Tour overview

This 8-day trip travels north through Transylvania in time for Halloween, mixing Dracula legends with medieval towns. A local leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than sixteen, mostly by train and local transport. You stay seven nights in hotels, with breakfast daily and a home-cooked lunch.

After a guided tour of Bucharest you take the train to Brasov and visit Bran Castle, built by the Saxons in 1382 and forever linked with Dracula. A private transfer takes you to the Saxon village of Viscri for a fortified church and lunch with a local family.

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In Sighisoara, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, you join a Transylvanian Halloween party, then take the train to Cluj-Napoca. From there you explore the vast Turda Salt Mines and trek through Hoia Forest, said to be one of the most haunted places in the world.

The physical rating is low. This trip suits travellers who want a fun, atmospheric short break in Romania.

Trip highlights

  • A guided tour of Bucharest (Day 2)
  • Bran Castle (Day 3)
  • Lunch in Viscri (Day 4)
  • A Halloween party in Sighisoara (Day 5)
  • The Turda Salt Mines (Day 6)
  • The Hoia Forest trek (Day 7)

Your route

9 stops from Bucharest to Cluj-Napoca

8-day route: Bucharest – Brasov – Bran – Viscri – Sighisoara – Cluj-Napoca
  1. Bucharest Day 1
  2. Brasov Days 2–3
  3. Bran Castle Day 3
  4. Viscri Day 4
  5. Sighisoara Day 4
  6. Cluj-Napoca Days 5–7
  7. Turda Salt Mines Day 6
  8. Hoia Forest Day 7
  9. Cluj-Napoca Day 8

Why choose this tour

Transylvania at its spookiest. Great value, mostly by train.

Best suited to

  • Travellers seeking something different
  • Travellers on a budget
  • Solo travellers
  • History lovers
Bare trees in an autumn forest mist

Day-by-day itinerary

8 days from Bucharest, Romania to Cluj-Napoca, Romania

  1. Day 1 · Bucharest Bucharest

    Welcome to Romania.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Bucharest, Brasov Brasov

    A city tour and a train.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Bran Castle, Brasov Bran

    Dracula's castle.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · Viscri, Sighisoara Sighisoara

    A Saxon village.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  5. Day 5 · Sighisoara, Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca

    Halloween in Transylvania.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Turda Salt Mines Cluj-Napoca

    An underground world.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Hoia Forest Hoia Forest

    A haunted forest.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Cluj-Napoca Cluj-Napoca

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

Where you stay

  • Bucharest (1 night) Hotel
  • Brasov (2 nights) Hotel
  • Sighisoara (1 night) Hotel
  • Cluj-Napoca (3 nights) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 7 nights in hotels
  • Meals 7 breakfasts and 1 lunch
  • Trains, local transport and private transfers
  • Bran Castle and the Turda Salt Mines
  • Transylvanian Halloween party
  • Guided Hoia Forest trek
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 5 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
A colourful cobbled street in Sighișoara

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want luxury hotels
  • You want most meals included
  • You dislike public transport
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–8 · Lunch: Day 4 · Dinner: none included
The fortified church at Prejmer, Romania

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,296 per person, twin share, tour only. 14 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Romania?

No, UK citizens can visit Romania visa-free for short stays, though the EU Entry/Exit System applies at the border.

When does this trip run?

In late October, timed for Halloween.

How do you travel?

Mostly by train and local transport, with private transfers for Viscri and Hoia Forest.

Is the Halloween party included?

Yes, a Transylvanian Halloween party is included.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement is available on request.

How many people travel together?

No more than sixteen travellers, with a local leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £1,296
See dates & prices