Romania

Brașov to Piatra Neamț

Today our route takes us further up north, grazing through the scenic Caprhatian mountains, following the border of Transylvania, one of 10 regions in Romania. Our main goal for today is Bicaz Gorge, part of the Cheile Bicazului – Hășmaș National Park. We will enter the Moldova region. Stunning scenery, even more stunning roads to ride. A true riding highlight. Our overnight stay is in Piatra Neamț, one of the most picturesque cities of Romania. Its charm lies in the natural area around it. 

Piatra Neamț to Maramures Mountains

Another highlight in our »must ride« roads section!  We’ll ride into Bucovina, a small historical region with stunning mountains and nature. Imagine high peaks, forested valleys and national parks. The beautiful Transrarăul road (voted for third most beautiful road in Romania) is waiting for us before we enter another mountain range where we end the day – under the serenity of Maramure’s mountain range. 

Maramures to Cluj-Napoca

Nice riding day, a bit easier on the curves, but still a lot of fun. We will start riding back south, towards Cluj-Napoca where we stayed overnight. On the way we ride through a nice countryside, full of small villages, mostly  Hungarian speaking. A little break from the mountains, before we reach the southern Caphatian part of the range in the next few days. Turda is famous for its massive salt mine, first mentioned in the 13th century, and is one of the biggest in the world. Worth a visit. 

Cluj-Napoca – Exploration Day – Turda Salt Mines visit

Turda is famous for its massive salt mine, first mentioned in 13th century, and is one of the biggest in the world. We will get ourselves 30 km away from our hotel and have a tour of this massive salt mine. Spectacular sight. For those not keen on caves, staying in the city is very pleasant, or taking a short ride is also an option.  

Cluj-Napoca to Sibiu

We’ll make a little detour west, into Apuseni natural park, another amazing mountain area with great roads and scenery. This area also holds around 400 caves. We’ll finish in the elegant city of Sibiu. Explore the cobbled stoned streets, head to Piata Mare and Piata Mica and check the Buckhental Palace and The Lutheran Cathedral of Saint Mary. In history it was under Austrian and Hungarian influence, before joining Romania. It carries very old heritage and is one of the most cultural towns in Romania.

Sibiu – Exploration Day

No time to rest actually. Today we’ll ride The Transfăgărășan. A famous twisty mountain ride full of sights, jaw dropping panoramas and conquering heights. After Transalpina, it is the second highest paved road in Romania. It was built in the 70s of  the 20th century, by the last communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu. It was constructed at a huge financial and human cost. We will explore this monumental achievement, which has been totally overrun in recent years since it got mentioned as one of the best roads in the world by a popular TV show Top Gear. 

Sibiu to Râmnicu Vâlcea

Another sight for sore eyes – the alpine road Transalpina. Renewed a few years back, road 67C is another item on the bucket list of Romania. Sometimes called »King of Roads«, it rivals Transfăgărășan, but is less known to the world. It traverses the Parâng Mountains and is one of the best rides you will find in Europe. For lunch we’ll try to find some mămăligă (cornmeal dish with cheese and sour cream) in one of the local mountain taverns. Our overnight stay is in Râmnicu Vâlcea, a nice laid back town, perfect for breaking our journey back towards Bucharest. 

Râmnicu Vâlcea to Bucharest

From Murter we surge north towards Slovenia. The most famous section of this long coastal ride starts just ahead. Beautiful curves carved into the bays, clear blue water and huge imposing gorge of Velebit makes this truly a thrilling ride. Wind often drops from Velebit and creates hard blows, so hold tight for the road to be open. We’ll stop for coffee in Senj, a small town where bikers mostly stop. Closer to Rijeka we’ll hope on expressway to the border to save time. We will get to know the hospitality of southern Slovenia, where a quiet and serene way of life continues and roads are just perfect to explore.The last day of our journey will safely get us back to Bucharest. Nice riding to Pitesti, a cool place for a quick stop before heading to the capital. Free afternoon for last shopping and packing up. We will meet in the evening, so gather your memories and share them on our last dinner in the city. 

Departure from Bucharest

Farewell Romania! Depart from Bucharest, taking with you memories of picturesque landscapes, captivating cities, and the exhilaration of riding through this stunning region. Until we meet again on the next great adventure! Safe travels!