Top Five Day Trips from Bucharest You Should Take

For more Bucharest day trips, check www.uncover-romania-tours.com

Bucharest is a great city break destination, but if you have enough time you should definitely take one or more day trips outside the capital. We hand-picked for you some of the finest ideas for day trips from Bucharest, whether you’re looking for nature walks, cultural discoveries, or visits to medieval attractions, castles, and palaces.

1. Visit medieval fortresses

Plenty of people mistake Prince Vlad the Impaler for Dracula and Bran Castle for Dracula’s Castle. While there’s no shame in chasing this movie-created myth, our suggestion is you take advantage of your time in Bucharest to get to know more about the real Vlad the Impaler.

The Princely Court of Targoviste

Besides the Old Court and the Monastery of Comana which are directly connected to his reign, there are two more places you shouldn’t miss. The first is the former princely court of Targoviste, enlarged by the prince and strengthened with a tall tower that hosts today an exhibition about Vlad the Impaler. The second one is his mountain fortress from Poenari, on the present-day Transfagarasan route. Both monuments date from the medieval ages.

2. Walk across the Carpathian villages

The scenic landscapes of the Carpathian villages are closer than you think. Various day trips from Bucharest can be easily done if you leave early morning. One of our favorite walking routes is from Magura to Pestera and back, two small mountain villages from Piatra Craiului National Park, close to Brasov. One day here will seem worlds apart from the noisy streets of Bucharest.

View from Pestera Village

Plus, the route is easy even for children, and it doesn’t require any special equipment, except for some comfortable sports shoes. Including the walking route and the drive from and back to Bucharest, you should reserve a full day.

3. Visit castles and palaces

Bucharest is a great departing point if you’d like to visit some of the most beautiful castles in Romania. We recommend Peles, Pelisor, and Cantacuzino Castles from the mountain resorts of Sinaia and Busteni. Only a two hours drive from the capital and a smooth train ride away, these three castles are wonderful historical and cultural monuments to discover on a one day trip from Bucharest.

Peles Castle, Sinaia

Bran Castle is also an option, although this means you have to start your day very early if you want to be back in Bucharest before nightfall. Much closer to Bucharest, you can visit Mogosoaia Palace, a monument with a history of over 300 years.

4. Relax in Comana Nature Park

Comana Nature Park is less than one hour drive from Bucharest. You can take a bike tour, walk in the forest, observe birds, and you can even go for a boat ride. Visit the church of the Monastery of Comana before. Its interior paintings with Adam and Eve are rather unusual for an Orthodox church.

Comana Nature Park

5. One day in Brasov

You can take a one day trip to Brasov, one of the most beautiful cities in Transylvania. One of the seven citadels founded by the German colonists starting with the 12th century, Brasov still conserves centuries-old monuments like the largest hall church East of Viena, the Black Church, the Council Square, the towers, and bastions from the old fortification lines.

The Black Church, Brasov

You can easily travel by yourself from Bucharest, by car or by train. For a carefree experience with a professional tour guide, you can always opt for a private tour.

Discover our one day tours to Brasov 

These are just five ideas of Bucharest day trips you can take on your own or with a guided tour. We hope you’ll have a great time uncovering all the attractions above and much more.

Where to stay in Bucharest

Don’t forget to book your accommodation in time to be sure you get the best deals. You can find below a hand-picked selection of our favorite places to stay in Bucharest.

If you prefer a central hotel, our recommendations are Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest, Mansion Boutique Hotel, Grand Boutique Hotel, and Grand Hotel Continental. Check also Epoque Hotel, Cismigiu Hotel, and Marmorosch Hotel.

Booking an apartment is also a popular and more budget-friendly option. While there are hundreds of choices, we can help narrow down your list. Our suggestions are Vila Cotroceni Boutique, University Central, Bucharest Residence, Diana’s Flat, Cismigiu Orchid Garden, and Studio Old Town.

If hostels are your thing, try Umbrella Hostel, Podstel Bucharest, or First Hostel Bucharest.