Open Travel Guide
Day trips from Bucharest

Best Day Trips from Bucharest 2026

Where a single day out of Bucharest can take you, and exactly how to make each trip work.

By Updated

The short answer: start with Mogoșoaia Palace, Snagov Lake and Monastery and Comana Natural Park. This guide profiles 8+ day trips in Bucharest, with prices, timing, and the practical notes that decide whether each one earns a place in your plan.

Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, a Danube-plain metropolis of about 1.7 million people known for the monumental Palace of the Parliament, a revived medieval Old Town, grand Calea Victoriei and its belle epoque 'Little Paris' boulevards. It combines Ottoman-era inns, Brancovenesc churches, interwar villas and communist-era blocks with a lively cafe, bar and live-music scene.

Top day trips

Handpicked excursions within easy reach.

15 km

Mogoșoaia Palace

Bolt or Uber taxi from central Bucharest, about 60-90 lei ($13-20) each way (30-45 minutes); no direct metro

Highlights: Brâncovenesc palace of 1702 with a carved stone loggia and terraces beside a lake · Interior museum rooms covering Brâncoveanu-era art and Princess Martha Bibescu's salon · Lakeside park walks with the old chapel and mature trees · Only 30-45 minutes from central Bucharest by taxi
35 km

Snagov Lake and Monastery

Bolt or Uber taxi from central Bucharest, about 100-160 lei ($22-35) each way (45-60 minutes); in summer CFR Călători Regio trains also serve Snagov Plajă from Gara de Nord

Highlights: Island monastery with 16th-century church and frescoes · Traditional association with Vlad the Impaler's burial · Swimming, rowing and pedal boats on the lake in summer · Lakeside terraces with grilled meat and fish
35 km

Comana Natural Park

Car or Bolt/Uber from Bucharest via DN5, about 100-150 lei ($22-33) each way (45-60 minutes); local buses depart from Bucharest's Autogara Filaret, check times at the station

Highlights: Wetlands, oak forest and meadows within an hour of Bucharest · Birdwatching along the lake edges and Neajlov valley · Comana Monastery, a 16th-century foundation near the lake · Marked walking and cycling routes of varying lengths
80 km

Târgoviște Princely Court

CFR Călători Regio/InterRegio train from Gara de Nord to Târgoviște, about 25-40 lei ($5.50-9) 2nd class, 1 h 45 min - 2 h; several departures daily (cfrcalatori.ro)

Highlights: Chindia Tower, a 15th-century watchtower with views over the town · Ruins of the princely palace, former seat of Wallachian rulers · Church of the Princely Court, one of the oldest buildings of the compound · Links to Vlad the Impaler and Constantin Brâncoveanu
125 km

Sinaia and Peleș Castle

CFR Călători InterRegio or Regio train from Gara de Nord to Sinaia, about 30-60 lei ($6.50-13) 2nd class, 1 h 20 min - 2 h; trains every 1-2 hours (cfrcalatori.ro); Peleș is a 20-minute uphill walk or short taxi ride from Sinaia station

Highlights: Peleș Castle, the Neo-Renaissance royal summer residence of King Carol I · Pelișor Castle, an Art Nouveau residence nearby · Sinaia Monastery, founded in the 17th century · Cable car access to the Bucegi plateau for mountain views
150 km

Curtea de Argeș Monastery and Town

CFR Călători InterRegio train from Gara de Nord to Pitești, about 40-60 lei ($9-13), 1 h 45 min - 2 h, then a local bus or Regio train from Pitești to Curtea de Argeș (about 45-60 min, 15-25 lei, $3-5.50)

Highlights: Cathedral with elaborately carved stone facade from the early 16th century · Royal necropolis holding the tombs of Carol I and Ferdinand I · Legend of Master Manole and the walled-in wife · Ruins of the Princely Court in the old Wallachian capital
185 km

Brașov Old Town

CFR Călători InterCity or InterRegio train from Gara de Nord to Brașov, about 70-110 lei ($15-24) 2nd class, 2 h 30 min - 3 h 30 min; departures every 1-2 hours (cfrcalatori.ro), the station is 3 km from the Old Town (bus 4 or a 10-15 lei Bolt ride)

Highlights: Piața Sfatului, the medieval Council Square, with the Old Council House · Black Church, a large Gothic church with Anatolian carpets and organ · Strada Sforii, one of Europe's narrowest streets · Tâmpa Mountain cable car and trail with views over the old town
215 km

Bran Castle

CFR Călători train Gara de Nord to Brașov (70-110 lei, $15-24, 2 h 30 min - 3 h 30 min) then local bus from Brașov Autogara 2 to Bran (about 12-15 lei, $2.60-3.30, 45 min, every 30-60 minutes)

Highlights: Hilltop castle built in the late 14th century to guard the Bran Pass · Royal rooms and furnishings from the era of Queen Marie · Open-air village museum of traditional Romanian houses · Dracula legend exhibitions and the castle's secret staircase

Trips by distance

How far you can go in a day.

Getting there

Transport options for day trips.

Tours
Organised day tours to Peleș and Bran/Brașov from Bucharest cost roughly 250-450 lei ($55-100) per person including transport; book via GetYourGuide or Viator before arrival
Private
A private driver via Bolt or a local company costs about 800-1,400 lei ($175-305) per day for up to 4 people; useful for Snagov, Mogoșoaia and Târgoviște combined
Public
CFR Călători trains from Gara de Nord (cfrcalatori.ro) serve Sinaia, Brașov, Târgoviște and Pitești; FlixBus (flixbus.com) and local bus companies serve Brașov and Curtea de Argeș
Rental
Rental car from about 170-300 lei/day ($37-65); recommended for Snagov, Mogoșoaia and Comana, but DN1 to Sinaia is very congested on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings

Multi-day tours from Bucharest

If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.

Browse multi-day tours from Bucharest

We may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.

Day trip tips

Make the most of your excursions.

Tip

Buy train tickets at bilete.cfrcalatori.ro or Gara de Nord machines; weekend InterCity and InterRegio trains to Brașov and Sinaia often sell out, so reserve a day ahead

Tip

Peleș Castle is usually closed on Mondays and sometimes Tuesdays, and Bran Castle has shorter hours on Mondays; check pelesti.ro and bran-castle.com before leaving

Tip

Leave Bucharest before 8:00 on weekends to beat DN1 traffic if driving to Sinaia or Brașov

Tip

Combine Peleș Castle and Sinaia Monastery in one trip; combine Bran Castle with Brașov's Old Town only if starting before 7:30

Tip

Mogoșoaia and Snagov are best done on weekdays: both fill with locals on weekends, and some taxi apps charge surge pricing on Saturday and Sunday

Tip

Carry cash lei for local buses, small entrance fees and monastery donations; card acceptance is patchy outside Bucharest

Related topics