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Welcome to Hooked on Cycling Holidays and our self-guided cycling holiday in Romania. Our self-guided biking vacation in Romania visits the fabulous castles and churches of Transylvania region more common to us as Count Dracula country!
Transylvania, often referred to as the land beyond the forest, is famous for being the setting of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Patrick Fermor’s Castles of Transylvania. It is considered one of Europe’s most culturally rich landscapes, yet remains relatively unexplored. The population is a diverse mix of Romanians, Magyars, Germans, and Gypsies, creating a fascinating ethnic mosaic. Cycling through the breathtaking Carpathian Mountains offers stunning vistas and takes you through medieval villages that seem frozen in time. You might encounter ox-drawn carts or horse-drawn wagons on some days. If you’re lucky, you might stumble upon a street wedding featuring a blend of German Blasmusik with Romanian lyrics and Gypsy tunes, accompanied by plenty of tuica (plum brandy), all integral parts of Transylvanian culture alongside garlic. Along the way, you can visit Saxon church castles with exquisite Renaissance and Baroque altars, as well as Romanian monasteries housing valuable icons. Not to mention the opportunity to see UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Bran and Sighisoara castles and the stunning medieval towns of Brasov and Sibiu.
Brasov
Brasov – Safron Palace – https://safranopalace.ro/
Bucium – Casamoga
Sambata De Sus – https://www.booking.com/hotel/ro/casa-iarina.en-gb.html
Veseud- https://veseud11.ro/
Sighisorara – https://www.hotelkorona.ro/
Avrig – https://palatulbrukenthalavrig.ro/
Sibiu – https://continental-forum-sibiu.continentalhotels.ro/
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Hooked on Cycling that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the chosen activity and for emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Choose between taking a train or arranging for a private taxi to travel approximately 130 km to Brasov. Once there, wander through the charming town square, encircled by elegant Renaissance and Baroque mansions. Explore the gothic Black Church, home to the renowned Buchholz organ and a unique assortment of oriental rugs brought back by Brasovian merchants from their ventures in the Ottoman Empire. Spend the night at a boutique hotel located on the Medieval main square.
Take a trip to Bran (approx. 30 minutes) and explore Dracula’s Castle, which has been used as a stunning setting for Roman Polanski’s Dance of the Vampires and as a salon and refuge for Queen Mary of Romania, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Afterward, embark on a cycling adventure through Piatra Craiului National Park, following a picturesque valley nestled between two mountains. Enjoy breathtaking views as you pedal through the Transylvanian Alps to Bucium, covering former Walachian territory (terra Vlachorum) along the way. The journey spans 48 km and concludes with an overnight stay at a guest house.
Ride your bike through the majestic Transylvanian Alps, towering over 2000m high and still blanketed in snow during the early summer. Pedal through quaint villages frozen in time, passing horse-drawn wagons laden with hay. Explore the historic Brâncoveanu Monastery, home to priceless icons. Choose from a 30 or 42 km route and spend the night at a charming boutique hotel.
Today, you’ll pedal through picturesque villages established by the German-Saxons in the 12th century. Each village is graced by a magnificent church castle, creating a captivating atmosphere. Covering a distance of 53km, you’ll spend the night at a charming boutique hotel housed in lovingly restored village houses.
Embark on a journey to Agnita and explore the remarkable church castle, then proceed to Bradeni (Henndorf) castle where you can marvel at medieval chests adorned with enigmatic paintings of fantastical creatures. Conclude your day in the medieval town of Sighisoara Schäßburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, you can visit Dracula’s birthplace, the iconic clock tower, and the church on the hill embellished with medieval wing altars and mural paintings. Covering a distance of 55km, spend the night at a centrally located hotel.
Take a 30-minute transfer to the historic bishopric of Biertan, renowned for its impressive castle, which is a designated UNESCO Cultural Heritage site. The fortified castle boasts a stunning Renaissance altar adorned with 28 intricately carved panels, as well as other intriguing features such as an ancient door secured with 13 locks and a marital prison where couples were confined to resolve their issues and prevent divorce. Afterwards, enjoy picturesque vistas of the Carpathian Mountains on your way to Avrig, where you can explore the elegant Renaissance Brukenthal Palace and its enchanting gardens. Travel 60 kilometers and spend the night in a charming boutique hotel
Pedal your way to Cisnadie and explore the remarkable church castle, followed by a visit to the Young Forest where you can experience the peasant museum. Follow a dedicated cycling route that will lead you through Alder Park, free from traffic, directly to your accommodation in Sibiu, renowned as Romania’s most picturesque town. Take a leisurely walk through the medieval town squares adorned with stunning patrician houses, Gothic architecture, and historic churches. The journey covers 45km and includes an overnight stay at a centrally located hotel.
Travel to Bucharest airport by either taking the train or arranging a private taxi transfer, which is approximately 300 kilometers away.
NOTE: If the accommodation on night 6 is full we will arrange a transfer to Sibiu where you shall stay 2 nights, in this case on day 7 you shall have a lovely loop ride around the Sibiu region.
By Plane to Bucharest airport. Optional private transfer is available on request. You can also fly out of the small local airport in Sibiu instead of Bucharest.
You can extend your trip by booking extra nights in Bucharest
2024 Prices – For a complete tour price breakdown please click the book now button and select your holiday tour date. Prices will then be listed.
Tour Code | Prices From (per person) | Book Now |
ROM1 (7 Nights) | from £901 | Book Now |
We had a fantastic holiday. We loved all the towns that we visited in particular Biertan and Sibiu. The hotels were all excellent. The electric bikes were great – we were very pleased to have chosen electric bikes as it was quite hilly. Violetta, the contact in Transylvania, was very helpful, there was a muddle with one of the chargers we were issued with and she sorted it out for us – luckily we had enough charge for 2 day! We loved the Romanian people that we met – they were extremely friendly. The countryside and churches and farming were amazing.
We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday and very briefly my comments and observations are as follows: Romania exceeded our expectations hugely. The Hotel Palace Sofrano in Brasov, Alex on the front desk was tremendous.
Punctuality of the ground operator was spot on. The food at Pensiunea Aliart was a little disappointing. Fagaras was lovely, Malancrab was a treat and the journey to Biertan Unglerus was great fun.
The food at Peniunea Biohaus was fantastic. Great hosts and owners should be commended. Sibiu was a revelation. Overall came away with a very positive attitude to Romania and we loved it.