4 short days in Romania - what is the best itinerary? sibiu vs sighisoara?

I only have a 4 day short vacation, and will be popping into Romania.

I fly in Monday late night into Bucharest, and leave early Friday morning.
Essentially I have 3 full days, and would need advice on the best itinerary.

Here is what I'm thinking.
My main spots are Bucharest - Brasov - Bran - Sibiu - Sighisoara

Mon - arriving late night so sleep near the airport.

Tues - Catch the early train to Brasov to go to Bran's castle.
* From here - can i go to Sibiu?
* Will it better to spend the nite in Sibiu or Brasov?

Wed - I want to go to Sighisoara.

* If I spend the nite in Brasov - can I make Sibiu and Sighisoara in a day?

Wed nite - Catch the midnight train from Sighisoara to Bucharest

Thurs - Spend the day in Bucharest

Fri - Fly out.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Tues - Catch the early train to Brasov to go to Bran's castle.
From here - can i go to Sibiu?

Not directly, you'd have to get back to Brasov.

Will it better to spend the nite in Sibiu or Brasov?

If you go to Sibiu, spend the night there.

If I spend the nite in Brasov - can I make Sibiu and Sighisoara in a day?

No (well, you could reach both in one day buy you won't actually have time to see anything).
If you have to choose between them, go to Sibiu.

Considering your limited time you should probably skip Bucharest (or choose between Bucharest and Sighisoara) and do Peles castle instead of Bran castle (it's more interesting and easier to reach)

So:

Tu: Peles castle and Brasov
We: Sibiu
Th: Sighisoara, evening train to Bucharest

or:

Tu: Peles castle and Brasov
We: Sibiu, overnight bus to Bucharest
Th: Bucharest

I agree with Ktack. You're thinking of seeing a lot in just 4 days, really you need to cut out a couple of places. I think the first suggestion Ktack made is good. Stop in Sinaia on the way to Brasov, see Peles castle and why not, if you've got time, go up the gondola there for great views of the valley. Sleep in Brasov, go to Sibiu, and then maybe Sighisoara before going back to Brasov and Bucharest. The gondola above Brasov is recommended too for more great views

I'd recommend seeing all of the above over any time Bucharest. One more option is to drop Sighisoara and day-trip to Bran castle from Brasov, you can also visit less-visited Rasnov castle on the way. Also on arrival, maybe its better to taxi into town and sleep nearer the train station for a prompt departure the next day; sleeping anywhere around the airport will be pricey.

Thanks for all the information. I think we will skip Sibiu and Bucharest.

But we have this possibly new itinerary. We want to go to Ice Hotel.
Does anyone know if we can arrange taxi/transport from Brasov to Balea Lake to take the cable car.
And then, have the taxi pick us up the next morning?

We are out of time so the trains schedules don't work for us. Best way is taxi since we are too scared to drive!!
Can anyone recommend any transport agencies that may do this?

Thanks.

Don't know anything specific, but that can be easily arranged with any hotel, hostel, travel agent or taxi driver you meet. For a price, of course.

If I would have to select a tour, I would prefer to take a 2-days guided-tour by car from Bucharest.
There are many companies and you can find such tours on Internet.
Think that (train taxi + tips tickets) > price of such tour!

The international airport Henri Coanda is located in Otopeni (30-40 min from Bucharest, depending on traffic) and to get to the train-station from Otopeni you need to travel more than an hour, so I think that you will have to negociate with the taxi-driver (some of them are not very honest about the price of the trip and the "contor" is suddenly "broken" and "impossible to fix"...)
Also in Brasov, you need to move from the train station to the other side of the city, to wait for a crowded bus for Bran and then you need another 40 minutes to reach the end of your destination... To come back and take the train - same story!
If you take the guided-tour by car, is perfectly safe, your luggage will be safe, you will have someone to tell you more about all the Romanian real history/ legends/ tales, you can stop wherever you want to take a picture, you will find the best restaurant/ hotel/... with no effort!

Bucharest deserves at least one-day tour (especially the open-air Village Museum or the wonderful Cotroceni Museum). Also the monumental Palace of Parliament is included in almost every tour of our Capital, but I would recommend Cotroceni Museum which was one of the royal residences (today at Cotroceni Palace is located the PRESIDENCY of Romania, but you cannot visit that wing!).

In two-days trip you can see:
Day 1: Bucharest - Peles Castle and 300 years-old Sinaia Monastery (Sinaia) - Brasov Center - Bran Castle ("Dracula's Castle", but I'm afraid that all vampires flew to Hollywood...) - Sighisoara (one night accomodation).
Day 2: Sighisoara - the only Medieval Citadel still inhabited in the world (UNESCO HERITAGE LIST) - Sibiu (ex- Cultural European Capital of 2007) - the Olt River Valley - Cozia Monastery (orthodox) - Pitesti - Bucharest.

If you prefer the train, you have to be VERY careful about your luggage, wallet... I don't want anyone to panic, but is better than spending your time at Police, isn't it?
ICE HOTEL is only ONE thing to see... in Brasov, Sighisoara, Sibiu there are many-many things/ museums/ the city itself (medieval gates, towers, churches, restaurants, shows, night-life...).

http://www.bucharesttours.ro/brasov-a-sighisoara--2-day-tour.html
http://www.carpatiatour.ro/oferte/detalii/romania_63/incoming_74/transylvania_the_land_of_fairy_tales_345.html
Hoping this will help you to see more beautiful sides of Romania, let me be the first person to wish you: "Welcome to Romania!"

Alexandra Ionescu

Here is an itinerary idea:
http://www.romaniatourism.com/sample-itineraries.html#1

Not sure where you will be flying from and what your special interests are but
if you will fly to Bucharest you can do
Bucharest - Sinaia - Brasov (Bran) - Sighisoara - Bucharest
or
you if you can fly directly to Targu Mures or Sibiu you can focus
on Southern Transylvania:
Sibiu - Sighisoara - Brasov
or
Targu Mures - Sighhisoara - Sibiu - Brasov - Targu Mures.

Enjoy your travels !