Transylvania Biking Tour - 9 days

Cycling tour of Romania

Info Tour

Declared by Lonely Planet as one of the most beautiful travel destinations, Transylvania (“the land beyond the forest”) is one of the most popular regions of Romania. It is home to a magnificent, unspoiled landscape boasting imposing medieval castles, elegant palaces, Saxon fortified churches, and mysterious ruins. This tour is more about cycling. It is your chance to immerse yourself in a landscape and way of life that is best enjoyed at a gentle pace. You will be introduced to the tumultuous history of Saxon Transylvania and you will have the chance to meet its people. You have to know that Transylvania is hilly and we will cover between 35 to 50 km per day, most of the time on paths and forests tracks. You should have good general fitness and be comfortable off-road on a bicycle as some sections are relatively steep. Of course, there will be a support vehicle at your disposal if needed.

Info Panel

Type: biking, cultural, adventure

Duration: 9 days/ 8 nights

Distance: 600km / 373mi by car and 235km / 146mi by bike

Country: Romania

Accommodation: 4-star hotels and superior B&Bs

Departures

This tour is private and can be scheduled based on your request. However, we kindly inform you that some of the sites included in the program might be closed, so we suggest you contact us before booking your flights to Bucharest.

Price

Group of 2-3 persons – €2525/person

Group of 4-7 persons – €1853/person

Single supplement: 140€/person

Highlights of the tour:

Regions

Wallachia
Transylvania

Cities

Bucharest
Brasov
Sibiu

Major Sights

Peles Castle
Bran Castle
The Black Church
Rupea fortress
Gypsy village
Saxon villages
Transfagarasan Highway
Curtea de Arges Monastery

UNESCO Attractions

Viscri fortified church
Sighisoara
Biertan fortified church

Day 1
OTOPENI AIRPORT – BUCHAREST (40min drive)

Arrival in Bucharest. You’ll be transferred to your hotel where you’ll receive more details about your tour. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Bucharest: 4-star hotel

Day 2
BUCHAREST – BRASOV (3h drive)

You will be transferred to Transylvania. On our way, we will stop at Sinaia, a very famous mountain resort also known as the “Pearls of the Carpathians.” Here, you will visit Peles Castle, the former summer residence for the first Royal couple of Romania, King Carol 1st and Queen Elisabeth. Considered one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, the construction is impressive thanks to the architectural style and decorations, but most of all, thanks to the beautiful interior design and the modern facilities, quite advanced for the last half of the XIXth century (electricity, vacuum cleaner, electrical elevator, and central heating). Here you will also find out the story of the Royal couples in Romania and their important influence in the history of our country. The visit lasts about 45 minutes, after which you will spend some time in the beautiful gardens of the castle.

In the afternoon, you will head to Bran and visit Bran Castle, which became so famous thanks to the legend of Dracula. Then, it’s time to discover how this legend was born and why Transylvania is related to it.

Brasov, Kronstadt (“the city of the crown”), as it is known in German, is the next stop. Here you will have dinner in a typical restaurant and enjoy a lovely walk on the narrow and cobblestone streets of the old city center. You will see The Council Square, The Council Tower, The famous Black Church (the largest Gothic construction in the Eastern part of Europe).

Overnight in Brasov: 4-star hotel

Day 3
BRASOV AREA – RUPEA – VISCRI (45km/28mi by bike)

Today, you will start the bike tour. It will be a gentle ride with no climbing sections, which will allow you to admire the forest and villages you will cross.

Arrive at Rupea city and visit the medieval citadel from the top of which you will enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the whole area.

Continue the ride to Viscri, the famous Transylvanian village.

After about one hour, you will see the white fortified church of Viscri, a lovely medieval village and UNESCO World Heritage. Viscri is one of the most beautiful travel destinations in Transylvania. It represents a bucolic village where the locals managed to keep their traditional houses and the old lifestyle. It is also the place where you will have the chance to see the house of Prince Charles of Wales, who fell in love with Transylvania thanks to this village. Finally, you’ll take a short walk along the paths of the village. Find out the story of the settlement and the importance of the Saxons in Romanian history.

Traditional dinner at a Saxon guest house in Viscri.

Important: The car will follow the biking itinerary and pick you up whenever needed during the whole day. The riding and driving distances will be adapted according to your needs and wishes.

Accommodation in Viscri: superior guest house

Day 4
TRANSYLVANIA SAXON BIKE TOUR (29km/18mi by bike)

In the morning, enjoy a delicious breakfast at the guesthouse and start the day by visiting the fascinating fortified church of Viscri dating from 1100.

Today, you will experience a great bike ride in the rolling hills of Transylvania. Leave Viscri behind and cross the forest following enchanted paths until you reach another Saxon village located in a remote area. Some sections are a little steep, but the itinerary will be adjusted to your needs. Lunch in Mesendorf and visit the local fortified church, one of the oldest in Transylvania, and then continue the ride to the nearby Saxon village.

Arrive in the afternoon in the village and accommodation in a traditional house where you will meet a wonderful local couple running the guesthouse where we will stay overnight. Here you will find the proper comfort combined with the local style of living.

Time at leisure: visit the village and, depending on time, the local fortified church or visit a local beekeeping household.

Dinner at a superior guesthouse in the Saxon area.

Important: during the whole day, the car will follow the biking itinerary and pick you up whenever needed. The riding and driving distances will be adapted according to your needs and wishes.

Accommodation in the Saxon area: superior guest house

Day 5
SIGHISOARA (40km/25mi by bike)

Start the bike tour from the Saxon village and head to Sighisoara medieval citadel, another place included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Today, the itinerary consists of fine ascents and great descents on off-road paths combined with paved roads.

First, have a stop in the medieval village of Saschiz. You will meet here a young couple who are dedicated to making natural food. Find out their interesting story, enjoy a delicious lunch in the village and then continue your journey by bike to Sighisoara. After 5 km of a paved road going up, you will follow the path of the Prince to reach the citadel. Finally, you will cross the forests and enjoy the great scenery that the Transylvanian hills are generously offering to their visitors.

In the afternoon, you will reach Sighisoara. After accommodation at the hotel, start a short walking tour in the medieval citadel. You will stroll around on cobblestone streets, admire the local typical German architectural style, visit the Clock Tower, the Church on the Hill, climb on the Covered Stairs. Also, you will see the house where Vlad the Impaler, known as Vlad Dracula, was born.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Important: during the whole day, the car will follow the biking itinerary and pick you up whenever needed. The riding and driving distances will be adapted according to your needs and wishes.

Overnight in Sighisoara: 4-star hotel

Day 6
SIGHISOARA – MALANCRAV – BIERTAN (35km/22mi by bike)

In the morning, you will enjoy a great ride crossing a 500-year-old oak forest called Breite. Then, finally, you will reach another very nice village, Malancrav.

See Apafi Manor and enjoy a traditional lunch. Then, visit the church from the village and admire its frescoes which are considered some of the finest in Romania. Also, here you will admire the apple orchards, which are characteristic of this place.

Continue the ride and head to Biertan village, which boasts a stunning medieval fortified church, one of the largest ones of its type in Transylvania (UNESCO Monument). Here, you will also find an interesting and funny story about how the Saxons avoided families from having a divorce.

Time at leisure in the village.

Dinner in the evening at a superior guesthouse in the Saxon area.

Important: during the whole day, the car will follow the biking itinerary and pick you up whenever needed. The riding and driving distances will be adapted according to your needs and wishes.

Overnight in Biertan: superior guest house

Day 7
BIERTAN – SIBIU (50km/31mi by bike)

Get ready for a long ride along the green rolling hills of Transylvania, pass through remote villages, observe the Gypsy families, enjoy nature and the famous woods of Transylvania.

On the way to Sibiu will stop for a nice picnic.

In the afternoon you’ll enjoy the medieval town of Sibiu, the most beautiful city in Transylvania and former European Capital of Culture in 2007. Enjoy a short walking tour in Sibiu downtown (the Large Square, the Small Square, the Liars Bridge, the Evangelic Church)

Dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Overnight in Sibiu: 4-star hotel

Day 8
SIBIU – CURTEA DE ARGES – BUCHAREST (5h driving & 36km/22mi by bike)

Get ready to leave Transylvania behind and cross the Carpathian Mountains by car along the beautiful Olt Valley*. Before reaching the plains, you’ll take a final biking tour along with the remote villages of the Carpathians.

In Curtea de Arges, you will visit the local monastery, an architectural masterpiece, and discover the legend connected to its construction. In the monastery, you will also see the royal necropolis, as this is where the Romanian royal family members are buried.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Curtea de Arges.

In the afternoon, we head to Bucharest, Romania’s capital city and the last stop of our journey.

The evening ends with a farewell dinner.

*During the warm season (July – October), you will cross the Carpathian Mountains following the famous Transfagarasan Road, which Top Gear declared “the best road in the world.” If you want, you can also enjoy a great descent of the road by bike and then continue the trip to Bucharest.

Overnight in Bucharest: 4-star hotel

Day 9
BUCHAREST – OTOPENI AIRPORT (40min drive)

You’ll be transferred to the airport according to your flight schedule.

End of the tour