Transylvania is best known as the mysterious land of bloodthirsty vampires and for the most people outside Romania, that’s all it is. Some may even think it’s a fictional place, but this central Romanian region is a real place, bordered by the Carpathian Mountains to the east and south, by Hungary to the west and by Ukraine to the north.
This idea of Transylvania being the land of vampires has its roots in Bram Stoker’s vampire novel published in 1897 which gained enormous success. The novel was inspired by old superstitions and the real-life exploits of Vlad Dracula, a 15th-century Wallachian ruler who skewered up his enemies on long spikes.
Bram Stoker placed the action of his novel in Transylvania – a region he never visited – and made from a medieval castle near Brasov, Bran Castle, the imaginary home of his bloody character. Transylvania became a famous name, but also a name exclusively associated with vampires and bloody rituals, with is such a loss taking into consideration the amazing tourist attractions Transylvania has.
Let’s dive in and see why every passionate traveler should put Transylvania on his travel calendar.
1. Transylvania was cited no 1 in Top Best Regions in the World to Travel in 2016 by Lonely Planet
The description of the place created by Lonely Planet is really inspiring:
“Put the crucifix away and discard that bulb of garlic – you won’t be needing them in today’s Transylvania, which blows away stereotypes faster than the flapping wings of a bat out of hell. Yes, horses and carts still rumble through the wooded countryside, but they’ll soon share the roads with Uber cabs ferrying visitors to chic Airbnb lodgings. Look past the ‘Count Drankula’ T-shirts and you’ll notice an ever-increasing number of art galleries, good value ski resorts and epic nature tours”
2. Bran and Corvin are just two of the many incredible castles of Transylvania
Photo by Rotrips
Perched on a peak with turrets and towers, Bran Castle looks straight off the pages of Bram Stoker’s novel and attracts numerous tourists every year, although Vlad the Impaler’s real digs were at Poienari Citadel in Wallachia. For those who are interested in knowing both faces of this legendary figure, we tailored a complete Dracula Tour which reveals both history and legend about Vlad the Impaler (Dracula). And if you want to explore only the historic places, we have a Dracula tour focused on the history behind the legend.
Corvin Castle in Hunedoara, also known as Hunyadi Castle, is a Gothic-Renaissance castle and an iconic image of Transylvania. It is one of the largest castles in Europe and figures in a top of 7 wonders of Romania.
3. Great resort towns, famed for their therapeutic waters
The mineral mud and warm salty waters of Bear Lake in Sovata have well-known therapeutic effects on chronic gynecological symptoms, severe rheumatic pains, peripheral nervous system and post-accidental motor diseases. The balmy waters of Ocna Sibiului near Sibiu, which have a similar level of salinity with the Dead Sea, are good for arthritis.
4. Transylvania has the world’s most amazing road, Transfăgărăşan Road
Photo by Horia Varlan
Built as a military route in the 1970s on Ceauşescu’s order, the Transfăgărășan Road winds up and over the Făgărăș Mountains, climbing to an altitude of 2042 metres. The 90 kilometers road zigzags up a wide valley to Bâlea Lake and through a 900 m-long tunnel, before continuing down through Wallachia region. Because of the heavy snows, the road is open only a few months a year, usually from late June until early October.
5. Sighişoara, the most eye-catching Saxon fortress town in Transylvania
Photo by Rotrips
Sighişoara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and birthplace of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula).
The inhabited Old Town is full of tourist attractions such as the Church on the Hill, the Clock Tower, the Venetian House and the famous Vlad Dracula’s birth house. But to be fair, the Old Town as a whole is a top tourist attraction. Imagine a perfectly intact 16th century citadel with medieval towers, cobbled streets, colorful burgher houses and ornate churches and you’ll get a glimpse of Sighişoara! Or just take our 2 days Transylvania tour including a stop in Sighisoara and see this architectural jewel with your own eyes!
6. Sibiu, European Capital of Culture in 2007, is full of fascinating museums, buildings, cafés and restaurants
Photo by Rotrips
The historical center of Sibiu is full of tourist attractions such as the Great Square and the Small Square, the beautiful Passage of Steps, the well-known Bridge of Lies and the Brukenthal Museum, one of the finest art museums in Romania. The Evangelical Cathedral, an impressive gothic structure, featuring five pointed towers, and the Roman-Catholic Church are dominating the historical center of Sibiu.
Astra National Museum Complex, near Sibiu, is a wide open air museum exhibiting rural houses and churches, water mills, horse mills and other village specific exhibits.
7. Wildlife-watching at its best
© bearsanctuary.com
The Retezat National Park is a perfect place for hiking and wildlife watching. The flora consists of approximately 1190 plant species, of which 130 have the “endangered” or “vulnerable” status.
The highest peak of the Retezat Mountains, Peleaga Peak (2,509 metres or 8,232 ft) is located in the park which also includes about 80 glacier lakes.
The Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărneşti, near Brașov, is a special place which cares for more than 70 bears rescued from cages and circuses. Tours of visitors can be guided around the sanctuary while being told the story of the bear rescues. The bears live in large forested areas and it is their choice whether to stay inside the forest or come out to rest or play in the open meadow areas and pools.
8. Turda Salt Mine, one of the oldest salt mines in the world
© salinaturda.eu
Over three billion tonnes of salt were carved out by hand or machine in order to create this amazing salt mine converted into a giant underground theme park and spa. Salina Turda is around 400-feet deep and it holds its own boating lake where you can take a tour with your own paddle boat.
Mini-golf, ping-pong, bowling, massage are other activities you can enjoy in this salt mine located in the historic town of Turda, near Cluj. If you can take your eyes from the stunning rugged salty caverns!
9. Vibrant modern cities such as Braşov, Cluj Napoca or Alba Iulia
Here are some highlights for each of these vivid cities:
Brasov is a modern city with a medieval heart, surrounded by mountains and hiking regions. Parc Aventura, near Brasov, is a great place for outdoor adventure. Cluj-Napoca is a beautiful city known for its cinematic event, Transylvania Film Festival. The star-shaped citadel of Alba -Iulia has an amazing Old Town full of Transylvanian history.
10. The Apuseni Mountains
The Padiş Plateau, a paradise for hikers, the Scarişoara Ice Cave, the biggest underground glacier in Romania, and Roşia Montana Gold Mines, the largest gold deposit in continental Europe, are only a few reasons to take a trip in the Apuseni Mountains.
It worth mentioning that Scarişoara Ice Cave is a show cave (tourist cave / public cave), meaning the place is made accessible to the general public and benefit from tourist friendly features as constructed trails, guided tours and lighting.
11. Bigar Waterfall, voted “the most amazing waterfall in the world”
Photo by Unknown
Located in Caraş-Severin county, in the south eastern part of Transylvania, Bigar Waterfall is almost 8 meters high and falls over an unusual green carpet of moss. Unlike other roaring falls, Bigar Waterfall flows over a big, rounded stone jutting over a basin bellow, being diverted into a sheet of lovely small streams.
The location is also worth visiting for the nature reserve, situated near Anina and Reşiţa towns.