10 Magical Fairy-Tale Towns in a Country Otherwise Known for Being Spooky

Mark our words: Sighisoara will be on the lips of every influencer within the next few years. The main three cobblestone streets of the citadel boast Crayola-colored houses that are chock-full of photogenic cafes and boutiques. If you can tear yourself away from street level, the Clock Tower (easy to find—it’s visible from almost anywhere in town), the Sighisoara History Museum, or the Church on the Hill all offer beautiful views of Sighișoara. If you’re around during the final week of July, plan to attend the annual Medieval Festival. If not, you can always visit one of the many medieval Guild Towers or the birthplace of Vlad Tepes (also known as Count Dracula).

Most travelers use Brasov as a base to explore the nearby Bran Castle (also known as Dracula’s Castle, as Vlad the Impaler was once imprisoned there), but we’d be surprised if you didn’t at least consider extending your stay in the charming, ancient town. Visit the narrowest street in Europe (Strada Sforii, or “Rope Street”), sip coffee near the 13th-century clock tower or in brick basement cafes, climb to the White or Black Towers to watch the sun set on the city, or venture into the Carpathian Mountains to hike between villages nestled between vast forests and towering peaks.

When you hear that the houses in Sibiu have windows that look like eyes and a bridge that purportedly creeks when you tell a lie on it, you may assume the Transylvanian town has an air of spookiness to it. But instead, it’s the cultural capital of the region, with multiple squares that act as the center of city life, centuries-old churches, and a myriad of museums. The town is separated into Lower Town and Upper Town. The former is where most of the historic sights are, whereas the latter is home to more cozy cafes and families.

Though small in size, Sinaia is fit for a king. Literally. The town of just 11,600 in the shadows of the Bucegi Mountains, is where Romania’s first king, Carol I, spent his summers. Peles Castle–the brainchild of a myriad of artists’, architects’, and woodsmiths’ work over the course of 40 years–is reason enough to visit. The 150 rooms are a buffet of different decorating styles ranging from Art Nouveau to Gothic Revival. While grandiose wood carvings, stain glass windows, and marble stairs dominate the building, what you’ll remember of your tour of the residence is the armor room (for both men and horses), larger than life portraits of the royal, and several secret passageways.

Unlike the riotously colorful Sighisoara and Sibiu, most of the buildings in Viscri are a more muted blue topped with uniformly red roofs. It was lesser-known until Prince Charles expressed his love for the quiet getaway. Still, the tiny village (with a population of 400), is where you can see what life is really like in rural Romania. Many workers participate in traditional craftsmanship, like the blacksmiths who forge horseshoes and the artists who make tiles in earthen kilns. Breeze down the cycling trails that cruise by pastures or explore the area on horseback.

Suceava has changed hands numerous times over the years. For nearly 200 years, it belonged to Moldova before being controlled by various groups associated with Austria-Hungary until 1968, when it was relinquished to Romania. It makes sense that the buildings are wildly diverse. But the main attraction in Suceava is the 14th century Royal Citadel, and rightfully so. Where else is it encouraged to climb on the rocks and poke around various chambers unguided?

With a name that literally translates to “tree-logs” it makes sense that Busteni works in tandem with nature. Squirreled away in the Bucegi Mountains, it’s a popular ski and climbing town, with a bevy of romantic resorts and cottages. Spend the day hiking amongst the waterfalls or, if that’s not your thing, take the cable car to the top of the mountain for a panoramic view of the valley.

This little village is practically synonymous with explosively colorful frescos. The painted monastery here is arguably the most popular of Bucovina’s (and inarguably the one with the most paintings), all of which are known for the quality of the artwork and the fact that, despite hundreds of years of being exposed to the elements, the external paintings are still largely intact. Both the Old and New Testament find homes on the densely-packed outer walls (both the cheery ones and those that are decidedly not), with the exception of the western one; the story goes that after the original painter fell from the rafters, other artists weren’t keen on finishing the gig.

Corvin Castle, the largest secular Gothic building in all of Transylvania, is the number one reason to visit Hunedoara. Built on a rock looming over the city below, this imposing fortress has multiple circular and rectangular towers (some of which were used as prisons once upon a time), stone balconies, and an actual drawbridge.

Technically, the newly-discovered Tunnel of Love (not to be mistaken for the similar one near Klevan, Ukraine) is just outside of Caransebes, but finding it adds to the magic of the place. Their trees intertwine to create a botanic tunnel that surrounds an old section of the railroad where you can walk for miles under the greenery. As you leave town, go east along Road 68 and look for the original railroad station near the Obreja commune. From there, just follow the tracks into the woods.