Hiking and Bear Watching in Romania — Self-Launched

Fly into Brasov-Ghimbav (GHV) or, more likely, Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) which has far better connections. From Bucharest take a direct CFR train to Brasov — roughly 2.5-3.5 hours and £5-15 depending on class and how early you book on cfrcalatori.ro. From Brasov-Ghimbav airport, a taxi into the old town is about £7-9 (15 minutes); from Brasov train station it's a 10-minute walk or a £2 taxi. Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in the old town — try options around Piata Sfatului such as hostel or pensiune rooms from £25-30/night. Spend the afternoon wandering the medieval centre: the Black Church, the Rope Street (Strada Sforii), the White and Black Towers, and the Council Square. Grab dinner at a local restaurant — a ciorba (soup) plus a main course runs about £8-12.

🚌CFR train Bucharest-Brasov (~£5-15) or taxi from Brasov-Ghimbav airport (~£7-9). Local walking and buses in town.

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Brasov old town (~£30/night private room, less in a dorm)

• →Explore Piata Sfatului and the old town
• →Black Church
• →Rope Street and the city walls

Take an early bus or shared taxi towards Zarnesti (about 45 minutes, roughly £2-3 each way on the local bus) and hike into the Piatra Craiului National Park — a 3-4 hour loop with around 300m of ascent; the trails are well marked and you can pick up a map or use a GPS app. Head back to Brasov for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon, arrange a bear-watching session at one of the ethical hides operating in the Carpathians. Several local operators around Zarnesti and Brasov run small-group hide visits with transfers from the town; book ahead via GetYourGuide or direct with the operator and expect roughly £45-60 per person including transfer. You hike 20-25 minutes into the forest, settle into an elevated hide on the edge of a clearing, and watch for brown bears (often with cubs) at dusk — you're in Europe's densest brown bear country, but sightings are never guaranteed. Return to Brasov for a late dinner.

🚌Local bus Brasov-Zarnesti (~£2-3 each way); bear hide transfer usually included in the session price.

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Brasov old town

• →Self-guided hike in Piatra Craiului National Park
• →Evening brown bear watching from an ethical forest hide

This morning head to the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti, Europe's largest bear sanctuary, which rehomes and rehabilitates formerly captive bears across 70 forested hectares. Visits are by guided tour only and must be booked in advance — tickets are around £10-13 per person (book on the sanctuary's own site or via GetYourGuide), and the tour lasts roughly 1-1.5 hours walking the trails between the fenced enclosures. Get there by local bus from Brasov to Zarnesti, then a short taxi, or join a tour that includes the transfer. Afterwards, hike on Postavaru Mountain — a 3-hour route with around 250m of ascent through green valleys with wide Carpathian views. You can reach the Postavaru trailheads by local bus or a short taxi from central Brasov. Back in town in the late afternoon, grab a beer in Council Square before trying another local restaurant for dinner.

🚌Local bus Brasov-Zarnesti (~£2-3) and short taxi to the sanctuary (~£2); local bus/taxi to the Postavaru trailhead.

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Brasov old town

• →Guided tour of Libearty Bear Sanctuary (book in advance)
• →Self-guided hike on Postavaru Mountain
• →Evening in Council Square

Take a local bus from Brasov to Bran (about 45 minutes, roughly £2-3) and visit Bran Castle — the medieval stronghold better known as Dracula's Castle, with its turrets, towers and famous connection to Bram Stoker's tale. Entry is around £9-12 per person; booking a timed ticket online in peak season saves queueing. Wander the castle rooms and the grounds, then have lunch in Bran village before taking the bus back to Brasov in the early afternoon. If you're flying out the same day, allow time to reach Brasov-Ghimbav airport by taxi (~£7-9) or take the train back to Bucharest for onward flights (2.5-3.5 hours, £5-15). Otherwise, use the rest of the day to explore more of Brasov's old town walls and viewpoints.

🚌Local bus Brasov-Bran return (~£4-6 total); taxi to Brasov-Ghimbav airport (~£7-9) or CFR train to Bucharest (~£5-15).

🛏None (end of self-launched trip) — or add an extra budget guesthouse night in Brasov (~£30)

• →Visit Bran Castle (Dracula's Castle)
• →Explore Bran village and lunch
• →Optional further exploration of Brasov old town