Day trips · Bucharest · Romania
5 best day trips from Bucharest
Where to go when you want a day away from Bucharest, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mihai Petre, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Bucharest is Sinaia and Peleș Castle (About 1 hour 45 minutes by train). The closest option is Snagov Monastery, about 40 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Snagov Monastery (40 km)
- Most popular
- Sinaia and Peleș Castle
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinaia and Peleș Castle | 125 km | About 1 hour 45 minutes by train | Train from Gara de Nord to Sinaia | First-timers, Families, Culture |
| Brașov | 170 km | About 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours by train | Train from Gara de Nord | First-timers, Couples, Culture |
| Bran Castle | 180 km | About 3 hours by car or tour | Car, organised tour, or train to Brașov then bus | Families, First-timers |
| Snagov Monastery | 40 km | About 45 minutes by car | Car or taxi | Quiet stays, Culture |
| Târgoviște | 80 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes by train or car | Train or car | Culture, Quiet stays |
The day trips
125 km · About 1 hour 45 minutes by train
1.Sinaia and Peleș Castle
Peleș, the neo-Renaissance summer castle of King Carol I completed in the early 20th century, is richly carved and furnished and set in forest above the mountain resort of Sinaia. Nearby are the smaller Pelișor Castle and Sinaia Monastery.
- Getting there
- Train from Gara de Nord to Sinaia
- Best for
- First-timers, Families, Culture
170 km · About 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours by train
2.Brașov
Transylvania's Saxon-founded city has a Gothic Black Church, a pastel main square, medieval bastions and Mount Tâmpa rising behind the old town, with a cable car to the top. An overnight stay makes the trip easier.
- Getting there
- Train from Gara de Nord
- Best for
- First-timers, Couples, Culture
180 km · About 3 hours by car or tour
3.Bran Castle
Marketed as 'Dracula's castle', Bran's real story is of a medieval customs fortress later beloved by Queen Marie of Romania. It is usually combined with Brașov or Peleș on a long day.
- Getting there
- Car, organised tour, or train to Brașov then bus
- Best for
- Families, First-timers
40 km · About 45 minutes by car
4.Snagov Monastery
A small medieval monastery on an island in Lake Snagov, reached by footbridge. Legend says Vlad the Impaler is buried inside, and the lake shore is a popular weekend escape.
- Getting there
- Car or taxi
- Best for
- Quiet stays, Culture
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80 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by train or car
5.Târgoviște
The former capital of Wallachia, where the Princely Court ruins and the Chindia Tower recall Vlad the Impaler and the princes who ruled from here.
- Getting there
- Train or car
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- STB buses, trams and trolleybuses cover the whole city; contactless bank cards can be tapped on board to pay.
- Trains from Gara de Nord serve Sinaia and Brașov in the Carpathians and the airport.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Bucharest?
Sinaia and Peleș Castle. Peleș, the neo-Renaissance summer castle of King Carol I completed in the early 20th century, is richly carved and furnished and set in forest above the mountain resort of Sinaia.
+How long does it take to get from Bucharest to Sinaia and Peleș Castle?
About 1 hour 45 minutes by train — Train from Gara de Nord to Sinaia, about 125 km.
+How long does it take to get from Bucharest to Brașov?
About 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours by train — Train from Gara de Nord, about 170 km.