
Ramayana $-$$ – The perfect location in Sinaia town is a popular restaurant serving an international menu with many vegan options such as curries & pizza! – here’s their website!
Snow Restaurant $-$$ – Serving up a big menu including Romanian dishes! (location)
Although the town is small, there are still a lot of shops and places to find food. There is a Carrefour Market and a Mega Image in the centre of Sinaia if you want any snacks on your 1 week Romania itinerary.
We’ve also written a full guide with the best things to do in Sinaia.
Brasov | Day 3 – 5
The next stop on your Romania 1 week itinerary is Brasov, Transylvania! Head back to the train station in Sinaia and catch a train to Brasov around midday. This train journey is around 1 hour and it’s a very smooth ride, at this point, you’ll probably be impressed with the Romanian trains! (we were!)
Once you arrive at Brașov Train Station, head to the bus stop and buy a ticket (2.5 lei) to the Old Town or your accommodation. You have to buy your ticket before getting on the bus, alternatively, you can use Bolt to get around. On this 1 week Romania itinerary, you’ll be spending 2 nights here (3 nights if you don’t stay overnight in Sinaia), so it’s a good idea to grab some groceries at Lidl for breakfast & snacks!
Things to do in Brasov
Brasov is the main hub of the Transylvania region and a perfectly picturesque city. Its wonderful Old Town is nestled in the Carpathian Mountains and the city has a historical feel to it with churches, beautiful architecture and hip cafes built into the old bricks.
As much as we loved Sinaia, Brasov took the lead for being our favourite place in Romania and we’re excited to show you what you can do on your Romania itinerary 7 days trip!
Check out our 2-Day Brasov itinerary for more detail on this beautiful city!
Day trip to Bran Castle
One of the best things to do in Brasov is to take a day trip to the famous Bran Castle – the castle that’s been labelled as Dracula’s home & the icon of Transylvania! The price to enter Bran Castle is 45 lei and you can purchase your tickets online via Bran Castle’s website to skip the queue!
Bran Castle is a must-visit on your 1 week Romania itinerary, it’s one of the castles in Romania that is accessible by public transport so it’s hard not to visit! A ticket inside the castle will show you how Bran Castle was marketed as the home of ‘Dracula’ in Bram Stoker’s novel and the story of Vlad the Impaler.
How to get to Bran Castle without a car?
On our 1 week Romania itinerary using public transport, we were determined to make it to Bran Castle without renting a car or booking a tour. Luckily it was pretty easy and there is a bus that takes you straight there!
- Go to Autogara 2 Transbus Codreanu.
- Find the bus that says Bran on it, (you can also ask the bus driver if it’s the correct bus)
- The price is 13 lei per person to get from Brasov to Bran and you pay cash to the driver when you get on the bus.
- The buses leave every hour although this may change – we caught the 9 am bus and arrived in Bran at 10 am whilst it was still quiet.
To get back to Brasov from Bran, wait at the bus stop on the other side of the road from where you got off. In Brasov, we used scooters (safely) to get to and from the bus station as we weren’t close to a local bus stop with a ticket machine. (The scooters cost around 10 lei each for a 20-minute scooter ride)
There are also many daily tours from Brasov to highlights in Transylvania if you want to take a browse here!
Walk around Bran
Whilst you’re already in Bran, you may as well take a look around! We had a picnic on the grounds of Bran Castle and wandered around the markets of the village. There are many souvenirs you can find here including many Dracula-themed gifts. It’s also possible to visit Rasnov on the way back to Brasov if you have any energy left!
Climb up to Tâmpa Peak
This is another must-do on your Romania itinerary 1 week trip! There’s actually a choice here on whether you want to hike to the top or catch a 3-minute cable car ride up to Tâmpa Peak. The cable car is 15 lei one way (up or down) and 25 lei return.
Top tip – If you want this place to yourself arrive after the cable car stops working (or get one of the last rides up) and it will be people-free with such a relaxing atmosphere. It’s so beautiful up there.
Get lost in the Old Town
The beautiful Old Town of Brasov is surrounded by Medieval city walls that have been restored over time. Many restaurants and shops can be found inside the Old Town and it now has a modern feel with a very historical atmosphere. It’s strange to explain, but it’s really amazing and worth a visit on your Romania 1 week itinerary!
Visit the Black Church
Brasov is home to Black Church, one of the most remarkable Gothic churches in Eastern Europe! It’s within the Old Town area, so it’s worth a visit! It’s also possible to go inside for a small entry fee.
Find out more in our 2-Day Brasov itinerary!
Where to stay in Brasov
The best place to stay in Brasov is anywhere around the Old Town. On this Romania itinerary using public transport, you’ll be using Brasov as a base so check it’s easy to get to Brașov Train Station and Autogara 2 Transbus Codreanu before booking anywhere. We used buses and Bolt in Brasov to get around.
Secret Boutique Hostel $-$$ – Right next to the historic Old Town in Brasov is this clean, modern and new hostel in Brasov! Find them on Hostelworld here!
Oldtown Refuge $-$$ – A cosy apartment a short walk away from the Old Town in Brasov! This apartment has everything you need to enjoy the city & home vibes. Find them on Booking.com here!
Where to eat in Brasov
Delicious Raw $-$$ – The best place for a sweet treat in Brasov – Here’s the menu!
Cartofisserie $ – The perfect spot for an afternoon snack, they have a vegan menu – Here’s the website!
Eat & Smile Bistro Brasov $-$$ – An international menu with many options – Browse the menu here!
Sighisoara | Day 5 – 6
On day 5 of your 7 day Romania itinerary using trains, it’s time to visit Sighisoara in Transylvania and admire another beautiful old town in Romania. Head to Brașov Train Station (we used a Bolt to get here) and wait for the train to arrive – make sure you book your tickets in advance as there is limited trains going on this route!
The train journey will take around 3 hours 15 minutes and it will feel quite slow, bring a packed lunch with you and some cards to pass the time. Once you arrive at Sighisoara train station, you can probably walk to your accommodation as the city is small.
Things to do in Sighisoara
A lot of Romanians love visiting Sighisoara, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula), to experience its enchanting well-preserved old town. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it definitely feels that way – we love colourful buildings. Add Sighisoara to your 1 week Romania itinerary!
Head over to our 2 Day Sighisoara Itinerary for more details!
Walk around Sighisoara’s Citadel
Sighisoara is a Saxon village in the heart of Transylvania and rich in so much history, you can spend the afternoon wandering around all the lanes of the fortress city. The buildings are so beautiful here and the views of the surrounding area are lovely! It’s also possible to see Vlad Dracul’s birthplace and enter for a small fee, right here in Sighisoara!
Spot The Clock Tower
This iconic clock tower was built in the 14th century and was the main gate to the city’s citadel. It stands out in Sighisoara’s old town and is definitely worth a picture or two! The price is 16 lei to go up to the top!
Climb up the Covered Stairway
Whilst wandering through Sighisoara, find the covered stairway. This staircase was built in 1654 to help students get up to the hill near the church throughout winter or heavy rain.
Admire the views from Sighisoara City Hall
After walking around the historic old town, we spent a good hour chilling outside the City Hall, admiring the views and taking everything in! (location here!) It was a lovely spot to take everything in on your Romania 1 week itinerary.
Check out our 2 Day Sighisoara Itinerary for more in-depth information!
Where to stay in Sighisoara
Casa Savri $$ – Located in the heart of Sighișoara Medieval Citadel, this cosy place is perfect for a one or two-night stay in Sighisoara – Find them on Booking.com here!
Pensiunea Gasthaus Alte Post $$ – Right next to the Clock Tower in Sighisoara, this place also offers free breakfast!- Find them on Booking.com here!
Where to eat in Sighisoara
Restaurant La Perla $ – One of the many Italian restaurants in Sighisoara! Ask for no cheese to make it vegan. Here’s the location and website!
There is also a Lidl and independent shops here to prepare any breakfast or dinner snacks you may want!
Cluj Napoca | Day 6 – 7
Finally, we’re at the last couple of days of your 1 week Romania itinerary! On Day 6 head to Sighisoara train station and head for Cluj-Napoca. The journey will take around 3 hours and 20 minutes and arrive at Cluj Napoca Train Station. Head straight to your accommodation to drop your bags or check in and get ready for your last destination of this one week Romania itinerary!
Things to do in Cluj Napoca
Cluj-Napoca is the second largest city in Romania and is also known as a university city with a lively nightlife. Although Cluj Napoca doesn’t have any major attractions it’s quite a lovely city to end your 1 week Romania trip and wander around in your own time.
Stroll around Central Park
Central Park is a spot to add to your 1 week Romania itinerary when visiting Cluj-Napoca. There are lots of trees and paths to walk around and even a small lake.
Visit the Catholic Church Saint Michael
Whilst exploring the city, visit the second largest church in Transylvania – a Roman Catholic gothic-style church in Cluj-Napoca.
Cetățuia Park
Cetățuia Park is one of the best views in the city and is located right next to Central Park. There is a little hike up to the top but the views are totally worth it on your 7 day Romania itinerary.
Cluj-Napoca Botanical Garden
If you find yourself with extra time, the botanical garden is one of Cluj-Napoca’s most visited places! Enjoy the Japanese garden, statues and various plants. The price is 11 lei per person – find out more info here!
Where to stay in Cluj Napoca
The best area to stay in Cluj-Napoca is near the Old Town as this is where the main things to do are!
Retro Hostel $-$$ One of the only hostels in Cluj Napoca, this place offers rooms for all types of travellers – Find them on Hostelworld here!
Central Cozy Apartment $-$$ – A great location in Cluj-Napoca, close to the city centre and only a 20-minute ride to the airport by Bolt (like Uber) Find them on Booking .com here!
Where to eat in Cluj Napoca
Samsara Foodhouse $$ – A chic restaurant serving the best vegan dishes, inside & outside dining. Visit their website here!
London Brothers $$ – Okay, this place is a little out of the city centre but we ordered it online because we wanted to try their food! The vegan chick’n bao buns are incredible! Check out their website!
Nutriento $$ Another spot a little outside of Old Town! We loved their bowls and they felt so healthy& nutritious – check out their website & menu! Sadly their dining area is not open, so it’s pick-up only.
1 Week Romania Itinerary breakdown
Day 1 – Bucharest / Day 2 – Bucharest – Sinaia / Day 3 – Sinaia – Brasov / Day 4 – Brasov (Bran) / Day 5 – Brasov – Sighisoara / Day 6 – Sighisoara – Cluj-Napoca / Day 7 – Cluj-Napoca
Don’t want to move around so much? – We understand that this 7 day Romania itinerary is on the go a lot! If you have a lot of luggage and want to minimize different hotels or hostels, we recommend spending 2 nights in Bucharest, 3 nights in Brasov and 1 or 2 nights in Cluj-Napoca.
How many days in Romania is enough?
There are so many things to do in Romania and it’s totally possible to spend more than a month discovering the hidden gems of the country – a 1 week Romania itinerary shows you a great first experience of the country with the option to come back in the future.
If you only have a few days in Romania – we recommend staying in Brasov as it’s the best base for seeing the highlights of Romania. Spend 1 night in Bucharest and then 2 or 3 nights in Brasov visiting castles and climbing Mount Tampa.
Other places to visit in Romania
- Sibiu – A charming town in Transylvania (we didn’t have time to visit as the train either passed through Sighisoara or Sibiu.
- Timsaoria – Sometimes known as the Little Vienna of Romania, Timsaoria is a historical city in western Romania.
Festivals in Romania 2024
- UNTOLD Festival 2024: the EDM utopia of Eastern Europe – tickets here!
- Sighișoara Medieval Festival (previous dates – July 29–31, 2022)
- SAGA FESTIVAL 2024 (July 5-7, 2024 in Bucharest, Romania) – more info here!
Is Romania expensive to visit?
Let’s talk about our budget in Romania – we were really happy with the prices of accommodation and enjoy cooking our own meals as well as trying the local cuisine in restaurants. As Romania is in Eastern Europe, the cost of travel per day is less than countries in the central, west and north.
- Accommodation: around 140 lei (two people in an apartment)
- Restaurants: around 35 lei per meal
- Activities: around 12 lei
Should I rent a car in Romania?
In this travel guide, we have shown you how to create a 1 week Romania itinerary using public transport and that you plan a Romania itinerary without a car. Unless you’re visiting from other countries or already have a car, you don’t need a car to travel around Romania.
There are lots of benefits to renting a car, like going off the beaten track and finding hidden gems, however, car rentals are so costly these days that public transport is perfect for the budget traveller!
Fun fact: Romania borders Moldova, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and the Black Sea!
Is Romania worth visiting?
Yes, we think it’s worth visiting Romania! Brasov and Sinaia were our favourite places and although we only saw a small portion of the country, we loved the places we did see. We’d love to go back and visit Romania in the winter to see the country become a magical frozen wonderland.
If you’re thinking of planning a 1 week Romania itinerary using trains, it’s totally possible and now is the best time to visit this beautiful country.
What to pack for 1 week in Romania?
This really depends on the season that you visit – but this 7 day Romania itinerary is based in the warmer months and other than clothes here’s a small checklist you should think about bringing!
- Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – We won’t go on a trip without our packing cubes!
- Stainless Steel Water Bottle – The best way to drink Romania’s free drinkable tap water!
- Anker Power Bank – A portable charger is always useful for those train journeys in Romania!
- Rain Mac in a Bag – A lightweight raincoat to help with any rain on your 1 week Romania itinerary.
- Worldwide Travel Adaptor – If you’re travelling to multiple countries, this is perfect!
- Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – GorillaPods are our favourite tripod to carry as they’re lightweight and can fit in a carry-on bag. They capture amazing photos when there’s no one around to take a photo of you. We love our Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A600. There’s also a version for a phone – Joby Phone Tripod.
Helpful Romanian Phrases
During our 1 week Romania itinerary, we noticed a few French and Italian phrases being used by locals; so we joined in and learned it’s a part of the Romanian language! Here are some useful phrases you can use on your Romania 1 week itinerary:
- Hello – Salut (informal)
- Thanks – Mersi (informal)
- Bye – Ciao (informal)
- Please – Te rog (informal)
- Excuse me – Scuze
- Sorry – Îmi pare rău
Helpful Links: Book your accommodation here / FlixBus here / Romania Trains here / Romania Buses here!
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
Don’t forget Travel Insurance! SafetyWing is a totally flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay safe on your trip anywhere in the world.
More Romania guides:
- 2 day Brasov Itinerary: Best things to do in Brasov
- Sighisoara Itinerary: The Best Things To Do
- Best things to do in Sinaia, Romania
- All our Romania posts!
For now check out more of Eastern Europe – 2 Day Plovdiv Itinerary and explore Bulgaria!
That’s the end of our Ultimate 1 Week Romania Itinerary: 2024 (Using Public Transport)! Enjoy your trip to the beautiful country of Romania and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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