# Carpathian hairpins, castles and fortified churches – by camper over the Transfăgărășan and through Transylvania

> From Sibiu over the Transfăgărășan to Lake Bâlea and down to Curtea de Argeș, through the Rucăr-Bran corridor to Bran, Râșnov and Brașov, on to Sighișoara…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-282-transylvania-transfagarasan/

**At a glance:** 7-day round trip of about 460 km (286 mi) with 14 stops, starting and ending in Sibiu. About 6 h 21 min of driving in total. Best time to go: June and August–September. Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €3 (Romania, Vignette). Mountain passes: Transfăgărășan (2,042 m, usually open July–October). From Sibiu over the Transfăgărășan to Lake Bâlea and down to Curtea de Argeș, through the Rucăr-Bran corridor to Bran, Râșnov and Brașov, on to Sighișoara and the fortified churches around Biertan: about 630 kilometres in a loop back to Sibiu.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | approx. 460 km (286 mi) |
| Driving | 6 h 21 min |
| Suggested days | 7 |
| Stops | 14 |
| Route | Sibiu → Sibiu |
| Countries | Romania |
| Best time to go | June and August–September |
| Tolls and vignettes | ≈ €3 |
| Updated | September 1, 2026 |

[Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-282-transylvania-transfagarasan.gpx)

Practical guides for this route: [Romania and Bulgaria by motorhome: vignettes, mountain passes and what to check in October](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/eu-romania-bulgaria-by-motorhome/), [Alpine passes in a motorhome: gradients, closures and tunnels](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/eu-alpine-passes-camper/)

*From Sibiu over the Transfăgărășan to Lake Bâlea and down to Curtea de Argeș, through the Rucăr-Bran corridor to Bran, Râșnov and Brașov, on to Sighișoara and the fortified churches around Biertan: about 630 kilometres in a loop back to Sibiu.*

## The spirit of the route

In the morning at Cârța, mist lies over the meadows along the Olt, and behind the ruined walls of the Cistercian abbey the ridge of the Făgăraș Mountains stands like a dark wall. A few hours later you crawl in hairpins out of the beech forest, over scree and snowfields up to Lake Bâlea at just over 2,000 metres, where the wind blows cold through the sliding door. On the south side the road drops through forests where bears wait by the roadside for tourists who are not allowed to feed them, and at the Vidraru reservoir the slopes are mirrored in the green water. Then the other Transylvania: horse carts on the country road, storks on the electricity pylons, villages of gabled houses in pastel colours and churches behind double rings of walls. In Sighișoara the tower clock strikes above the old town; in Biertan in the evening you hear only dogs and the bell. A route between high mountains and rolling hills, between Saxon heritage and Carpathian forest.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Sibiu to Cârța (approx. 45 km)

- **The drive:** From Sibiu take the DN1 (E68) east through the broad Olt valley via Avrig to Cârța. The road is well built but carries heavy lorry traffic, with through-towns and several level crossings; driving time just under an hour. Always in view to the south: the ridge of the Făgăraș Mountains. If you want to see the city first, leave the motorhome at the campsite and take a bus or taxi into the centre; the old town is largely closed to through traffic and narrow.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Sibiu (Hermannstadt): the Large Square (Piața Mare) with the Brukenthal Museum, the Lutheran parish church, the Bridge of Lies between the Upper Town and the Small Square, and the houses with “eyes”, the narrow roof dormers.
  - ASTRA Open-Air Museum in the Dumbrava Sibiului forest on the southern edge of the city: mills, farmsteads and churches from all over Romania spread around a lakeshore, half a day on foot.
  - Ruins of the Cistercian abbey of Cârța (Kerz), founded in the 13th century; the Gothic choir still stands, with the Lutheran church beside it. On the way, in Avrig, the Brukenthal Summer Palace with its Baroque garden.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** In Sibiu, the Lutheran parish of Gușterița (Hammersdorf) offers motorhome pitches at the churchyard in the north-east of the city (information at gusteritaverde.evang.ro); OSM also lists “Sibiu City Camping” on the western edge – check facilities and opening beforehand. In Cârța there is Camping De Oude Wilg, a Dutch-run site with meadow pitches, electricity, toilets and showers and a disposal point, ideal as a starting point for the Transfăgărășan; season roughly spring to autumn, enquire in advance.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Romania has no nationwide ban on wild camping as Slovenia or Croatia do, but no right of public access either: on private land only with consent, in protected areas only at designated sites. In the Olt valley many meadows and farm tracks are in fact private or municipal land; a word with the farmer or the inn settles more than any app. Within Sibiu, overnighting in a vehicle in public car parks is not provided for.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Buy the rovinieta in Sibiu before you set off, if you haven't already: it applies not only to motorways but to the entire national road network, including the DN1 and DN7C. Large supermarkets and filling stations line the roads out of town; in Cârța and the villages by the pass there are only small shops. Take cash in lei for car parks, markets and farm shops.

### Stage 2: Cârța to Arefu (via the Transfăgărășan, Bâlea Lac and Vidraru) (approx. 105 km)

- **The drive:** From Cârța it is a few kilometres to the DN7C turn-off at Cârțișoara, then a steady climb through forest to Bâlea Cascadă. From here the high-alpine section begins, with tight hairpins above the tree line up to Lake Bâlea and the dimly lit summit tunnel at just over 2,000 m; after that, on the south side, long loops descend via Capra and Piscul Negru to the Vidraru reservoir, along the shore and over the dam to Arefu. The high-mountain section between Bâlea Cascadă and Piscul Negru is open only in summer: in 2026 it opened on 12 June and, according to CNAIR, can be driven daily from 07:00 to 21:00; at night the road is closed, the winter closure usually starts on 1 November, earlier if there is snow, and changes in the weather can lead to short-notice closures at any time. The carriageway is narrow, crash barriers are missing in places, and rockfall and potholes are part of it; at weekends cars and motorcycles queue in the hairpins. Demanding for large motorhomes and car-and-caravan combinations, but doable with patience; follow the current signs and notices from CNAIR or Infotrafic at the approaches. Pure driving time about 3.5 to 4 hours, without breaks.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Bâlea Cascadă: a waterfall over a rock step, a short walk from the car park; from here a cable car runs up to the lake (seasonal operating times, check beforehand).
  - Bâlea Lac at around 2,030 m: a glacial lake below the Făgăraș ridge; short hike over the saddle to Lake Capra, about an hour each way, only in stable weather and on the waymarked paths.
  - Vidraru Dam from the 1960s, over 160 m high, with a view over the long reservoir, and shortly afterwards Poienari Castle on its rocky ridge: around 1,500 steps up to the walls of Vlad Țepeș’s princely fortress; closed at times because of bears – check the current situation locally.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Camping Dracula on the DN7C below Poienari Castle, a simple site with toilets and showers and pitches for motorhomes; ask in advance about electricity and season. On the north side there are several guesthouses with a meadow pitch near Cârțișoara, including Conacul Ursului at the foot of the pass climb, which OSM lists as a campsite. If you start early, you can also drive back to Cârța or on to Curtea de Argeș.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Do not overnight freely on the Transfăgărășan: the high-mountain section closes at 21:00 in the evening, bears are regularly about at Lake Bâlea and along the Vidraru shore, and the authorities advise pitching tents only at designated sites and leaving no food in the tent. Where bears stand by the roadside, do not stop and do not get out; observe signed no-stopping zones. According to CNAIR, feeding bears is punished with fines of 10,000 to 30,000 lei; in May 2026 a tourist who had been bitten by a bear near the Vidraru dam was fined 20,000 lei by the gendarmerie because he had fed the animal.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Fill up with fuel and water before the climb: there is no reliable filling station between Cârțișoara and Arefu. On weekdays and before 09:00 the road is noticeably quieter; in the late afternoon mist often rolls over the ridge. Use a low gear going down the southern ramp – the brakes get hot. In the tunnel, lights on, and expect oncoming traffic in the middle. The stalls at Lake Bâlea sell sheep's cheese in spruce bark (brânză de burduf); cards are not accepted everywhere.

### Stage 3: Arefu to Bran (via Curtea de Argeș and the Rucăr-Bran pass) (approx. 182 km)

- **The drive:** Down the DN7C to Curtea de Argeș, then on towards Pitești and, just before the city, onto the DN73 north-east via Câmpulung, Rucăr and the Giuvala Pass (around 1,290 m) to Bran. As far as Pitești, flat, busy hill country; from Câmpulung onwards winding and scenically open: the DN73 runs through the Rucăr-Bran corridor between Piatra Craiului and Bucegi, with mountain villages, haystacks and pastures right up to the road. Well built, but with many lorries; pure driving time about 3.5 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Curtea de Argeș: the monastery's episcopal church (early 16th century) with its richly ornamented façade, burial place of the Romanian kings and setting of the legend of Master Manole; plus the princely church of Sf. Nicolae Domnesc from the 14th century with old frescoes.
  - Mateiaș Mausoleum on the DN73 near Câmpulung, a memorial to the fighting of 1916, with a view over the valley.
  - Dâmbovicioara Gorge and Cave: a short detour from Podu Dâmboviței into the limestone gorge on the edge of Piatra Craiului National Park, with the rock walls rising right beside the road.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** In Bran, Vampire Camping on the edge of the village with electricity, toilets and showers and motorhome pitches; check season and booking in advance. Alternatively Alpin Ranch between Bran and Râșnov, or the camping area of Pensiunea Cheile Râșnoavei at the Râșnov gorge (ask about the current situation beforehand). In Curtea de Argeș, OSM lists a caravan car park north of the centre; facilities unclear.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The Rucăr-Bran corridor borders the Piatra Craiului and Bucegi national parks; there, camping and overnighting are only permitted at designated sites, and the region is among the most bear-rich in the country. On pastures and farm meadows in the villages around Moieciu and Fundata, hosts often ask you themselves whether you would like to stay; without consent, don't.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The monastery complex in Curtea de Argeș has a large car park on its edge; the town centre is cramped. On the DN73, lorries swing well over the centre line in the hairpins of the Giuvala Pass – keep your distance. In the evening and at night, expect unlit horse carts and cows on the road, so plan to finish driving before dusk. In Rucăr and Moieciu you can buy sheep's and cow's cheese straight from the farm.

### Stage 4: Bran to Hărman (via Râșnov and Brașov) (approx. 45 km)

- **The drive:** From Bran on the DN73 via Râșnov to Brașov, then around the edge of the city to Hărman in the north-east. A short, flat drive across the Burzenland plain, driving time under an hour, but heavy traffic in Brașov. The historic centre of Brașov makes no sense with a motorhome; better to go from the campsite by regional train or bus, or park in a large car park on the outskirts.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Bran Castle on the rock above the pass, marketed as “Dracula's Castle”, in reality a customs fortress and later the residence of Queen Marie; come early in the morning, as there are long queues at midday.
  - Râșnov Fortress (Cetatea Râșnov, Rosenau), a peasant fortress on the hill above Râșnov, with views across the Burzenland to the Bucegi massif.
  - Brașov (Kronstadt): Council Square, the Black Church with its collection of Oriental carpets, the Catherine's Gate, the narrow Rope Street (Strada Sforii) and the cable car up Tâmpa; in the Upper Suburb (Șchei), St Nicholas' Church with the first Romanian school.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Camping Honigberg in Hărman (Honigberg), quiet on the edge of the village, with electricity, toilets and showers (information via harmaninfo.com); Hărman has a railway station on the line to Brașov. Further sites around Brașov are listed in OSM, of very varying quality and opening.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Brașov and the fringes of Poiana Brașov are true bear country: at night bears come right up to the rubbish bins in residential areas. Do not overnight at the edge of the forest, and dispose of rubbish only in secured containers. City car parks charge fees and are not intended for overnight stays.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The fortified church of Hărman with its defensive wall and wall-walks is right by the campsite, and the fortified church of Prejmer (Tartlau, UNESCO World Heritage) is only a few kilometres further, with the families' storerooms along the inner wall. Both are easy to reach on foot or by bike. Take care of water and waste disposal at the campsite: between Brașov and Sighișoara there are hardly any disposal points.

### Stage 5: Hărman to Sighișoara (via Rupea and Viscri) (approx. 135 km)

- **The drive:** Via the Brașov bypass onto the DN13 (E60) north-west through Feldioara, Rupea and the hilly Saxon hinterland to Sighișoara. The DN13 is an important transit route with many lorries and through-towns. From Bunești a narrow side road leads a few kilometres to Viscri; afterwards back to the DN13 and on via Saschiz. Driving time without detours about 2.5 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Rupea Fortress (Reps) on a basalt cone above the town, restored, with views over the hill country.
  - Viscri (Deutsch-Weißkirch): a village with a long main street, gabled houses and the white fortified church (UNESCO World Heritage); in the morning the cows come home from the pasture on their own.
  - Saschiz (Keisd): fortified church with a free-standing bell tower on the DN13, and above it the peasant fortress in the woods.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** In Sighișoara, Camping Aquaris at the foot of the citadel, with motorhome pitches and a disposal point; the old town is within walking distance. Check season and facilities beforehand; very busy in July during the medieval festival.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The hills around Viscri and Saschiz lie within the Sighișoara–Târnava Mare Natura 2000 site. Farm tracks often lead onto pastures with large shepherd dogs that defend herds and vehicles fiercely; only stay with the permission of the shepherd or the farm. In Viscri itself the main street is narrow, and overnighting there is not provided for.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The access road to Viscri is narrow with unpaved edges; with large vehicles, park at the village entrance and walk in. Do not drive on the DN13 after dark – horse carts are often unlit. In Viscri, women sell hand-knitted socks and jams by the roadside.

### Stage 6: Sighișoara to Biertan (approx. 30 km)

- **The drive:** From Sighișoara on the DN14 south-west towards Mediaș as far as Șaroș pe Târnave, then on the side road south into the side valley to Biertan. A short stage through the Târnava valley with vineyard slopes, driving time under an hour. The road into the valley is narrow but asphalted; the morning is left for Sighișoara.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Sighișoara (Schäßburg): the citadel quarter (UNESCO World Heritage) with the Clock Tower and its figures, and the covered Scholars' Stairway up to the Church on the Hill and the Saxon cemetery on the slope.
  - Biertan (Birthälm): fortified church on the hill with three rings of walls, seat of the Lutheran bishops from the 16th to the 19th century, with the sacristy door whose lock is secured by many bolts, and the “marital prison” for quarrelling couples.
  - Richiș (Reichesdorf) in the neighbouring valley: a small fortified church with the so-called Green Men in the capitals, a quiet village without coaches.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** There is no large campsite around Biertan, but there are small meadow sites and guesthouses; OSM lists a site “La Curtea” near Richiș and the motorhome site at the Dreikugelhaus towards Mediaș – clarify facilities beforehand. Alternatively, go back to Camping Aquaris in Sighișoara or on to Camping Două Lumi in Blăjel near Mediaș.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the wine villages around Biertan the land is private or church land; a pitch on a farm meadow can almost always be had for a small sum if you ask. The village square in front of the fortified church is used for parking during the day; overnight it is not a pitch.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In the old town of Sighișoara, car traffic is restricted to residents; the motorhome stays down at the campsite or in the large car parks in the lower town. Note the opening times of the fortified churches – often a custodian opens up for an admission fee; in Biertan the fortress has fixed seasonal hours. Buy wine from the Târnava valley directly from the cellars in Biertan.

### Stage 7: Biertan to Sibiu (via Mediaș) (approx. 85 km)

- **The drive:** Back to the DN14 and through the Târnava valley to Mediaș, then on the DN14 via Copșa Mică and Slimnic to Sibiu. A hilly country road with through-towns and occasional poor surfaces, driving time about 1.5 hours. If you have time, drive from Biertan via Brateiu or Valea Viilor to the DN14 and take in another fortified church.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Valea Viilor (Wurmloch): fortified church (UNESCO World Heritage) with a massive defensive storey above the choir, surrounded by vineyards.
  - Mediaș (Mediasch): St Margaret's Church with the leaning Trumpeters' Tower inside the fortified church in the middle of the town, plus the market square with burghers' houses.
  - Slimnic Castle ruins (Stolzenburg) on the hill just before Sibiu, with a view back to the Făgăraș Mountains.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** For the last night, the pitches of the Gușterița (Hammersdorf) parish in Sibiu again, or one of the sites on the edge of the city; on the way, near Mediaș, Camping Două Lumi in Blăjel, a small site with meadow pitches – check the season beforehand.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Around Copșa Mică, once the site of a heavily polluting smelting industry, it is better not to park up freely. Around Sibiu, the forests to the south are bear country too.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Before the drive back, check the validity of your rovinieta and empty grey water at the campsite, not in car parks. In Sibiu, the Piața Cibin market is worth a visit for cheese, bacon and honey from the surrounding villages. If you are heading further west, the A1 quickly takes you to Sebeș and the Transalpina.

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- Romania has no explicit nationwide ban on overnighting in a motorhome, but no general right of access and camping either: on private land the owner's consent applies; in national parks, nature parks and nature reserves (Piatra Craiului, Bucegi, many mountain protected areas) camping is only permitted at designated sites, and local prohibition signs apply. Parking is not camping: awning, chairs or table in car parks are off-limits; violations can result in fines.
- Bears: Romania has the largest brown bear population in the EU outside Russia, especially in the Carpathians around Făgăraș, Brașov and Lake Vidraru. Feeding is prohibited under the hunting and wildlife protection law (Law 407/2006, as amended), and according to CNAIR the fines are 10,000 to 30,000 lei; observe the no-stopping zones on the DN7C, do not get out when a bear is standing by the roadside, store food and rubbish in odour-proof containers inside the vehicle, and do not park at the edge of the forest at night.
- Legal options are campsites (often small meadow sites run by Dutch or German owners), guesthouses and parishes with pitches, and farm meadows with permission. park4night and Campercontact are helpful; read reviews by date, because sites open and close quickly.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Service points for fresh and waste water are rare; almost only campsites have emptying facilities for cassette toilets and grey water. Use every opportunity to empty, and never let grey water out into streams, ditches or onto meadows.
- Tap water is generally drinkable in larger towns; in the countryside it often comes from wells and is not always safe. Fill up with drinking water at campsites, and plan for a water filter or canisters of bottled water.
- Gas: German exchange cylinders are not swapped. Autogas (GPL) is available at many larger filling stations along the DN1, DN13 and DN73; bring an adapter set for refillable cylinders, as the connection type is not the same everywhere. Arrive with two full cylinders.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Rovinieta: the electronic vignette is compulsory for the entire national road network, not just motorways, so also for the DN1, DN7C, DN13, DN14 and DN73. It is tied to the registration number; it is sold through the TollRo system (etoll.ro portal and app), authorised sales outlets and CNAIR points at border crossings; checks are by camera, and vignettes already purchased remain valid until they expire. Rates are graded by vehicle category and emissions standard (electric, Euro 6, Euro 4–5, Euro 3 and older); category A covers cars, category B goods vehicles up to 3.5 t. Whether a motorhome counts as A or B depends on its registration – if in doubt, show the registration document. Goods vehicles over 3.5 t pay no vignette but a distance-based toll (TollRo, by route ticket or app); whether and how this applies to a motorhome over 3.5 t should be clarified with CNAIR or on etoll.ro before entering the country.
- Speed limits for cars: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 outside, 100 on expressways and national roads designated as European routes, 130 on motorways. Motorhomes over 3.5 t: 80 outside built-up areas, 90 on expressways/European routes, 110 km/h on motorways; car-and-caravan combinations: 80 outside built-up areas, 90 on expressways, 120 km/h on motorways. The ADAC also gives the over-3.5 t values for motorhomes up to 3.5 t; if you want to be on the safe side, stick to them. Drivers who have held their licence for less than a year must drive 20 km/h slower in each case. Speed checks are frequent, including with unmarked vehicles.
- Transfăgărășan (DN7C): the high-mountain section Bâlea Cascadă–Piscul Negru is open only in summer (from 12 June in 2026), can only be driven daily from 07:00 to 21:00 and is closed at short notice in bad weather; the winter closure usually starts on 1 November. For the current situation, check CNAIR or Infotrafic. The Transalpina (DN67C) between Sebeș and Novaci, with the Urdele Pass as Romania's highest road point, is an option for a detour west of Sibiu via Horezu to Curtea de Argeș, but only for vehicles up to 3.5 t: the high-mountain section Curpăt–Rânca is closed to heavier vehicles, speed limit 30, open from 30 May in 2026, initially 09:00 to 20:00, in July and August 07:00 to 21:00; the times are set anew each year, and it is closed at night and in winter.
- Blood alcohol limit 0.0: Romania has a zero-tolerance rule for alcohol at the wheel, and high readings are a criminal offence. Dipped headlights are compulsory outside built-up areas, even by day. Mobile phones only hands-free. Winter tyres (M+S, at least 4 mm tread) are compulsory when there is snow or ice on the road; in the mountains this can be the case from October. A fire extinguisher and two warning triangles are mandatory; carry a first-aid kit and a high-visibility vest (the vest is compulsory for vehicles over 3.5 t).
- There are no environmental stickers. Access to the old towns of Sibiu, Brașov and Sighișoara is restricted, and motorhomes stay outside. Take care at level crossings without barriers and with unlit horse carts; avoid driving on country roads at night where possible.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Odour-proof food box and strong rubbish bags: in bear country nothing edible stays outside, not even overnight in the rear garage with a gap left open.
- Animal deterrent spray for hikes at Lake Bâlea and in the Rucăr-Bran corridor; check the rules for transit countries beforehand and carry the spray within reach, not in your rucksack.
- Warm jacket, hat and gloves: at Lake Bâlea, at over 2,000 m, it can be foggy and just above zero even in July, while Sibiu has 30 °C.
- Water filter or canisters for drinking water: service points are rare, and in the countryside water comes from wells.
- Compressor and tyre repair kit plus a checked spare wheel: potholes and rockfall on the DN7C and on the side roads to the fortified churches.
- Cash in lei and small notes: car parks, fortified church admissions, farm shops and meadow sites often don't take cards.

_As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [Fiscalitatea – Rovinieta și TollRo de la 1 octombrie 2026: tarife noi în lei](https://www.fiscalitatea.ro/rovinieta-si-tollro-de-la-1-octombrie-2026-tarife-noi-in-lei-25041/)
- [Cotidianul – TollRo funcționează din 1 octombrie: cum se plătește rovinieta](https://www.cotidianul.ro/?p=1014947)
- [Gândul – S-a redeschis Transfăgărășanul, CNAIR publică programul de circulație (12.06.2026)](https://www.gandul.ro/stiri/s-a-redeschis-transfagarasanul-cnair-publica-programul-de-circulatie-si-ii-avertizeaza-pe-soferi-ca-ursii-apar-frecvent-in-zona-nu-va-apropiati-de-animale-nu-le-hraniti-20920431/amp)
- [Alba24 – S-a redeschis circulația pe Transalpina. Restricții de tonaj și program special (30.05.2026)](https://alba24.ro/s-a-redeschis-circulatia-pe-transalpina-restrictii-de-tonaj-si-program-special-1140128.html)
- [Evenimentul Zilei – Transalpina și Transfăgărășan s-au redeschis, dar cu restricții](https://evz.ro/transalpina-si-transfagarasan-s-au-redeschis-dar-cu-restrictii.html)
- [Agerpres – Argeș: Turistul bulgar mușcat de urs pe Transfăgărășan, amendat de jandarmi cu 20.000 de lei](https://agerpres.ro/justitie/2026/05/29/arges-turistul-bulgar-muscat-de-urs-pe-transfagarasan-amendat-de-jandarmi-cu-20-000-de-lei--1561457)
- [Digi24 – Turistul bulgar mușcat de un urs pe Transfăgărășan a fost amendat de jandarmi](https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/evenimente/turistul-bulgar-muscat-de-un-urs-pe-transfagarasan-a-fost-amendat-de-jandarmi-pentru-ca-a-hranit-animalul-3792235)
- [ADAC – Mit dem Fahrzeug in Rumänien](https://www.adac.de/reise-freizeit/reiseplanung/reiseziele/rumaenien/fahrzeug/)
- [Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Hammersdorf – Wohnmobilstellplätze](https://gusteritaverde.evang.ro/wohnmobilstellplaetze/)

## Which stops are on the round trip from Sibiu?

1. **Sibiu** (Romania)
2. **Cârța** (Romania)
3. **Bâlea Lac** (Romania)
4. **Barajul Vidraru** (Romania)
5. **Arefu** (Romania)
6. **Curtea de Argeș** (Romania)
7. **Bran** (Romania)
8. **Râșnov** (Romania)
9. **Brașov** (Romania)
10. **Viscri** (Romania)
11. **Sighișoara** (Romania)
12. **Biertan** (Romania)
13. **Mediaș** (Romania)
14. **Sibiu** (Romania)

## When is the best time for the round trip from Sibiu?

The most pleasant months are usually June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July and October. Cold, short days in December–March. Mountain passes on this route are usually open July–October. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## What should you know before driving the round trip from Sibiu?

Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €3 (Romania, Vignette). Mountain passes: Transfăgărășan (2,042 m, usually open July–October).

- **Romania: Vignette needed for motorways.** Buy the e-vignette online before you drive on motorways. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
- **Transfăgărășan (2,042 m).** Usually open July–October; outside that window the road can be closed by snow. Alternative: Use the Olt valley road (DN7).

## FAQs

**How long is Carpathian hairpins, castles and fortified churches – by camper over the Transfăgărășan and through Transylvania?**
7-day round trip of about 460 km (286 mi) with 14 stops, starting and ending in Sibiu. About 6 h 21 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Carpathian hairpins, castles and fortified churches – by camper over the Transfăgărășan and through Transylvania?**
We suggest 7 days: about 6 h 21 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Carpathian hairpins, castles and fortified churches – by camper over the Transfăgărășan and through Transylvania start and end?**
It is a round trip that starts and ends in Sibiu.

**Which countries does Carpathian hairpins, castles and fortified churches – by camper over the Transfăgărășan and through Transylvania pass through?**
Romania.

**Where can you camp along Carpathian hairpins, castles and fortified churches – by camper over the Transfăgărășan and through Transylvania?**
OpenStreetMap lists 47 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: De oude Wilg, Vampire Camping and Aviator.

**How much are the tolls on the round trip from Sibiu?**
Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €3 (Romania, Vignette). Estimate with typical rates; motorhomes pay more, and vehicles over 3.5 t often pay by distance.