M / TRAVEL NOTES

ROMANIA / A ROAD TRIP FROM SOFIA

Transfăgărășan.

Take the long way through the mountains.

Four days, medieval towns and a road disappearing into the clouds. This was the reason we came to Romania.

Explore our route
4days
~1,500kilometres
N → Sacross the mountains
Hairpin bends below clouds on the northern Transfăgărășan
DN 7C / ROMANIAFrom our camera roll
SOFIA — BRAN — BRAȘOV — SIBIU — TRANSFĂGĂRĂȘAN — CRAIOVA — SOFIA

01 / WHY WE WENT

The road was the destination.

We planned the route in advance, then gave ourselves permission to drive slowly. The mountains, the lake, even a bear by the road — the Transfăgărășan lived up to everything we had hoped for. Brașov and Sibiu turned out to be wonderful discoveries along the way.

02 / THE FOUR-DAY LOOP

From Sofia. Back to Sofia.

Our trip, 19–22 September. Distances and driving times below are planning estimates, not promises.

03 / THE UNEXPECTED HIGHLIGHTS

Two cities we'd come back for.

The southern mountain road winding through the Făgăraș landscapeThe southern side / our photograph

04 / NORTH TO SOUTH

Give the mountains a whole day.

We left Sibiu, approached from the north and crossed towards Curtea de Argeș. We drove slowly, stopped for views and let the road set the pace.

    Waterfalls and Poenari were in our plan; their inclusion here does not mean we visited every stop. Check access before setting out.

    Open the mountain route

    05 / AN HONEST NOTE

    Beautiful scenery.
    Demanding driving.

    The hardest part of our trip was driving in Romania.

    We repeatedly saw risky overtakes for the sake of getting one car ahead — on climbs and blind bends. Some stretches felt extremely narrow, with concrete barriers on one side and guardrails on the other. Road quality changed dramatically. We found ourselves staying tense behind the wheel.

    That is our experience on this trip. We loved the journey, but would plan it again with generous time margins and fewer kilometres in a day.

    07 / BEFORE YOU GO

    A little preparation goes a long way.

    On our planning list

    Peleș Castle and Râșnov Fortress were optional stops on the outward journey. We have not marked them as visited. Add them only if your timing and current opening arrangements allow.

    PeleșRâșnov

    OUR TAKEAWAY

    Go for the road.
    Leave time for everything around it.

    Words & photographs · Alexey Martovoy