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The Transylvanian town of Bran (German: Trötzburg) is home to a castle which is often referred to as Dracula's Castle.
The castle was built in the 14th century and is nowadays a museum with art and furniture of Queen Marie.
The myth of "Dracula's Castle" is probably only a tourist trap as Vlad Tepes actually never lived in the castle, but it is believed that he spent two days in prison in the castle.
We visited the castle on a Sunday when the city was crowded with tourists. The Dracula story obviously seems to attract the tourists.
However, I must admit that we liked Rasnov Fortress much more than Bran castle, but as both towns are located on the same road you can visit them both in one day.
Admission:
Admission to the castle costs 12 RON and for taking photos you have to pay an extra fee of 10 RON (October 2007). This is relatively expensive but also includes a visit of the village museum.
Directions:
Buses to Bran leave from Autogara 2 in Brasov. There are services almost every 30 minutes and the journey takes about 40 minutes. A single ticket to Bran costs 3,50 RON (October 2007). Leave a Comment
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Rasnov (German: Rosenau) is a small town which is located about 15 km southwest of Brasov and 15 km northeast of Bran on the road that links Wallachia and Transylvania.
The main sight of Rasnov is its fortress whose history dates back to the early 14th century.
It is situated about 200 m above the town and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area.
We liked Rasnov fortress much more than the touristy Bran Castle, but as both towns are located on the same road you can visit them both in one day.
Admission:
Admission to the fortress costs 10 RON and for taking photos you have to pay an extra fee of 5 RON (October 2007). This is probably a tourist trap, but we were even checked for the ticket when we were taking photos.
Directions:
Buses to Rasnov leave from Autogara 2 in Brasov. There are services almost every 30 minutes and the journey takes about 20 minutes. All buses to Bran also stop in Rasnov. A single ticket to Rasnov sets you back 2 RON (October 2007). Leave a Comment
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 Dracula's Castle by midnight_mike
The castle is in ruins, but there is still enough left to let your imagination run wild. This is where Tepes’ first wife jumped to her death instead of surrendering to the Turks. He escaped by riding away on a horse that had backward shoes, which confused his pursuers. Legend has it that the castle was built by wealthy princes and their families. Tepes invited them to a lavish dinner, then enslaved them and forced them to perform hard labor. This may seem cruel, but there were many despot princes who pledged loyalty to the Ottoman Turks. They didn’t care about their own people, so Tepes thought this punishment was justified.
There is no easy way of getting here. I advise hiring a driver. Once you get to the sight, you will have to walk up a long and winding set of stairs. It takes anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. There are many sights in Curtea de Arges as well, so set aside an entire day. With a driver, you can daytrip here from Brasov or Bucharest.
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 Peles Castle, Sinaia by midnight_mike
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Poiana Brasov is a ski resort and situated only 14 km north of Brasov, at an altitude of 1030 m.
Its location inbetween mountains ranging from 1800 m to 2500 m in height makes it a popular Romanian hiking and skiing resort, although it was originally developed for top communist officials.
The town itself mainly consists of ugly hotels and restaurants. The only sight is a Romanian wooden church and a little monument commemorating Livi Corneliu Babes (1942-1989) who set himself on fire to protest against the Communist regime.
Directions:
Poiana Brasov can be reach by RATBv bus number 20 from Brasov's city centre. You will need a special ticket for the bus which costs 3,50 RON (October 2007). The bus leaves every 30 minutes and the ride takes about 20 minutes. Leave a Comment
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From Brasov, it is easy to access other attractions such as Bran Castle, Rasnov Castle, Poiana Brasov and Sinaia.
Bran Castle (1378), which is about a 30-minute drive from Brasov, is one of the most recognized images in Romania, as it has been billed as “Dracula’s Castle.” There is no actual historical connection to Vlad Tepes, but it is worth visiting as it does have the appearance of the castle Stoker was describing in “Dracula.”
For outdoor enthusiasts, Romania offers year-round activities. In the summer, the beaches of the Black Sea are filled with sunbathers, particularly in Constanta. Camping and hiking in the Carpathians are other options. During the winter months, skiers flock to the slopes of Sinaia and Poiana Brasov.
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Sighisoara was the birthplace of Vlad Tepes. This walled city, which was built on a series of hills, has remained intact for the past 500 years. The architecture is a blend of Romanian, Hungarian and German styles. Tepes’ home, which is not much of a sight compared to neighboring structures, was turned into a restaurant honoring him.
Sighisoara is about three hours away from Brasov by train.
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Of all the monasteries in Romania's Moldavian region, none is more important than Putna. It was started by one of Romania's greatest heroes, Stephen Cel Mare (a k a, Stephen the great) in 1466. The cousin of Vlad Tepes, Stephen was a thorn in the side of the Ottoman Turks. One of his most famous strategies was poisoning the Turks' water supply. With many of their men and horses dead, the Turkish assault was immensely weakened.
Each time Stephen Cel Mare went to battle with the Turks, he built a church. For as many churches as he built, Putna remained his favorite. This is evident by the fact that Stephen, his wife and family are buried in the church at Putna.
In addition to the church and the monastery, there is a museum with many valuable manuscripts, tapestries and religious icons. A short distance from the monastery's grounds is a cave where Daniil Sihastru de la Voroneþ (a k a, Daniel the Hermit) lived. This reclusive monk was a key adviser to Stephen Cel Mare.
Putna is located in the Suceava district, near the border with Ukraine. I advise either hiring a guide from Suceava or booking a tour of the region's painted monasteries. If those options are out of your budget, base yourself out of Suceava and ask the locals about buses going to the village of Putna. From there, you can walk or hitch a ride to the monastery. On your way back, you can try hitching a ride back into Suceava.
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The hilltop citadel of Deva is one of many abandoned fortifications throughout Romania. It was built in the 13th century A.D. and lies in ruins. To get to the top, you have to follow a path that winds up the hill. It is not paved and there are no railings. I advise wearing hiking boots. The climb is not that difficult, but it will take about 20 to 30 minutes. It is well worth the visit.
Deva, which has a population of 100,000, was once a Dacian settlement. These were the people who the Romans conquered and eventually interbred with to create Romanians. Today, Deva is known as the home of Romanian gymnastics. It is directly west of Brasov and it takes about five hours to get there by train. However, Deva is a stop on the Budapest-Bucharest train line. The town has a couple reasonably priced hotels and some good restaurants.
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 Don't you feel dirty just
looking at this photo? by midnight_mike
If driving into Bucharest from the north, you will almost certainly pass by the Arcul de Triumf. This imitation of Arc de Triomphe in Paris was built in 1935. There are also many beautiful and historic churches still left in the city.
Bucharest is a dirty city, filled with dust and polution. It is also the seat of corruption... I meant government... in Romania. Hop in an unlicensed taxi and you might pay four times the normal rate. At Otopeni Airport, you will likely pay a king's ransom to get into the city. This is because the only taxi drivers allowed to wait at the "arrivals" terminal are the ones who pay bribes. There are some things to see in Bucharest, but I would advise travelers to avoid this city. There are so many other things to see in Romania.
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