I recently went to Romania for a long weekend and managed to pack a lot into just a few days. Going in with very little knowledge about the country, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I was able to learn in such a short period. Here’s my experience, along with some thoughts on what I enjoyed most.

I arrived on Saturday afternoon and, after checking into my Airbnb, walked over to Bucharest’s Old Town. Before arriving, I had done a quick Google search and identified a few places I wanted to visit, so I started with those. The first was Carturesti Carusel, an aesthetically pleasing multi-level bookstore with spiral staircases, open balconies, and plenty of natural light. I always love a good bookshop, so I spent some time browsing.

Next, I walked over to the Church of the Stavropoleos Monastery, a monastery located right in the heart of Bucharest’s Old Town. While there, I visited the church and then relaxed for a while in the peaceful courtyard adjacent to it. I even saw a nun walking through at one point. The monastery is beautiful and feels like a little oasis amid the bustle of the city.

Afterwards, I visited the Macca-Villacrosse Passage, a covered Y-shaped passage connecting two streets in Bucharest. With its distinctive yellow glass roof, cafés, and interesting architecture, it’s well worth a quick stop.

My final destination was the Palace of Parliament. I had no idea what to expect and was shocked by its sheer size. I learned much more about this massive building and its ties to Romania’s Communist era later in the trip during a walking tour. I attempted to enter the grounds to get a closer look, but it was too late in the day and tours had already finished.

After visiting the places on my initial list, I stopped at Industry Wine Bar in Bucharest’s Old Town and asked for a glass of Romanian white wine. The staff member was knowledgeable and recommended a lovely Chardonnay, while also telling me about the Dealu Mare wine region where it was produced.

For dinner, I had a reservation at Hanu’ lui Manuc, a popular Romanian restaurant in Bucharest. Unfortunately, my experience there was underwhelming. I had booked my dinner around a dance performance that was supposedly taking place, but the staff didn’t seem to know what I was referring to. I ordered mici, a popular Romanian dish consisting of grilled sausages served with potatoes, but the sausages were burnt. When I ordered Romanian doughnuts for dessert, I was told they would take 20–30 minutes because they were made fresh. Less than ten minutes later, a plate arrived that definitely did not seem freshly made. That said, I would still recommend stopping by Hanu’ lui Manuc—perhaps just not eating there—as the building itself is quite impressive.

For Sunday, I had booked a full-day tour to Transylvania, which included Bran Castle, the city of Brașov, and Peleș Castle. The tour departure point was conveniently located just a few minutes from my Airbnb. I was grateful that I had read reviews beforehand, as I made sure to use the bathroom and pack my own breakfast since we wouldn’t be stopping for a few hours. The tour offered the option to pay for entry to Bran Castle and Peleș Castle through the operator. It cost €60 to enter both. You can purchase tickets yourself upon arrival, but that takes extra time, and tickets for Peleș Castle can sometimes sell out.

Our first stop was Bran Castle, famously known as “Dracula’s Castle,” even though Bram Stoker never visited Romania. The association is more of a marketing creation than a historical connection. Bran Castle was interesting to visit because it originally served as a fortress. It’s spread across multiple levels, and you wind your way through a series of rooms and staircases. The earlier rooms focus on the castle’s history, while some of the later exhibits lean into the Dracula legend with a slightly cheesy spooky atmosphere. Overall, I thought it was worth visiting and was glad I went inside.

Afterwards, we continued to the city of Brașov. We were brought to the main square and given free time for lunch and sightseeing. I chose a restaurant called Dracula, partly because of its good reviews and themed décor, and the food was actually quite good. I tried Romania’s popular bean soup served in a bread bowl. Afterwards, I spent some time wandering around Brașov and getting a feel for the city.

Our final stop was Peleș Castle, which was incredibly impressive. Built as the summer residence of the Romanian royal family, it features some of the most distinctive architecture I have seen on a castle. The interior is equally impressive, with room after room of ornate decoration and craftsmanship. You could easily spend a long time exploring, although we were limited by the tour schedule and the need to return to Bucharest that evening. Be sure to leave a few minutes to explore the gardens in front of the castle as well, which showcase its beautiful mountain setting.

Upon arriving back in Bucharest, I had another dinner reservation, this time at Caru’ cu Bere, another well-known Romanian restaurant. My experience here was significantly better than the previous evening. I ordered sarmale, a traditional Romanian dish consisting of minced meat rolled in cabbage leaves and served with polenta, which was delicious. I also enjoyed a Romanian beer, fitting given that Caru’ cu Bere began as a brewery. Throughout the evening, dancers periodically performed traditional Romanian folk dances, which added to the atmosphere and provided a nice break from the meal. I decided to give Romanian doughnuts another chance here and was much more impressed with this version.

Monday was my final day in Bucharest, as I needed to work Monday evening before catching an early flight home on Tuesday morning. I spent the morning on a walking tour that I booked through Airbnb Experiences. Our guide took us around Bucharest’s Old Town and to the Palace of Parliament, explaining Romania’s history—particularly during the Communist era—as well as the significance of many of the buildings we passed. The tour helped me better understand the city, and we also had the opportunity to step inside several buildings along the way.

After the tour, I had lunch at Hanu’ Berarilor Casa Oprea Soare, which has a lovely outdoor dining area. They were offering a lunch special, allowing me to try pork soup, chicken schnitzel, and pickled vegetables.

With more time, I would have liked to tour the inside of the Palace of Parliament, visit some of Bucharest’s museums, and explore the city’s Jewish Quarter. That being said, I feel like this trip provided a great introduction to Romania and its culture, and it left me wanting to return and see more.