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Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday

Transylvania to the Black Sea: A Continental Railway Journey

Self-guided rail journey from Vienna through Transylvania to the Black Sea.

Illustration of Transylvania to the Black Sea: A Continental Railway Journey

Tailor Made Rail's Transylvania to the Black Sea journey spans 13 days of self-guided travel from London through Austria and Romania. You fly to Vienna, spend a free day exploring the city, then board the Dacia sleeper in a private double-cabin heading east into Transylvania. The route continues by reserved First Class trains through Sighisoara, a UNESCO-listed medieval town where you have a free morning at the Clock Tower, then on to Sibiu and Brasov in the heart of Transylvania. From Brasov, an excursion visits Bran Castle, the museum that inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. The journey then travels south through the Carpathians alongside the Prahova River to the Black Sea, with stops in Constanta, Romania's oldest port city with art-nouveau architecture and Roman remains, and finally Bucharest for three days to explore the Palace of the Parliament and the renovated Old Town. All train travel is First Class with seat reservations; accommodation includes breakfast. Free days in each city allow independent exploration, and optional extensions to the Danube Delta and the Transfagarasan Highway are available.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price covers hotels and rail within Romania, but London-Vienna and Bucharest-London flights are booked separately; rail alternatives are available on request for an additional charge.
  • Hotels listed as 'or similar' means your final accommodation depends on availability and the operator's selection.
  • Day 1 offers a flight to Vienna or a sleeper train option from Brussels, Cologne, or Amsterdam; confirm your preferred departure when booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Vienna (Zeitgeist Hotel or similar)

    London to Vienna

    Fly to Vienna (or travel by sleeper train from Brussels, Cologne or Amsterdam if preferred).

  2. Day 2railovernight: Overnight sleeper (private double-cabin)

    Vienna and overnight to Sighisoara

    Free day to explore Vienna's museums and cafes before collecting your bags and boarding the Dacia sleeper train to Romania in the evening.

  3. Day 3overnight: Sighisoara (Mercure Sighisoara Binderbubi Hotel & Spa or similar)

    Arrive Sighisoara

    The quintessential Transylvanian town, with a UNESCO World Heritage walled Old Town, the home of Vlad Tepes and the Church on the Hill.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Sibiu (Ramada Sibiu or similar)

    Sighisoara to Sibiu

    Free morning at the Clock Tower, then a direct train to Sibiu, arriving in the evening.

  5. Day 5overnight: Sibiu (Ramada Sibiu or similar)

    Sibiu

    Explore the Germanic-influenced heart of Transylvania.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Brasov (Aro Palace Hotel or similar)

    Sibiu to Brasov

    A Romanian InterCity train in a reserved First Class seat to Romania's most-visited city, with a cable car to the top of Mount Tampa.

  7. Day 7overnight: Brasov (Aro Palace Hotel or similar)

    Brasov and Dracula's Castle

    Day trip with transport to Bran Castle ('Dracula's Castle'), the museum said to have inspired Bram Stoker.

  8. Day 8overnight: Constanta (Hotel Carol or similar)

    Brasov to Constanta

    Afternoon journey following the Prahova River through the Carpathian mountains, with a glimpse of Bucharest, arriving at the Black Sea coast.

  9. Day 9overnight: Constanta (Hotel Carol or similar)

    Constanta

    Romania's oldest city and largest seaport - the art-nouveau Constanta Casino and Roman remains at the National History and Archaeology Museum. Optional extension to Tulcea and the Danube Delta.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Bucharest (PeakTure Hotel or similar)

    Bucharest

    Comfortable InterCity train back across southern Romania to Bucharest, once known as the 'Paris of the East'.

  11. Day 11overnight: Bucharest (PeakTure Hotel or similar)

    Bucharest

    The Palace of the Parliament and the renovated Old Town, Lipscani.

  12. Day 12overnight: Bucharest (PeakTure Hotel or similar)

    Bucharest

    Further time to explore Romania's capital.

  13. Day 13rail

    Bucharest to London

    Return flight to London (a rail alternative via Vienna and Nuremberg can be arranged on request).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Board the Dacia overnight sleeper in a private double-cabin from Vienna to Sighisoara, crossing into Romania.
  • Day 3Arrive in Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage walled town with the Church on the Hill and the home of Vlad Tepes.
  • Day 7Day trip to Bran Castle, the museum said to have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula novel.
  • Day 8Afternoon train from Brasov follows the Prahova River through the Carpathian mountains to the Black Sea coast at Constanta.
  • Day 9Explore Constanta, Romania's oldest city and largest seaport, with art-nouveau architecture and Roman remains.

Included

  • Flights from London to Vienna and Bucharest to London in Economy Class
  • First Class rail travel with seat reservations within Romania
  • Overnight sleeper in a private double-cabin from Vienna to Sighisoara
  • 11 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions
  • A Seat61 Recommended Holiday

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The from-price of GBP 1,299 includes the Dacia sleeper from Vienna to Sighisoara in a private double-cabin and First Class train travel within Romania with reserved seats. London-Vienna and Bucharest-London flights are also included in Economy Class.
Is this a guided tour or independent travel?
It is a self-guided rail holiday. You receive easy-to-follow travel documentation and email ticket despatch. There are no group obligations; you explore each city at your own pace on free days.
What is included in the accommodation?
Eleven nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast included. Hotels are named in the itinerary but listed as 'or similar,' so your final accommodation may vary.
Can I replace the flights with trains?
Yes. Optional extras include replacing flights with sleeper train journeys in either or both directions via Vienna and Nuremberg on request.
What happens if there is a rail strike?
Tailor Made Rail offers proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions.
Can I extend the trip?
Optional extras include an extra night in Sibiu with car hire to drive the Transfagarasan Highway (summer only), or an extension from Constanta to Tulcea and the Danube Delta.

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