Romania Solo Travel Guide
Romania is the perfect balance of old and new – from sprawling and bustling Bucharest to the scenic mountain towns of Transylvania. I recently went on my first-ever solo trip and absolutely fell in love, both with this gorgeous country, but also with traveling on my own. With one of the lowest crime rates in Europe and the friendliest, most hospitable locals you’ll ever meet, it’s the perfect destination for solo travelers. In this guide, I’ll share my week-long itinerary, plus gluten-free food recommendations, safety tips, and a whole lot of reasons to visit Romania. Buna Ziua!
In This Post
BUCHAREST — Getting There • Where to Stay • What to Eat • What to Do
BRASOV — Getting There • Where to Stay • What to Eat • What to Do
Bucharest
While Bucharest isn’t the most conventionally beautiful of Europe’s capitals, it’s bustling with history, culture, good food, and nightlife. Known for its street art and young vibes, it’s worth checking out.
Getting There
Delta had a great deal on flights from BOS>OTP. I flew out on a Thursday night to maximize my time, as it was quite a long trek! Bolt is more accessible than Uber, and a super cheap and safe option for getting around the city.
Where to Stay
I booked a room at Boutique Hotel Monaco for about $50 USD per night, located across from the Gradina Icoanei Park and a 10-minute walk from the Romanian Athenaeum. The staff is so warm and welcoming, and I’d highly recommend including breakfast in your stay. The buffet is delicious and you can expect a homemade omelet made for you every morning! The room was cozy and clean, the perfect place to recharge after long days of exploring.
What to Eat (Gluten-Free)
All in all, Bucharest was a pretty gluten-friendly city! It’s required by law in Romania for all restaurant menus to list allergens, and traditional Romanian food was overwhelmingly gluten-friendly. Lots of hearty soups, cabbage, potatoes, pork, and polenta to be found.
Caru’ Cu Bere – stunning restaurant with delicious traditional Romanian food.
Hanu’ Lui Manuc – lovely courtyard restaurant at the oldest inn in Europe, serving traditional food.
Osteria Zucca – lowkey Italian spot just a few steps from Boutique Hotel Monaco, delicious risotto, salads, and wine for a great price.
L’Amande – amazing gluten-free bakery with eclairs, cookies, cakes, and bread.
What to Do
With such a complicated history and a sprawling layout, it’s worth taking a walking tour to get acquainted with the city. I booked an awesome private tour with Alina through Airbnb Experiences. She was a great guide who was super passionate about her city and led me through its long history with ease. Bucharest has great nightlife and the Old Town is always bumpin’, so make it a point to check out a bar or café in the evening and enjoy some people watching. Linea Closer to the Moon is a great rooftop spot with decent food and amazing cocktails. The city is also known for its street art, so a day exploring the best murals is a fun alternative way to see Bucharest. I booked a tour with Alternative Bucharest and really enjoyed checking out some lesser-known spots. For a peek into Romania’s communist history, visit Casa Ceaucescu, the former home of Romania’s dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu. If you’re into the spooky side of things, Bucharest’s Bellu Cemetery is filled with beautiful, elaborate tombstones and is the resting place of many famous politicians, artists, and writers.
Brasov (+ Bran, Peles, & Rasnov)
Brasov is a stunning city, with a beautiful German-style city center nestled in the Transylvanian mountains. The polar opposite of Bucharest, Brasov is cozy and charming, with a much slower pace and somehow even friendlier locals.
Getting There
Romania has a well-connected train system, so I booked round trip first-class tickets for around $32 USD via the CFR Calatori. The ride from Bucharest to Brasov is about 2.5 hours, scenic and comfortable.
Where to Stay
I stayed in a single room at Safrano Palace for around $46 USD per night, in the perfect location in Brasov, right across from Piața Sfatului. The room was super clean and cozy, had a good breakfast, and was a great price – perfect for a solo traveler.
What to Eat (Gluten-Free)
Despite being a smaller city, it was still easy to find gluten-free options in Brasov. Menus were labeled and the food was high quality and affordable.
Tipografia – cute, trendy café with a delicious cold brew iced latte.
Sergiana – traditional Romanian food in a warm cozy restaurant.
La Ceaun – went here twice, amazing wings, soups, and Romanian cuisine, perfect for dining outside on a chilly night.
Vino E Sapori – a small, bumpin’ spot with good wine and tasty Italian food.
Sub Tâmpa – a little more bougie (but still super affordable), this spot is just below Tampa mountain and was a delicious meal to finish a day of exploring the mountaintop.
What to Do
There are tons to do in and around Brasov, but just meandering through the streets is an activity in itself. Visiting Bran Castle, Peles Castle, and Rasnov Citadel is a must, I booked a day tour through Viator and had a great time with a guide and small group. Peles is truly spectacular and the mountains of Transylvania are stunning. In Brasov, a short walking tour to learn about some of the sights is a great way to get acquainted with the city but isn’t totally necessary if you’re not a lover of walking tours like me! The gothic Black Church in the city center is gorgeous and costs just a few LEI to enter. As if the city center isn’t beautiful enough from the ground, taking the affordable cable car up to the top of Tampa mountain affords you an even better view. The highlight of my trip was a one-on-one painting workshop with the lovely Manuela to learn about different styles of Romanian ethnic painting and create my own little masterpiece. It’s such a unique and special souvenir from the trip.
Why Travel Solo?
Besides falling in love with Romania, this trip made me fall in love with solo travel. It was empowering, exciting, and for an extreme introvert like me, never really lonely. Traveling solo meant I was able to go at my own pace, not having to compromise on activities, and resting when I needed to. It made me realize that I’m a better and more resourceful traveler than I thought. If you’re waiting on friends to book that trip, go yourself!
Solo Travel Tips
Do research on the safety of your destination so you feel prepared.
Mimic the locals – if you see other women out and about on their own at night, it’s probably relatively safe, if not, it might be better to get a ride.
Be vigilant about checking the license plate and driver of any ride-sharing apps you use.
Text your friends and family often and keep them updated on your location, both for safety and so you don’t feel lonely!
Make sure someone at home has your itinerary.
Be confident, and when using maps, don’t make it too obvious, try not to stick out as a tourist!