2 Weeks in Romania Itinerary: The Ultimate Budget Guide
Welcome to one of the most underrated backpacking destinations in Europe: gorgeous Romania! A country that has a lot, and one that doesn’t break the bank!
From the hustle and bustle of Bucharest to the charming Transylvanian towns all the way up in the clouds with some beautiful hikes.
Soon enough, Romania will be on everyone’s bucket list. Use this ultimate 2 week Romania itinerary idea to check out this stunning country.
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Romania Solo Travel
After visiting over half of Europe’s countries – I really do believe that Eastern Europe is the best place for solo travel. I found that in places in Western Europe had a lot of groups travelling as well as weekend holidayers. That can be hard as a solo traveller! Because a lot of the time, they keep to themselves and leaves you really searching for people to hang out with.
During my 4 months in the Eastern Europe & the Balkans, I met so many people and it was made easy, because everyone was backpacking and often solo too!
2 Weeks in Romania Itinerary
This 2 weeks in Romania itinerary will take you across the country, but mainly through the famous Transylvanian region. I fell in love with the place and realised it wasn’t just a stop on the way to my volunteering experience in Belgrade, Serbia.
It’s a place that tends to be off the Balkan’s backpacker trail meaning you will probably come across less travellers here than in places on the Western coast. Let me tell you, the people that just do the coast are missing out!
Whilst I adored the Balkan coastal countries, there was something about Romania that these countries didn’t have. Something I can’t explain, but I loved it.
With this Romania itinerary, you’ll be able to start & end from either Bucharest or Cluj Napoca. When backpacking in Europe, having a country that you are able to work into your plans easily is important, and Romania is exactly that!
Without further ado, here’s how you can spend 2 weeks in the country with this Romania itinerary.
Romania Itinerary At A Glance:
Days 1-2: Bucharest
Days 3-6: Brașov
Days 7-9: Sibiu
Days 10-11: Sighișoara
Days 12-14: Cluj Napoca
Days 1-2: Bucharest
We’ll start this Romania itinerary with the capital, Bucharest! It has a bit of a reputation for being a fairly ordinary city, and most likely will be in comparison to the rest of your 2 weeks in Romania. But that’s not to say there aren’t things to do.
For that reason, I’d only spend an afternoon and one full day here so you can prioritise the beautiful Transylvania region.
Credit: Felipe Simo (Unsplash)
Things To Do In Bucharest
Spend your first afternoon wandering around the streets of Lipscani (Old Town) and taking in the vibrant nightlife. For your next day you’ll be able to visit one of the craziest things in Romania – the Palace of Parliament. The building is the largest and heaviest parliament building in the world with a fairly sad history behind it. For Romanians, it is a bleak reminder of the country’s communist past. I highly recommend reading up on it before visiting.
For the rest of the day, you’ll be able to check out the Arcul de Triumf, one of Bucharest’s many museums and browse for some books in one of the most beautiful book stores in the world.
For a complete list of things to check out in Bucharest, here’s a great guide on things to do in Bucharest.
Credit: Haseeb Jamil (Unsplash)
How To Get To Bucharest
The reason we start this Romania itinerary in Bucharest is because it is the most accessible part of the country from anywhere in Europe. There are cheap flights from most European capitals. But if you’re arriving via land, it’s also easy to come from Bulgaria! I got a bus from Veliko Tarnovo but it’s also possible from Sofia and Plovdiv.
Where To Stay In Bucharest
When searching for hostels in Bucharest, I found that there was something wrong with each one that I looked at. Dirty, bad location, too expensive, unsocial etc.
During my time in Bucharest, I stayed in Bedsy. It was probably the best one out of the lot. It was a comfy hostel within the Old Town with two amazing owners from Mexico and social. The only thing was that it could get quite loud at night because of the parties on the street! So bring some earplugs.
Days 3-6: Brașov
After beginning in the capital, we’re heading to Transylvania! The city of Brasov is the next stop on this Romania itinerary and is my favourite place of Romania.
After speaking to people in Bucharest, I was surprised when they told me they struggled deciding if they should visit Brasov or Bucharest!
For me, after visiting Bucharest, it was like entering another world. The flat and neglected streets in Bucharest were replaced by colourful buildings, cobblestone streets and huge mountains. It was really a breath of fresh air!
You’ll spend the most amount of time here than any other stop on this Romania itinerary because it is simply so good, and there are plenty of things to do.
Things To Do In Brasov
When I first arrive in a new city, I love to walk around without a plan and just take in the surroundings and the way of life. You can do this for hours on end here in Brasov.
Outside of that, there’s lots to do with a few day trips on offer.
Some things you can check out is the Council Square, admiring the city from the Black & White Towers, spending a day trip exploring the Peles Castle, Bran Castle or Rasnov Fortress (I checked out Peles Castle and it’s a must do in this Romania itinerary).
If you’ve got hiking shoes, head out to Sinaia. Just an hour away from Brasov, it’s home to the country’s best hikes. Just watch out for bears and shepherd dogs!
How to Get From Bucharest to Brasov
Brasov is fairly close to Bucharest, making it a logical stop on this Romania itinerary. The best way to get around Romania is by train. They are quick, convenient and very affordable. You can book your tickets online through CFR Calatori.
Where To Stay In Brasov
SECRET Boutique Hostel Brasov is without a doubt one of the nicest hostels I have ever stayed in. It is spotless. Not only that, each dorm bed is a double and has blackout curtains to make sure you get the best sleep. My first night I slept 11 hours without realising because it was so dark!
Days 7-9: Sibiu
Sibiu to this day holds a place in my heart. I visited here in July of 2023 over my birthday and it made my birthday one of the best i’ve ever had, despite being by myself.
It is a must on this Romania itinerary because it is small, yet so charming. It’s essentially a slightly smaller version of Brasov, but without the hoards of other tourists! I found myself being the only one around most days.
Credit: Atlas Obscura (Unsplash)
Things To Do In Sibiu
Make sure you walk along Nicolae Bălcescu Street for food and drinks, check out the Lower Town and look out for the houses that stare at you! If you can fit in a day trip, Corvin Castle is a great one.
Here’s a full list on the best things to do in Sibiu.
Credit: Traian Titlincu (Unsplash)
How To Get From Brasov To Sibiu
It’s no different than getting from Bucharest to Brasov. By train! Check out CFR Calatori to book your ticket.
Where To Stay In Sibiu
As I stayed over my birthday, I splashed out on an AirBNB for a few nights (how fancy!). Unfortunately, like many places in Romania other than Brasov, Sibiu doesn’t have many options for hostels.
PanGeea Hostel Sibiu seems to be the only one on HostelWorld.
Days 10-11: Sighișoara
The next stop on this Romania itinerary is Sighisoara, otherwise known as the birthplace of Dracula! Yes, he was a real guy!
It’s a really small city, so an afternoon and one full day is enough to see the quite a lot!
Credit: Freestocks (Unsplash)
Things To Do In Sighișoara
Make sure when visiting Sighisoara that you walk through the winding cobblestone streets of the Upper & Lower Town, you’ll in love! Check out the Clock Tower too.
Here’s an in-depth list on things to do in Sighisoara.
Credit: Bianca Fazacas (Unsplash)
How To Get From Sibiu To Sighișoara
You know how it works by now, for any stop on this Romania itinerary, train is the go! Use CFR Calatori to book your ticket.
Where To Stay In Sighișoara
Burg Hostel Sighisoara appeared to be the only hostel in Sighisoara when I visited.
Days 12-14: Cluj Napoca
Sadly, all good things have to come to an end. We’re ending this Romania itinerary with a bang by visiting the second biggest city in Romania!
Despite it being the second biggest, it really doesn’t feel like it! It may not have the mountains of Brasov or the eyes of Sibiu, but it still has all that charm.
Credit: Czapp Arpad (Pexels)
Things To Do In Cluj Napoca
Spend your time in Cluj Napoca by wandering around the old town, checking out the museums, the central park and please, please, please take a day trip to Turda Salt Mine. It is one of the most surreal things i’ve ever seen and a real highlight of this Romania itinerary.
Credit: Vincent Erhart (Unsplash)
How To Get From Sighișoara to Cluj Napoca
CFR Calatori is the place to go when you’re booking trains in Romania! It is affordable and very convenient. My trip between the two places was really nice because as the sun went down, I saw swarms of tiny bunny rabbits hopping across the fields. One of the sweetest memories I have of Romania.
Where To Stay In Cluj Napoca
There’s a shortage of hostel options in Cluj Napoca, but I stayed in Retro Youth Hostel. It in a great location of the city easily accessible, social enough when I stayed, clean and had a kitchen (I found hostels with kitchens difficult to find in Romania).
Where To Go After Romania
After using this Romania itinerary, you’ll be able to kick on to other countries if you have the time! I went straight to Belgrade, Serbia through another Romanian city, Timisoara because I was volunteering in a hostel.
But, due to my lack of research earlier – there’s no trains or buses that connect the two countries! There’s only a van transfer that’s fairly affordable from Timisoara that was only 25 EUR.
Because of this difficulty, I’d recommend heading north-west into Hungary or Ukraine (after the war).
Best Time To Go To Romania
The best time to go to Romania is the shoulder season. Any time from April-June and then September-October is perfect! The weather is pleasant and it’s not so busy.
In the summer, it can actually get really hot! That’s something that surprised me when I visited in July.
Getting Around Romania On A Budget
Romania is well-connected with so many regular train lines servicing the entire country. They are quick, comfortable and the cheapest way of travelling Romania.
I didn’t have to take a single bus during my time in Romania, which after travelling through the Eastern Balkan countries, was a welcome change!
You can book all of your tickets online through CFR Calatori for the entire Romania itinerary.
Safety In Romania
Whilst I was putting together a Romania itinerary for myself, I kept asking myself “is Romania safe?”. I’d heard lots of stories and stereotypes about the country and it got me thinking.
But gladly, I found that backpacking around Romania was really safe. I’ve said this before, but I truly believe that most of Eastern Europe is much safer than Western Europe! Romania is no exception.
The only thing you would have to watch out for is pickpockets in Bucharest, they’re around, but nowhere near on the scale of “safe” tourist destinations like Rome, Paris or Barcelona.
Romania Travel Insurance
If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel – end of. I’m a big advocate for using travel insurance when solo travelling as it will save my arse if anything goes wrong. I use Worldnomads, easily the best company out there for long-term travellers. Get insured with these guys when using this Romania itinerary.
2 Weeks In Romania Itinerary: Final Thoughts
I had no idea of what to expect before backpacking Romania. I wanted to see it for myself and be amazed (or shocked) at what I saw. Thankfully, it was all amazing and made me question why it’s not visited as much as it’s neighbouring countries!
I fell in love with Transylvania specifically and it will forever be a place that I dream of returning to. Hopefully, with this Romania itinerary, you can fall in love with it too!
Book Your Trip With My Favourite Resources:
Cheap Flights: I always use Skyscanner to browse for cheap flights. It offers so many options to help you find a good deal! It even allows you to search for “anywhere” if you haven’t decided where to go yet!
Accommodation: I start my hostel search with Hostelworld. Most hostels are now on this platform making it the place to find the best hostel for you.
Travel Insurance: If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. It is so important to have when travelling as it will save you from illness, injury, theft and cancellations! I always use Worldnomads when travelling on a budget as they have the best deals for me.