Village Life, Vampires and Variety
Romania has been called “the new Italy” because of its warm and relaxed people, its hospitable attitude, its varied and savory cuisine and wine, its Roman ruins and cultured cities, like the capital Bucharest. Add to that its spooky (and sometimes kitschy) Transylvanian Dracula sites and its rural scenery, and you come up with a country that deserves a hefty slice of your travel time.
Why Travel with MIR to Romania
- Over two decades of Romania travel experience
- Travel programs such as Stanford University alumni and the California Agriculture Leadership Program have chosen MIR to guide them to Romania
- Twice named one of National Geographic Adventure’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth”
- MIR’s Romania travel expertise recommended by Forbes.com
- On-the-ground support and quality you can trust
- Personalized travel planning from start to finish
- Guides and tour managers that clients rave about
Signature Experiences
We regularly garner applause from our travelers for the inspired opportunities we provide to help them get to know the local people, distinctive art, architecture and accomplishments of Romania. Below is just a sampling of the Romania experiences MIR has designed to take our clients far from the familiar.
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Explore seven-terraced Peles CastleRead More
Tour extravagant Peles Castle, one of Romania’s most important museums and the final resting place of several Romanian monarchs....Explore seven-terraced Peles Castle
Sinaia, Romania
Tour extravagant Peles Castle, one of Romania’s most important museums and the final resting place of several Romanian monarchs.
Journeys with this Signature Experience
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Toast a brandy-making familyRead More
Enjoy a private brandy tasting at the home of a Romanian family who has been involved with brandy making for more than three centuries....Toast a brandy-making family
Sighisoara, Romania
Enjoy a private brandy tasting at the home of a Romanian family who has been involved with brandy making for more than three centuries.
Journeys with this Signature Experience
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Admire the vivid frescoes of the painted monasteriesRead More
Appreciate the striking beauty of the painted monasteries of Bucovina, whose 13th to 15th century stone exteriors are frescoed with dramatic biblical scenes....Admire the vivid frescoes of the painted monasteries
Bucovina, Romania
Appreciate the striking beauty of the painted monasteries of Bucovina, whose 13th to 15th century stone exteriors are frescoed with dramatic biblical scenes.
Journeys with this Signature Experience
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Visit Dracula’s hauntsRead More
Discover the Romanian origins of the Dracula story in the medieval towns of Sighisoara and Bran, whose castle embodies the Gothic image of a Transylvanian vampire castle....Visit Dracula’s haunts
Transylvania, Romania
Discover the Romanian origins of the Dracula story in the medieval towns of Sighisoara and Bran, whose castle embodies the Gothic image of a Transylvanian vampire castle.
Journeys with this Signature Experience
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Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses
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Jewels of Persia by Private Train: Eastbound
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Jewels of Persia by Private Train: Westbound
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Ways to Travel to Romania with MIR
Over the years we’ve traveled up and down Romania, taking in its seven different UNESCO World Heritage Sites and visiting the homes of shepherds, artists and entrepreneurs. We design every one of our trips here to enable you to discover the vast variety of experiences that sets Romania apart from its neighbors.
Take a look at your options, from small group escorted tours to independent trips, from luxury rail journeys to custom and private travel:
Small Group Tours
Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses
Through the Valley of the Roses to the Painted Monasteries
Travels to: Bulgaria, Central and East Europe, Romania
16 Days / Departures in June, August 2020
Small Group land tour from $7,095, plus $155 internal air
See Trip
Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses
Through the Valley of the Roses to the Painted Monasteries
Travels to: Bulgaria, Central and East Europe, Romania
16 Days / Departures in June, August 2021
Small Group land tour from $7,295, plus $200 internal air
See TripRail Journeys by Private Train
Budapest to Venice by Private Train
A Balkan Rail Odyssey Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express
Travels to: Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Central and East Europe, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
10 Days / Departures in June 2020
Rail Journey by Private train land tour from $13,695
See Trip
Castles of Transylvania by Private Train
Istanbul to Budapest Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express
Travels to: Bulgaria, Central and East Europe, Hungary, Romania, Turkey
7 Days / Departures in July 2020
Rail Journey by Private train land tour from $9,495
See Trip
Castles of Transylvania by Private Train
Istanbul to Budapest Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express
Travels to: Bulgaria, Central and East Europe, Hungary, Romania, Turkey
7 Days / Departures in July 2021
Rail Journey by Private train land tour from $9,995
See TripCustom and private travel is our specialty. We’ve been designing unforgettable custom itineraries through the forested mountains, “vampire” castles and traditional villages of Romania for over two decades; a majority of our guests travel on custom itineraries.
For ideas, peruse one of our Regional Travel Planners, a roundup of the must-sees from our savvy staff.
Take a look at our suggested Private Journeys for this region or read more about how to design your own trip. Also, consider this: You can customize our Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses small group tour to match your preferred dates of travel.
Design Your Own Custom Trip
Traveling privately on a custom program means flexibility:
- You set the dates, the focus and the level of accommodations.
- You are met on arrival and seen off at the end of your trip.
- Your in-country transportation is pre-arranged hassle-free.
- Your own expert local guides ensure that you get the most out of your visit.
- And the best part? You travel at your own pace on an itinerary exclusive to you.
Check out just a handful of our Romania signature experiences below and then get in touch with a MIR Private Journey Specialist to craft an itinerary that suits your travel goals, budget and style. Or get started planning now.
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Learn how to paint eggs, Romanian styleRead More
Visit a village artist to learn about the history and technique of Romania’s traditional style of egg decoration from an expert....Learn how to paint eggs, Romanian style
Vama Village, Romania
Visit a village artist to learn about the history and technique of Romania’s traditional style of egg decoration from an expert.
Next Steps
- Start to design your own custom trip
- Read more information about this region
- Find out how Custom & Private Travel works
- Contact a Private Journeys Specialist with any questions
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Investigate the UNESCO-listed medieval Saxon town of BiertanRead More
In UNESCO-listed Biertan, examine the church’s vestry doors, displayed at the World Exposition in Paris in 1900 because of their ingenious medieval locking system....Investigate the UNESCO-listed medieval Saxon town of Biertan
Biertan, Romania
In UNESCO-listed Biertan, examine the church’s vestry doors, displayed at the World Exposition in Paris in 1900 because of their ingenious medieval locking system.
Next Steps
- Start to design your own custom trip
- Read more information about this region
- Find out how Custom & Private Travel works
- Contact a Private Journeys Specialist with any questions
Suggested Itineraries for Private Travel
Whether you’re looking for a compact trip with all the highlights or something a little roomier with some of the extras, MIR’s Private Journeys department can suggest places to see and things to do based on our local knowledge, and design a one-of-a-kind itinerary for you, your family or your group of friends.
Find out more about our custom & private travel expertise or connect with a Private Journey Specialist to get started.
Essential Romania
Myths, Mountains & Monasteries of Romania
Travels to: Central and East Europe, Romania
Departures in January, March, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December 2020
This itinerary available as a private journey
See Trip
Weather
Romania is a year-round tourist destination. From the end of April to the beginning of July and from the end of August to the end of October are the most popular sightseeing periods. April and October see daytime temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s, while nighttime temperatures usually drop to the low 40s. With generally mild and pleasant daytime temperatures, May-June, and September range from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the 50s at night. Summers (July-August) can heat up to the 80s, especially in Southern Romania, including Bucharest; but along the Black Sea Coast, sea breezes often moderate temperatures. The mountain resorts and higher elevations are warm and pleasant during summer. Winter in Romania is a special time. While winters can be very cold (20s and 30s), especially in the mountains, and snow is common throughout the country from December to mid March, it’s also especially beautiful and the “Transylvanian Alps” are alive with skiers.
Please remember, weather at all times of year has an element of the unpredictable. This information comes from weatherbase.com and is based on data from previous temperatures on record. It is always advisable to check with weatherbase.com closer to your departure date for current conditions and forecasts for the specific region of Romania you will be visiting.
Our Favorite Places in Romania
Bucharest
Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Epoque buildings and reputation for the high life, Romania's capital was once known as the "Little Paris." Bucharest came into its own with Romanian independence in the late 19th century, when French and French-trained architects were called in to transform what had been a large village into an imperial capital. There is even an Arc de Triomphe on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff, a boulevard longer than Paris' famed Champs-Elysees.
Today Bucharest is experiencing renewed energy after its communist years. The city's older architecture remains one of its main attractions, reflecting the succeeding styles of its various rulers. The heart of the city is Piata Revolutiei, the site of the old Royal Palace.
View trips that travel hereMaramures
This beautiful region is located in northwest Romania, bordering Ukraine along the Tisa River. It is the most isolated and undeveloped land in Romania and is also the only region never occupied by the Romans. Its inhabitants are farmers living in small villages throughout the valley, still following the same traditions as their ancestors. The region is famous for its wooden churches and elaborately carved cemetery gates, its colorful costumes of red, white and black, and hand-dyed and woven rugs.
View trips that travel hereJourneys that travel to Maramures
Contact a MIR Private Journeys Specialist at privatejourneys@mircorp.com or 800-424-7289 to plan a custom & private trip to Maramures.
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Transylvania
With its green rolling hills, historic fortified churches, a thriving Roma (gypsy) culture and its medieval towns still intact, Transylvania is considered the heart and soul of Romania. Sibiu, an early Saxon walled town, has a charming array of old houses and cobbled squares connected by dozens of tunnels, stairways and hidden passages. In the western section of Romania is Tirgu Mures, home to an ethnic Hungarian people called Szekely (pronounced say kay) who first came to the area around the 5th century. Repressed during communist times, the Szekely have traditionally scorned the Romanian language, and speak a dialect of Hungarian. Tirgu Mures is also home to a significant Roma population, and there are villages just outside Tirgu Mures that are entirely Roma.
View trips that travel here
Sighisoara
A charming medieval town in the heart of Transylvania, Sighisoara was built by German Saxons in the 13th century, and is considered the most beautiful and complete medieval architectural ensemble in Romania. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sighisoara’s Old Town is a hill citadel that has preserved much of its 15th century wall, enclosing almost 200 stone houses and public buildings. The town’s 14th century clock tower formerly controlled the main gate of the 2,500-foot defensive wall. Seven different slow-moving figurines carved from linden wood replace each other every midnight all week, and at the top of the spire is a meteorological clock that forecasts the weather.
View trips that travel hereJourneys that travel to Sighisoara
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Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses
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Jewels of Persia by Private Train: Eastbound
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Jewels of Persia by Private Train: Westbound
Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
Explore the heritage of Bucovina, a remote province of northeastern Romania. This was once the heartland of the Ashkenazi Jews and today is famous for the beauty of its deep Carpathian forest and its lovely Orthodox monasteries. The painted monasteries of Bucovina – Moldovita, Sucevita, Voronet and Humor – are small structures originally constructed within thick fortress walls. Their 13th to 15th century stone exteriors are frescoed with biblical scenes that served as “painted Bibles” for illiterate peasants seeking sanctuary from the frequent battles that swept the area.
View trips that travel here
Dracula Country
Brasov is an old Transylvanian town set at the foot of a mountain and filled with medieval architecture, cobbled streets, small houses and the legendary Black Church. Saxons from Brasov built the turreted Bran Castle in a mountain pass between the Bucegi and the Piatra Crailui Mountains in the 14th century. Its original purpose was to protect Brasov from the Ottoman Turks, but it also became a strategic trade center.
Its connection with Prince Vlad Tepes, aka Vlad the Impaler, is tentative, but its placement on a cliff looming 60 meters above the town, its Gothic stone walls, towers and secret passageways came to embody the popular image of a Transylvanian vampire castle. And so it has become “Dracula’s Castle” and a popular destination.
View trips that travel hereJourneys that travel to Dracula Country
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Bulgaria & Romania: Frescoes & Fortresses
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Jewels of Persia by Private Train: Eastbound
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Jewels of Persia by Private Train: Westbound
Sinaia
The town of Sinaia in the Prahova Valley is Romania’s most popular ski resort and a gateway to the beautiful Bugeci Mountains. Winter sports, including a 5,000-foot bobsledding run, and excellent summer hiking and climbing make Sinaia a year-round destination. In 1870, King Carol I built his summer residence, Peles Castle, here, guaranteeing the town fame and fortune.
View trips that travel hereDanube Delta
UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Program recognized the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve in 1992. The delta is Europe’s largest wetlands, making it Europe’s largest natural water purification system. The 2,200-square-mile region contains a series of lakes and channels around a network of islands forming an internationally significant site for migratory and nesting birds.
Over 300 species of birds have been recorded here, including some globally threatened species, like the Pygmy Cormorant. Sustainably harvested water reeds from this area are shipped to England for thatching cottage roofs. A luxury five star eco-resort recently opened on the banks of the Delta’s Lake Somova, offering cozy private villas and fine cuisine along with boating and birding.
View trips that travel hereJourneys that travel to Danube Delta
Contact a MIR Private Journeys Specialist at privatejourneys@mircorp.com or 800-424-7289 to plan a custom & private trip to the Danube Delta.
XWhen to Travel to Romania
The Traditional Crafts Fair, Bucharest (June)
Every spring, artisans from all over the country gather at the Village Museum in Bucharest to demonstrate their crafts, including embroidery, rug and textile weaving, glass blowing, ceramics shaping and decorating, and traditional woodcarving.
Maidens’ Fair (Targul de Fete), Gaina Mountain, Transylvania (July)
The Maidens’ Fair began long ago as an opportunity for families to arrange matches between their young men and women. Hundreds of people in traditional dress gathered on the 5,000-foot plateau of Gaina Mountain to show off their daughters’ dowries and their dancing skills. The festival would be announced with a fanfare from the mountain alpenhorn, or tulnicărese. Today, people from all Romania’s regions come to enjoy music, traditional dancing and celebrations.
Dance at Prislop (Hora de Prislop), Prislop Pass (August)
High on 4,600-foot Prislop Pass between Maramures and Bucovina, dance groups in traditional Romanian costumes, and enthusiastic onlookers gather in a natural amphitheater to celebrate the songs and dances of Romania. Participants parade up the pass to the festival area, where the crowds enjoy feasting, celebrating, music and dance under the sky.
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