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South Western
Road Trip
This itinerary takes you past waterfalls and rivers, through mountain tops and mines, and many of the region's most historic towns. It is a great option to explore some of the lesser-known areas of Romania and avoid driving through big cities like Bucharest. We drove this route in 6 days which is what we would recommend at the very least. It can be sped up by a day but you will reduce your leisure time or cut out some hidden gems.
Itineraries
Locations to visit
Other Countries
Travel Day 1
While we started in Sibiu this was designed as a loop tour so it can be started at any of the points. We suggest starting in Sibiu as the town has many rental car companies but is located far enough away from major hubs that we found it to be cheaper than the big cities. Sibiu is also quite small so you should not have much of an issue with traffic when you are trying to get used to the rules on the road.
Sibiu is one of the few cities that was pretty much left alone during Ceaușescu mass country redevelopment. This leaves it with a car-free city centre full of walking streets, colourful churches, watchtowers, and more eyes then you can imagine! Most buildings have unique shaped windows on their roofs which look exactly like eyes. Each is different so wander around town to see which set are your favourite! You can read more about the city HERE.
After picking up your car, head west toward the Transalpina Highway, the oldest and highest mountain pass across the Carpathian Mountains. About halfway through the highway, once you have passed dozens of cute country towns complete with horse-drawn carriages, and countless hairpin turns, you will get to an intersection where you can exit the Transalpina. DO NOT TAKE THE EXIT! The best part of the highway is the last third as it avoids the valleys and climbs directly over the mountains. The views are amazing and the drive is a great time as long as you like to sit on the edge of your seat!
As an alternative, if you are lucky enough to be exploring Romania when the Transfăgărășan is open (roughly July - September) you can take that highway and meet up with this itinerary for a night's sleep in Targu Jui. The Transfăgărășan is Romania's most famous highway and is often listed as the most beautiful road in the world (even Top Gear agrees)! Targu Jui is one of the largest cities in the southwest of Romania, and thus a great spot to stop for the night. There are large grocery stores, shopping malls, and best of all, lots of budget accommodations. For those that have an extra night, Targu Jui is home to a number of Constantin Brancusi sculptures that are worth checking out.
Travel Day 2
The next day takes you south toward the Serbian border and to the Head of Decebalus. While it would probably draw more of a crowd if it was to be his actual head, this is the largest relief sculpture in Romania. Sitting overlooking the Danube river, Decebalus stands at 141 feet tall, a symbol of the Romanian strength and resilience against foreign invasion. Take a dip in the river and enjoy a quick bite in town. After spending some time head back north towards Băile Herculane. This is a great spot to spend a couple of hours soaking in the natural hot springs which have made the town famous for almost 2,000 years. With lots of restaurants, it is also probably the best spot to grab some lunch. If you are able to get a tour of the former Neptune baths, it is absolutely worth it. The exterior of the Baroque styled building is worth checking out even if you can't get inside. The building is a true testament to what the city once was and hopefully an indication of what it could be in the future if things continue to turn around for the city.
After a quick treatment, jump back onto the highway and alongside the Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park to check out one of Romania's most beautiful natural wonders. The moss-covered waterfall is absolutely stunning and worth a quick stop. Doing so also allows you to drive a much less travelled highway which takes you through quaint Romanian villages and farms. If you want to stretch your legs for a bit longer, you can pay to get into the national park entrance beside the falls and take a short 10-minute walk to the source of the Bigar Springs and a cave. Alongside the parking lot of the waterfalls, there are a number of food and drink stands in case anyone is in need of a coffee!