Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
A Family Holiday to Romania Creepy Castles, Vampire Stories and Brown Bears
Romania –Transylvania – Brasov – Simon – Sibiu
First up is Brasov, where you’ll join a guide to explore its Gothic-esque streets and Black Church. Then, sink your teeth (pun intended) into even more Transylvanian tales at Bran Castle, where the youngsters can reel off everything they know about garlic, fangs and, most importantly, where Count Dracula could be lurking...
Next up is the village of Simon, where you’ll venture into the forest in search of wild brown bears. Then, clock up some mountain miles on a family hike through Piatra Craiului National Park before a guided stargazing session. Any mini astronomers in the family? You may well have one by bedtime.
Embrace rural life in the Saxon village of Viscri with a home-cooked lunch with a local family. Then, take your countryside credentials up a notch with a guided horse ride, much to the delight of any youngsters currently campaigning for a pony.
For the grand finale? Sibiu, where a stint of museum-hopping brings your week of Transylvanian discoveries full circle. Just remember to grab a copy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula – it's a quintessential Romanian read...
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Spooky stories swotted up on, bags packed and excitement levels officially sky-high: today, you and the family are off to Romania.
Head to the airport, whizz through security and bundle the little ones onto the plane for your flight to Brasov. You’ll spend three and a half hours in the air, so whip out our tailored family fun packs and deploy the snacks – hopefully that’ll keep the inevitable ‘are we there yet?’ chorus at bay...
When you touch down in Brasov, you’ll be met and privately transferred to your centrally located hotel, your base for the night.
Drop your bags, admire the forested peaks on the horizon, then roam the Medieval streets lined with grinning gargoyle-embellished facades.
Then, bypass any dinner deliberations with a restaurant recommendation from our clued-up Concierge. Just don’t be surprised if conversation turns to the vampires rumoured to lurk around these parts...
Had a whole host of questions fired your way about vampires and their supernatural counterparts? Today’s tour might just provide some answers.
Join your guide and explore Brasov, stepping inside the 800-year-old Black Church, a Gothic landmark with an ominous past. Legend blames its blackened walls on a lightning strike unleashed by unknown forces: suspicious, suspicious...
With imaginations swirling, continue to Bran Castle. Roam shadowy chambers and climb winding staircases to take in views across the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains, while your guide unravels its links to Bram Stoker’s Dracula and reputation as a vampiric lair.
Next, you’ll be privately transferred ten minutes to Simon, your peaceful hideaway for the next four nights.
Then, hush those voices and venture into the forest with your guide in search of wild brown bears. Clamber into a bear hide and keep your eyes peeled (and fingers crossed) for one lumbering through the woodland. You may even spot bear cubs padding dutifully after their mother or trying their paws at tree-climbing – hearts are sure to melt...
Rise and shine – today's all about muddy boots and rosy cheeks as you and the family explore Piatra Craiului National Park with a guide.
Follow the trail past sleepy villages and alpine forests, keeping your cameras poised for native birdlife. While the region’s wolves and lynx might prove camera-shy, your guide will point out their paw prints and tufts of fur snagged on branches. With brown bears calling the park home too, yesterday’s sightings are bound to earn another excited retelling...
After hiking up to a traditional inn (phew), refuel with gulas, an aromatic stew infused with paprika.
Come nightfall, cast all eyes to the skies for a stargazing experience in the Carpathian Mountains, where minimal light pollution makes for stellar views of the cosmos. Guided by an expert astronomer, take turns peering through powerful telescopes at sparkling constellations and distant planets. Spot a shooting star and need something to wish for? Another family adventure has a rather nice ring to it...
Wolf down breakfast this morning, then join your driver-guide for the two-hour journey north to Viscri. As you wind through the Romanian countryside, challenge the youngsters to a game of I-Spy – bonus points if that bear-sighting streak continues.
When you arrive in this Saxon village, amble around its time-warp streets and church before calling in at artisan workshops. Admire handwoven textiles embroidered with floral designs (tempting souvenir alert), then follow the clang and clatter to the forge to meet the village blacksmith at work.
Next, bundle everyone into your countryside chariot – an old-fashioned horse-drawn cart – and clip-clop to a local sheep farm. After meeting the animals (and inevitably befriending them), join a local family for a home-cooked lunch. Dumplings, anyone?
Suitably stuffed, continue to the UNESCO-listed town of Sighisoara, exploring its Medieval maze of cobbled lanes and historic citadels. Cue a chorus of oohs and aahs…
Any horse lovers in the family? Today’s plans should earn you some serious cool points...
Head to a farm in Sinca Veche, where you’ll meet your trusty steeds and saddle up for a guided ride across wildflower-speckled pastures and green valleys.
After cantering back to the stables, reward your noble companions with a well-deserved crunchy apple and a reluctant goodbye cuddle. And, if you’re struggling to prise the youngsters away, a picnic lunch makes a rather compelling bribe. Pick a prime spot among the meadows and dig in – just brace yourselves for a few rounds of ‘please can we have a pony’ between bites...
Still raring to go? Hop on two wheels for a spin around Piatra Craiului National Park, cycling along woodland trails framed by limestone peaks.
After a jam-packed day, enjoy a hearty dinner, then retreat to your lodge and fire up the woodstove for a cosy night in.
Another day, another adventure. After breakfast, join your local driver for the two-and-a-half-hour journey west to Sibiu, perhaps tuning into our destination-specific playlist for a roaring family singalong...
When you arrive, check into your charming guesthouse in the heart of the city – your home for the night. The rest of the day is all yours, so perhaps enjoy a few hours of downtime before venturing out to explore.
Later, head to the Old Town, where rooftops are adorned with the notoriously creepy ‘Eyes of Sibiu’. According to local folklore, these eye-shaped attic windows keep watch over all passers-by below. Best behaviour, everyone...
Any art aficionados in the family? Make a beeline for the Brukenthal Museum, a treasure trove of elaborate portraits, grand sculptures and Renaissance-era pieces. All plenty of inspiration for those final holiday sketchbook pages...
Fuel up with a quintessentially Romanian breakfast this morning – we're talking clatite (crepes) drizzled with honey, bound to be a big hit with the youngsters.
Then, head to the nearby Astra Museum and explore its open-air ensemble of traditional houses, barns and windmills, learning about the ingenious ways rural communities worked the land. Museum guides sporting traditional Romanian dress will unveil stories of age-old rituals, curious superstitions and of course, some eerie folklore. Just when you thought you’d heard the last of the spooky stuff...
With one last round of family photos snapped, you’ll be privately transferred to Sibiu Airport for your three-and-a-half-hour flight back to the UK. You’ll return home with a camera roll full of creepy castles and enough mysterious tales to keep bedtime stories interesting for weeks...
Why visit Romania with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Romania
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
