When it comes to Romania,

many think of vampires and the spooky woods of Transylvania.

This eastern European country has earned a reputation for vampires and spooky bats because it is the ancestral home of Vlad Dracul, who was the inspiration for the fictional character of Dracula. While Vlad Dracul was not actually a vampire and could not actually turn into a bat, his spooky nature and dark behaviors gave Transylvania the spooky reputation that it has today.

Transylvania has a lot more to offer than just Dracula’s castle. Brasov, Sibiu, and Sighisoara, in particular, are incredible cities worth checking out. While Transylvania is one of the most visited parts of Romania, there are many other places worth checking out, too. Most trips will start in the lively capital of Bucharest, which is a really exotic and shockingly affordable city to explore. I also highly recommend adding the painted monasteries of Bucovina to your itinerary.