Driven by vampire lore and mystery appeal, Transylvania has become Romania’s most popular region for travelers. But legends aside, this magical land of castles, medieval bastions and old-world villages packs in a lot of charm.

A paradise for nature and adventure seekers, the vast wilderness of the Carpathian Mountains preserves some of the last virgin forests in Europe and a simpler way of life. Here are the things you need to know before you explore “the land beyond the forest” – the literal translation of Transylvania’s medieval name.

1. Dracula is just a myth, or is it?

Transylvania is famous for its vampire legends and bloodthirsty Count Dracula, popularised by Bram Stoker’s 1897 fantasy novel. But the Vlad Ţepeş that inspired the book was very real – referred to throughout history as “Vlad the Impaler” for his agonizing method of empaling his enemies on long spikes.

In fact, the 15th-century prince of Wallachia never actually lived at clifftop Bran Castle – popularly known as Dracula’s Castle and attracting close to one million visitors per year. Nor did Stoker himself ever set foot in Transylvania. 

But the castle is still a must-visit on any Transylvania trip. Try to come during the off-season, to avoid long lines. Better yet, arrange a private tour at night without the crowds, when the atmosphere is more suitably eerie for a fortress famed for spooky mystery.

2. Transylvania has castles in abundance

If you find Bran Castle too crowded, there are many more castles to keep you busy in Transylvania. Just 50km (31 miles) south of Bran, the mountain resort of Sinaia has the country’s most resplendent castle Peleș Castle, picked by King Carol I of Romania as a summer residence in 1875 due to its magnificent Bucegi Mountains backdrop. The flamboyant neo-Renaissance architecture honors the family’s German heritage.

A 20-minute train ride to Bușteni will take you to Cantacuzino Castle, a neo-Romanian castle built on the orders of Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, prime minister of Romania in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Set on the premises of a former hunting lodge, this was the filming location for the Nevermore Academy in Tim Burton’s ultra-popular Addams Family spin-off, Wednesday, on Netflix.

3. Medieval towns are everywhere

Romania’s medieval past bursts to life across Transylvania. Start by exploring the Siebenbürgen, the “seven citadels” built by Saxon merchants brought in to protect the region from invading Turks and Tatars in the 12th and 13th centuries.

One of the best-preserved fortress towns, Brașov is picture-perfect with its tall Gothic spires and orange-hued rooftops. Conveniently close to the Poiana Brașov ski resort, it’s the most visited destination in Romania, and a brand-new international airport was inaugurated in 2023, providing easy access. Just outside Brașov at the foot of Mount Tâmpa – accessible on foot or by cable car – a Hollywood-like white-lettered sign glistens on the horizon.

Head to storybook Sighișoara to explore the last inhabited medieval fortress in Europe and its 14th-century clock tower, as well as the rainbow-colored buildings of Sighișoara‘s UNESCO-listed old town. A former European Capital of Culture, nearby Sibiu charms with its peculiar “houses with eyes” – buildings of Saxon heritage, graced with eyelid-shaped windows on their rooftops.

4. Transylvania is a multi-ethnic, multi-faith region

Set in a verdant landscape, small towns and villages settled hundreds of years ago preserve a form of multiculturalism specific to Transylvania. Alongside Saxon settlers with their Germanic influences, Transylvania has a large Hungarian community dating back to the time of the Kingdom of Hungary and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Big cities such as Cluj-Napoca and Târgu Mureș stand testament to an enduring convergence of cultures. Similarly, while most of Romania is Christian-Orthodox, churches of other denominations abound, hosting congregations speaking multiple languages.

5. Authentic Transylvania endures in the villages

To get a real feel for the Transylvanian idyll, head to the villages and enjoy some slow travel. Seven Transylvanian villages are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list because of their fortified churches – six of them Saxon and one Székely – and traditional crafts are still practiced, with authentic Saxon houses wonderfully restored in bright colors.

While the German-speaking population of Romania has declined since the collapse of Communism in 1989, conservation efforts and ecotourism have flourished in this former Saxon heartland. Plan a stay in a traditional guesthouse in Biertan or Viscri, to wake up to the sound of bird song and the smell of wood smoke wafting through the crisp morning air. Staying at Casa Eva Wagner in Biertan, the Fortified Church of Biertan, the largest of its kind, is in full view as you soak in an alfresco hot tub.

6. Beware Transylvania’s ever-present bears

The Carpathian Mountains are home to a huge variety of wildlife, from wolves and lynxes to chamois antelopes. The mountains also provide a home for Europe’s largest population of brown bears – some 8000 of them, a number that has significantly increased.

Bear-spotting is exciting and sightings are almost guaranteed when traveling on mountain roads, but staying alert is key. In recent years, bears have started migrating out of their natural habitats, descending into mountain resorts and attacking farm livestock. It’s not uncommon to receive warning R0-ALERT text messages or see posters at hotels warning about the presence of bears while traveling in the region.

Many tourists make the mistake of feeding bears, which raises the risk of dangerous encounters. After a fatal bear attack, Romania introduced a bear control law in 2024 to reduce the growing bear population. Stay safe by making noise when moving through woodland areas, and stay clear of bears with cubs. 

To see bears safely, visit the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești, where 100 brown bears have been rescued from harsh living conditions in captivity, and now roam free in 69 hectares (170.5 acres) of coniferous forests.

7. Romania offers some amazing road trips

Dubbed the best drive in the world by the motor show Top Gear, the Transfăgărășan road is a thrilling bucket list experience. Connecting Transylvania with historic Wallachia, and winding up and over the highest peaks of the Făgăraş Mountains, the journey peaks at 2034m (6673ft) near the glacier lake of Bâlea with its cascading waterfall. En route, you can spot the rugged ruins of Poienari Citadel, the real residence of Vlad the Impaler.

This lofty highway was constructed in the 1970s as a response to the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union. Nicolae Ceaușescu wanted a safe route across the mountains for his troops should the same happen in Romania, but the road is only usable by traffic in summer. Come from mid-June to the end of October, and check the road is open before you head into the mountains, as sporting events and bad weather can close the route temporarily.

8. Be ready to be stuffed with grub by locals

You wouldn’t be in Romania if you didn’t feel open to eating more than you planned. Rural hospitality generally works on the premise that ‘more is more’, and in Transylvania, the food and drinks are particularly enticing.

Local specialties include rose hip jam and the rich tarragon soups that are a specialty of the area, typically served with a shot of pungent pălincă –  a plum brandy containing between 40 and 50% alcohol – to start things off. To experience Transylvanian hospitality at its finest, set aside a few days to stay at a family guesthouse that grows its own food, where you can enjoy wholesome country fare in abundance.

9. Transylvania is a great place to hike

For active immersion into bucolic village life, the bedrock of the Romanian experience, try trekking the new long-distance Via Transilvanica trail, crossing seven of Romania’s historical regions. Inaugurated in October 2022, the route is already a Europa Nostra award winner for its pioneering role in promoting sustainable local development and heritage protection. Following this 1420km-long hiking, cycling and horseback riding trail is like stepping back in time into rural communities that have barely changed in generations.

Passing by a string of fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the “path that unites” is the most complete journey you can take into the forests and lush meadows of Transylvania and beyond. Along the way, you’ll meet and lodge with villagers who grow their own food, travel in horse-drawn carts and harvest hay to dry in the sunshine, as they have for centuries.

10. You can stay in a king’s retreat

Unexpectedly, Transylvania is a favorite destination for King Charles III. The English monarch has been making regular visits to Transylvania since 1998. As most European royal families are distantly related, it turns out Vlad The Impaler is also his ancestor!

Fascinated by the region’s unaltered beauty, King Charles is heavily involved in the conservation of Transylvania’s rural heritage, restoring a number of Saxon farmhouses that visitors can book for overnight stays, including a private nature retreat in the Zalán Valley just north of Brașov, built in the 17th century and restored in authentic Transylvanian style.

The King’s House in Viscri is a testament to the monarch’s passion for traditional architecture, sustainable agriculture and conserving biodiversity. Open to the public between April and October, it hosts exhibits and training sessions promoting local craftsmanship. 

Known for its craggy mountain peaks, wide-open prairies and scenic views, Wyoming is a camper’s paradise. Pack your tent, fuel up your RV, and get ready to go explore the Cowboy State.

Be sure to check each campground’s season since many are only open during the warm-weather months. Snow can take a while to melt in the spring, so call ahead and check conditions if you’re planning an early season trip so you know what to expect.

Yellowstone National Park

Best bucket list campground

Dreaming of Yellowstone? Reserve a campsite at the world’s first national park for a bucket list experience. While there are more than 2000 campsites up for grabs in Yellowstone – spread out among a dozen campgrounds – you can’t generally just stroll up and snag a spot. Make advanced reservations as early as possible for your best shot at securing a site for the popular summer season. They fill up quickly for a reason – the park’s campgrounds have some of the best tent and RV camping in Wyoming.

The park’s campsites provide great access to the 2.2-million-acre gem, and staying inside the park means you’re close to the heart of the action. You can also sleep in just a little bit longer before crawling out of your tent to go early-morning wildlife watching or jumping into the day’s adventures.

There are a dozen campgrounds to choose from, so narrow your search according to what you’d like to get out of a camping experience. Some of Yellowstone’s campgrounds are massive – the largest, Bridge Bay, has 432 sites, followed closely by Grant Village with 430 spots – but others are far smaller, like Slough Creek, which has just 16 sites. Larger campgrounds generally have more amenities like flush toilets, and even showers and laundry, while smaller ones offer more serenity. Each campground has its own unique draws, such as Bridge Bay’s proximity to Yellowstone Lake – making it the perfect spot for early morning fishing.

Curt Gowdy State Park

Best campground with something for everyone

Love fishing? Mountain biking? Hiking? However you like to enjoy the outdoors, Curt Gowdy State Park is likely a pretty good spot to do it. Located just about half an hour from both Cheyenne and Laramie, this park has over 170 campsites, and so many recreation options you’ll never get bored.

With seven sections surrounding three reservoirs, you can enjoy great fishing – try to hook a brown or rainbow trout, or maybe a kokanee salmon – boating,and other lake activities. Numerous campgrounds are located a stone’s throw from the water, making for a short stroll to early morning fishing.

The park’s mountain biking trails have earned the “Epic” accolade from the International Mountain Bicycling Association, and the park also has plenty of hiking and equestrian trails to entice you out of your campsite before settling back in for evening s’mores sesh (when fire restrictions allow).

Devils Tower

Best campground for unique geology

Sure, you’ve seen photos of Devils Tower, but why not peer out of your tent and gaze right at it? It’s not every day you see an 867ft-tall, 50-million-year-old monolith first thing in the morning. Embrace your inner park ranger by staying at the Belle Fourche River Campground right inside the park – Loop A on the north side is the closest to the tower, but just about any site will have good views.

Or opt for the nearby Devils Tower / Black Hills KOA Journey, which has plenty of spots for tents and RVs and is open from mid-May to mid-October. Here, you can pitch a tent, park an RV or book a cabin.

Glendo State Park

Best beach camping

Wyoming is as land-locked as it gets, but if you know where to look, you can find great places to swim. A few of the state’s best campgrounds, like the fittingly named Sandy Beach Dune, are right by the white-sand beaches.

Glendo State Park is a beach lover’s retreat thanks to the Glendo Reservoir, which covers 12,000 acres. Enjoy water sports, boating, swimming or just lazing in the sun. With over 45 miles of non-motorized trails, you’re almost certain to have the wilderness – and views of the reservoir – to yourself.

Be aware that the reservoir’s water levels can vary widely, impacting recreation opportunities and camping. Check water levels before making plans.

The park has 550 campsites scattered through 19 different campgrounds, and some sites are reserved just for tents, while others are for RVs. Not every site is by the beach, though – Two Moon Campground is in the pine trees, and others are in varied landscapes.

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Best campground for groups

Perfect for multi-generation family trips or big groups of friends, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area features 27 different group camping sites, and the surrounding national recreation area has more than 700 campsites. Named by geologist John Wesley Powell in 1869 for the way the sun reflected off the red rocks, today the park draws anglers, boaters, hikers, mountain bikers and anyone interested in exploring the wilderness straddling the Wyoming–Utah border.

The centerpiece of this park is Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyoming’s largest reservoir at over 42,000 acres, so be sure to pack all your water toys. Spend your days cruising around the reservoir, wakeboarding, water skiing and jet skiing. Kayaks and canoes are another peaceful way to explore the lake – many of the marinas and lodges in the area provide rentals.

Arch Dam Campground is perfect for large groups, but we love Mustang Ridge Campground for its views of the reservoir.

Keep planning your trip to Wyoming:

Check out these awe-inspiring Wyoming destinations
Learn about the Cowboy State at Wyoming’s best museums
Enjoy these epic road trips through Big Sky country

In huge Patagonia, there are plenty of different transportation options.

The region’s towns are well connected by a network of buses, with frequent flights to larger towns from the capital cities of Chile and Argentina. Chile’s long coastline, meanwhile, is served by an array of watercraft. For greatest flexibility, you can choose to explore Patagonia on wheels of your own, whether two or four.

It’s crucial to remember that Patagonia is a vast, sparsely populated region of mountains, glaciers and pampas (grasslands) at the end of the world. Any trip here presents logistical challenges and requires careful planning. Since the region’s attractions are very spread out, and since where and when you go largely depends on what you want to do, here’s everything you need to know about getting around Patagonia by air, bus, boat, bicycle and car. 

Traveling by air can be a time-saver 

Local flights can be a real time-saver when you have to cover considerable distances. Chile’s domestic routes are covered by Sky Airlines and JetSmart, with Sky Airlines offering the best one-way prices; Argentina is covered by Aerolíneas Argentinas, Andes Líneas Aéreas and LADE. LATAM operates flights in both countries.

Main flight routes

In Chile, there are direct flights from Santiago and Puerto Montt south to Coyhaique (the largest town in Chile’s northern Patagonia), and Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales in southern Patagonia. Punta Arenas offers short hops to Porvenir (Tierra del Fuego) as well as flights to Puerto Williams, Chile’s (and the world’s) southernmost settlement. Buenos Aires in Argentina is well connected to the popular Patagonian destinations of El Calafate, Esquel and Trelew, as well as Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, among others. There are no cross-border intra-Patagonian flights. 

Along Chile’s Carretera Austral, Aerocord’s tiny, weather-dependent Cessnas and Piper Navajo planes connect Puerto Montt to Chaitén and Melinka.

Cycling is extremely fun but very challenging

Pedaling your way around Patagonia is a serious undertaking – which only seems to inspire two-wheeled warriors intent on tackling Chile’s iconic Carretera Austral or Argentina’s Ruta 40. Any cyclist will have to be prepared for challenging climatic conditions: fierce winds (particularly in southern Patagonia and in the Argentinean Pampas), and rain at any time of year (particularly in wet Aysén, in northern Chilean Patagonia). The good news is, given that Patagonia’s motor traffic is very light outside towns, you’ll often have the roads largely to yourself. If you take your bicycle on boats and ferries, you have to pay a small fee. Buses will usually stow bikes in the luggage compartment.

Cycling tips

A touring bike with good tires and a repair kit are essential, as is a sturdy all-season tent, since distances between towns are often considerable and you’ll find yourself camping wild. Punctures are not uncommon on the unpaved roads, and while there are bicycle repair shops in most towns, along the Carretera Austral – where you’re likely to need one most – they can only be found in Coyhaique. 

Southern Chile offers epic opportunities for boat travel 

With its long, convoluted coastline and vast glacial lakes, southern Chile offers epic opportunities for boat travel – though ferry travel is limited outside of high season and weather-dependent year-round. Book tickets (including for car ferries along the Carretera Austral) well in advance for travel during the peak December to February months, or turn up at least an hour before departure for rides that aren’t bookable ahead.

Travel by boat in Argentinian Patagonia is very limited, unless you count taking a boat across Lago del Desierto near El Chaltén in order to hike to the Chilean border post of Candelario Mancilla, and then another boat across Lago San Martín/O’Higgins to Chile’s Villa O’Higgins.

If you take a bus from El Calafate to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, that automatically involves crossing the border into Chile and a car ferry across the Magellan Strait before the bus ducks back into Argentinian territory.

Try one of these unique boat experiences

If you have a few days to spare, one unmissable travel experience involves taking the four-day Navimag ferry from Puerto Montt in Chile’s Lake District to Puerto Natales in southern Patagonia – a journey that takes you through a maze of tiny islands, fjords and glaciers, with dolphin and whale sightings en route if you’re lucky… and fog and rough seas if you’re not. Since Navimag is primarily a cargo ship, think of it as a basic cruise ship but with backpacker berths, tiny, basic cabins and cows.

In Ushuaia, there’s the option of crossing the Beagle Channel to Chile’s Isla Navarino (to reach Puerto Williams) in an inflatable Zodiac boat. This 30-minute crossing is weather-dependent and often delayed by high winds. Sometimes, you might be lulled into a false sense of security by the calm waters of Ushuaia’s bay, only to find the Zodiac bouncing on and being battered by house-sized waves farther out in the channel. So be prepared for greater excitement than you signed up for!

Take the bus for affordable long-distance journeys 

Long-distance buses in Chile and Argentina are punctual, rank among the most comfortable in the world, and are relatively inexpensive. Most Chilean and Argentinian towns have a single large bus station, well-organized, with restrooms, left luggage, food kiosks and destinations and fares prominently displayed – though there can be exceptions. In Punta Arenas (Chile) and Ushuaia (Argentina), buses stop at the offices of their respective companies, so it takes some leg work to figure out which bus company you’ll need to get to your destination. Coyhaique (Chile) has a central bus terminal, though a number of small bus companies nevertheless operate from individual bus offices around town.

In Chile, the biggest bus companies are TurBus and Pullman, both of which operate in southern Patagonia; you can purchase tickets from their respective websites. Aysén, Chile’s northern Patagonia, is covered by small minibus companies with limited services and tickets may only be purchased from the bus offices. Argentine websites selling long-distance bus tickets include Omnilineas and Plataforma 10.

Note that long-distance buses traveling from southern Patagonia to Chilean destinations in the Lake District and farther north invariably cross the border into Argentina and back again but do not stop at Argentinian destinations. Likewise, buses from El Calafate and other destinations in Argentinian Patagonia bound for Ushuaia must pass through Chilean territory to do so.

Make bus reservations in advance and consider seasonal services

Buy your ticket well in advance for journeys during the holidays (Christmas, Easter, the months of January and February), and for Fridays and Sundays; otherwise, a few hours ahead generally suffices.

There are good bus connections between towns during peak and shoulder seasons (November through March) but far fewer services the rest of the year. This particularly affects travel along Argentina’s Ruta 40, where bus company Taqsa/Marga and private company Chalten Travel run services between Bariloche in the Lake District and various Patagonian destinations, and along Chile’s Carretera Austral, where minibuses to remote towns run on a limited basis even during high season.

Renting a car gives you the most flexibility

Patagonia’s roads are very lightly trafficked and incredibly scenic. Hiring a car gives you the most flexibility, and you’ll need your own wheels to get to remote national parks and attractions, particularly off Chile’s Carretera Austral. Hiring a 4WD is not necessary, but a car with high clearance is desirable for main routes and essential for exploring unpaved minor roads.

You’ll find major international rental companies at airports and around town in Punta Arenas and Coyhaique in Chile, and El Calafate and Ushuaia in Argentina. Shop around; local companies often charge less per day. To hire a car, a driver’s license from your home country usually suffices. One-way rentals can be difficult to arrange, and when they are one-way drop-off charges can be brutally steep. You have to purchase seguro obligatorio (minimum insurance); additional liability insurance is a good idea, since damage to tires and windscreens on unpaved roads is likely. To cross the border between Chile and Argentina, you’ll need special insurance.

Tips for driving remote routes

Driving Patagonia’s remoter routes – the legendary Ruta 40 and Carretera Austral – is less challenging than it used to be, but precautions still need to be taken:

• There is no phone coverage outside of towns, so make sure you travel with a spare tire and other basic repair equipment – and know how to use it. Other drivers will stop to help in case of breakdown.
• Fill up on gas at every available opportunity.
• Carry supplies of food and water and a good sleeping bag.
• If exploring Tierra del Fuego, you may need to carry spare canisters of fuel, since gas stations are very few and far between.