Romania is an amazing destination that’s surprisingly off-the-beaten-path for Europe. The country has incredible landscapes, fantastic castles, the Carpathian mountains, a beautiful coastline along the Black Sea, and traditional towns that look like they belong in the past.

Romania is also one of my Top Budget Destinations Around The World!

Here is the ultimate 10-day Romania itinerary!

3 Nights in Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital of Romania. The city’s architecture still has a distinctly communist-era aesthetic to it, but its food and culture are an inviting blend of Western and Eastern European influences.

Spend your first two days exploring the city. I recommend starting with the Free Bucharest Walking Tour to get oriented. When you’re here, you’ll want to see the Palace of Parliament (pictured above left), which is the largest parliament building in the world. Other must-do activities are strolling through the Romanian Athenaeum, exploring the Old Town (also called Lipscani), walking through Revolution Square, and a pub crawl.

Then spend your third day doing one of these day trips:

2 Nights in Constanta

When you depart Bucharest on your fourth day, I recommend renting a car for the rest of this itinerary. A car will save you a lot of time. Trains only serve the larger cities, and buses can take up to three times longer than a car. Plus, with a car, you can stop anytime you see something amazing!

No trip to Romania would be complete without visiting the Black Sea. So I recommend staying in the coastal town of Constanta. In Greek mythology, Constanta was a port for Jason and the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece.

Constanta is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the country. It’s also the second-largest city in Romania, which means there’s a lot to see and do here.

I’d set aside one of your days here to be a beach day – lounging on the sand, swimming in the Black Sea, and walking up and down the coastline. I highly recommend taking a sailboat trip to see the city from the sea.

You’ll also want to visit the Constanta Casino (pictured above). Once frequented by royal families, the casino is now empty, but the building is no less impressive. Fun Fact: this building was duplicated in Monte Carlo, where it’s a functioning casino.

On your second day here, you should do a walking tour of the Old Town, explore the Tomis Harbor, and visit the ruins of the Capidava Fortress.

3 Nights in Brasov + a Sidetrip to the Peles Castle

On day six of your Romania itinerary, depart Constanta at your leisure and make the four-hour drive to Peles Castle (pictured above) on your way to Brasov. This Neo-Renaissance castle is situated beautifully in the Carpathian Mountains. The site is actually home to three magnificent structures: Peleș Castle, Pelișor Castle, and the Foișor Hunting Lodge. Plan to spend a couple of hours here enjoying the magnificent views and structures.

Then head north for another hour to Brasov, the best “home base” for exploring Transylvania. Settle into your accommodation, then head back out for dinner at one of the city’s lively cafes.

Then on day seven, explore Brasov. The city is known for its medieval Saxon walls and bastions, the towering Gothic-style Black Church that dominates the city-center, and the Old Town with its original cobble streets and colorful buildings.

You should also make the 30-minute drive to the Râșnov Citadel. This fortress used to protect the region from invaders, and it still sits majestically on a hill for some stellar views of the countryside.

Day Trip to Bran Castle

On the eighth day of your Romania itinerary, make the 30-minute drive to Bran Castle, Romania’s most famous landmark. This castle is linked to the Dracula legend, but there’s no evidence that Bram Stoker knew anything about this castle when he wrote his novel, or that Vlad the Impaler visited here. So, while the Dracula connections are overhyped, the castle is still a beautiful site to visit.

The castle is a museum for art and furniture collected by Queen Marie, the last Queen of Romania. You can tour the inside of the castle, and if you’re here in the summer, I recommend arriving early (the castle opens at 9:00 am) to beat the crowds.

The best views of the castle are from a small footbridge about 500 meters past the castle entrance (as you’re coming from Brasov) on the right-hand side.

Because Bran is just a short drive from Brasov, this would probably only be a half-day trip. But the drive between the castle and Brasov is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever driven, so plan on stopping several times along the way to take pictures and marvel at the Romanian countryside.

2 Nights in Timisoara + Corvins’ Castle and a Winery

Timișoara is about a five-hour drive from Brasov, but plan on this being a full travel day because you’re going to want to make a couple of stops along your route.

Your first stop is Castelul Corvinilor, also known as Corvins’ Castle. This Gothic-Renaissance castle is one of the largest castles in Europe. Perched on a rocky bluff, this fairytale-looking castle is quite a sight to see.

Corvins’ Castle is open from 10:30 am – 8:30 pm on Mondays and from 9:00 am – 8:30 pm on Tuesday – Sunday. Entry tickets cost €5, but the prices for students and senior citizens are lower.

Your second road-trip stop today is going to be Crama Thesaurus Wines. This local winery is just outside of Timișoara, and it makes some of the best wines in the country. You can tour the vineyard, then do a wine tasting. I was able to customize my tasting, which was accompanied by a cheese and meat board.

Most people don’t know that Romania is one of the world’s largest wine producers. It’s fifth in European wine-production, after Italy, France, Spain, and Germany. So Stopping at this winery provides a beautiful and delicious cultural addition to your trip.

Then you’ll arrive at Timișoara to check into your accommodation and go back out for a late dinner to see the city at night.

Timisoara

Spend your last day exploring Timișoara. This is the fourth-largest city in Romania, and it’s the cultural hub of the Western part of the country. Fun Fact: This was the first European city completely lit by electric street lamps, in 1884.

Must-do activities when you’re here are: visit Union Square, explore the Historical Center, tour the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, walk around Victory Square, stroll through Roses Park, and visit the Museum of the Communist Consumer.

You can easily see these places as a self-guided or guided walking tour.

Timișoara has a large airport and train station. So from here, you should be able to make your way home or to your next destination.

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This Romania itinerary is not a sponsored post. And, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Some of the links in this Romania itinerary are affiliate links. And, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.