Last updated: October 30, 2026. Flight and hotel prices below were checked on that date on Google Flights and Trip.com for travel in May 2027. Prices change daily, so treat them as a snapshot, not a quote. Exchange rate: about 4.5 Romanian lei (RON) per US dollar.
Transylvania is one of the best-value regions in Europe. Hotels in medieval old towns cost a fraction of Western Europe, meals are cheap and the trains are slow but inexpensive. The one thing that is not cheap anymore: Bran Castle.
Here are real numbers for a 10-day trip from the US: flights, actual hotel prices in Brașov and Sibiu, transport, castles and two sample budgets.
Quick answer: what does Transylvania cost?
For 10 days, per person (two people sharing a room), including a round-trip flight from New York:
- Budget: about $1,300–1,350
- Mid-range: about $1,750–1,800
On the ground, that is only about $65 per person per day on a budget and about $110 mid-range. For comparison, the same mid-range style costs about $135–205 a day in Rome, Lisbon, Berlin or London (see our Europe cost comparison).
Flights from the US
Transylvania has its own airports (Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu and the newer Brașov airport), but from the US the cheapest way in is usually Bucharest (OTP), about 2.5–3 hours from Brașov by train or car. We checked round trips for May 10–20, 2027 (economy, one adult):
| Route | Cheapest found |
|---|---|
| New York (JFK) – Bucharest (OTP) | $660 (1 stop, Air Serbia); $681 (Turkish Airlines) |
| New York (JFK) – Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) | $733 (2 stops); $744 (1 stop, LOT) |
| Chicago (ORD) – Bucharest (OTP) | $745 (1 stop, Turkish Airlines) |
Source: Google Flights, checked October 30, 2026. Round trip, economy, 1 adult. There are no nonstop flights from the US to Romania.
Flying straight into Cluj saves you the transfer but costs about $70–85 more on our dates. If you plan to end your trip in Transylvania, an open-jaw ticket (into Bucharest, out of Cluj) can avoid the trip back.
Entry rules
Romania is part of the Schengen area. US citizens need no visa for stays up to 90 days. The new EU Entry/Exit System registers your fingerprints and photo at the border, which is free. The planned €20 ETIAS authorization is not live yet, so do not pay any website for it.
Hotel prices in Brașov and Sibiu
This is where Transylvania really shines. We checked 3 nights in May 2027 for two adults in one room on Trip.com. Prices are totals including taxes:
| Hotel | City | 3 nights | Per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Monte Verde | Brașov, old town | $189 | ~$63 |
| Residence Central Annapolis | Brașov, old town | $210 | ~$70 |
| Hotel Apollonia | Brașov | $223 | ~$74 |
| Casa Wagner | Brașov, old town | $278 | ~$93 |
| Schuster Boarding House | Brașov, old town | $289 | ~$96 |
| Radisson Blu Aurum | Brașov | $868 | ~$289 |
| Ibis Styles Sibiu Arsenal | Sibiu | $287 | ~$96 |
| Best Western Silva | Sibiu | $297 | ~$99 |
Source: Trip.com, checked October 30, 2026. Brașov: May 11–14, 2027. Sibiu: May 14–17, 2027 (includes a weekend). 2 adults, 1 room, total incl. taxes.
The takeaway: about $60–100 a night gets you a well-rated, central room, often in a historic building in Brașov’s old town. Even the big international hotels cost less than an average room in Western Europe. Prices go up in July and August, and around Christmas markets.
Getting around: trains, buses and cars
- Train Bucharest – Brașov: about 2.5–3 hours, roughly 60–80 lei ($13–18) on an InterRegio train. Book on the CFR Călători website.
- Trains between Transylvanian towns: cheap but slow. Faster trains cost a little more and can save you hours.
- Buses and minibuses: often the easiest way to smaller places like Bran or Râșnov, for just a few dollars.
A rental car is the best option if you want to see the fortified churches, villages and mountain roads like the Transfăgărășan (open only in summer). Rental prices are generally low compared with Western Europe, but check the deposit and insurance terms carefully. Parking in old towns is limited, so pick a hotel with parking.
Castles and sights
- Bran Castle (“Dracula’s Castle”): about 100–120 lei ($22–26) for adults in 2026. Some rooms and exhibitions cost extra, and there can be long lines in summer. Many visitors find it smaller than expected.
- Peleș Castle (Sinaia): roughly 50–100 lei ($11–22) depending on the tour. It is closed on Mondays (and Tuesdays in winter) and for the whole of November, so plan around that.
- Râșnov Fortress: about 12 lei ($3)
- Free: Brașov’s and Sibiu’s old towns, the Black Church area, Sighișoara’s citadel streets and countless village churches from the outside.
Organized day tours from Brașov to Bran, Râșnov and Peleș start around $80–140 per person, usually without entrance fees. Compare options in our tours and activities section.
Food costs
Eating out is one of the best parts of a Transylvania trip. Rough daily ranges per person:
- Budget, about $25 a day: bakery breakfasts, a soup and a main at a simple restaurant, groceries
- Mid-range, about $45 a day: sit-down lunch and dinner with a local beer or wine
These are typical ranges, not quotes. A tip of around 10% is normal in restaurants. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry some lei for villages, markets and small guesthouses.
Sample budget: 10 days in Transylvania
Per person, two people sharing a room. Example: fly into Bucharest, 5 nights in Brașov, 4 nights in Sibiu, by train and bus.
| Cost (per person) | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Flight JFK – Bucharest | $660 | $660 |
| 9 nights (your half) | $284 (~$63/night rooms) | $419 (~$93/night rooms) |
| Trains, buses, local transport | $60 | $80 |
| Food (10 days) | $250 | $450 |
| Castles and sights | $70 | $160 (incl. a day tour) |
| Total | ~$1,324 | ~$1,769 |
Flight and hotel prices from Google Flights and Trip.com (October 30, 2026). Transport, food and sightseeing amounts are estimates.
With a rental car instead of trains, add the rental and fuel but save time, which matters most if you want to see villages and fortified churches.
Common budget mistakes
- Making Bran Castle the highlight. It is the most expensive and most crowded sight. Peleș and the old towns often impress visitors more.
- Visiting Peleș in November or on a Monday. It is closed.
- Taking the slowest trains. The time difference between train types can be two to three hours for a few dollars.
- Paying for ETIAS. It is not live yet.
Want to compare with other trips? See our travel cost guide or our Berlin cost guide for a Western Europe comparison.
FAQs
How much does a trip to Transylvania cost?
With our May 2027 prices, about $1,300 per person for 10 days on a budget and about $1,770 mid-range, including a round-trip flight from New York and sharing a room.
How much should I budget per day in Transylvania?
About $65 per person per day on a budget and about $110 mid-range, including a central hotel, food, transport and sights. That is roughly half of what the same trip style costs in Western European capitals.
What is the best airport for Transylvania?
From the US, Bucharest is usually cheapest, then 2.5–3 hours by train or car to Brașov. Cluj-Napoca is more convenient for northern Transylvania but was about $70–85 more expensive on our dates.
How much is Bran Castle?
About 100–120 lei ($22–26) for adults in 2026, with extra fees for some rooms. Children pay about half.
Do I need a car in Transylvania?
Not for Brașov, Sibiu and Sighișoara, which are connected by train and bus. A car is best for villages, fortified churches and mountain roads.
