Romania Travel Forum

Greetings,

We are the same 8 people who've decided to tour Romania with a rented car in July; I have a itinerary draft and would appreciate your comments on it:
Day 1 (Thu) 30/6: arrive at Otopeni. Overnight in Bucuresti
Day 2 (Fri) 1/7: pickup the car, visit Mogosoaia (worth ?), north through valea Telejeanului, visit the salt mine near Slanic Prahova, arrive in Brasov, hike in Timpa, visit Prejmer, Harman and Rasnov. Overnight in Brasov
Day 3 (Sat) 2/7: visit Sinaia - Peles & Pelisor, cable car to Busteni, see Babele (perhaps go up by cable car in Sinaia, hike and return by cable car in Busteni?), perhaps also Predeal if have enough time. Overnight in Brasov
Day 4 (Sun) 3/7: hiking in Piatra Craiului, Zarnesti Gorges, Rasnov, Bran. Overnight in Brasov
Day 5 (Mon) 4/7: leave Brasov to Curtea de Arges, Hurez monastery (have enough time?), Poienari, Balea (Transfagarsean road). Overnight in Sibiu (or Rasinari?)
Day 6 (Tue) 5/7: visit Sibiu and around - Cisnadioara, Paltinis and surrounding mountains. Overnight in Sibiu
Day 7 (Wed) 6/7: leave Sibiu towards Sigisoara, visit Biertan. Overnight in Durau
Day 8 (Thu) 7/7: visit Lacu Rosu, hike in Ceahlau, pass Cheile Bicazului (enough time to visit Bicaz lake?). Overnight in Durau
Day 9 (Fri) 8/7: leave Lacu Rosu area, visit Voronet & Humor Monasteries, hike mountains around Campulung. Overnight in Cimpulung (or Vatra Dornei?)
Day 10 (Sat) 9/7: visit Sucevita, Moldovita & Dragomirna Monasteries. Overnight in Cimpulung
Day 11 (Sun) 10/7: leave towards Iasi, visit on the way Cotnari (and try not to get drunk), pass through Andreiseni (yes, I know that this is not a touristy spot, but one of us was born there), visit Iasi. Overnight in Iasi
Day 12 (Mon) 11/7: long drive day - leave Iasi, visit on the way the mood volanoes, arrive in Bucuresti, return the car. Overnight in Bucuresti
Day 13 (Tue) 12/7: visit Bucuresti. Overnight in Bucuresti
Day 14 (Wed) 13/7: visit Bucuresti. Overnight in Bucuresti
Day 15 (Thu) 14/7: visit Bucuresti, regretfully leave Romania
My main doubts there that I would like to have your comments on them rea the following, but any commenst will be welcome:
1. Aren't days 2,3 4 too crowded?
2. Will it make sense to add the Piatra Mare area (Cioplea Hut, Piatra Mare Peak, Dambu Morii and the Seven Stairs Canyon) without making the tour too crammed?
3. I am not sure if it's worth staying that long in Lacu Rosu / Cheile Bicazului area or to see that many painted monasteries in Suceava area; perhaps shorten the stay in one of these areas (or both) and stay instead longer time in Sinai - Brasov region for making the tour more relaxed or for adding Piatra Mare area?
4. Won't it make better sense to switch between Sibiu area and Brasov area, i.e. start with Sibiu area and then through the Curtea de Arges - Transfagarsean road move to Brasov area?
5. Is it a good idea to sleep in Brasov while in this area? I thought that this might be nice, since Brasov is a fairly large city, so in the evening we could walk around, have a drink in a pub and have the ladies do some shopping, but how is this compared with say Sinaia or Poiana Brasov (or a small place like Moieciu)?
6. Same about Sibiu - is it a good idea to sleep in the city or in a more pitoresque place say like Rasinari?

Thank you,
Marius

A few comments:
Mogosoaia is worth provided someone is interested in the local approach of the Byzantine architecture; to put it clearer, I would say it is a must, even though I personally hate this "must-see" term. I would dare say however you will not have the time to relaxedly visit all sights you mention for Day 2. Mogosoaia, Tampa, Brasov central area and Rasnov would be enough for one day.
On Day 3, mind you that the last cable car starts from Babele at 15.45 in winter and 16.45 (sometimes, as late as 17.30) in summer. You could consider taking the cable car from Busteni to Babele and, according to the weather situation up there, hike down to Busteni or Sinaia via Piatra Arsa Hut (3-4 hours from Babele) or go to Omu Peak and then down to Busteni via Cerbului Valley or Bucsoiu Peak (about 6 hours from Babele). On Day 4 you will have to choose where to go hiking, for it will be impossible to cover all these areas; as a particular remark, Zarnesti Gorges can be visited by car (as there is a dust road through them), while their extension (Cheile Pisicii) can hbe hiked through, however it is a 30 minutes hike at most. Alternatively, from La Botorog Spring (shortly after exiting Zarnesti towards Zarnesti Gorges), you can hike towards Curmatura Hut, the hike takes about 2 hours one way. On Day 5 Brasov - Rucar - Campulung - Curtea de Arges is Ok, Hurezi is OK again, but it is too much to cover on a single day also including the Transfagarasan Road; I mean, you can do it distance-wise, but everything will be on the run and it is a shame, especially in the mountains. I would stay at Paraul Capra Hut or on Vidraru Lake in a hut there (www.posada.ro) and continue the following day across the mountains. This happens especially as the following days is not that crowded and you can re-organize it easily. Then, leaving Sibiu (Day 7), you can do Biertan and Sighisoara and then go towards Lacu Rosu; if you plan on using the Praid - Gheorgheni road, forget it, the road is one of those places reminding WW2 really took place, it is full of craters and potholes. Rather choose the Sighisoara - Odorheiu Secuiesc - Miercurea Ciuc - Lacu Rosu road; it is longer, but it is OK and you can spend the night in the beautiful surroundings of the Red Lake; Lacu Rosu motel can be an idea, Mrs. Ilyes takes good care of the place.
Day 8: The route you mention is strange as you go back and forward... I would go the "traditional" way where you also have more to see: Lacu Rosu - Bicaz Gorges - Izvorul Muntelui Lake - Neamt Monastery - Neamt Fortress; should there be more time, go and visit the very nice village of Agapia and do a hike to the interesting Sihla Convent up the mountains. Stay overnight in the village, there are many guesthouses.
Day 9: Leave Agapia or the place you spend the night in there, and go to Targu Neamt - Gura Humorului - Voronet, Humor, do some hikes towards Rarau Peak and go down to Campulung; hiking all the way to Vatra Dornei is possible, but not in a few hours; it took me a full summer day to hike from Campulung to Zugreni over Giumalau and Rarau, and some people say I am fast (maybe yes, maybe no, I am not the right person to say).
Day 10: Moldovita - Sucevita - Dragomirna and you can go and stay straight to Iasi, it is strange to return to Campulung...
As for your questions, some got my opinion up here, for the rest:
2. Piatra Mare is interesting, but I cannot see when you can do it unless you take a day off Bucharest (which is possible, of course); however, should you have more time, I would, as #1 says, add the Maramures in instead of going in circles around some mountains which do not offer far more than the Bucegi you will anyway visit. For instance, generally speaking, you could go Bucharest - Sinaia - Brasov - Lacu Rosu - Bicaz Gorges - Targu Neamt - Agapia etc. - Iasi - Suceava - Dragormirna - the monasteries, Voronet etc. - Prislop Pass - Iza Valley and the wooden churches - Sighet - the Merry Cemetery - Baia Mare - Cluj - Sighisoara - Sibiu - Transfagarasan - Curtea de Arges - Hurezi Monastery - Pitesti - (maybe also Targoviste and Mogosoaia on the way back to Bucharest). This route makes more sense instead of going up and down the map...
4. It depends on the way you wish to go: Bucharest - Curtea de Arges is fast, while Bran - Campulung - Curtea de Arges is scenic, but the road is not that good and quite winding...and winding...
5. Brasov will never win compared to Sinaia; that is a resort, with the mountains, the atmosphere and hiking options Brasov does not have, despite the places to visit or Tampa, more like a hill than a mountain. Bran is yet another great option to spend the night in, as it lies in a rural area and there are many nice guesthouses. Moieciu (especially Moieciu de Sus) is even better an option, quieter and closer to the mountains, with a nice hiking path towards Strunga Saddle in Bucegi Mountains.
6. In Sibiu I would recommend Rasinari, Sibiel or Marginime area: many guesthouses, nicer scenery, quietness and nevertheless close to Sibiu. Paltinis is yet another option, with a few hotels and a great location up the Cindrel..
A few ideas on the run anyway.
Best regards,
Alex

Faux and Alex,
Thank you for taking the time to read and for giving such detailed answers.
Cheers,
Marius