Romania is a country in Southeastern Europe with Bucharest as its capital and the city you’ll be flying into. If you want to know more about the history, geography and the people of Romania, check out this site: Romania Tourism
Iulia’s hometown is Brasov [Brah’shov]. It is located in the center of the country, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, in an area of Romania known as Transylvania. It is 176km away from Bucharest, or about 2 1/2 hour drive from the capital. More info on the city can be found here: Brasov Tourist Info
We will be in Brasov between May 30th and June 4th. Our wedding afterparty is on June 2nd, 2017 and you are free to join us for any portion of this Romanian excursion. Please find the details of our trip below.
Flight information
We will be departing Toronto on May 29, 2017 at 6PM on Lufthansa Flight 471 heading to Frankfurt, Germany, followed by Lufthansa Flight 1418 into Bucharest. We arrive in Romania at 12:30PM on May 30, 2017.
Let us know when you will be arriving and we can put you in touch with fellow travellers if you want to carpool to and from the airport.
Ground travel
The bus service we use to get to Brasov from the airport is M&M Express. Using this link: M&M Express you can book your own transportation to and from Brasov. Use the address of your accommodation as your final destination and expect the cost to be around $25 CAD/person one way.
You can also rent a car, however, keep in mind that parking spaces in the old city of Brasov are quite limited and you may not have parking included with your lodging. The drive from Bucharest to Brasov will involve a two lane highway for the first hour or so and a climb up numerous (quite tight) switchbacks when you get into the mountains. Romanian drivers are VERY aggressive on the road so we highly recommend that you avoid the white knuckled drive and just enjoy your vacation by taking public transport.
In Brasov, taxis tend to be the transportation of choice. An average trip across town will cost around $10CAD. There is also a pretty good bus system if you’re interested in traveling like a local. As most of us will be staying near the old city center, chances are that walking will be the best mode of transportation.
Accommodation
We will be staying at an Air BnB (Brasov Air BnB) near the city center. You will see that most of the apartments available in Brasov are located in this area. As long as you book lodging within walking distance of the Old City Center or the Black Church, you should be close to us. Entire apartments are $35-45 CAD/night while homes with multiple bedrooms are closer to $65 CAD/night. Email us if you’re not sure where to book or are looking for roommates.
If you’d rather stay in hotel, try either: Hotel Ambient – around $60CAD/night or
Drachenhaus Hotel – around $70CAD/night.
The Big Party
Our second wedding reception will be on June 2nd, 2017. The party will take place at Vanatorul Restaurant in Poiana Brasov. This is a ski resort area 12km outside of Brasov that is easily accessible by taxi from the city proper. The party starts at 4pm and will go all night so please come hungry and ready to dance. If you don’t want to make the trek down to Brasov at the end of the night, you can also find accommodation for the night in Poiana at one of the 20+ hotels there.
Food & Drink
Romanian cuisine is very rich, delicious and filling. Turkish, Germanic, Slavic and Hungarian influences can be seen in the most popular dishes. Protein staples are generally pork, chicken and lamb. Lunch tends to be the heaviest meal of the day and usually involves at least two courses: soup and a main. Romanian soups are very rich, stocked full of flavour and quite filling. Tripe soup (ciorba de burta) is one of the most traditional but there will be many different offerings for those not so adventurous.
The most popular main course will always be Sarmale (Cabbage Rolls). They are generally pork and rice, stuffed into pickled cabbage leaves and served with Mamaliga (polenta) and Smantana (sour cream).
Mici (“Littles”) are the most common form of street food. They are grilled, caseless sausages made of mixed ground meat and lots of herbs and spices. Generally served at farmers markets on a piece of cardboard (plate) with a heaping spoonful of mustard and a couple slices of bread. If you’re travelling with Rob, he will always be found near one of these vendors.
A Romanian’s drink of choice is Tuica (Plum Brandy) that is generally made by a relative in their backyard. However, if you’re looking for something a little milder, Romania is one of Europe’s biggest wine producers (most wines fall in the “budget” category when found in liquor stores) so there are very tasty local and affordable options. Cotnari is a safe bet for a white wine and anything from Dealu Mare as an option for red wine. Last but certainly not least, Romanians love beer! You’ll find an ample selection at all restaurants and we highly recommend you try them all.
Day Trips and Itinerary
Keep checking back as this section will change closer to the date. Once we know who will be joining us and when, we can start planning an official itinerary for the trip:
Some options include:
- A walking tour of Brasov’s attractions: the fortress (Cetatea Brasov), the old town walls and its defence towers, the Black Church (Biserica Neagra), cablecar to the top of Tampa Mountain (Tampa)
- A trip to Bran Castle, home of the legend of Dracula (Bran Castle)
- A trip to Peles Castle, the summer home of the Romanian monarchy (Peles Castle)
- Cablecar ride to the top of Postavaru Mountain (1799m) in Poiana Brasov (Postavaru Mountain)
- Hiking to the 7 Stairs Canyon – this hike can be adjusted for different skill levels and the stairs can be avoided altogether (7 Scari)
Good things to know while in Romania
Romanians are genuine, friendly and hospitable people. A majority of people speak English so if you get lost, don’t hesitate to ask for help or directions.
Stray dogs and cats are not a rarity in Romania. Don’t pet or feed them. They are not dangerous as long as you steer clear.
Romanian people take good hospitality to an extreme. If you are invited into someone’s house, they will always offer something to drink and eat (not necessarily a full meal, could be snacks or sweets as well). It is considered rude not to try at least one piece so dig in!
Pickpockets and street scammers are quite common in Romania. They are more predominant in Bucharest but Brasov is not free of them either. Keep this in mind as you’re exploring farmer’s markets or other crowded areas.