Upon landing in Bucharest, we wanted to hit the road pretty dang quick. The most charming part of the country (imo) lies outside the cities.
Day 1: Started with a little 2-hour jaunt to Peleș Castle. It's gothic, ornate, and everything you could ever want in a Romanian castle. It kinda looks like the Disney castle... but stuffed with vampires.
Continuing on from there, we took our next stop 1 hour later at Bran Castle. This is the famed "Dracula castle" and even though it's not nearly as cool as Peleș, you have to do it while you're in the area. They really play up the spooky vibes, so this would be especially cool for a Halloween trip.
We stayed in the UNESCO-protected Sighișoara. I recommend staying in the medieval center of the city, for surprisingly colorful streets, but be warned that cars aren't allowed inside the fortress, so you may be packing your luggage in!
Day 2: We hit the road with a 1.5-hour drive to Salina Turda. An abandoned salt mine with an amusement park (?) located in its depths. Equal parts cool and absurd, riding a ferris wheel 400 feet below the ground was nothing short of surreal.
We had dinner in Sibiu (a 1.5-hour drive), aka the city with eyes (creepy). Watch the roofs of the houses you pass, they were built with "eyes" during an occupation, so the residents would be reminded they were always being watched. Stay in one of the many weird-but-wonderful roadside inns outside of Sibiu.
Day 3: The first couple hours are spent driving the Transfăgărășan highway, dubbed the "Greatest Road in the World" by Top Gear (and by me). The road winds back and forth as it climbs the mountain, giving dramatic views at each switchback. Stop for lunch at the top (bring cash for parking and lunch at one of the many food stalls).
(Heads up: if you want to drive the epic Transfăgărășan highway, pick dates before the end of October, when it closes for the season!)
From here, it's only a short 1.5-hour drive back to Bucharest! Coolest road trip ever.
