Start your journey in Sibiu, a charming medieval city in the heart of Transylvania • Hike along sections of the Via Transilvanica, Romania’s long-distance through hike • Check out the World Heritage “fortified church” in Biertan—the churches in this region were built into castle-like fortresses by the minority community of Saxons who once lived here • Toast to the beginning of your Romanian adventure in the shadow of Bethlen Castle • Traverse wild meadows, woods and cultivated fields from village to village • Wander colorful lanes beneath the spindly castle towers of Sighișoara, once home to Prince Vlad III, the real-life Dracula • Make yourself at home in a lovingly converted village-turned-resort where it’s easy to imagine that blacksmiths, carpenters and perhaps witches once plied their trades. 

Join locals at a picnic area for a casual grilled lunch surrounded by nature—an essential experience of Romanian summer • Climb to the summit of Tâmpa, the town mountain of Brasov, for views of the city’s compact center of tile roofs • Take a ride on the soaring Tâmpa cable car • Join up with a Brasov local who tells us stories as we explore the squares, alleyways and avenues of one of Romania’s most beautiful preserved cities • Take the night off to check out Brasov’s bohemian nightlife and colorful culinary scene.

Hit the trails of Piatra Craiului National Park, where rocky peaks tower above the treeline • Summit Piatra Mică for 360-degree views of the jagged ridges of the Piatra Craiului range • Wander between the sheer rock cliffs of the narrow Zărnești Gorge • Explore the wonders of Bucegi National Park as you trek to the alpine meadow of Poiana Guțanu • Lay eyes on Vlad the Impaler’s castle • End your trip in Bucharest, an up-and-coming capital city that begs you to extend your stay.