Mythical Monsters in Romania

Our trip begins in the capital city of Bucharest. After arriving and getting acquainted with your guide, we head straight for the heart of the city. Among the many sites in Bucharest, our main focus is on Old Princely Court, which was built in 1459 at the instruction of Vlad Dracul III, the man who inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It’s a nice way to start the trip, but it won’t take all day, leaving plenty of time to take in the rest of Bucharest and try some authentic local cuisine.

Breathe in Bucharest as quickly as possible because our road trip begins this morning. Less than an hour outside of the capital is the Snagov Monastery. Located on an island in the middle of Lake Snagov, the monastery dates back to the 15th century and is believed to be the place where Vlad Dracul III is buried. From there, we travel a little further north to Brasov, another quaint city in the middle of Transylvania where you can explore on your own during the evening.

Spend the morning visiting a few landmarks within Brasov, including the Black Church and Council Square. In the afternoon, we make a short trip outside of Brasov to the famous Bran Castle. Most people around the world know this as Dracula’s Castle, although you will quickly learn that Stoker wasn’t necessarily referring to that specific castle. Nevertheless, it’s a national landmark in Romania and a can’t-miss stop on a tour of Transylvania.

After our second night in Brasov, we ride a couple of hours north to Sighisoara, a town that’s home to the only citadel in Europe that’s still inhabited. The clock tower at the top of the citadel is one of the most iconic in Europe. Of course, there are a number of other sites worth checking out in the historic center of Sighisoara, which is actually considered a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its importance in the history of Transylvania. Perhaps most importantly, in the evening, we’ll dine at Vlad Dracul Restaurant, which offers a nice bite to eat in the house where Vlad Dracul III was born.

Less than two hours southeast of Sighisoara is the city of Sibiu, where we’ll find the Brukenthal National Museum, which is actually a collection of six different museums. Together, they tell the tale of Transylvania’s history, as well as the region’s best artwork. Just outside of the museum, Sibiu plenty of other interesting spots, including the Bridge of Lies, where those suspected of lying were thrown off during the Middle Ages. As legend has it, if you tell a lie while walking across it, the bridge collapses.

After leaving Sighisoara, we veer westward for a few hours in order to catch a glimpse of Corvin Castle. While the drive there is a few hours, it’s considered one of the most beautiful castles in Romania, if not the world. It’s also the place where Vlad Dracul III was once held as a prisoner by the military leader of Hungary. There’s little doubt it’ll be worth the journey. Plus, the castle is said to be haunted, adding an interesting twist to the journey.

Our side trip today takes us to the Poenari Citadel, which also goes by the name of The Real Castle Dracula. In the 14th century, the citadel was left in ruins, but a century later, Vlad Dracul III decided that it should continue to serve as a fortress. The real treat is at the top of the citadel, which requires a climb of nearly 1,500 feet but features some of the most spectacular views in all of Transylvania if you can make it to the top.

After seeing the Real Castle Dracula, we head back to Bucharest. Before heading home, take one last walk around the Romanian capital to see if the capital of Romania looks or feels any different after a week of traveling around the Transylvanian countryside.