Transylvania day trip from Bucharest: Bran Castle, bears & Brasov
Over 200 teddy bears and real bears in the Carpathian Mountains, then Dracula's Castle and a medieval city in one day.
A one-day tour from Bucharest to Transylvania includes hotel pickup, a visit to the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti where you see bears in their habitat and tour the Teddy Bear Museum, entry to Bran Castle (the castle linked to the Dracula legend), and a few hours walking Brasov, the medieval city surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. Your guide is English-speaking and the trip runs 12 to 13 hours.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Transylvania day trip with key visits
- Pick up at hotel
- Visit Libearty Bear Sanctuary
- Explore Teddy Bear Museum
- Tour Bran (Dracula) Castle
- Walk in Brasov city
- Return transfer to Bucharest
What’s included
- Professional English-speaking guide.
- hotel pickup and drop-off in Bucharest.
- transportation in a modern vehicle.
- bottle of water.
- entrance fees to Bran Castle and the Teddy Bear Museum (depending on the option you select at checkout).
Times
- Tuesday to Sunday 07:30
Before you book
Operated by Rolandia
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The experience
The day starts with pickup from your Bucharest hotel. You head into the Carpathian Mountains to the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti, a wildlife reserve where bears climb trees, wade in pools and rest in meadows. The sanctuary also houses the Teddy Bear Museum, which holds over 200 teddy bears collected from around the world, including two giant bears gifted by the British Royal Family. This is where the tour's two sides meet: the real animals and the childhood versions of them side by side.
From there you move to Bran Castle, the fortress that entered global folklore as Dracula's Castle. You walk through its rooms and passageways to encounter the vampire legend that shaped the place. The castle sits in the foothills where Transylvania's reputation was born. After the castle, you spend a couple of hours in Brasov, a medieval city founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1211. The city sits at the crossroads of three regions (Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia), so its streets hold Romanian, German and Hungarian traditions. Walk Rope Street, the narrowest street in Europe, and take photographs. A modern vehicle and your English-speaking guide carry you through all three stops and back to Bucharest by evening.
You can book this tour with entrance fees included or without them. If you skip the entrance option, you'll still visit each location but won't enter the buildings. Either way, your hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation, a bottle of water and your guide's time are part of the booking. Lunch is not included. Budget around €13 per person if you want to eat in Brasov or Zarnesti.
Is this one for you?Book with entrance fees included if you want to walk inside Bran Castle and tour the Teddy Bear Museum. Choose the option without entrance fees if you prefer to see the exteriors and spend your budget on lunch or souvenirs in Brasov instead. The 12- to 13-hour day suits travelers comfortable with a full schedule of driving and walking, though the tour is suitable for all fitness levels.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What can I see and do at the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti?
The Libearty Bear Sanctuary is a wildlife reserve in the Carpathian Mountains where you watch bears climbing trees, swimming in water pools and resting in meadows. You also visit the Teddy Bear Museum on the grounds, which displays over 200 teddy bears from around the world, including two giant bears that were a gift from the British Royal Family.
Is Bran Castle really Dracula's Castle?
Bran Castle has become known as Dracula's Castle and ranks among the world's spookiest places because of its connection to the vampire legend. The tour takes you inside to walk through its mysterious rooms and dark passageways where that legend lives.
What is Rope Street in Brasov?
Rope Street is the narrowest street in Europe and sits in Brasov, the medieval city you visit in the afternoon. It's a popular spot for photographs and a landmark of the city's medieval layout.
How long is this tour and what time does it start?
The tour runs 12 to 13 hours from the time you're picked up at your hotel. Your guide collects you in the morning and returns you to Bucharest in the evening after visiting all three stops.
Do I need to choose between the option with entrance fees and the option without?
Yes, you choose at checkout: either include entrance fees to Bran Castle and the Teddy Bear Museum, or book the tour without them. Both options include hotel pickup, transportation, your guide and a bottle of water. If you skip the entrance fees, you still visit each location but won't enter the buildings.
Transylvania day trip from Bucharest: Bran Castle, bears & Brasov
12h–13h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 135 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.