Transylvania a Beautiful Fairytale Destination

Mention the word Transylvania to anyone in conversation, and the immediate reaction might be: “Yes Dracula’s home”. Well that is how we all got to hear about Transylvania, but in real life it is a beautiful province in Romania.

Did you know the beautiful region of Transylvania (now in Romania) previously formed part of Hungary, many years ago? It is only after World War I that it became part of beautiful Romania. But in 1940 northern Transylvania reverted back to Hungary as a result of the Second Vienna Award. However after the end of World War II it was reclaimed by Romania. Although Romanian is the main language spoken, there are about 5% of the population that speaks Hungarian. This Provence in Romania with its beautiful castles and landscapes is defiantly a fairytale destination.

Dracula and the Transylvania Castles

Does Dracula’s Castle Exist in real life

Well yes: In Transylvania, as the author of the Dracula book, Bram Stoker, suggested. Actually the castle in Romania called “Bran Castle” is the closest to fit Bram Stoker’s description, in all of Transylvania, and that is why it is called “Dracula’s Castle”. You can visit Count Dracula’s majestic castle from the “horror novel”.

(Yes I said “horror novel” because as a teenager I’ve read all of the Bram Stoker Dracula stories and even watched a few versions of the movie, which sometimes was actually funny, so I would not call it a “horror novel” myself. I loved Dracula or “Drakoela” as my English teacher pronounced it.)

However when visiting Bran Castle you have to appreciate also the actual real life history of the castle, not just the connection to the Dracula story. If you only go to see the “Dracula-effect”, you might be very disappointed. It is a beautiful castle and you also have to stop at the pretty ‘Casa de ceai’ Restaurant in the lovely setting in the garden under the trees. Plan your trip to Bran Castle, but not only with Dracula in mind.

Another beautiful castle from the movies

I cannot write this article and not tell you to go to Peleș Castle. This is a Neo-Renaissance fairy tale castle in the Carpathian Mountains, near Sinaia, on a medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia. The castle which featured in movies like ‘A Christmas Prince’ is a must see in Romania.

When in Transylvania, you need to visit the castles, as that is partly the mystery and attraction of this beautiful province in Romania. Also visit castles like Corvin’s Castle and Transylvania Castle.

When to visit Transylvania

In my opinion the best time to visit Transylvania will all depend on the reason for your visit. If you’re looking for some ski-slope action you should visit from January to the beginning of March. But to me spring time and summer is the most beautiful time of the year (anywhere from May and June to August). It is the best time for sight-seeing and appreciating the beautiful views.

Things to do

Should you rent a car, you must definately keep in mind the Picturesque Cheile Bicazului driving route.

Must see places in Transylvania

Brașov

Known for its medieval Saxon walls and bastions as well as the Gothic-style Black Church. In the ‘old town’ you will find Piaţa Sfatului (Council Square) and Casa Sfatului, a local history museum. It is also a beautiful travel destination for Christmas time.

Sighișoara

Known to be a popular tourist destination because of its well-preserved walled ‘old town’, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Biertan

The picturesque village of Biertan (or Birthalm) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important Saxon villages with fortified churches in Transylvania. It is beautiful and definitely a must see destination with tons of photo opportunities.

Moieciu

Moieciu (German: Mösch; Hungarian: Alsómoécs) is located 29 km south of Brașov. It has six villages: Cheia, Drumul Carului, Măgura, Moieciu de Jos, Moieciu de Sus and Peștera. All beautiful with unique places to stay. Our booking.com link below, will help you find the best accommodation.

Cluj-Napoca

This is the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region and it is famous for its vibrant nightlife and music festivals. From central square, Piața Unirii, you can visit the Gothic-style St. Michael’s Church.

Târgu Mureș

This beautiful city lies on the Mureș River, the second longest river in Romania. The city offers a lot of sight-seeing adventures. You can book various tours through our Viator or Get-Your-Guide links below.

Nearest airport

The nearest airport to Transylvania is Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) Airport which is about 56 km away.

Plan a trip to your favorite destination

Where to stay

Check it out! The LATEST PRICES AND GETAWAY DEALS.

With the natural beauty of Romania as a country, you have a huge variety of beautiful accommodation options in Transylvania. Let’s look at accommodation options near Peles Castle:

Uphill Residence

Uphill Residence has beautiful views of the mountains and offers ski-to-door access, if you’re going for the ski slopes. If you visit in summer (which is beautiful) then you can use the free bikes to explore the area.