I was born and raised in Romania, and I moved back here in 2024 after living in NYC for almost 14 years. To encourage people to visit this beautiful, yet highly underrated country, I put together a Romania small group tour for solo travelers in their mid 20’s – early 40’s during August 30 – September 6 2025. In this blog post I will share the details about this trip. I hope you can join me! This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Day 1: Arrive in Bucharest
The Romania group tour starts in Bucharest, Romania’s capital city.
The tour officially kicks off in the afternoon. That’s when you meet all your fellow travelers, have dinner, and break the ice as you prepare for a week of adventures.
Dinner is a special occasion as we’ll dine at one of the best Romanian restaurants in Bucharest, Caru’ cu Bere. This restaurant is famous for both its delicious local food and its ambience, which includes live music and dances.
Day 2: Explore the best of Bucharest
The next day begins with an immersive exploration of Bucharest after a delicious breakfast. We will go on a guided city tour to visit the city’s most famous landmarks, including the Palace of Parliament, Carturesti Carusel Bookstore, Cismigiu Park, and Stavropoleos Monastery.
After a busy morning we’ll eat a relaxed traditional lunch in the Old Town before departing for the medieval city of Brasov in the afternoon.
The scenic drive to Brașov offers a glimpse of Romania’s stunning small villages and rural landscape. Once we arrive in this charming town located in the Carpathian Mountains, we’ll check into the Victoria Bulevard Hotel.
We’ll spend the evening settling in, taking in the fresh air, and enjoying a delicious dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 3: Tour Peles Castle and Dracula’s Castle
When people think of Romania the majority think of the legend of Dracula. Thanks, Bram Stoker!
While the myths of Dracula are fictional, the character was inspired by Vlad Dracul or Vlad Tepes. He was the Voivode of Wallachia (now Romania) in the 1400’s, a very cruel leader who used to impale his enemies.
Bran Castle is supposedly the castle where Count Dracula used to live in Bram Stoker’s book. It is a castle built in the 14th century by the Transylvanian Saxons and it is one of the most impressive medieval castles in Romania.
The imposing aura of Bran Castle and it’s mysterious vibe are guaranteed to get your blood pumping and give you one of the most memorable experiences of this trip. So spooky!
Peles Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Romania. I believe that it’s more beautiful than Bran Castle. It is a Neo-Renaissance castle in Sinaia, a mountain town in the Carpathian Mountains, close to Brasov.
After visiting the two castles you’ll have the option of embarking on a short, easy hike in Piatra Craiului National Park or simply have free time to enjoy Brasov. Then we’ll all get together again and have a delicious local dinner.
Day 4: Take in the charm of Brasov’s Old Town and go bear watching
Today we’ll go on a tour of Brasov. We will visit the Black Church – one of the most spectacular churches and the main gothic-style monument in Romania, the Council Square – the main square of Brasov, and the Rope Street – one of the narrowest streets in Europe. Then we will hike to the Brasov sign on Mount Tampa.
Then in the afternoon we’ll go on a bear watching tour with a local tour guide to see wild bears in their natural habitat. This is a unique opportunity as Romania is home to more than half of Europe’s Brown Bear population.
The bear sanctuary where we’ll go is an indoor observatory where wild brown bears are attracted with food for close-up observations. Hence, the tour is safe and you can just focus on watching the bears.
These observatories were designed by wildlife photographers for wildlife photography, so they are the best places to watch the bears and take some amazing pictures.
Day 5: Immerse yourself in the local culture
Today we’ll explore the rural areas of Romania and we’ll immerse ourselves into the local culture and traditions. We will start with a cooking workshop in a local village in Transylvania. Here local people will teach you how to make one of our traditional dishes such as sarmale.
Then we’ll visit a community of gypsies, one of the minorities of Romania. You’ll have the chance to learn more about their daily life, customs and what they do for a living.
After the visit we’ll go to a sheepfold where you can see the rich cultural heritage of rural Romania and sample some delicious, fresh cheeses. They are so good!
Then, after a busy day we’ll head to our next location: Sighisoara.
Day 6: Explore Sighisoara and Salina Turda
We’ll start the day by going to Salina Turda, a spectacular underground salt mine that has been transformed into an impressive tourist attraction. We’ll spend a few hours here exploring the salt mine, the underground lake, the Ferris Wheel, and all other attractions before enjoying lunch in the nearby town of Turda.
Then we return to Sighisoara to explore this well-reserved medieval citadel that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sighisoara is also the birthplace of Vlad Tepes (Dracula) and you can visit the house where he was born.
During the 14th and 15th centuries 14 towers were built in Sighisoara as a defense system. The most striking one is the Clock Tower.
Visiting this tower, getting lost on the narrow streets and admiring the colored buildings will make you feel like you stepped back in time.
Sighisoara is my favorite town in Romania. It rivals more well-known medieval towns in Western Europe.
Day 7: Check out Viscri and relax at Therme Bucharest
Today’s journey takes us off the main tourist track to the quiet little village of Viscri, home to an incredible fortified church. After visiting the church we’ll have lunch and head back to Bucharest.
Then we’ll spend the afternoon at Therme Bucharest, Europe’s largest wellness center. It has multiple thermal water pools, mineral water pools, saunas, water slides, infrared light beds, and even a botanical garden with 800,000 species of plants.
Day 8: Say goodbye to the group and return home
On the last day we’ll have a final breakfast with the group. This is the saddest moment of the trip since we have to go home. After saying goodbye to our fellow travelers we will check out and head to the airport to catch our flights and return home.
FAQs about the Romania group tour
Who organizes this trip? Have you traveled with them before?
This group trip is organized by me in partnership with Indy Escapes, a small travel company founded by Lucas Chesterton almost 10 years ago. He is an Australian traveler who already visited 130+ countries and plans to see every single country.
I traveled with Indy Escapes to Kenya. It was the most incredible trip I’ve ever been on. The itinerary was so carefully designed, the people who joined were amazing, and the vibe was super fun and safe.
I really liked the fact that Lucas focuses on providing unforgettable experiences for all the travelers that join his trips. But at the same time he makes sure we give back to the communities we visit and we immerse ourselves in the local culture.
Since I loved traveling with him so much, we decided to collaborate on this group trip to Romania.
Who is this group trip for?
This group is for solo travelers in their mid 20’s – early 40’s who want to travel in a safe, fun, and inclusive environment. Couples and small groups of friends are also welcome to join.
People who join our trips appreciate the outdoors, wildlife, and natural beauty while seeking immersive cultural experiences and sustainable travel options.
Do I need a visa for this trip to Romania?
Romania is part of both the European Union and Schengen. Travelers from most EU countries, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand do not require a visa for short stays of up to 90 days.
Travelers from other parts of the world might require a Schengen visa to visit Romania. We recommend checking with your local Romanian consulate or embassy well in advance of your trip.
How much does the trip cost?
The trip costs 1,590 euros. The first 5 people who book can use code SOLOINSTYLE for 100 euros off.
The price is for a twin shared room, which means that you will share the room with one other person. If you don’t want to share the room you can pay for a single supplement. In this case the trip costs 2,990 euros.
Only a 300 euro deposit is needed for booking and the final payment is due on June 25.
Which airport do I need to fly to?
You will fly in and out of Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP), located in Bucharest, Romania’s capital city.
Are flights included?
No, flights are not included since people join this trip from all over the world.
All domestic transportation to all places we will be visiting is included.
Are meals included?
Daily buffet breakfasts, 2 lunches as well as 3 dinners are included. You will have to cover the rest of the meals, snacks and drinks out of pocket.
Meals at local cafes and restaurants in Romania typically range from $5 to $15 USD per meal, while in mid-range restaurants, you can expect to pay around $10 to $30 USD for a meal. Snacks and drinks can be bought from local stores for a few dollars.
Are airport transfers included?
No, transfers to and from the airport are not included in the cost of this trip, but you can take an Uber or Bolt to and from the airport.
Are there any additional costs?
There are a few optional activities that come at an additional cost: bear watching near Brasov, wine tasting in Sighisoara, an afternoon at Therme Bucharest.
Can I join the trip solo?
Absolutely. This trip is designed for solo travelers who want to experience Romania with a small group tour. About 70% of people who travel with me and Indy Escapes join the trips solo.
Is Romania safe for a solo female traveler?
Yes, Romania is safe for solo female travelers. This is probably the number one question I’m being asked about Romania, so let me give you the full answer here.
One of the stereotypes about Romania is that it’s not a safe country. A lot of people still avoid visiting because of this.
This was true in the first 10-20 years after the fall of communism (1989 – 2009).
After the 1989 Revolution everyone was trying to make money and stop living in scarcity. And because there was so much corruption and no systems put in place to help people, some people had to resort to scamming and stealing.
Back in the day pickpockets would steal money from you at the airport, on the street. Well, literally anywhere. There is even a song by Romanian rapper Puya saying something like “when you land in Romania, make sure to keep your money close to you”.
Taxi drivers used to scam tourists as well. They would always ask for more money than what the price actually was.
But things have evolved so much and are so different now. We are part of the EU and Schengen. The country developed tremendously and the economy has been growing consistently.
So the crime rate is very low and these things don’t happen anymore because people don’t need to resort to scamming and stealing to live a decent life. That’s why debunking myths about Romania is so important.
I live in Romania again after being in NYC for 14 years and traveling all over Western Europe and I feel safer in Romania than I felt in Western Europe or the US.
What is the currency in Romania?
While Romania has been part of the European Union since 2007, it is not in the Eurozone yet. Our currency is lei. 1 euro (or 1 dollar) = 5 lei.
Do I need cash for my trip to Romania?
Yes, you do. While you can pay with a credit card in every city in Romania, places in the countryside or smaller mom-and-pop businesses are still cash-only.
So if you want to eat at a traditional local eatery that’s not in the city, or if you want to buy souvenirs or tip your tour guides make sure you have cash.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
What language do people speak in Romania?
The official language in Romania is Romanian. Contrary to popular belief, Romanian sounds nothing like Russian.
Romanian is a romance language. That means that it has Latin roots, and it is very similar to Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Catalan. For example, the word “good” is “bun” in Romanian, “bueno” in Spanish, “buon” in Italian, and “bon” in French. Do you see the resemblance?
Romanian has some Slavic influences, so there will be words that don’t sound anything like their Spanish or French counterparts. One example is the word for “snow”, “zăpadă”. This is a Slavic word, and it is quite different from “nieve” in Spanish or “neige” in French.
However, overall, Romanian is very similar to its romance language cousins, and it sounds nothing like Russian.
Do people speak English in Romania?
Yes, they do. Pretty much everyone speaks English in Romania nowadays, especially the younger folks.
Most people also speak a little Spanish because Latin-American soap operas were very popular in Romania at the beginning of the 2000’s. And since Romanian is similar to Spanish we all picked up Spanish.
That’s how I learned Spanish. And I am also able to understand bits and pieces of all other romance languages.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.