Anyone driven to Transfagarasan Road
Discussion
I am slowly working my way through drives through Europe, last summer did the alps (french side) (part of it was closed for the one day we did a certain section - de tour was a nightmare).
Previously mixed up some trips with visit to car museums and other points of interest. Done porsche and Merc museum, in 2025 going to italy to do museum of Alfa Romeo, Lambo and ferrari. Did the german alpine route one year, watch GT racing at Spa, really want to do Nurburgring 24 hours but not sure I could now. Completed the drive through the black forest, drkiven nurburgring circuit, wish I had started driving sooner on the continent but never mind (first trip was in 2019).
This year I'm thinking before I get too old (was 40 last year) and can't do massive journeys, I should try and drive the Transfagarasan Highway in Romania.
I can't go my normal time this year (before school holidays), so it is worst case scenario for me, but as it will be me and a mate doing it like previous years sharing the driving etc, and stopping over (possibly munich on way out), it seems doable to get to romania in 2 days, drive the road, and then start heading back.
I always find it easier to do long trip at beginning of holiday, and then a bit more relaxed on the way back.
My plan, get 6am Le Shuttle, get to munich (or Nuremburg not sure yet on route) first day done, thats about 10 hours driving total - 12 with some stops.
Second day, drive to romania, if time, have a look around but more than likely will be there for dinner time.
Third day, drive transfagarasan Road head to hotel for evening, this will have a few stop offs etc looking at stuff along the way, its about 4 hours roughly to drive it. My plan was to get there for when it opens (some websites suggest its around 6 / 7am?)
Fourth day, start journey home leaving romania, did possibly think of a night in Budapest, but then drive next day is quite long and might not be worthwhile, so a bit stuck for this day currently.
Fifth day not sure where to stay for this one currently need to do research, was thinkinng maybe luxembourg city as previously visited for a couple of hours only, load up with cheaper 102 Ron fuel for run home
Sixth day luxembourg city to home, stopping off for a few bottles of wine to bring home and some sour sweets for the kids
To me the above is doable, but any suggestions of places to stay much appreciated. I will probably choose the premier inn we did last time in munich as had a underground car park for guests only and was a short walk from some beer halls for a cheeky stein. Don't know the name but was near a massive cathedral.
The tunnel is about 2 hours from my house as a guide, I don't want to stay near the tunnel to then just get up and go, I never sleep well the night before a holiday, so therefore leaving 3am in morning is fine for me, my mate will sleep if the potholes of the m3, m25 and m20 allow.
Car is nothing special, but is fine on motorway etc - I have a golf - no low slung sports car here.
This is possibly a send off holiday to the golf, as do fancy a change now. Nothing wrong with it, but I really need a v8 before they are completely extinct, and keep trying to get the missus to have a slightly bigger car, so I can try a mustang or worst case scenario something like a 3.0 straight 6 bmw or 3.0 v6 type engine (jag xf supercharged one). I have never had a car bigger than 2.0 (drove my dads 2.5 v6 rover 75 for a bit) and had v8's etc when in america and its a itch I feel I need to scratch even if for a year.
Previously mixed up some trips with visit to car museums and other points of interest. Done porsche and Merc museum, in 2025 going to italy to do museum of Alfa Romeo, Lambo and ferrari. Did the german alpine route one year, watch GT racing at Spa, really want to do Nurburgring 24 hours but not sure I could now. Completed the drive through the black forest, drkiven nurburgring circuit, wish I had started driving sooner on the continent but never mind (first trip was in 2019).
This year I'm thinking before I get too old (was 40 last year) and can't do massive journeys, I should try and drive the Transfagarasan Highway in Romania.
I can't go my normal time this year (before school holidays), so it is worst case scenario for me, but as it will be me and a mate doing it like previous years sharing the driving etc, and stopping over (possibly munich on way out), it seems doable to get to romania in 2 days, drive the road, and then start heading back.
I always find it easier to do long trip at beginning of holiday, and then a bit more relaxed on the way back.
My plan, get 6am Le Shuttle, get to munich (or Nuremburg not sure yet on route) first day done, thats about 10 hours driving total - 12 with some stops.
Second day, drive to romania, if time, have a look around but more than likely will be there for dinner time.
Third day, drive transfagarasan Road head to hotel for evening, this will have a few stop offs etc looking at stuff along the way, its about 4 hours roughly to drive it. My plan was to get there for when it opens (some websites suggest its around 6 / 7am?)
Fourth day, start journey home leaving romania, did possibly think of a night in Budapest, but then drive next day is quite long and might not be worthwhile, so a bit stuck for this day currently.
Fifth day not sure where to stay for this one currently need to do research, was thinkinng maybe luxembourg city as previously visited for a couple of hours only, load up with cheaper 102 Ron fuel for run home
Sixth day luxembourg city to home, stopping off for a few bottles of wine to bring home and some sour sweets for the kids
To me the above is doable, but any suggestions of places to stay much appreciated. I will probably choose the premier inn we did last time in munich as had a underground car park for guests only and was a short walk from some beer halls for a cheeky stein. Don't know the name but was near a massive cathedral.
The tunnel is about 2 hours from my house as a guide, I don't want to stay near the tunnel to then just get up and go, I never sleep well the night before a holiday, so therefore leaving 3am in morning is fine for me, my mate will sleep if the potholes of the m3, m25 and m20 allow.
Car is nothing special, but is fine on motorway etc - I have a golf - no low slung sports car here.
This is possibly a send off holiday to the golf, as do fancy a change now. Nothing wrong with it, but I really need a v8 before they are completely extinct, and keep trying to get the missus to have a slightly bigger car, so I can try a mustang or worst case scenario something like a 3.0 straight 6 bmw or 3.0 v6 type engine (jag xf supercharged one). I have never had a car bigger than 2.0 (drove my dads 2.5 v6 rover 75 for a bit) and had v8's etc when in america and its a itch I feel I need to scratch even if for a year.
Allow time to get through border control.
Romania is not in shengen so due to brexit you have to queue up.
Have driven a lot in romania and its OK.
Only one motorway though.....
Most major road are like 3 lanes with overtaking in the middle bit. Sounds chaotic but works well.
Villages often have radar equipped police lurking towards the end of said village
Romania is not in shengen so due to brexit you have to queue up.
Have driven a lot in romania and its OK.
Only one motorway though.....
Most major road are like 3 lanes with overtaking in the middle bit. Sounds chaotic but works well.
Villages often have radar equipped police lurking towards the end of said village
Romania joins Schengen 31 March but it seems passport checks on land borders will continue for a while.
I plan to drive the route this summer since it's only about 30km from me.
Do you plan to drive It North South and then back? If you plan to return via the Brasov be careful in high summer the E574 gets very very congested.
It does seem a long drive and a lot of petrol to get there. Have you considered flying and hiring a car. Ryan air have a lot of flights to Bucharest then rent or train to Brasov and rent. If you do rent in Bucharest make sure it's a reputable company. Also one of the top car museums in the world is just by the airport.
Or Wizz air fly Luton to Brasov every other day. Then rent in Brasov.
Normal sites such as Booking and Airbnb will have lots of accommodation.
I plan to drive the route this summer since it's only about 30km from me.
Do you plan to drive It North South and then back? If you plan to return via the Brasov be careful in high summer the E574 gets very very congested.
It does seem a long drive and a lot of petrol to get there. Have you considered flying and hiring a car. Ryan air have a lot of flights to Bucharest then rent or train to Brasov and rent. If you do rent in Bucharest make sure it's a reputable company. Also one of the top car museums in the world is just by the airport.
Or Wizz air fly Luton to Brasov every other day. Then rent in Brasov.
Normal sites such as Booking and Airbnb will have lots of accommodation.
Take a spare tyre, Romanian roads are generally good except for random sudden deep potholes occasionally.
Keep an eye out for bears on the south side particularly, saw several mums with cubs in July. Don't feed them though, too many people do and it causes problems.
Without something special to drive maybe fly and see more of Romania than just about get there before turning around, lots of nice scenery around Brasov and a day loop to the Transfagarasan.
If you do drive there don't forget to purchase a vignette.
Keep an eye out for bears on the south side particularly, saw several mums with cubs in July. Don't feed them though, too many people do and it causes problems.
Without something special to drive maybe fly and see more of Romania than just about get there before turning around, lots of nice scenery around Brasov and a day loop to the Transfagarasan.
If you do drive there don't forget to purchase a vignette.
Edited by 8.4L 154 on Sunday 17th March 09:49
Could you extend a couple of days to get a bit more time in Romania to drive some of the other great roads? The Transalpina is almost next to the the Transfagarasan or maybe head down towards the border with Serbia and drive the road along the banks of the Danube (near the rock sculpture of Decebalus).
Otherwise I agree with the suggestion to fly to Brasov or Bucharest. At the moment you have a full five days of boring driving for 4/5 hours of nice road.
Otherwise I agree with the suggestion to fly to Brasov or Bucharest. At the moment you have a full five days of boring driving for 4/5 hours of nice road.
I'll be honest I don't really want to fly. I prefer to do the driving in my own car - I don't mind hiring a car in tenerife or somewhere like that or if the roads are dull.
I did wonder if it was too much to do in the shortish time I have, which has been confirmed. I do thank you for your responses.
So its either a re-think - or try and extend my stay is how I see it.
There will be two of us driving, so we could drive for longer if needed - but I would ratehr have a bit of a relaxing lunch rather than quick sandwich from services.
I did wonder if it was too much to do in the shortish time I have, which has been confirmed. I do thank you for your responses.
So its either a re-think - or try and extend my stay is how I see it.
There will be two of us driving, so we could drive for longer if needed - but I would ratehr have a bit of a relaxing lunch rather than quick sandwich from services.
Romania is a great, spent quite a lot of time there on business…I have ambitions to do a road trip there with some mates at some stage. Bucharest is a great city. Roads are definitely indifferent….some good roads and some absolutely shocking ones.
Oh and the locals are very easy on the eye
Oh and the locals are very easy on the eye
Bucharest is a really cool city but the flight was over 3 hours, quick Google suggests London to Bucharest is over 1500 miles, can that really be driven comfortably in 2 days?
It would be one hell of a roadtrip but it would be such a shame to miss out on cities like Bucharest, Brasov, Sibiu etc.
I know you didn't want to fly but you could spend a week going from Bucharest and finish in Cluj napoca
It would be one hell of a roadtrip but it would be such a shame to miss out on cities like Bucharest, Brasov, Sibiu etc.
I know you didn't want to fly but you could spend a week going from Bucharest and finish in Cluj napoca
So after consideration - and taking your advice on board, to me its either a 7 day trip minimum, or take a plane, hire a car and come back.
Downsides of flying is of course can't bring much back, and although I will be doing a lot of motorway driving etc, I do like to see other countries, for me flying is if I have to, part of the adventure is the journey.
I did watch a shmee video (Im not a huge fan of him, but found it helpful) who did both the alpine route and Transfagarasan road, so if I'm going to do it, will want to do both.
The drive there and back doesn't bother me, it will be slower on way back - if I do 7 days, it will be 2 days out, 1 day drive transfagarasan rd, next day apline route then start heading home - so 4 days to come home with some stops etc seems easy to me on the fourth day will probably cross into hungary and stay somewhere there. 6 hours of sleep a nght is all I have ever needed.
Maybe it will be Italy this year instead.
Looking at the car hire prices for Romania, anything for 4 days is 300 quid minimum (skoda suv thing - dont really fancy driving a 1.0), plus flights which are about 350 each due to school holidays arriving at 3am etc, good time flights are around 450 each, parking at stansted £60 adding hotels etc on top it works out cheaper to drive (but more hassle I admit).
Downsides of flying is of course can't bring much back, and although I will be doing a lot of motorway driving etc, I do like to see other countries, for me flying is if I have to, part of the adventure is the journey.
I did watch a shmee video (Im not a huge fan of him, but found it helpful) who did both the alpine route and Transfagarasan road, so if I'm going to do it, will want to do both.
The drive there and back doesn't bother me, it will be slower on way back - if I do 7 days, it will be 2 days out, 1 day drive transfagarasan rd, next day apline route then start heading home - so 4 days to come home with some stops etc seems easy to me on the fourth day will probably cross into hungary and stay somewhere there. 6 hours of sleep a nght is all I have ever needed.
Maybe it will be Italy this year instead.
Looking at the car hire prices for Romania, anything for 4 days is 300 quid minimum (skoda suv thing - dont really fancy driving a 1.0), plus flights which are about 350 each due to school holidays arriving at 3am etc, good time flights are around 450 each, parking at stansted £60 adding hotels etc on top it works out cheaper to drive (but more hassle I admit).
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