Romania will forever be this mysterious, dazzling country that mesmerizes us with its age-old tales and haunted castles.
We traveled across the country on a road trip to uncover every enchanting castle and fort citadel, and here are the ones that you shouldn't miss on your next trip to Romania!
Know the fundamental distinction between a castle, palace, and fort and the true difference between a village, town, and city.
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Dracula Castle (Bran Castle)
Perhaps one of the most famous castles in the world is the castle of all legends, the Dracula castle.
Better known as Bran castle, this small fortification served as an inspiration for Bram Stoker's fantasy novel “Dracula”.
The medieval castle captures the imagination of the people all over the world, and we felt compelled to visit this castle, first thing.
What we like the most are the tastefully furnished rooms, which capture the timeless Transylvanian soul to its fullest.
A hidden passage, a special torture exhibition and the time tunnel installation add to the atmosphere. Head during Halloween to Bran to immerse yourself in the mystery of the Dracula castle.
Tiny as it is, the castle attracts many visitors, but if you time your trip well, you will be able to have the castle to yourself.
Where is it located? Bran village, Brașov County, Transylvania.
How to get there? 30–40 Minutes drive from Brașov city by car or bus. Public Bus terminal No. 2 Brașov with buses leaving every 30–60 minutes.
Opening Times: During the summer months, from April 1 to September 30, it will be open from 9 am to 6 pm. On Mondays, it's noon to 6 pm.
In winter, between October 1st and March 31st, it's from 9 am to 4 pm and Mondays from noon to 4 pm.
Peleș Castle
Peleş is truly one of the most enigmatic castles we have ever visited. An eerily haunting experience awaits you on a visit here.
We wandered through the dimly lit rooms, awed by the gothic ambiance and lavish furnished halls and chambers.
Vibrant, intricate stained-glass windows let in just enough daylight, and the flickering chandeliers with the dark wood paneling transported us into another realm.
The combination creates the illusion of moving shadows, as if something was lurking there in the corner of the room.
As a spectator to all this, you begin to doubt common sense. Our imagination was running wild at this point!
Secret passages and doors with concealed access systems just add to the whole intriguing environment and legend of this Neo-Renaissance Romanian castle.
Fun Trivia: The Austrian painter Gustav Klimt was commissioned by King Carol I to work on a selection of paintings for the Peleș royal summer residence.
Where is it located? Sinaia, Prahova County, in the historical Muntenia Wallachia region.
How to get there? From Bucharest, it's almost a 2-hour drive via the highway. You can take the IR 1638 train from Bucharest North to get there within 1 ½ hour.
Opening Times are different between summer and winter. The castle is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Corvin Castle
The 15th century Corvin Castle had my heart racing from the moment I entered the premises on an early Sunday morning.
Our journey began as we stepped on the narrow wooden, weathered bridge. Planks creak underfoot, and the steep drop that lied below added to the fortification's intimidating sense of grandeur.
The imposing turrets and Gothic structures towered above us as we walked to towards the metal gate and entrance of the castle.
A stone pathway took us right to the center of the grand courtyard, and from here our journey began.
Vlad the Impaler was once imprisoned in the dungeon of the castle. Traversing the eerie, dark and cold stone passageway lead to an unnerving room where he lingered during his captivity.
Stunning vaulted ceiling halls, concealed stone chambers, spiral staircases and narrow passageways tell the tale of those who, once upon a time, wandered the fabled Castelul Corvinilor.
Where is it located? Hunedoara, Hunedoara County, Transylvania.
How to get there? 1 ½ drive from Sibiu to Hunedoara. Public transport isn't great and is a staggering 4 hours.
Opening Times: 9 am to 5 pm daily, except on Mondays it's from 12 to 8 pm.
Wednesday Castle (Cantacuzino Castle)
We unexpectedly came upon the Cantacuzino Castle as we were on our way from Brașov to Sinaia, and we were stuck in a traffic jam.
It turns out this particular Neo-Romanian gothic style castle is the filming location for the popular “Wednesday” Addams Family Netflix series. Cantacuzino Castle serves as the Nevermore Academy in the show.
Tired of the jam-packed road conditions, we navigated the forest roads up to the castle for a break.
I'm glad we did because the view from there was just awe-striking with the backdrop of the surrounding Carpathian Mountains.
A pathway led us to the castle with its manicured gardens and Wednesday themed setting. This is a great place for a photoshoot and a must-see for all Wednesday fans.
We didn't visit the interiors as we were short on time, but they are said to be void of all furniture thanks to the former Communist regime. Yet, if you get a chance to visit, do it!
Note: They charge for the garden and castle entry separately.
Where is it located? Bușteni, Prahova County, in the historical Muntenia Wallachia region.
How to get there? From Brașov, it's about 1:20 by car or train. Avoid the tiring traffic conditions and take the regional train.
Opening Times: 10 am to 8 pm, daily.
Poenari Citadel
Known as the true home of Vlad the Impaler, Poenari stands as a testament to a tumultuous time in the history of the region.
Located at the top of Mount Cetatea, surrounded by wild thick Carpathian Mountain forest, lies the 13th century ruined remains of a former castle citadel.
Over 1420 steps take you to this fascinating citadel, and you will most probably come across a couple of large brown bears.
It is said that the citadel is haunted and that the restless ghost of Vlad the Impaler thirsts for vindication on those who hurt him in life.
Some visitors report the unnerving feeling that someone is watching them, and they hear unexplained whispers.
Many local legends have been making the rounds for centuries, which further add to the mystique of Poenari castle.
We drove along the Transfăgărășan road, and stopped at the base to take the drone up to the citadel, when we received cell phone emergency warnings about bears nearby.
Where is it located? Mount Cetatea along the Transfăgărășan road, Argeș County, in the historical Muntenia Wallachia region.
How to get there? The former castle citadel is located along the famous Transfăgărășan road between Buachrest and Sibiu. It's a 3-hour drive from Bucharest there, and from Sibiu it's just about the same time distance. The climb up takes about 40-60 minutes.
Opening Times: It's being renovated, but you get a rgeat view there.
Rupea Citadel
We were en route from Sighisoara to Brasov during the early morning hours, when we sighted the silhouette of a fortress structure on a hill, the Rupea citadel.
It is believed that the castle citadel and town are located in one of the oldest archeological sites in Romania. Archeologists also suggest that the current 13th century fort was built on top of a Dacian defense fort.
Local folklore still relays the tale today that the last Dacian king, Decebalus, suicided in the fort. The Dacians were invaded by the Roman Empire at that time, and they are the ancient people who had settled in Transylvania.
In a much later period, the then German Saxons settled in Rupea and built the citadel, which served as a refuge for the local population when the Ottoman Turks attacked.
As a result, on a visit to Rupea, you will hear many intriguing tales, haunted accounts and old beliefs. Oral legends have been passed down over centuries in this fascinating part of Transylvania.
Where is it located? Rupea town, Brașov County, Transylvania.
How to get there? Locate between Sighișoara and Brașov, it's a 50-minute drive from Sighișoara and a 70-minute drive from Brașov. Public transport there isn't that great yet.
Opening Times: 9 am to 7 pm, daily.
Râșnov Citadel
A mere 20 minutes from Brașov, lies the town with a similar name, Râșnov.
At the top of a hill sits the 13th century fortress, which is believed to have been built by the Teutonic knights.
For centuries, the Râșnov citadel served as a refuge for the local population when the Tartar and Ottoman Turk hordes were ravaging the region.
It is said that the 470 deep well in the fort was dug out for almost 2 decades by Turk prisoners turned slaves.
The town's residents still believe that a treasure was buried at the bottom of this infamous well.
While we were coming back from Bran castle, we made a stop in this charming town. Parking is free below the city square, and you can take a lift for a panoramic view.
Unfortunately, the castle citadel can't be visited at the time, but the regional government has been working on changing this soon.
That said, the locals firmly believe that the castle is haunted by spirits. Well, age-old stone walls most certainly have an intriguing tale to tell.
Where is it located? Râșnov town, Brașov County, Transylvania.
How to get there? It's about 20 minutes by car from Brașov and 50 minutes via bus. In the town, near the city square, you can get a ride to the citadel with the cable car.
Opening Times: It's under renovation, an Italian entrepreneur mismanaged and destroyed parts of the citadel from 2000-2007. The Romanian government has recovered the citadel in 2008.
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