While this post was originally written after the trip we took to Romania in August 2018, it is updated for Summer 2025 with comments and corrections I received from friends and followers of the blog who visited Transfagaran up until June 2025. It means you can trust the prices and the content being up-to-date. Surely you are welcome to write me in the comments.
News flash: The road has opened early this year and starting Friday 06.06.2025 you may drive it from one end to the other!!
Last year we were in Romania and wanted very much to drive down Transfagarasan road, but unfortunately didn’t get the chance. So this time, while visiting Romania in August, we decided to drive down this road no matter what. We travelled the Sibiu district and the day before coming back home, we drove to Transfagarasan and spent the entire day there. We found a really good rental car deal through Paapm Paapm website and the actual car rental service provided by Autonom, a Romanian car rental company.
A bit about Transfagarasan
Transfăgărășan is considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world. It is a road that crosses the southern part of the Carpathian Mountains range. Its name literally translates to “crossing the Făgăraș Mountains,” which is the name of the mountains in this area. It was built in the 70s and is 90km long. It has many twists and turns, and passes adjacent to Bâlea Lake, Bâlea waterfall and Vidraru lake.
It starts out in Cartisoara village and ends in Curtea de Argeș village.
Make sure to check your GPS navigation to go through the actual Transfagarasan road and not through an alternative, parallel road.
How to reach Transfagarasan road
The closest cities are Pitesti and Sibiu.
Pitesti is 37km away (south).
Sibiu is 48km away (north).
Brasov is 105km away (east).
Bucharest is 154km away (south).
We arrived from the Sibiu area and got on the road within an hour. We started at Cartisoara village which is marked A on the map.
When is Transfagarasan open? Updates for Spring 2025
The road is open year-round, but a 25 km section between Piscu Negru and Bâlea Cascadă is closed during the winter due to dangerous driving conditions. This section remains closed from October 31st to July 1st. Additionally, other parts of the road may be temporarily closed in winter, depending on the weather and road safety conditions.
In the past I recommend following the Blogger Martin, who leads bike tours on Transfagarasan and posts updates regarding the weather and whether parts of the road are closed off but he is no longer actively sharing updates.
You may check this live video stream from a camera on the Balea Lake (Lacul Balea) at around 2,034 meters altitude.
The latest updates from travelers in March 2025 say that the road is only partially open, so you can’t drive to the top or cross to the other side. It’s expected to fully reopen on July 1st, 2025, between Bâlea Cascadă (Waterfall) in the north and Piscu Negru in the south.
If you’re coming from the north and find it closed, you can take the cable car to Bâlea Lake. It runs if the weather is good and there are at least 10 passengers. You can park your car at the Bâlea Waterfall parking lot.
Our experience at Transfagarasan road
We arrived at the road on an August weekday, in the late morning hours (Around 10am) with a ton of expectations, and we were delighted that the road met our expectations and even surpassed them. We happened upon a great day, with excellent visibility and without many clouds. Honestly, whenever a cloud popped up, it only added to the magical feeling on the road.
An unexpected stop
We started the ride and after a few minutes of driving suddenly had to stop, since apparently there was a rock collapse. Since we already started the drive up the mountain, the weather was pleasant so even the stop was a nice experience. Everyone left their vehicles and waited for the go ahead. I think we stopped there for about a half hour.
Transfagarasan road length
The road is 90km and at first, I thought we’ll quickly reach its end, but since its full of turns the maximum speed is 40km/h. Plus, you stop on the side of the road to take pictures every two minutes (Its really beautiful around there). Take into account that this trip takes half a day at the very least, perhaps even a full day.
Balea waterfall – cable car and hiking trail
At about the height where the forest ends and a treeless alpine area begins, you will see many vehicles stopping on the side of the road. This is the entrance to the cable car that goes up from the Bela waterfall to the lake. You can park for free along the road and I think there is also an internal parking lot for the restaurant which operates there.
The cable car goes up to Lake Bela (and as I mentioned we didn’t do it because we continued with the car to the lake). The price is 50 lei one way for an adult and 30 lei for a child and payment here is still only cash as of October 2024.
If you are visiting on a pleasant day and you like hiking, you can do a hiking route from here to the Bela waterfall – about an hour of climbing and another hour back to the parking lot. The route is steep and not recommended for children under the age of 5 according to several groups of travelers we met along the way who said it was difficult for them. If you are with a baby – the track is not accessible for strollers. Note that you are following the route marked with a red circle.
If you just want to dip your feet at the cold water – you can do it at the beginning of the route at the point where the route starts to rise from the parking lot.
Balea lake – The hidden, magical lake
There was a point when cars started slowing down and we realized we arrived at the lake (Map). You can’t see the lake from the road, you arrive at a parking area with many stalls. We parked our car at the lot, which cost 10 leu an hour (prices are updated on September 2024).
At the stalls we could buy local street food, such as a cheese filled Mămăligă ball, hot corn on a cob, different types of sausage, local cakes and more. There’s a food court with plenty of seats where you can buy local grilled food.
At one of the stalls that sold sausages, the woman said that one of the sausages was a bear meat sausage. I don’t know if that’s for real or not but that’s what she said. Anyway, you can also buy there the local drink – Ţuica made from plums.
From the parking and stall area you walk for less than 5-minutes and reach the hidden lake.
The fun part about it is that you can buy the local food and sit by the lake, have a little picnic an amazing view of the lake and the mountains.
I highly recommend arriving on a weekday and relatively early in the day, as it’ll be much less crowded. The lake is really beautiful, we had a fun time sitting there, watching it and taking photos.
Things to do at Balea lake
The lake area has walking routes, so if you’re looking for a nice physical challenge, you can visit and do a walking track.
The simple route is to go around the lake and is comfortable even with children and will take less than an hour. There are additional and longer routes and you can go up and go about a kilometer south to the other side of the ridge and return on foot through the Balea tunnel to the parking lot. We didn’t do this route and it is suitable for those with who love to hike. You should find out more details about this route in advance and prepare for it.
Another nice thing is two restaurants with balconies overlooking the lake. We visited the first restaurant from the top.
I ordered a cappuccino and Roman order Ciorba soup, as usual.
Although it’s a lake and the middle of August, since it’s located at a 2000m height, it’s relatively chilly up there, one might even call it cold. I wore a short shirt and scarf and was very cold.
So another recommendation is bringing long trousers and closed shoes, and bring a jacket (If you visit during another season, bring a coat and toque, since there are also strong winds).
There is also a cable car which goes along the road. As I mentioned we didn’t try the cable car as we drove the car, but it seems like a nice experience and you will have to take it if you want to get here once the roads are closed. There is also a really high and long Omega ride which seems really extreme.
Silly experience we had at the lake
Before returning to the vehicle, Roman decided to buy some sausages and I bought a local dessert and paid in cash at the restaurant. When we came to the car we realized we didn’t have enough cash left to pay for the parking. Apparently, there aren’t any ATMs in the area and we had to look for a couple of Leu to pay for parking. Eventually the guard at the entrance let us go, but we felt quite embarrassed and it wasn’t very pleasant. As of September 2024 – both parking lots at the lake operate electric gates and accept credit cards at the exit. The current cost is 10 lei per hour and they charge by every half an hour (15 lei per one hour and fifteen minutes for example).
Capra waterfall
The Capra waterfall is a relatively small waterfall that can be seen from the road when continuing south from Lake Balea. After passing through the Balea tunnel, the road begin to descend steeply and within a few minutes you reach a section of the road where everyone slows down. There are not many parking spaces near the waterfall, so one of the lanes is sometimes blocked and turns into a parking lot (because there are also no curbs to stop at). There is not too much to do except take pictures there and maybe buy something at the nearby stall.
Where do you see bears?
You can see bears all along the road, in different sections. Most of the reports from travelers who were there in September 2024 were about encounters with bears on the section of the road between Capra Falls and southwards to the Vidraru Dam and even a little south of it. You can meet the bears by driving slowly on the road, sometimes they will cross it or walk / stand next to it, on the side of the road or in the forest. It is difficult to pass the entire road without meeting bears. Even if you drive fast, you will probably slow down because of a car that has slowed down or stopped to take a picture of them, so pay attention and watch for unexpected stops or cars standing behind every turn.
Vidraru Dam (and lake)
The southern point of interest on the Transfagarasan Road is the Vidraru Dam – it is a huge dam that creates an artificial lake with the same name. You can park along the road and cross the dam on foot, take pictures and admire the view, the lake and the huge structure of the Dam. You can spend fifteen minutes there and move on.
Accommodations in the area of the Transfagarasan Road
We reached the Transfagarasan road from Sibiu , but if you want to sleep in the area of the road, here are some places I found with good reviews:
There is also a guesthouse at Balea lake if you want to stay in the road’s vicinity.
Questions and answers about Transfagarasan Road
Q: Are there any attractions or activities nearby along Transfagarasan Road?
A: Many people come to the road and have picnics along the way, there are stopping places along the entire road. Some even go camping there. There are several hiking trails and picturesque observation points along the route. In addition, you can stop at the Vidraru Dam, one of the highest dams in Europe, or visit the historic Poienari Castle, which stands on a cliff overlooking the Argeș River.
Q: What are some safety tips for driving on Transfagarasan Road?
A: There are many cyclists and motorcyclists on the road so you have to drive slowly and carefully. It is important to drive carefully and adhere to the speed limit, because the road is narrow and winding with a steep descent. Be prepared for sudden changes in weather, including fog and rain, which can reduce visibility. In addition, make sure that your vehicle is in good condition and equipped with tires suitable for driving in the mountains.
It is recommended to reach the road in the morning and in the middle of the week, otherwise there can be traffic congestion, especially in the area of Lake Bala.
We went mid-week in the morning, when we made the way back from the other side (around five o’clock in the evening) there was quite a long traffic jam in the lake area.
Q: What clothing is recommended to wear when visiting the Transfagarasan Road?
Bring warm and long clothes with you, even in the summer months. I didn’t do it and it was really cold for me to go outside the car.
Q: Are there places to eat along Transfagarasan Road?
A: There are food stalls and a restaurant at Lake Bala and stalls occasionally along the road.
Q: When is the best time to visit Transfagarasan?
A: The road is usually open to traffic from the end of June to the beginning of October, depending on the weather conditions. The best time to visit is during the summer months when the weather is milder and the road less likely to be blocked by snow or ice. As I mentioned already, I think it is best to enjoy the road during weekdays rather than the weekend or public Holidays, so it gets less crowded. Note that every year, during the last week of August, there is a holiday in Romania, and traffic on the road is heavier than usual. If possible, try to visit on other days or at least arrive very early—the road is relatively calm until 10 AM.
Q: How much time to spend in Transfagarasan Road?
A: We spent the entire day, from morning to evening. Consider just crossing the 111km or road will take you approx 3 hours of driving, from one end to the other. Some people actually spend the night or few nights along it, so they can enjoy the sights in a more relaxed schedule.
Q: Can I enjoy the Transfagarasan Road with public transportation?
A: I actually checked and didn’t find any public transportation services to go through the Transfagarasan Road. There is a bus and rail service which goes on a parallel way to the west, between Râmnicu Vâlcea and Sibiu which you can take but it would only be 20km to the west of the Transfagarasan Road. You can find few tour operatours via Get your guide and Viator to take you for a guided trip, but personally I really like to drive around myself with a rental car and stop whenever I want.
Q: What is the meaning of Transfagarasan Road?
A: The road was built in the early 1970s as a strategic military route by the regime of Nicolae Ceausescu, the former communist leader of Romania. It was designed to provide quick access over the mountains in the event of a Soviet invasion. Today, it is known for its stunning scenery and challenging driving conditions, attracting tourists and driving enthusiasts from around the world.
Q: What are the most worthwhile places along Transfagarasan Road?
A: One of the most iconic features of the Transfagarasan Road is the Balea Lake and waterfall, located at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. The second place not to be missed is Lake Vidraru and Vidraru Dam. In addition, there are several tunnels and canals along the route, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Q: What is the distance between Transfagarasan Road and major cities?
A: Bucharest: The distance between Bucharest and the Transfagarasan road is about 160-180 kilometers, depending on the exact starting point in Bucharest. It takes about 3-4 hours to drive from Bucharest to the beginning of Transmigration Road.
Sibiu: Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, located about 50 kilometers from the Transmigration Highway, depending on the specific route taken. The trip usually takes about an hour.
Brasov: Brasov is another city in Transylvania and is located approximately 90-110 kilometers from the Transmigration Highway, depending on the starting point in Brasov. It usually takes 1.5-2.5 hours to drive from Brasov to the Transfiguration road.
Cluj-Napoca: Cluj-Napoca is located further north in Romania and is about 250-300 kilometers from the Transmigration Highway. The trip usually takes about 4-5 hours.
These travel distances and times are approximate and may vary depending on factors such as the specific start and end points, road conditions and traffic. It is always a good idea to check with Navigation apps like Waze or Google Maps before traveling, just make sure it actually takes you through the Transfagarasan road and doesn’t navigate you around it like it originally happened to us.
A half-hour drive from our Airbnb apartment in Gura Raului village is a nice walking track in the mountainous woods, starting out in Platinis village (Post about our Airbnb apartment).
We like trekking and so, while in the village, decided we’d like to go on a nice track in the area. We looked for interesting tracks and found out about the Cindrel mountains. I’ve learned that there is a 3-4 hour route, a 5-6 hour route, and a 10 hour route.
Since it was the middle of August, I was worried it’d be too hot for a long track and we decided to go with the 3-4 hour route.The information regarding the different walking tracks in the Cindrel mountains I found on this website. There isn’t a lot of information about these routes, but this much helps some.
You can reach this track from Sibiu itself, as well. It’s about an hour drive away. (Post about recommended things to do in Sibiu).
We arrived with a vehicle we rented from the Papam Papam website, through the Autonom company.
Hiking in the Cindrel mountains
On this track, you pass several notable checkpoints and it’s important to be aware of them, as there are forks in the road and taking the wrong path might lead you onto a longer route. The route is circular.
My recommendation is to visit the large map by the cable car. There you’ll see the possible walking routes. I recommend taking a picture of the map and your route, to make sure you are able to follow it properly.
The trail’s checkpoints
Păltiniş – Vf. Onceşti – Poiana Muncel – Stâna Găujoara – Izvorul Dorul Clujului – Păltiniş
Every time you come across an intersection with signs, pay attention to the next checkpoint and walk in the direction of the arrow pointing to it. Additionally, pay attention to markings along the road – A blue triangle at first, then two red lines, a blue circle and lastly a red cross.
Beginning of the hiking trail
The walking route, in its first part, is a long climb up the mountain for about an hour, on an organized trail. You start at a height of 1450m and climb to a height of 1700m.
The ascent isn’t steep or especially difficult, but if you’re not into climbs – you may skip this park and simply take the cable car up the mountain.
The trail starts out near the cable car parking in the village (Map). From the parking area you need to keep walking straight until you see a blue triangle marking on the trees, there you start the climb.
Information about the hiking trail itself
The route is considered an easy one. The only part that is somewhat difficult is the climb in the beginning, but if you’re in decent shape you shouldn’t have too much issue with it. We’ve seen a family with children take the route as well.
The route is marked all along the way with markings on trees, as well as bright pink markings on stones along the way.
For the most part, the track is a walk through the woods, so you don’t get to see too much any impressive views, but there are some very pretty views in the beginning, and it is a light and fun trek.
When is it recommended to do the track?
My recommendation is to do the track during the summer. The advantage to this route is that most of the walking is done in the forest, and so is mostly in the shade – which was great, since we did it in the middle of August. Additionally, since the route is mountainous, the weather is very pleasant.
During the route there are several streams you need to cross by walking over rocks. During the summer, the current is slow and it wasn’t a problem to cross them, but if you’re traveling during the fall or spring, It’s important not to go on the track while it’s raining/after a rainy day, or the current might be much stronger – and you won’t be able to get around it.
Restaurant with hypnotizing view after the trek
One of the fun things about this route is that after walking (About 5 hours with stops and filming), we sat down at Restaurant Bar Tiffany Paltinis (Map), right by the cable car. This is a very popular restaurant and the main reason is the balcony, which overlooks the green mountain view. At first we sat at a corner table, not great in terms of view, but of course I was looking over the tables in the better locations, and as soon as a couple left their table, I asked the waiter to move us there.
Restaurant’s menu
The menu at the restaurant is in Romanian only (They don’t have an English menu), which was a bit challenging and for a moment we considered just ordering a hamburger, since we couldn’t understand the menu.
But then we pulled out our phones and used Google Translate, which has the option of translating from pictures. So, I took a photo of a part of the menu every time and saw the translation, which helped a lot in making our order.
Roman ordered Ciorba soup for starters, and for mains – Puree with meat. I ordered sliced vegetables, and fish fillet with Risotto for my main course. We were worried of the food being of low quality, but it was actually really tasty (It might have been due to how hungry we were after 5 hours of walking).
We also ordered local beer, and for dessert a cheese cake with chocolate and a chocolate profiterole with coffee (We deserve it after that much walking, don’t we? :))
In summary, the restaurant is highly recommended for both a full meal and just coffee with cake. It was one of our wonderful moments on the trip to Romania.
We arrived at Sibiu on a cheap flight we found for August (2018). In Sibiu we stayed at an Airbnb apartment. After staying in Sibiu we spent three nights in another apartment at Gura Raului village. A village about half an hour drive away. You can reach it by train, but the area is hard to get around without a car, so I would recommend making the trip with a rental car. We found a vehicle though Papam Papam website, and the lease was from the Autonom company.
We made the trip to Romania after a luxurious cruise in the Adriatic Sea, so we decided to make our trip to Romania on a low budget. We wanted a rural trip with a lot of nature, and that’s what we ended up getting.
If you’re traveling to Sibiu for more than two-three days, I’d recommend renting a car and traveling the surrounding area – Since it’s really magical. Another recommendation is to sleep in the adjacent villages, to enjoy the authentic, local experience.
The apartment we stayed at in the village
We found this apartment through the Airbnb website, and honestly (Link to the apartment), we picked it due to its low cost (About 20 euros a night) and because it seemed to offer a beautiful view. It turned out to be one of the most magical apartments we ever had the pleasure of staying at, mostly because of its well-tended garden and the stunning, green views it offered. Additionally, the village itself is really charming and has a grocery store within walking distance of the apartment. There is also a great restaurant in the village, an 8-minute drive away and a supermarket right by the restaurant (Map to the supermarket).
Information regarding the apartment
The apartment itself is located in a compound with several apartments belonging to the family. It is a two-floor apartment, with two bedrooms on the second floor, one with two single beds and the other with a double bed and a small balcony with a beautiful view of the mountains.
There’s also a bathroom with a shower. On the first floor is the living room, food area and another bathroom. The adjacent house has a giant shared kitchen (We didn’t get to see anyone else there and were always alone in it), as well as a giant, well-tended garden with many flowers and a pagoda area with a table, chairs and swing. There’s also a cute little dog named Toto who will always come out to greet you.
The apartment doesn’t have an air conditioner, only heating. Before our arrival I was somewhat worried about that part, since it was the middle of august, but the owner told us the apartment itself is pleasant and cool and so it was. At night we slept with a blanket on and even wore a jacket in the evenings, since it got chilly.
Picnic in the garden
Before going to Gura Raului, we passed through a local produce market in Sibiu, which is open on Fridays between 10:00 and 13:00. We bought cheeses, fruit, vegetables and honey. We also bought bread and ham at the store next to our apartment. It turned out to be a great purchase, since the apartment’s garden is perfect for a fun picnic. We took the picnic photos on a sheet in the middle of the garden, but afterwards sat down to eat under the pagoda and it was great.
Restaurant for dinner in the adjacent village
We spent three nights at the apartment, on two of them we cooked dinner at home, and on the other we decided to go have dinner at a restaurant. There aren’t many options of dining in the area, so we chose the restaurant based on the best looking google photos.
The restaurant we ate at is called Conacul Maria Theresa, address: nr. 632, Strada Victoriei, Orlat 557170, Romania. (Map)
We came there for dinner and sat outside. It was a very pleasant and even a bit chilly, despite it being the middle of august. We ordered two glasses of white wine and for starters Roman had Ciorba soup, while I ordered a trio of salads – Grilled eggplant, roasted pepper salad and a potato salad (Russian styled).
We were also served fresh bread along with our food. For mains, Roman ordered ribs served with potatoes and I ordered fillet of beef, also with potatoes. All the dishes were really good, and the atmosphere was nice. The service was a bit slow, since all the tables were packed, but it didn’t hurt our experience and we had a great time.
Gura Raului village
The village is a half hour drive from Sibiu. All the houses are colourful, there are about three grocery stores and no restaurants. The experience in the village is very authentic and there is a feeling of traveling back in time. While there are cars, there are also many horse-pulled carts.
A 15-minute drive away from the village is an area with a river and a gorgeous, ginormous dam. The whole area is very pastoral, you’ll see many cows and horses along the way.
You can travel the area and drive along the road by the dam, to see its other side.
An hour away are the fun Ocna Sibiuliu salt lakes (Extended post about the salt lakes).
When we arrived in Sibiu, Romania the weather was very hot, around 32 degrees (Middle of August). We found a cheap flight to Sibiu and stayed at an Airbnb apartment (Search for other accommodations). Since we had a seven-day trip planned, we decided it would be a good idea to look for a water-related activity, and after a bit of research found Ocna Sibiului. It is a resort with salt and mud lakes. The water is 5 times saltier than usual (Less than the dead sea) and the place is known for its healing properties, regarding both the salt water and the mud.
This sounded like a good option to us and we decided to go there.
A bit of info about Ocna Sibiului
Also called “Transylvania’s beach”, this local’s resort is located 17 km away from Sibiu. The area is surrounded by hills covered in oak tree woods.
How to reach Ocna Sibiului’s salt lakes
We rented a car through Papam Papam website, from the Autonom company. The drive there is relatively short from the city, we arrived within 25 minutes. You may also get a taxi there for about 50 Leu in each direction, which is another good option. Map.
Who are the lakes suitable for?
Everyone. We’ve seen families with kids and infants, as well as elderly and young people.
What’s the cost of entrance?
We paid 25 Lei per adult.
Where do you park?
If you come by vehicle, there are many parking spots by the entrance. Parking is 5 Lei a day, which is really cheap, and finding a spot is not a problem there. Some parked at the side of the road.
What can you find at Ocna Sibiului?
There are several salt lakes, as well as mud lakes (All lakes have mud on the bottom, but two of them have shallow water and lots of mud, there you rub the mud on yourself). There are many food and dessert stalls, such as crepe and ice-cream and areas with prepared food. There are also lawns with many tanning beds. There are stalls selling towels, mattresses, oboe and more.
There are also vacation homes for rent, in case you want to spend a few days there.
Tip: It’s recommended to arrive early, before all the reclining chairs are in use. We arrived at around 11 and everything was already taken.
Another tip: if you rub yourself with mud, you’ll have to shower at the locker rooms before going into the regular lakes (Or you’ll be scolded). It’s recommended to come with a bathing suit already on.
Our experience at Ocna Sibiului
At first, when we got there, we were a bit shocked. The place was crowded (Despite it being the middle of the week), and most people were locals. We couldn’t find any available seats and didn’t have our bathing suits on either, so we decided to look for locker rooms to change. When we got over the initial shock, we decided to go to the farthest lake, which we noticed was less crowded. As soon as we entered the water, we enjoyed it so much we immediately forgot our recoil. You can easily float, and since the waters are calm and less salty than the dead sea, you can spend hours in them.
At some point we left the water and went to find some food. There were many options of food and many shaded sitting areas.
There is also a drinks bar where we got fresh grapefruit and orange juice. The prices are really reasonable and a lunch consisting of a main dish with a side of soup cost around 30 Lei. A crepe cost 5 Lei and a freshly squeezed juice cost 10 Lei.
Notes about Ocna Sibiului
Don’t be frightened by the fact that the place is crowded by locals, despite there being many people – it was still very quiet and relaxing, we spent a full day in the water and around it and had a great time. A recommended experience for everyone and only a short distance from Sibiu.
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The decision to travel to Sibiu, Romania, was due to cheap flight tickets we found for August (2018)(Extended post regarding how to save money). After doing some research about the town and surrounding area, we decided to spend 3 nights in an Airbnb apartment (Search for other accommodations), then continue to 3 additional nights in a nearby village, in an apartment as well.
Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb in the city was very nice, its owner was charming, but the location was less good in our opinion. We had to walk about 20 minutes to the city center, which wasn’t very pleasant in the August heat. At least the taxis there are really cheap and there were a few times we took a taxi for 7 lei to the apartment or the city center.
We hadn’t considered renting a car at first, since the prices were quite high, but we ended up renting one since the area has many things to do and beautiful places to visit. We rented the vehicle though Papam Papam website, from Autonom company.
About Sibiu
Sibiu is one of the most important cities in Transylvania, Romania. Sibiu was founded in the middle ages, and later surrounded by a strong wall. It’s known for the sausage it used to produce. Each year an international Jaxx festival is held in it.
Where to purchase a local sim card in Sibiu?
At the main plaza (Map) you’ll find offices for Orange and Vodfone, both offering sim cards for around 6 euros, with 5 gigabytes each, which is more than enough.
Arrival from the airport to the city center
The owner of the apartment we stayed at was really lovely and came to pick us up from the airport, but you could get a taxi for very cheap, assuming there isn’t too much traffic. Without traffic, the price should amount to around 17 lei with a meter. When we landed at around 14:00 there was a lot of traffic, but even so, a taxi won’t run you more than 40 lei, so it’s definitely worthwhile. There are also busses, but we didn’t get to travel by bus.
What to do in Sibiu?
Climbing 200 steps and looking over the city from above
One of the nice things to do in Sibiu is to climb to the head of the Sibiu tower. The tower is in the central cathedral, which is currently under renovation, so you can’t tour the cathedral itself – but you can climb the tower. Entrance is 5 lei a person.
There are 200 steps and the climb isn’t difficult. We’ve seen both children and adults go up.
When you reach the top, there are four turrets, each offering a view over a different part of town. There’s only one open window in each turret, so it’s better to visit during the week, as it gets quite crowded on the weekends, both on the steps and the turrets themselves.
The cathedral is named: Sibiu Lutheran Cathedral. (Map).
Address: Piața Albert Huet FN, Sibiu 550182, Romania
Enjoying a local produce market on Fridays
Since we stayed at Airbnb apartments throughout our trip and had a kitchen, one of our favourite things on the trip was buying local food and preparing meals at the apartment or going on picnics outside which was really fun.
One of my favourite places was the local produce market, open on Fridays between 10:00-13:00. It’s in the cathedral’s yard. There aren’t many stalls, but it has everything you need for a picnic or a nice meal. We bought vegetables, fruit, honey, cheeses, nuts – and there was a sausage stall which closed before we had the chance to buy anything and a freshly baked bread stall. Map.
Eating local food
Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb was at a less central location than could be desired, which was a disadvantage for us – but the upside to its location is that we were able to find two good local places, one was a Romanian restaurant called Prima. Roman claims it’s the best Romanian restaurant he ate at and their Ciorba soup was the best. The place is rather sought out by locals, so you may want to book a table in advance.
Address: Strada Petrila 20, Sibiu (Map).
Another nice place we discovered while walking from the apartment to the city center is a local bakery which produces a sort of bagel and stuffed pastries with sweet or savoury fillings. (Map)
Visiting the bridge of lies
One of Sibiu’s icons is the Bridge of lies. Today, the Bridge of lies is considered a romantic location where lovers meet to swear eternal love to each other by hanging a lock on the bridge. One of the legends claims the bridge has an unexplained power, and that whenever a lie is uttered on it, it collapses.
The bridge itself is pretty and has many well-tended flower pots. Since it’s in a central location, chances are you’ll cross it even unintentionally (map).
Shopping at souvenir and food stalls
By the bridge you’ll find nice stalls, operating from morning to night. You’ll find food stalls selling hotdogs, Kurtoskalacs and many souvenir stalls which are nice as well. We bought a set of handmade salt shakers, a handmade bell and a keyholder.
Visiting the central square
At Sibiu’s main plaza you’ll find restaurants and cafés, as well as street shows. While we were there, an orchestra was playing, and it was really beautiful. (Map)
Walking around the old town
Another nice thing to do in town is simply walk around it aimlessly. Walking the alleys, passing the gates, going down stairs and walking by the wall. Just wondering on foot and enjoying the city.
Sitting in nice cafés
A café I liked a lot is Arhiva de Cafea si Ceai.
It’s an intimate and charming café, offering good coffee, cakes (We ordered an almond cake which was really good), different juices (We took pear juice in a bottle), and also has a food and wine menu. (Map)
Another nice café is Wien Café, which is by the cathedral. What I liked about it is the nice balcony where you can sit and enjoy the pleasant breeze and the view. We ordered an Americano. Tip: this café has two balconies, one is central and usually full and the other can be reached through a side entrance (By the bathrooms), that balcony is less crowded and I personally think it’s nicer to sit there. (Map)
Another place I liked is a vegan café-restaurant, She’s Green. A café with a sweet design and a special, tasty vegan menu. We ordered an almond based soup there which was really good. We told them we’ll share it and they split the soup between two plates (Very nice of them), for mains I ordered a pasta salad with avocado and Roman had a carrot pasta salad. The soup and mains were delicious and had a very unique flavour combination. (Map)
Dining at a romantic restaurant
On our last night in Sibiu we went to Old Lisbon, an excellent Portuguese restaurant. If you like fish and sea food, you’ll enjoy this restaurant a lot. The service there was the best we’ve seen on our trip, and the food and drinks were delicious. Roman ordered a Margarita and I had a glass of Portuguese white wine. For starters we had salmon tartar and mango, which was perfect (I wanted to order a second serving) and a dish of Bass tartar, which we found to be less good, however the salmon tartar more than made up for it.
For mains, we had trouble deciding what to order since every dish sounded great, but ended up going for a sea food pasta with a white wine and garlic sauce and it was a winning dish. The sauce was subtle, and you could feel the flavour of the pasta and the seafood, we enjoyed this dish immensely. (Map)
Tel Aviv is a cool city with many high-class hotels, beautiful boutique hotels and fancy hostels. Since the stay in Tel Aviv can be quite pricey, I’ve decided to list our favourite options for you, which also have decent prices.
Abraham Hostel
If you’re looking for a light place, fancy but not too luxurious, the recommended option is Abraham hostel. It’s a really trendy hostel with people from all around the world and at all ages. There are shared rooms, rooms for couples and for families.
There’s a bar, many sitting areas, a fun balcony, a television room and beyond a place to stay, the hostel offers an excellent hosting experience including tours, shuttles, workshops and events. Even if you’re not staying at the hostel itself, you can visit it and meet people from all over the globe, order tours through them and attend events. If you’re guests at the hostel you’ll be entitled to discounts.
There are also communal Sabbath dinners on Friday nights, at a cheaper price for hostel guests. The hostel also offers several-day trips all across Israel, so if you’re short on time when it comes to exploring Israel – This can be a good option for you.
The hostel is in a great location, about a 10-minute walk from Levinsky market and the hipster Florentin neighbourhood, a 5-minute walk to Rothchild boulevard as well as 5 minutes away from the main street, Allenby, by which you can reach the Carmel market and the beach. It’s in a good location in regard to public transport.
Hostel price comparison and link to further reviews.
Boutique hotel by the flea market – The Market Hotel
The market hotel is a boutique hotel as well as a culinary experience in a super fun location. It’s right next to the flea market, which boasts a lively atmosphere all throughout the day, and especially in the evenings.
It’s walking distance from the beach and the charming Jaffa port.
The hotel itself is a boutique hotel in an urban design. One of the most fun things about it is the breakfast, made with fresh, high quality ingredients such as hard cheeses, salads, breads, pastries and more. Additionally, every lunch there is a happy hour with different snack food such as pizza, Bourekas and more, as well as wine.
The hotel belongs to the Atlas brand, which owns great boutique hotels across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. All of them offer the concept of a great breakfast and a fun happy hour.
You can look for a hotel according to your preferred location.
Hotel price comparison and link to further reviews.
Link to extended post about the market hotel.
Boutique hotel with a pool in Tel Aviv – Poli House Hotel
The Poli house is a boutique hotel with a roof pool and bar, and at a great location. It is immediately adjacent to the Carmel market and the artist’s market in Nachalat Binyamin. It’s a 15-minute walk away from the beach and you can actually exit it straight into the market and enjoy an Israeli market experience during the day, and the nightlife as well.
The hotel itself is done in a modern design, we felt like we were in a spaceship. The thing we liked best about it was the roof pool. While it’s relatively small, we enjoy pools a lot – our ultimate vacation is a cocktail in the pool, and the hotel fit that idea perfectly.
There are also high-quality, light bar snacks. The rooms are designed beautifully and have everything you might need.
Breakfast is in the adjacent Loveat café, which has a special entrance from the hotel, and thus feels like a part of it. It isn’t a buffet meal, but a menu breakfast, offering Israeli breakfast food such as Shakshuka, sandwiches and more.
Hotel price comparison and link to further reviews.
Link to extended post about Poli House.
Apartment on Allenby street
If you’re looking for a relatively cheap option for couples or several people and would rather not stay at a hostel – There’s the option of renting an apartment in a good location on Allenby street, Apartment Allenby 106. I stayed there with my two sisters and we had a very nice time. The apartment itself is in a residential building, and the lobby isn’t the most impressive, but the apartment itself is really well designed and taken care of. It has a twin bed and a fold out sofa bed.
Apartment price comparison and further reviews.
The cruise we went on during June 2018 started out in Venice, Italy. We’ve already been to Italy in 2018, and we were excited to return – especially since we didn’t get to visit Venice on our previous trip, which I really wanted to do. The cruise allowed us a chance to explore the city.
General information regarding Venice
The romantic city of Venice is located in the Veneto region of Italy.
One of the city’s most famous areas is the “Grand Canal” street, which was an important center of the renaissance. Another area is the central plaza, named “Piazza San Marco”. Here you may find a variety of byzantine mosaics and of course the beautiful San Marco Basilica.
How to reach Venice?
There are direct flights to Venice. Another way is to arrive by train through major Italian cities like Rome or Pisa. Alternatively, you may rent a car at another city and park it at the city’s entrance – Since one of the fun things about Venice is that there are no cars! Not even bike riders. Search for cheap flights to Venice.
Where did we stay in Venice?
Since the cruise is a lucrative business, we decided to try and cut down on costs while staying in Venice and sleep in the outskirts of town. We stayed at Hotel Mondial, in Marghera. The hotel is quite a basic one, with a simple breakfast, but it’s clean and quiet and is adjacent to a bus stop. Line 6 or L6 will take you directly into Venice. The ride is about 20-30 minutes. For those looking to save money, staying in the Marghera area is great in my opinion. Hotel price comparison and reviews for Mondial Hotel.
Arrival from the airport to the hotel
Right at the exit from Venice’s airport there are many bus stations. I recommend visiting the tourist information center before exiting the airport, telling them where you want to go and they will direct you to the correct bus, as well as sell you the ticket. Tickets cost us 8 euros each, and our bus was from station 4D. By the way, if you want to reach the center of Venice you can take a taxi boat (ferry) from the airport. If you’re arriving for a cruise you can order a ride through your cruise company.
Transportation in Venice
Venice has no cars or motorcycles, and not even bicycles. So, how do you get around? You either walk or take a taxi boat (Type of ferry), which allows you to experience Venice from the water as well as providing an alternative to walking once you grow tired. To find out where you can board such a ferry, simply check google maps to find the nearest station. There are also luxurious boat taxis (Limousines) if you’re looking for something a bit fancier.
Things to do in Venice – Daytrip in Venice
Walking aimlessly around town
Venice is so pretty, we ended up stopping every second to take pictures. The canals with the gondolas and the colorful, ancient houses are absolutely stunning. I never got to be in such a city and there’s clearly a reason it’s so famous and touristic. We loved walking aimlessly and just absorbing the city’s atmosphere and taking pictures at every opportunity.
The Grand Canal
Venice’s central area holds the famous canal. In this area you’ll find many restaurants, bars and cafés along the canal. One of the nice things to do is stand on the Rialto Bridge and observe the canal from it. (Venice is named the city of canals, but also the city of bridges and you can find many bridges in it, large and small. Rialto is one of the more famous bridges).
The Mercato Di Rialto market
By the Rialto bridge there is a nice souvenir market as well as many stalls selling fresh, sliced fruit and natural juices. If you’re traveling to Venice in the summer, a refreshing fruit juice with ice can definitely be a good choice. The market is named Mercato di Rialto (Map).
Having Coffee
Venice is amazing, but one of the things I didn’t enjoy about it is that I couldn’t find a good place to have coffee. All the cafés are touristic and very expensive. There’s no doubt Venice’s charm is hindered by the amount of tourists and the touristic establishments, but we did find one nice place serving decent coffee and tasty sandwiches (If you’re looking to lower costs a bit here’s a small tip, if you’re sitting in the café-restaurant, prices are half what they are for those sitting outside). The place is called Ristorante Al Theatro (Map), the strudel was nice as well.
San Marco plaza
This plaza is simply enormous, and since we enjoy looking at really expensive objects and jewellery and imagining one day we’ll be rich and able to buy them, we spent an hour just walking from shop to shop around the plaza. Additionally, there are many restaurants around the plaza where you can sit down for a meal, but in my opinion it’s nice to just sit and have a glass of wine there.
San Marco Basilica and Doge’s Palace
When you arrive at the plaza, you won’t be able to miss San Marco’s Basilica. It is a cathedral from the 9th century and one of the most important examples of byzantine architecture. There’s an option to enter the basilica for about 10 minutes (It’s recommended to get there early, since there is a long line). You aren’t allowed to take photos inside and have to be dressed appropriately. There’s also the option of booking a tour of the basilica.
Adjacent to it is the Doge’s palace, considered one of the prettiest in Venice – where you can also take a tour of the inside (Due to a lack of time we had to skip both tours, but it seemed worthwhile to view both buildings from inside). You can order a guided tour, which includes skipping the line, in both places.
Link to two hour tour + skipping the line.
Italian meal
Being in Italy, you obviously should try some good Italian food at a local restaurant. We decided to try a restaurant in Venice’s less touristed area, Rio Novo restaurant. Roman ordered a pasta carbonara and I ordered a cheese and spinach ravioli with tomato sauce and white wine. The dishes were really good. Roman claimed the carbonara was one of the best he’d ever had (On par with the restaurant we ate at in Rome). My dish was also excellent, as well as light. It was filling and in just the right amount. Additionally, you’re seated by a water canal which adds to the magical Venetian atmosphere.
Having ice-cream
Of course, apart from Italian food, you should try the Gellato (Gellato is ice-cream made in an Italian style, with a base of milk and sugar). You can find a gelato stand almost everywhere, so it’s worth a try.
Sailing on a ferry
One of Venice’s most popular attractions is sailing on a Gondola. Since the price is quite high, we decided to skip the experience – but if you want to have the full Venetian experience, I found a nice tour including both a two hour tour of the city and a 30 minute Gondola ride for a fair price. Link for booking the walking + Gondola tour. If you decide to skip riding in a Gondola, the experience sailing on a ferry is wonderful as well, and allows you a great view of Venice and a photo opportunity.
For the first time in our lives, we found out why they call sailing on a cruise ship a “pleasure cruise”, it really was one of the most indulgent experiences we’ve had in our lives!
Two years ago, my parents came back from a week-long cruise out of Barcelona and were very pleased. Roman was very excited to go on a cruise as well, although honestly, I was less enthusiastic. I was worried about sea sickness, being bored and in general that the experience wouldn’t fit our style, but given the blog I thought it might be a good idea to explore the world of cruises. Many people like it, and I enjoy trying new things – so despite it being a luxurious vacation exceeding our travel budget, we decided to go for it and let’s just say, we fell in love with the cruise and want to go again!
Where did we book the cruise?
We decided to book the cruise though NCL, Norwegian cruise line, since that’s the company my parents cruised with. We ordered the cruise directly from their website, which offered many amazing looking cruises, but we chose the one which seemed most fitting a summer vacation. The cruise starts in Venice, continues to Kotor in Montenegro and then the luxurious Greek islands – Santorini, Mykonos and Corfu. The cruise is seven days. The stops at each destination are 6-8 hours, so there’s a little time to explore each destination and check what they have to offer.
How much did the cruise cost?
We booked the cruise seven months in advance (In November, booking it for June 2018), and chose the regular room (Room without a window which costs around 1060 dollars per person), a few months later we received a mail inviting us to take part in an auction for an upgraded room with a double bed and a balcony over the sea, definitely a substantial upgrade – we decided to try our luck and offered 660 dollars and after about a month received a confirmation that we had won.
The cruise cost us 2780 dollars including the upgrade. It’s important to note that the price does not include port taxes of around 200 dollars for a couple, payment for services which is another 200 dollars for a couple, over the seven-day period. Meaning an additional 400 dollars to the price I mentioned. The price does include unlimited food and activities on the ship.
The price does not include alcohol (There is free water and juices at the restaurants but not in the pool or rooms). You can also pre-order a spa package (Unlimited entrance to the spa) or chef meals at an additional price. Both of these improved our experience and are, in our opinion, highly recommended. Additionally, at the various stops you can go on tours offered by the cruise line. The tours are relatively expensive and we personally preferred to explore the destinations on our own (We also need plenty of time for photographing and so preferred not to be limited by the tour’s schedule). You also have the option of ordered an unlimited drinking package, but we don’t drink enough to make it worth while and felt it wasn’t worth the extra cost.
Cruise on NCL’s Star ship
Check in
We flew to Venice on Saturday, and the cruise started on Sunday. We arrived excitedly at the port and were even more excited seeing the ship from afar. It as immense, we’ve never seen anything like it before. We followed the NCL signs and left our luggage at the entrance, to be transported directly to our room. We arrived at a large hall where we had to fill out a health form, then went over to the check-in station. There, you receive a number (Which determines when it’s your turn to go on deck). We arrived at the hall around 10 and a half, and the boarding started around 11AM. At 11 and a half our number was called and we entered the ship. You may board the ship as late as 17:00, but we wanted to get in as soon as possible.
The Star ship
As soon as we boarded the ship, we were stunned by its size and beauty. At the check-in station we were given a map to the ship, and there’s a reason for it. If the ship seemed big from the outside, from inside it felt even bigger. We went for a walk around the ship to get a sense for all it had to offer. We discovered bars, restaurants, a casino, a pool, an adult only area with two jacuzzies, a gym, a kids playing area, a video game area, a spa, a duty-free, a basketball court and more. Afterwards, we went to eat at the buffet. At one point, it was announced over the speakers and the rooms were ready (Around 15:00), so we went to our room.
The upgraded room
While you obviously spend most of your time outside the rooms, since there is plenty to do on the ship, as well as a sop at a new destination almost every day – the room was still one of the best parts of our vacation. It’s on a level with a high-class hotel room, but even better, as it has a balcony with a small table and two chairs, constantly offering a new view. You wake up, open the curtains and discover a new destination. If you don’t have the means of affording the upgraded room, you’ll still enjoy the cruise, but if you can upgrade – I think you should. We fell in love with the room and didn’t want to leave it. The room also has a bathroom with a shower cabin and a toilet, a closet, dresser and television.
Food on the ship
The buffet has an enormous variety of food, salad stations, cooked food, sandwiches, pizzas, meats, fish, vegan and vegetarian options, a pasta station where they make it per your request, lots of fruits and desserts, a crepe station and ice-creams.
The buffet is open from morning to night, with changing food throughout the day. There is also a daily special every evening, such as a barbeque dinner, Italian dinner and more.
In addition to the buffet, there is an Irish restaurant open all the time which offers great Irish food. One of my favourite dishes there was a causer salad with salmon. It was great, as was the apple pie.
There is also a great Asian restaurant, however it was usually at maximum occupancy and you had to wait in line for a table (You’re given a buzzer to let you know a table is ready for you). There were also a few slightly fancier restaurants offering a first course, mains and desserts which were good.
The pool area has fast food such as hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries. I really liked the option of building your own meal, with special toppings like fried onion, pineapple and more.
There are also bars offering good cocktails (For around 12 dollars), as well as a daily cocktail for a lowered cost (Around 9 dollars).
For breakfast, you can visit the buffet, the Irish restaurant or the fancier restaurant, and they all have great breakfast menus. We liked the fancy restaurant the best when it comes to breakfast. They have special dishes like Benedict pear with salmon and a cream cheese and salmon bagel. You can also ordered fruit, pancakes, oatmeal and more.
You may also get room service whenever you want!
Chef restaurants
You can purchase a package of 3-7 chef specially prepared meals. The price of a 3 restaurant package is a total of 89 dollars per person, and it’s easily worth the price. We had the 3-meal package and the food was exceptional. We went to a French restaurant, a Japanese one and the steakhouse.
The Japanese restaurant was a lot of fun, it’s like a cooking show on a steel counter. The French restaurant and steakhouse were on a level with luxurious chef restaurants with 5-star service and perfect food.
We ordered wine with our meals, as well, and enjoyed ourselves a lot (If you’re foodies like us, you’ve got to upgrade yourself to the chef package. You won’t be sorry. I recommend pre-ordering the package online, as well as booking seats at the restaurants you want as fast as possible, since when we tried booking a table on the first night – some of the restaurants were already hard to find a free table at).
The spa
Initially, I thought paying an extra cost for a spa (Not including any treatments, only the facilities themselves) was going to be a waste. But we found it was one of our favorite places on the ship and visited nearly twice a day. It’s a very relaxed place with barely any people.
There are huge windows overlooking the sea and the amazing view. There are two types of Jacuzzi and a mineral pool, a relaxation area with couches and a tea station. The crown jewel for us were the heated stone beds in front of the windows. I read a book there every day, and sometimes even fell asleep on them and it was the most relaxing activity possible.
Activities on the ship
The pool area is really fun. There are a lot of comfortable beds, four jacuzzies, a pool and a food and bar area. We really liked sitting in the jacuzzi or on the beds and drinking a cocktail. Sometimes there were pool games or a DJ who played good music. It got crowded at times, so I think it would have bee nice if there was another pool. Each day you’re given the schedule for tomorrow. Those who choose not to get off the ship at stops has a ton of activities such as games, movies and more.
There are also activities throughout the day such as tournaments (Basketball and ping pong tournaments) and sportive activities (Some at an extra cost), at night there are shows, Karaoke and dance parties. I have to admit, we had such a good time at the spa, the pool, restaurants and our room that we hardly took part in any of the offered activities, but we have heard a lot of praise about them.
The were at the casino twice, winning 40 euros the first time, and then losing them on our second visit 🙂
The gym was modern and well equipped, overall a pleasure to train at. We went three times (We had to burn off some of the calories from all the food on the ship). We also liked walking around the deck in the evenings.
Another nice things the cruise offers are mixers of all kinds, for example an LGBT mixer, as well as mixers for singles and 18-25 year olds. We were bummed to find no mixers for 30-year-old couples.
The ship’s lobby often sports musicians and singers, who also appear in other areas of the ship, such as in front of the French restaurant. We enjoyed spending the afternoon listening to the saxophone player.
The stops at various destinations
At most of the destinations we hadn’t anchored at the port itself but rather near it and took little shuttles across. If you hadn’t ordered a tour through the cruise line, you’ll have to get a ticket in the morning which determines the shuttle boarding order.
I recommend going as early as possible to collect your ticket, since there can be quite a substantial line. The stops at each destination are between 6-8 hours, so we got the chance to enjoy each one. If you choose not to take the cruise’s tour, I recommend researching each destination ahead of time, in order to efficiently see as much as possible and not waste time during the stop itself.
As for the destinations themselves, each place was gorgeous – we want to go back to all of them now for a vacation. Kotor was really special, with an ancient fortified city. We also visited the town of Perast, using busses as our main transport. In Santorini we rented a scooter, which was great, as it allowed us to get a lot done – We visited the red beach, a restaurant with an amazing view, and drank wine at an excellent wineyard.
On Mykonos we toured little Venezia and went to the beach (On foot). On Corfu we visited the old town and took a bus to the beach. We were supposed to stop at Dubrovnik, Croatia, as well but the stop was aborted due to high winds. It was a little disappointing, since we were really looking forwards to it, but on the other hand we had more time to spend on the ship which was great as well.
More information about the cruise
Who is the cruise best suited for?
The cruise is well suited for just about anyone. The ship we were on had a very diverse crowd, families, adults, couples and youngsters. The cruise is for anyone looking for a luxurious vacation. Anyone can find his own personal style on the ship. We are less into crowds and activities, so we preferred time at the pool, spa, restaurants and stops at the unique destinations. Families have a lot to do, as there are activities around the clock. In short, the cruise can fit those looking for peace and quiet, as well as those looking for constant action and activity. It is also handicap accessible. We ran into several people in wheelchairs, as well as a guy with crutches.
Important things to know about the cruise
* It’s an expensive vacation, but definitely a worthwhile experience
* Don’t forget that the cruise’s price does not include port taxes and services.
* If you have a limited budget, you can still enjoy the cruise a lot without upgrading your room or getting the restaurant and spa packages. There is enough to do without the extra cost.
* NCL has a huge variety of cruises all over the world and you can find cheaper/more expensive ones, as well as shorter/longer cruises.
* If you’re flight lands on the day of the cruise, you have the option of ordering a ride from NCL’s website to pick you up at the airport and take you straight to the port.
* Our flight back home was in the afternoon after returning to Venice, the company offers luggage storing at 5 euros per bag or an even better service of transporting your luggage straight to the airport in accordance to your arrival there. That service costs 12.5 euros per bag and was great for us, since it allowed us to travel light in Venice and take the bus straight to the airport without having to go back to the port and get our things.
* To save costs, it’s recommend to pre-order the upgraded packages, such as the spa package, through the company’s website.
* Water bottles are quite expensive on the ship, but you can buy 6/12/24 water large water bottles at half price on the ship. 6 water bottles cost as 14.5 dollars instead of 29 (They are sent directly to your room).
* If you tend to suffer from sea sickness and nausea, it’s recommended to got on the cruise during the summer months when the water is calm. The ship is massive and we hadn’t felt the sailing at all.
* Coffee is one of the cruise’s weak points, so I recommend looking for good coffee on your stops. On Mykonos, for example, we found a great café with excellent coffee.
* If you’re single or traveling alone, the cruise offers single’s mixers where you might meet someone new on the ship
* We really liked the destinations, as they were well suited for a summer vacation. If you’re not into beaches and tanning, I’d recommend picking a cruise which offers destinations with more options and activities.
* Some of the cocktails, such as the mango cocktail, can be ordered alcohol-free for half the price.
* There are on straws on the ship, so if you like to drink through a straw – bring one with you from home 🙂 (Roman told me to write this).
* Those ordering rooms from a suite-level and above are entitled to preferential treatment during the stops, when boarding and disembarking the ship.
During the cruise we went on (June 2018), we had a day-stop in Santorini (Greece). One of the reasons we chose this specific cruise was stops at magical destinations, such as Santorini.
We had the option of booking tours through the cruise company, but we preferred exploring the destinations on our own – and a good thing we did, since Santorini is just like a postcard and we ended up stopping to take pictures and admire it’s beauty at every step.
General details about Santorini Island
It’s a luxurious island with a breath-taking views and hotels of the highest quality possible. Those looking for an Island to go to for their honeymoon, a romantic vacation or even a bachelorette party – This is the place to visit.
Getting around the island
You can get around by scooter, car or bus (Link to the Santorini bus website) and taxis. I recommend hiring a small car (Because of the narrow alleys) or a scooter. Link to my post about car renting.
How to reach the island
The cheapest way is to fly to Athens, then take a shuttle to Santorini. There’s also the possibility of flying directly to Santorini , or a flight with a stop in Athens.
Searching for cheap flights to Santorini
Hotels in Santorini
Since we only got to stay at Santorini for a day (A stop of the cruise), we didn’t get the chance to sleep at the island (Unfortunately). After a short bit of research, I’ve come up with two very highly recommended hotels (There are of course many more excellent lodging possibilities at Santorini). I’ve read these recommendations in an article about blogger’s favourite hotels in Santorini.
Vacationing at Santorini is expensive, but if you want to try and reduce the costs a little bit when it comes to lodging, here’s a post I’ve written with a few money saving tips.
The Esperas Hotel (A 4-star hotel in Oia) with an amazing view and great reviews. Hotel price comparison, reviews of the hotel.
ZuziM Villa in Fira, a super high-class Villa. You can rent it through Airbnb.
Search for other accommodations.
Our day trip in Santorini- Things to do in Santorini
We docked at the port below Fira city. In order to get up to the city, you can take a cable car or walk up many stairs. There was a relatively long line to the cable car and I thought taking the stairs wouldn’t take very long (Which turned out wrong). We climbed the stairs (You can also ride a donkey up, but I’m not a fan of the idea), anyhow we decided to walk up the stairs at 14:00, at peak temperature.
The climb itself isn’t too hard, but it does take 45-60 minutes and there’s no shade along the way. Long story short, there’s no problem getting up to the city by foot, just make sure you don’t do it in the afternoon heat, and if you do, bring a hat and water (Two things we didn’t have with us). We finished the climb exhausted and needed a few minutes to pull ourselves together afterwards.
We walked around Fira itself, which is beautiful, and the view was breath-taking (At least it was worth the effort).
Renting a scooter
At some point, we sat down at a place serving natural juices and I bought a banana, orange and pineapple juice, while Roman had orange juice. We decided to explore Santorini on a scooter, so we asked the employee at the restaurant if she knows where we might rent one – and it turns out her boyfriend works at a scooter rental store. She called him, and 10 minutes later he arrived at the restaurant with the bike.
We rented it for 5 hours for the price of 20 euros (Including insurance), then gassed it up for 6 euros, which lasted us the whole time we were on the scooter. If you’re planning to rent a scooter or car, make sure to have your license on you. Roman has a license for a motorcycle, and honestly you can probably rent one without a license, but I wouldn’t recommend it – If something happens to you, the travel insurance won’t cover it if you don’t own a motorcycle license.
The red beach
After renting the scooter we decided to drive to the red beach, and although it’s not a very fun beach to be at since it’s very rocky, it’s one of the most unique beaches I’ve ever seen and is totally worth the visit. The drive to it was about half an hour (We used google maps to navigate).
We parked the scooter in the parking area, then walked about 10 minutes to the beach itself.
At some point, the red beach appeared in front of us and it was really pretty. We sat on the beach and as usual took many photos, as well as a video. Then, we returned to the scooter. (Small tip: The parking area has a stall for hot/cold beverages and sandwiches).
Restaurant with Greek food and dreamy view
On our way to the red beach we saw a restaurant offering an amazing view and decided we have to stop at it on our way back. While we initially stopped there for the view, we enjoyed the food a lot as well. We ordered classic Greek dishes, Tzatziki with pita bread and a Greek salad. The dishes were very good and went well with the hypnotic view. I don’t know if the main courses are as good, but if you’re on your way to the red beach you should definitely visit for the Tzatziki and Greek salad, and to catch the view.
Atlantida restaurant. (Map)
Winery with high-quality wine and hypnotic view
We went on to Santo wines vineyard. Santorini is known for great wines and has many vineyards. We decided to visit the one with the best view, which turned out to be the most popular vineyard on Santorini.
The place itself is breath-taking and the food and wine are of a really high quality. I highly recommend making a reservation, since while the place may be big, it gets very full, and the best spots are always reserved (Many wine tours go through it). Long story short, reserve a spot and dress elegantly, as the place is quite high-class.
There’s the option of tasting 5 or 10 wines, as well as ordering a bottle, glass or single wine tasting. They have a food menu and cheese plates.
Since we had already been to a restaurant not long beforehand, we decided to try a glass of wine each and snack on some cheese with olives and crackers. Our table wasn’t in a great location, but it wasn’t too bad – The view was still excellent, and the wine was very good.
A tour we hadn’t done, but sounds cool – Santorini wine tour
Santorini has wine tours, in which you visit 3 vineyards, with a private chauffer, at sunset. These tours are about 4-5 hours each, and on account of our lack of time, we didn’t have the option of going on one. However, it sounds like a special experience, especially for wine lovers, link to booking of Santorini vineyards tour. Another option is to visit the vineyards on your own (On our way to the red beach we came across at least four vineyards, the problem is drinking so much wine and driving). Link to book a wine tour.
End of the day
We returned the scooter after exactly five hours. We parked it by the restaurant and gave the helmets and keys to the employee there. The scooter was definitely a good choice, we managed to explore Santorini – but unfortunately didn’t have the time to visit Oia, a city considered one of the most beautiful on Santorini. It is of course also recommended to visit. This time we took the cable car down. It cost 6 euros.
The first stop on our cruise (June 2018) was Kotor, Montenegro. Truth be told, I’ve never heard of Kotor before the cruise, and we hadn’t had the chance to visit Montenegro yet – But upon researching the destination to come up with a plan for our free hours there, I found out how gorgeous Kotor and its surrounding area is.
General information about Kotor
Kotor is a fortified city on the Montenegro’s Adriatic shores. The old town, dating back to the middle ages, is characterized by winding streets and plazas, holds several Romanesque churches including Kotor Cathedral. By Kotor are several beautiful cities worth visiting. According to my research, Perast is the most recommended town among them and we definitely weren’t disappointed.
How to reach Kotor?
You can fly to Tivat, in Montenegro – the airport is about a 10-minute drive from Kotor. Alternatively, you may fly to Dubrovnik, Croatia, and take a bus from there (About a 4-hour drive, costing around 18 euros).
Cheap flights comparison
How to travel in the area?
Outside the walls is a bus station where local busses pass (A ride costs about a euro). We took a bus to Perast. The ride was approximately half an hour (And a lovely local experience). You can also rent a car (Link to post about renting a car on the cheap). Kotor’s central area is within the walls, and it’s a rather small area, so you can easily travel it by foot.
Where to stay at Kotor?
Seeing as we only spent a few hours there, we didn’t get to spend the night in town (Unfortunately). From the research I’ve done, a few places seemed nice and had good reviews. Hotel Villa Duomo, a 4-star hotel in the heart of Kotor. Hotel price comparison and reviews. Monte Cristo hotel, another 4-star hotel in the heart of town. Hotel price comparison and reviews.
Small tip: After booking the hotel, I recommend sending the booking to Pruvo, at box@pruvo.net, to be notified if the hotel’s price goes down. That way, you may cancel and book again at a lower price (The service is free!).
Day trip in Kotor and its surroundings
Exploring the fortified city
You can easily spend a few hours simply roaming the city and its alleys. We’ve spend an hour strolling in it without purpose, just because it’s such a beautiful city to walk around.
Walking on the ramparts
In certain areas you may scale the wall and walk its length. The fun part of walking on the wall is seeing the beautiful mountainous landscape and surrounding region.
Vantage point at the fortress
You may climb to the mountain top for a vantage from the fortress. Seeing as we were short on time, we unfortunately didn’t have enough to visit the vantage point. It’s a climb of about 1300 stairs. The stairs themselves are a bit slippery, so it’s recommended to wear good walking shoes or sandals. At the foot of the stairs is a 8 euro admittance cost. There are two entrances to the staircase (Both priced the same). From what I’ve read, the price used to be 3 euros, but it must have gone up. I also read that you only have to pay during the summer months, and that entrance is free the rest of the year. Since we didn’t make it to the top, we used drone footage to see the city from above ?
Food and wine at restaurant
We visited Konoba Scala Santa for a light afternoon meal. I ordered a Greek salad and Roman ordered clams. The dishes themselves were delicious, but the thing I liked the most was the place’s atmosphere. It was really nice to sit down there, drink some wine and have a meal.
Kotor has a certain charm and so it’s worth sitting outside at restaurants.
Going to Perast
Outside Kotor’s Walls is a tourist information station where you can ask where the bus station for Perast is. There’s no sign at the bus stop, so just look for people waiting by a little park with trees and benches. By the station is also a fruit stand, where we bought a bag of cherries to gave with us at Perast.
Details about the bus to Perast
The bus is on an hourly schedule, at a quarter past the hour – meaning, 10:15, 11:15 and so on. The ticket is purchased directly from the bus driver and costs a euro. The ride is about half an hour. Tell the driver you want to get off at Perast. He stops frequently along the way for local riders (We followed the route on google maps to make sure we didn’t miss our stop). The bus dropped us off at quite a deserted looking location, but after approximately a 10-minute walk along the shoreline we arrived at Perast. Perast is a famous town on Kotor bay.
What to do at Perast
Like at Kotor, we decided to walk around town as much as possible, without a definite objective. We walked along the coast and at some point, sat down on a bench and ate our cherries (Which were a great idea). Afterwards, we continued roaming and came across some stairs. We decided to scale them, without seeing where they lead.
It was quite a long climb, but we could see Perast’s beautiful views. In the sea nearby are two small islands, Our lady of the rocks and Sveti Dorde, which we could see from above – We also flew a drone so as to see them better and they were absolutely gorgeous. On the way back we saw a bus inside Perast itself and waved it to stop for us, which was really convenient.
Kotor and its surrounding area is really lovely, there’s a calm atmosphere, coupled with stunning views and nice people. We are definitely planning on going back there and staying for a few days this time. This was a small taste which left us yearning for more.
