Discover real Transylvania culture beyond the stereotypes. Here are 7 unique and immersive things to do in Romania’s heartland.
About the author: Jade from Traveling Transylvania lives in the region and is eager to share her experiences, tips and insights into Romanian culture.
Nestled in the Carpathian basin, Transylvania is a historical region of Romania known for its untouched wilderness and absorbing culture. Outside of Romania, however, Transylvania is most-widely associated with Bram Stoker’s famous novel, Dracula.
If images of evil, troll-looking peasants and vampire imagery is what comes to mind when you think of Transylvania, you’re in for a treat when you discover its true nature.
Transylvanian culture is so, so much more!
The culture of Transylvania is a unique amalgam of its convoluted history and territory politics, drawing influence from the Ottoman Empire, Hungary, German Saxons and Austrians.
Here are 7 immersive cultural experiences to have in Transylvania that have nothing to do with Dracula!
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7 ways to immerse yourself in Transylvania culture
1. Take a road trip to see each of the UNESCO-listed Transylvanian Fortified Churches
One of Romania’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites is an assemblage of seven Transylvanian villages with fortified churches. Despite the fact that the region has over 150 fortified churches standing today, only 7 were inscribed with the prestigious UNESCO designation.
These villages were established by German Saxon settlers in the 12th century. During this time, invasions by Ottoman and Tatar regiments were common. In more densely populated areas such as Sighisoara and Brasov, the entire town or city was fortified. In the case of smaller villages, only the church was fortified. The church was the focal point of the village and able to provide protection for the entire population.
The 7 UNESCO-listed villages with fortified churches include Prejmer, Viscri, Dârjiu, Saschiz, Biertan, Valea Viilor and Calnic. The best way to experience these is to rent a car and set off on a short Transylvanian road trip.
All of the churches are open to the public and accessible to tourists. Some of the villages that are home to these churches, including Viscri, Biertan, and Saschiz, offer a variety of other culturally immersive activities to enjoy. Rent a bicycle and explore the many trails, try your hand at beekeeping or bread baking, or take an artisan pottery class.
Stretching your road trip over 2 or 3 days will give you the most enjoyable and leisurely experience. Plus, you’ll have enough time to visit some of the most breathtaking castles in Transylvania as well!
It’s worth noting that some of these churches still hold services, so please be mindful of dressing respectfully and modestly.
2. Learn to make Sarmale & Tuica with a local
Sarmale, Romanian cabbage rolls, are the country’s unofficial national dish. Though they are not exclusive to Romania (many other Balkan countries make some variation), Romanians are very proud of their sarmale and prepare them for most major holidays and special occasions.
This traditional Romanian food is made with a mixture of ground meat, rice, onions, tomatoes and spices wrapped in boiled cabbage leaves. Cooking Sarmale is a cherished pastime for Romanian families, most of whom are eager to share their food traditions with travellers.
While visiting Transylvania, you can seek out cooking classes or workshops to learn how to make these delicious morsels.
Tuica (Țuică) is a Romanian spirit that locals love. It’s made with plums, once or twice distilled, each autumn. Tuica is generally drunk before a meal from a shot glass. Don’t shoot it, however – it’s meant for sipping! It’s best not to buy it from a store, but to sample homemade versions made by locals.
The best way to get a truly authentic experience is, of course, to make some local friends and get yourself an invite to their home. This may not be feasible if you’re only planning a short visit, though. The next best option is to ask for local recommendations in a local or travel group. Airbnb Experiences tend to be more authentic than classes offered by larger tourism companies.
3. Celebrate the start of spring with Martisor
If you’re visiting Transylvania in early spring, you must take part in Mărțișor. Martisor is an ancient tradition celebrated throughout Romania every year on March 1. The name is a diminutive and literally translates as ‘Little March’.
It involves a red and white string, which is thought to symbolise prosperity and good health in the new year, and though the tradition has evolved over the course of its vast history, it is still alive and well today.
In Transylvania, people would celebrate Martisor by tying a red and white woven string on gates, windows, cattle horns and other structures around the village in order to ward off evil spirits and to solicit mother nature’s capacity for renewal and regrowth.
In other areas of the country, the string was adorned with a small silver or gold coin. Women would wear the string with the coin for 12 days then use the coin to buy fresh cheese in the hope that their skin would be glowing, healthy and beautiful for the next year.
The history of Martisor dates back more than 8,000 years. Some historians argue that the celebration has Roman origins, others are supportive of its Dacian roots. Both the ancient Romans and the ancient Dacians celebrated New Years on March 1st.
Today, silky red and white threads (șnur in Romanian) are bought and tied with a bow, attached to a small piece of jewellery or trinket. They are then given to female family members, friends, colleagues and loved ones as a symbol of friendship.
4. Spend an afternoon in the mountains and soak up local Transylvania culture
The Transylvanian plateau is flanked by mountains on three sides, giving ample opportunity to get out into nature and do as the locals do. Depending on the season, you can enjoy a myriad of activities – everything from hiking, trekking, canyoning, climbing, snow sports, camping and more.
There are a number of national parks that are popular with locals and tourists alike. Apuseni National Park, Fagaras Mountains, Bucegi Mountains, Piatra Craiului Mountains and National Park, and Retezat National Park are all among the most-visited places to enjoy views above the clouds. For snow sports or other winter activities, be sure to visit Poiana, just outside of Brasov.
For easy to moderate hikes, try the Apuseni or Piatra Craiului Mountains. More seasoned hikers can find challenging trails at Fagaras, Bucegi or Retezat. Regardless of difficulty level, the mountain landscapes of Transylvania offer a little bit of everything, from glacial lakes and bear sightings, to virgin forests and picture-perfect landscapes.
Romanians are very proud of their country’s stunning natural landscape, so it’s no surprise that they treat the mountains as their second home. Renting a cabin with friends is among the most popular pastimes for young people, particularly on long weekends in the summer.
5. Enjoy a Labor Day summer kick-off celebration
May 1 is Labor Day in Romania, and the unofficial start of summer festivities. Given its location, the most popular local tradition for May 1 is to rent a cabin with friends, barbecue, drink Tuica and make memories.
You can do this with or without the help of locals. While residents of Transylvania may have the best recommendations for cabins or other mountain residences, you can find plenty of breathtaking, remote places available to rent on Airbnb or other similar websites.
Romanian barbecues typically consist of a small fire with plenty of Mici (‘littles’ in Romanian). Mici are small sausages made without casing that are traditionally served with bread and mustard. Expect copious amounts of beer and Tuica as well!
Sometimes (though not often), Transylvanians like to escape the mountains to visit other areas of the country. Another popular Labor Day hot spot is the Black Sea Coast, Vama Veche in particular. Although it won’t be warm enough to swim, Vama Veche is a fun alternative if you’ve had enough of the mountains.
Whether you’re in the mountains or by the seaside, Labor Day celebrations in Romania are a must.
6. Pay your respects at the Merry Cemetery
Take a drive to Maramures County to visit Cimitriul Vesel, more commonly known as the Merry Cemetery. Although visiting Cimitriul Vesel is a bit more ‘on the tourist radar’ than other cultural experiences on this list, the cemetery shines a light on an otherwise dark aspect of life and showcases the Romanian sense of humour.
Cimitriul Vesel doesn’t have your ordinary drab tombstones and somber ambiance, as its nickname confirms. Instead, you’ll find ornate, royal blue crosses inscribed with poetry inspired by the dead and embellished with paintings.
The poetry, which is written in Romanian, is usually meant to arouse a chuckle. An example can be found in one of the cemetery’s more famous poems:
“Underneath this heavy cross
Lies my poor mother-in-law
Three more days she would have lived
I would die, and she would read
You, who here are passing by
Not to wake her up please try
For if she comes back home
She’ll criticise me even more
But I will behave so well
That she won’t return from hell
Stay here, my dear mother-in-law.”
Historians say that the Merry Cemetery is probably an echo of the attitudes and beliefs of the Dacians, the ancient ancestors of Romania. These convictions have been passed down in traditional folklore ever since.
The Dacians were allegedly intrepid in battle and welcomed death with laughter, since it was a widely held belief that after death they would meet Zalmoxis, the ultimate god.
7. Drive the Transfagarasan Highway to visit Balea Lake and Balea Waterfall
One of the most breathtaking and awe-inspiring experiences to have in Transylvania is to drive the iconic Transfăgărăşan Highway en route to Balea Lake and Balea Waterfall. The Transfagarasan Highway is among the most dangerous roads in the entire world. Couple that with the fact that Romania is notorious for its aggressive drivers, and you can easily see how accidents here are common.
The paved mountain road spans 150 kilometres, winding through the mountains with an adrenaline rush at every turn. The highway was built in the 1970s during the rule of the notorious Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceaușescu, connecting Transylvania and Wallachia. It’s the country’s second-highest paved road, and undoubtedly its most climactic.
Given how dangerous the road is due to snowfall and the potential for avalanche, the road is only open from July to October. It’s occasionally shut down even during these months in the event of inclement weather. It’s only open during the day, from 7am until 9pm.
Your reward for taking on the feat of this infamously perilous road: A stop at Balea Waterfall and Balea Lake. If you’re coming from Sibiu (recommended), you’ll stop at Balea Waterfall first. From there, if you don’t want to drive any further, you can take a cable car to Balea Lake.
Otherwise, during the open months and hours, you can continue driving to the lake and further to the city of Pitesti.
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