Transylvania by Rail
Skip the driving and take the train from Bucharest via Sinaia, Brașov, and Sighișoara to Cluj-Napoca.
Travel north along Romania's main railway line, with each leg taking two to three hours. Stay in city or citadel centers where everything is within walking distance. Use public buses for the round trip to Bran Castle. This open-jaw itinerary avoids backtracking, flying out of Cluj. Perfect for first-time visitors who prefer not to drive. This route skips the fortified church villages, which are difficult to reach by train, as well as Sibiu.
Day by day
Day 1 · Highlights of Bucharest
Bucharest（Palace of the Parliament、Lipscani Old Town、Stavropoleos Monastery、Cărturești Carusel）
Take a car or bus from the airport into the city, and explore on foot and by metro. Visit the Palace of the Parliament in the morning and the Old Town in the afternoon.
You will only have time to see the Palace of the Parliament if you arrive on an early flight; otherwise, focus on the Old Town.
Stay: Lipscani Old Town
Day 2 · Train to Sinaia
Sinaia（Peleș Castle、Pelișor Castle、Sinaia Monastery）
Take a train from Bucharest North Station (Gara de Nord) to Sinaia (approx. 1.5–2 hours), then walk uphill from the station to the castle (approx. 30 minutes).
Peleș is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; timed-entry tickets should be booked in advance.
Stay: Between Peleș Castle and the Railway Station
Day 3 · Cable Car up the Mountain & On to Brașov
Sinaia（Sinaia Cable Car & Cota 2000） → Brașov（Council Square, Brașov、Black Church）
Take the cable car up to the 2000m plateau in the morning, and take a train to Brașov in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour).
The cable cars frequently close for maintenance; check the operator's announcements on the day.
Stay: Brașov Old Town
Day 4 · Bran Castle Day Trip
Brașov（Bran Castle、Tâmpa Mountain & Cable Car、Schei District & St. Nicholas Church）
Take a regular bus bound for Bran from the bus station (approx. 1 hour), return in the afternoon, and explore the Old Town on foot and by cable car.
Stay: Brașov Old Town
Day 5 · Train to Sighișoara
Sibiu & Sighișoara（Sighișoara Citadel、Clock Tower of Sighișoara、Church on the Hill & Scholars' Stairs、Vlad Dracul House）
The train ride takes about 2.5–3 hours. Trains are infrequent, so book seats in advance. Walk 15 minutes from the station up to the citadel.
The citadel has many steep, cobbled paths; travel with light luggage.
Stay: Sighișoara Citadel
Day 6 · Train North to Cluj
Cluj-Napoca（Union Square & St. Michael's Church、Bánffy Palace、Dormition Cathedral & Avram Iancu Square）
Take a train to Cluj-Napoca in the morning (approx. 3.5 hours), and explore the Old Town on foot in the afternoon.
Accommodation is extremely tight during the Untold Festival in August; book several months in advance.
Stay: Old Town Centre
Day 7 · Half Day in Cluj & Departure
Cluj-Napoca（Alexandru Borza Botanical Garden、Cetățuia Hill）
Explore the Botanical Garden and Cetățuia Park on foot in the morning, and take a taxi to the airport in the afternoon (approx. 20 minutes).