Anyone been to Transylvania?

[Gymqueenie]

Looking to go to Sibiu for the Christmas markets in Dec with DH & the kids!

Watching with interest.

Beautiful area of Romania, have visited Romanian friends several times and taken holidays in different areas. I'm just a bit wary just now as it borders Ukraine.

It's stunning.

I went on a day trip from Bucharest. It was beautiful (and cold - middle of winter). Take a big coat.

Great, thanks for the responses, the Sibiu Christmas Market looks beautiful & we can do a day trip to Dracula's Castle. We had been looking at Tallin also but the dc age 10 & 11 think Transylvania sounds very exciting!

I'm going to Brasov and Zarnesti in just over two weeks I think it's near?
Obviously won't see the markets now but I've heard Transylvania is beautiful!

Ps my reason for going is bears! Libearty!

@Unforgettablefire how cool! Where are the bears?! I think Sibiu & Brasov are 2 hours apart so quite close. How exciting! You must report back!

@horseymum do they stop and question everyone at customs? I'm nervous of this I've heard some of them can be a bit funny.

I prefer Brasov to Sibiu (I used to live in Brasov so probably biased). Can you do both?

Transilvania is amazingly beautiful and unspoilt. Have a look at the Wild Carpathia films. The Mihai Eminescu Trust has beautifully renovated Saxon village houses that you can stay in. You should also visit Sighisoara as well.

@Unforgettablefire I’ve never been stopped at customs. Yes, Romania does border Ukraine, and Romania has taken in a lot of refugees, but I don’t feel unsafe here. Romania is a member of NATO.

@Gymqueenie it's called libearty bear sanctuary it's in Zarnesti in Transylvania.

A woman started it after visiting a bear in a cage and got close to her feeding her and the bear died in her arms. That's the short story.
So anyway she opened this place, and rescues bears from cages outside restaurants and circuses.
It's part of a forest, hectares it's the biggest and most ethical one in the world they have pools and everything.
They do tours but they're so concerned with the bears they don't allow small kids or noise and the tour is only at morning feeding time with a limited number of people. There's wolves too and deer.
They tell you the story of each bear and apparently you need tissues.
The tour and admission is about £12. If you go don't get a private tour they're about £90.
Of course I'll report back and with photos I can't wait!

It was a long while ago now, but I spent several months working around Bucharest, Snagov & travelled to a small
village in the Transylvanian mountains on location.

An absolutely beautiful part of the world, it’s one of my favourite places!

Yes I've been to Brasov and Sighisoara on a trip spanning Bulgaria and Romania. Both lovely. Had a great few days.

We went this summer. Sibiu was lovely but Brasov nicer as a base. The best food is round here too. The new airport opens in Brasov in the summer. The coast was beautiful but very under developed at Sulina. Amazing bird watching though.

Bucharest isn't great. Trashy in the old town.

The really famous drive across the Carpathians is unforgettable. unknownbucharest.com/transfagarasan-spectacular-drive-over-carpathians/

Viscri Saxon villages are amazing. Sighisoara gorgeous.

Also try Papanasi - delicious.

My best friend is from here! It’s apparently extraordinarily beautiful. She’s really proud of it and she’s always saying how she wishes I would visit so I could see for myself! I plan to. This doesn’t help much with the specifics of course but just wanted to say - go! Then come back and tell us how wonderful it was! 😁