…that are not Dracula’s castle!
In this list of places to visit in Transylvania, we will focus on small villages, starting from central Romania/southeastern Transylvania, heading west, then north, and end up in the east. If you’re wondering about how to get around Transylvania, renting a car or riding your bicycle is the preferred and fastest way to go. However, you’ll be able to get to every destination below by using public transportation and counting on the kindness of the locals – you won’t be disappointed.
If you’re looking for places to stay in Transylvania, you won’t be disappointed. Rural Transylvania is home to many old refurbished buildings, in the style of the region. Stay in one! You’ll surely be spoiled with a hearty breakfast. Use local apps to book or show up. The rates have increased in the past two years. RON 180-200/night, breakfast included, is a fair deal.
While many of the activities are in the wild and free, you’ll need some food to keep you going. Depending on the area, you’ll be expected to pay around RON 25 for breakfast; one-course lunch/dinner (plus dessert) will be RON 40-45.
Speaking of food… you’ve got to try some of the local cuisine as you travel around Transyvania. The plum dumplings, gomboti cu prune, are a famous traditional dessert, and were not only the dessert but the main course every August of my childhood and teenage years. My two grandmothers would bake them for me using the sweetest of plums. I still remember their taste and I try to recreate it every year, during the last summer month.
