9 days and 8 nights in Romania

Bucharest, Brașov and Sibiu

A nine-day rail route from Bucharest into southern Transylvania, with three nights each in Bucharest and Brașov.

Published by Fernando Ruiz
3 overnight basesTrain · Local Transport · Bus · WalkingBalanced pace
Best for
First-time visitors who want Romania’s capital, a mountain city and a Saxon heritage centre without driving.
Largest trade-off
Brașov to Sibiu trains are slower than the map suggests, and adding Bran or Sinaia requires another full day.
Best months
May, June, September, October
Accessibility
For the Bucharest to Sibiu itinerary, compare assistance in Bucharest with room access and terrain in Sibiu.
  1. 1

    Days 1 to 4

    Bucharest

    Use Calea Victoriei, the Palace of Parliament area, the Village Museum and one neighbourhood to explain the city scale.

    3 nights · Arrival and orientation
    Next: Train, 140 to 180 minutesBucurești Nord to Brașov station. Allow 45 minutes before departure. Advance reservation recommended. Check CFR Călători. Fallback: Take the next train on the same corridor and move the old-town walk to the next morning.
  2. 2

    Days 4 to 7

    Brașov

    Set aside time for Council Square, the Black Church and Șchei before choosing one mountain or castle outing.

    3 nights · Train transfer and hotel change
    Next: Train, 165 to 240 minutesBrașov station to Sibiu station. Allow 45 minutes before departure. Advance reservation is not normally essential. Check CFR Călători. Fallback: Use the next valid rail connection or a confirmed licensed coach, then keep the arrival plan within the central squares.
  3. 3

    Days 7 to 9

    Sibiu

    Use Piața Mare, Piața Mică, Huet Square, the Lower Town and one Brukenthal museum, with ASTRA planned separately.

    2 nights · Train transfer and hotel change

Day-by-day plan

DayOvernight baseMain planTransferApproximate burden
1BucharestMorning: Bucharest’s Calea Victoriei and the old centre in daylight. Afternoon: Leave the remaining time open for a slower route around Bucharest. Evening: Keep the evening close to Bucharest after the main visits. Book: Check current hours for any timed stop before the day begins. Short on time: If time is short, keep the main visit and remove any optional detour.Arrival and local orientationWalking and local transport around Bucharest.
2BucharestMorning: Palace of Parliament area and one national museum. Afternoon: Leave the remaining time open for a slower route around Bucharest. Evening: Leave the evening open in Bucharest instead of adding another long journey. Book: Check the current timetable, opening hours or booking terms for the named visit. Short on time: If time is short, keep the main visit and remove any optional detour.No hotel changeTimed visits and local travel around Bucharest.
3BucharestMorning: Village Museum, Herăstrău park and a neighbourhood dinner. Afternoon: Leave the remaining time open for a slower route around Bucharest. Evening: Finish the day in Bucharest, with time to reset before the next morning. Book: Check the current timetable, opening hours or booking terms for the named visit. Short on time: If time is short, keep the main visit and remove any optional detour.No hotel changeTimed visits and local travel around Bucharest.
4BrașovMorning: Train to Brașov. Afternoon: Council Square and Șchei. Evening: Use a quiet evening in Brașov after the day’s main route. Book: Check the CFR Călători timetable from București Nord to Brașov station and keep the required reservation with the ticket. Short on time: If time is short, keep the morning priority and omit the afternoon extension.Train from București Nord, 140 to 180 minutesTrain transfer, 140 to 180 minutes.
5BrașovMorning: Black Church, city walls and a weather-safe Tâmpa choice. Afternoon: Leave the remaining time open for a slower route around Brașov. Evening: Keep the evening close to Brașov after the main visits. Book: Check current hours for any timed stop before the day begins. Short on time: If time is short, keep the main visit and remove any optional detour.No hotel changeWalking and local transport around Brașov.
6BrașovMorning: A planned Bran or Sinaia outing using the correct departure point. Afternoon: Leave the remaining time open for a slower route around Brașov. Evening: Leave the evening open in Brașov instead of adding another long journey. Book: Check current hours for any timed stop before the day begins. Short on time: If time is short, keep the main visit and remove any optional detour.No hotel changeWalking and local transport around Brașov.
7SibiuMorning: Rail to Sibiu and the connected central squares. Afternoon: Leave the remaining time open for a slower route around Sibiu. Evening: Finish the day in Sibiu, with time to reset before the next morning. Book: Check the CFR Călători timetable from Brașov station to Sibiu station shortly before travel. Short on time: If time is short, keep the main visit and remove any optional detour.Train from Brașov station, 165 to 240 minutesTrain transfer, 165 to 240 minutes.
8SibiuMorning: Lower Town, Brukenthal choice and an evening in the old centre. Afternoon: Leave the remaining time open for a slower route around Sibiu. Evening: Use a quiet evening in Sibiu after the day’s main route. Book: Check current hours for any timed stop before the day begins. Short on time: If time is short, keep the main visit and remove any optional detour.No hotel changeWalking and local transport around Sibiu.
9Departure from SibiuMorning: ASTRA Museum or a shorter city plan before departure. Afternoon: Leave the remaining time open for a slower route around Departure from Sibiu. Evening: Keep the evening close to Departure from Sibiu after the main visits. Book: Check the current timetable, opening hours or booking terms for the named visit. Short on time: If time is short, keep the main visit and remove any optional detour.No hotel changeTimed visits and local travel around Departure from Sibiu.

Ways to adjust the route

Take the next train on the same corridor and move the old-town walk to the next morning.
1
Use the next valid rail connection or a confirmed licensed coach, then keep the arrival plan within the central squares.

A nine-day rail route from Bucharest into southern Transylvania, with three nights each in Bucharest and Brașov. First-time visitors who want Romania’s capital, a mountain city and a Saxon heritage centre without driving.

Where to stay from Bucharest to Sibiu

Bucharest (3 nights): Use Calea Victoriei, the Palace of Parliament area, the Village Museum and one neighbourhood to explain the city scale. The next leg continues to Brașov on the way to Sibiu, so keep the transfer day free of a separate excursion.

Brașov (3 nights): Set aside time for Council Square, the Black Church and Șchei before choosing one mountain or castle outing. The next leg continues to Sibiu, so keep the transfer day free of a separate excursion.

Sibiu (2 nights): Use Piața Mare, Piața Mică, Huet Square, the Lower Town and one Brukenthal museum, with ASTRA planned separately. This is the final overnight base on the Bucharest to Sibiu route, so keep departure day for the confirmed onward journey.

View of Bucharest

Connections on the Bucharest to Sibiu route

Travel from Bucharest to Brașov by train. Allow 140 to 180 minutes from București Nord to Brașov station. Use CFR Călători for this leg. Reserve this leg before fixing the surrounding day. Take the next train on the same corridor and move the old-town walk to the next morning.

Travel from Brașov to Sibiu by train. Allow 165 to 240 minutes from Brașov station to Sibiu station. Use CFR Călători for this leg. Check the dated timetable before departure. Use the next valid rail connection or a confirmed licensed coach, then keep the arrival plan within the central squares.

View of Brașov

9 days through Bucharest, Brașov and Sibiu

Day 1: Bucharest’s Calea Victoriei and the old centre in daylight.

Day 2: Palace of Parliament area and one national museum.

Day 3: Village Museum, Herăstrău park and a neighbourhood dinner.

Day 4: Train to Brașov, then Council Square and Șchei.

Day 5: Black Church, city walls and a weather-safe Tâmpa choice.

Day 6: A planned Bran or Sinaia outing using the correct departure point.

Day 7: Rail to Sibiu and the connected central squares.

Day 8: Lower Town, Brukenthal choice and an evening in the old centre.

Day 9: ASTRA Museum or a shorter city plan before departure.

View of Sibiu

Who the Bucharest to Sibiu route suits

First-time visitors who want Romania’s capital, a mountain city and a Saxon heritage centre without driving.

Brașov to Sibiu trains are slower than the map suggests, and adding Bran or Sinaia requires another full day.

Timing and access from Bucharest to Sibiu

The most useful months for this route are May, June, September and October. Assistance can be arranged at the main stations, but the historic routes include cobbles and slopes. Check the hotel entrance and local transfer before choosing each base.

Take the next train on the same corridor and move the old-town walk to the next morning.

Use the next valid rail connection or a confirmed licensed coach, then keep the arrival plan within the central squares.

Guides for the overnight bases

Planning information reviewed 3 September 2026, next review due 3 December 2026.

Planning sources

Check current operator timetables, reservations and access details before booking the route.