In July, my family (including 2 teenagers) will be taking a train from Budapest to Oradea and will pick up a rental car there. We'll drive to Vadu Izei . This is our itinerary so far:
Day 1-2 - Maramures - Explore the wooden churches, Merry Cemetery, the villages, the local artisans.
Day 3-4 - Bucovina - Drive over the Prislop Pass to Bucovina. See Sucevita, Moldovita and Voronet. Is the new customs and traditions museum a must-see?
Day 5 - Sighisoara - Drive from Bucovina through Bicaz Gorge and Red Lake to Sighisoara. See the town, the clock tower, Saxon village Biertan. Is the torture museum interesting? Spend the night.
Day 6 - Sibiu - See the sights. Spend the night.
Day 7 - Brasov - Black church, Bran Castle, Premjer, Rasnov Ruins. Spend the night.
Day 8 - Sinaia & Bucharest - Go to Sinaia to see Peles Castle. Then return car to Bucharest OTOPENI airport in late afternoon or early evening and spend the night at the Phoenicia Express Hotel because it's close to the airport.
Day 9- Early flight out of Bucharest.
Do you know how long it will take to get from Oradea to Vadu Izei, from Vadu Izea to Bucovina, from Bucovina to Sighisoara and from Brasov to Bucharest? Is there anything on this itinerary that we should add or drop? We like villages, UNESCO sites, architecture and monasteries. We may forego seeing Eger Hungary to add one more day in Romania. If so, where should we spend more time? With the driving to and from Bucovina, will we have enough time in Bucovina? Do you have any hotels or pensions recommendations? Has anyone stayed at Phoenicia Express Hotel? Is it OK?
Many thanks for your advice.
Advice on 9-10 day itinerary in Romania
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From Vadu Izea to Maramures takes about 4 hours of driving, if memory serves me right. There is a restaurant at the top of the pass. You might want to take a look at Cliff's and my trip report; click on our names to find them.
I'd spend an extra day in Eger rather than any day in Romania, it is just such a great town with so many things to visit
Eger is a nice town (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/sets/72157623003638578/show/with/4186897334/ ), but I would skip it given the few days you have in Romania.
Couple of things... first of all, Romania is GORGEOUS. That being said, you've got a heck of a lot of driving in your itinerary.
For much more information, please don't hesitate to contact me (click on my name) as I live here.
Google maps now has (basic) information on Romania, which will include driving times.
The main attraction in Suceava/Bucovina is the painted churches. I'd see these over any museum.
Sighisoara is awesome. I think the upper town is far more interesting than the torture museum, although there are three museums there within 10 meters of eachother.
I hope you have a wonderful time
Thank you everyone for your wisdom. Do you have any favorite hotels or pensions in Romania that you recommend?
We're finding that renting a car in Oradea and dropping it off in Bucharest is going to be expensive. Does anyone know of local rental car companies near the Oradea train station that might be reasonable?
I know our itinerary is Romania is rushed and packed. It's the final and longest leg of a monthlong journey in central and Eastern Europe. The more I read about Romania, the more excited I get about seeing the country. It's sounds beautiful and authentic--sort of like Turkey before the hordes of tourists discovered it.
I loved reading this report, think it may be useful to you:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/trip-report-romania-budapest-and-ne-hungary-curses-blessings-and-cabbage.cfm
You did not say what you were doing in Hungary as part of your trip, but if you are touring by car, it might actually make sense to rent the car in Hungary and return it there. That was cheaper for me than to rent in Romania, but that was a few years ago and things may have changed.
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