FINALLY ! YOUR AUTHENTIC TRANSYLVANIAN CASTLE

October 2025. Peles Castle. Sinaia. Romania.

Mrs RM was so determined to squeeze a Transylvanian castle into her blog our trip that on our final morning in Romania we woke at 6am, took a Bolt to Brasov station, and an hour later were in Sinaia on the way to Peles Castle.

A week’s holiday and not a single lie-in. And the sleepiness nearly came back to haunt us as that train arrived at Sinai station ahead of schedule without any announcement.

“Shouldn’t we be getting off soon ?”

“Nah, a few minutes yet”

“I’m sure that signs say Sinaia”

Cue stern Romania train guard berating us to “HURRY UP !!!”.

Sinai is one of the big Romanian sights, and not just for Peles Castle, which emerges from nowhere at the end of a 20 minute uphill slog fuelled only by espresso.

Yes, it was worth the trip.

Built for King Carol I, nationalised, returned to the Royal Family (they weren’t in) and now swarmed by tour groups,

it is beyond gorgeous.

But the guided tour of the public rooms bores us within 20 minutes (too much history),

and we head for our Untappd tick at Carol Bierhaus.

I don’t know how many of you use Untappd, but checking-in an Apple Strudel is quite difficult when it’s a pudding, rather than a sour.

I’m sure when Mrs RM writes this up that astonishing strudel will be the highlight, and her photo will be better than mine.

Sinaia is a mountainous retreat for Romania’s wealthy, but felt an essential stop after that strudel, the castle and the monastery at the foot of the hill.

Inevitably, our last photos are from another meal, at (bargain) Bistro 77.

It took me ages to work out that blurry object at the bottom of the ghoulash in a pie was actually the carving knife. Accidental art.

And that’s Romania, bar one more church.

That painting dates from 2024, and sits in the prayer room at Brasov Airport, competing with Brigg for “Least Used Transport Hub” with its three (3) flights a day.

Unknown's avatar

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

15 thoughts on “FINALLY ! YOUR AUTHENTIC TRANSYLVANIAN CASTLE”

    2. Apologies Jon, I see your point now I’ve read Russ’s comment ! Missing that last “a” off Sinaia (autocorrect !) explains why the train fare was coming up so expensive on the Romanian Rail website ;-0

      Like

      Reply

      1. Now Russ is back I expect him to be your proof reader and advise on corrections. Your reports on foreign trips are very interesting especially as I don’t expect to be doing any overseas travel in the future.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. “FINALLY ! YOUR AUTHENTIC TRANSYLVANIAN CASTLE”

    To paraphrase Monty Python’s Holy Grail; it looks like a model.

    “Peles Castle. Sinai. Romania.”

    Ok, that pic above is pretty nice.

    “and an hour later were in Sinai on the way to Peles Castle.”

    In the pic above Sinai has an extra ‘a’ at the end, unless you took the Concorde to Egypt?

    “A week’s holiday and not a single lie-in.”

    Ugh. Totally understand. We went on a trip to Cancun with friends and they wanted to go hither and yon every day, while I would’ve been quite happy to sit by the pool and wave American dollar bills at the staff to bring me another Negra Modelo.

    “Sinai is one of the big Romanian sights, and not just for Peles Castle, ”

    I’m going to give up after this but, a Romanian castle in Egypt would be a big sight indeed!

    “returned to the Royal Family (they weren’t in)”

    (slow golf clap)

    “I don’t know how many of you use Untappd, but checking-in an Apple Strudel is quite difficult when it’s a pudding, rather than a sour.”

    I may have to open up my cobwebbed Untappd account and try that myself.

    “and her photo will be better than mine.”

    No comment.

    “It took me ages to work out that blurry object at the bottom of the ghoulash in a pie was actually the carving knife. Accidental art.”

    I was too busy looking at the Autumn themed table decoration.

    “competing with Brigg for “Least Used Transport Hub” with its three (3) flights a day.”

    Sigh. We had at least a dozen flights a day when we moved to Campbell River 18 years ago. Now we’re down to two flights a day in the winter (starting next week) and three flights a day on weekdays at other times, with only two flights a day on weekends.

    And we’re a tourist destination!
    (salmon fishing all year round)

    Cheers

    Like

    Reply

  4. Peles Castle is definitely worth visiting, very interesting. There is more to see there than at Bran Castle, but then you are mainly going to Bran for the Dracula connection.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. We didn’t attempt public transport during our time in Romania, instead we booked a limited numbers guided tour from Bucharest, which took in both Peles and Bran castles and a short time in Brasov. A very long day but well worth it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to Jon Hart Cancel reply