Day Trips From Bucharest Romania – Your Ultimate Travel Guide

Day Trips From Bucharest Travel Guide

If you think you have seen all of Bucharest, some day trips from Bucharest will teach you even more about Romania.

mogosoaia palace-romania daytrip outside bucharestBucharest is a great starting point for exploring Romania. The Mogoșoaia Palace (Palatul Mogoșoaia) is on the shores of a lake only 14 kilometers northeast of the city and it makes a great place for a day trip outside Bucharest. Completed in the 18th century, it has changed owners several times and was restored in the 20th century.

As is so common in Romania, the palace’s architecture combines Eastern and Western influences. The beautiful museum on the first floor of the palace has many valuable artifacts from the 18th century. The palace also hosts contemporary art exhibitions and a variety of concerts.

 

Brasov Daytrips from Bucharest
Brasov Day trips from Bucharest

Brasov (Brașov), one of Transylvania’s most strategically important cities, is an interesting destination. The history of the city stretches back to the 13th century. Many of its historical buildings are preserved, including the city wall and towers. Brasov also boasts one of the narrowest streets in Europe.

The width of the 80-meter-long Strada Sforii (String Street) varies between 111 and 135 centimeters. About 25 kilometers from Brasov is the town of Bran, home to the famous Bran Castle, which became famous thanks to Bram Stoker’s 1897 publication of the Dracula legend. The castle was also later immortalized in Francis Ford Coppola’s film Dracula (1992).

Inhabitants 276,000 (2012)
Area 267 km2

Peles Castle Sinaia – Day Trip from Bucharest

Peles Castle Day Trips from Bucharest
Peles Castle Day Trips from Bucharest

Located at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains in the picturesque town of Sinaia, Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe. Commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883, the castle served as the summer residence of the royal family until 1947. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, and Cordoba leather-covered walls.

Peles Castle Interior

The furniture in the Music Room is carved of teak, a gift to King Carol I from the Maharajah of Kapurtala in India, while handmade silk embroideries adorn the ceiling and walls of the Turkish Salon. The renowned Austrian artists Gustav Klimt and Frantz Matsch designed the ceiling paintings and decorative frescoes in the Theater Hall. Over 4,000 European and Oriental pieces dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries are on display in the armories.

King Ferdinand, who succeeded Carol I, commissioned the smaller, art nouveau-style Pelisor Castle nearby. Pelisor’s 70 rooms feature a unique collection of turn-of-the-century Viennese furniture and Tiffany and Lalique glassware. Also worth exploring in town is Sinaia Monastery, founded by Prince Mihai Cantacuzino in 1695, and named after the great Sinai Monastery on Mount Sinai. The monastery served as a residency for the royal family until Peles Castle was built, and now is home to a monastic establishment.

Mogosoaia Palace – Day Trips from Bucharest

Mogosoaia Palace - Day Trips from Bucharest
Mogosoaia Palace – Day Trips from Bucharest

Mogosoaia Palace is on the shores of a lake only 14 kilometers northeast of Bucharest. Completed in the 18th century, it has changed owners several times and was restored in the 20th century.

As is so common in Romania, the palace’s architecture combines Eastern and Western influences. The beautiful museum on the palace’s first floor has many valuable artifacts from the 18th century. The palace also hosts contemporary art exhibitions and a variety of concerts.

Horezu Monastery

Horezu Monastery
Horezu Monastery

Prince Constantin Brancoveanu established the Horezu Monastery in the Wallachian village of Horezu in 1690. Its clean style makes it a true architectural masterpiece. During the 18th century, the monastery was home to a school of fresco and icon painting that became famous throughout the Balkan region. The Greek artist Constantinos established the school.

Horezu is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visitors to Horezu can also drive along a part of the Transalpina, Romania’s Carpathian Road. King Carol II built the road and it was later named the King’s Road in his honor. The highest point along the Transalpina is the Urdele Pass at 2,145 meters.

Sibiu in Transylvania – Day Trips from Bucharest

sibiu romaniaEstablished in the 12th century, Sibiu is one of Transylvania’s oldest and best-preserved cities, 279 kilometers from Bucharest. German colonists known as the Transylvanian Saxons built it. The world’s first homeopathic laboratory opened in Sibiu in 1797, and the city is also home to Romania’s oldest museum, the Brukenthal Museum (1817). Sibiu was a European Capital of Culture in 2007.

Sibiu is also a good base from which to explore the surrounding area and its legendary Saxon fortified churches. Transylvania used to have more than 300 such churches. Some were destroyed long ago, but others remain and are on the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Sibiu has 131,000 inhabitants (2011).

Brukenthal National Museum Sibiu
Brukenthal National Museum Sibiu

Brukenthal National Museum – A Rich Legacy

The Brukenthal National Museum, located in Sibiu boasts a fascinating history and an impressive collection. The museum was founded in the late 18th century by Samuel von Brukenthal, the governor of the Grand Principality of Transylvania. It is housed in his city palace and began assembling collections around 1790. Officially opened to the public in 1817, it holds the distinction of being the oldest institution of its kind in modern-day Romania.

Collections and Galleries

  1. European Art Gallery (Palatul Brukenthal): Home to an extensive collection of paintings, this gallery showcases European masterpieces.
  2. Romanian Art Gallery (Casa Albastră): Focused on Romanian art, this gallery features works by local artists.
  3. History Museum (Casa Altemberger): Explore the rich history of Sibiu and Transylvania through artifacts and exhibits.
  4. Natural History Museum: Discover the wonders of the natural world, including fossils and specimens.
  5. Pharmacy History Museum: Step back in time and learn about the evolution of pharmacy practices.
  6. Contemporary Art Museum: Contemporary works by Romanian and international artists are on display.

Address: Piața Mare 4 – 5, Sibiu

More information about Sibiu

Inhabitants 131,000 (2011)
Area 121 km2
Distance from Bucharest 279 kilometers

How To Get To Bucharest Romania

Find Cheap Flights To Bucharest Airport Romania


One response to “Day Trips From Bucharest Romania – Your Ultimate Travel Guide”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *