A few months ago we visited a tourism convention in Berlin, at which we got to meet Anna, a hotel director in Barcelona and Costa Brava. She was excited by the blog and the Israeli audience and invited us to stay at their hotels.
After reading the reviews for their hotels and checking out their locations, the decision was simple, and we ordered flight tickets right away. The hotel we were invited to in Barcelona was the boutique Catedral hotel.
Catedral hotel in Barcelona
We arrived at the hotel by car. In principle, a car isn’t required in Barcelona and might actually prove redundant, but we rented one since we knew we would continue to Costa Brava. The hotel also had a parking lot which is excellent, since parking is difficult to find in Barcelona.
We arrived at the hotel in the afternoon and were really excited by its design, a meticulous, modern design – everything was clean and innovative. There is a lot of greenery and many sitting areas, such as the bar and restaurant area, seating outside, in the lobby, the bottom floor, and the pool area upstairs.
From the entrance to the hotel, reception is immediately in front and the bar is to the left. At the reception we were greeted with a smile, they told us that every day at 17:00 there is a cheese tasting and a free glass of wine for hotel guests, and that on Sundays there is an hour long tour of the gothic quarter and Wednesday evening there is a night fairy-tale tour (The tours are free for hotel guests). Since we were only there for two nights, from Friday to Sunday, we only joined the Sunday morning tour.
The hotel room
We got a room on the 3rd floor. The room was charming, with large windows and a view of the street. It has a luxurious bed (We had a hard time getting up in the morning), an armchair and desk with a coffee stand, a minibar and TV. The shower room has a bath and toilet. As usual I took a few pictures before messing up the room with all of my stuff, then we went up to the hotel’s crown jewel – The rooftop pool.
The pool
We arrived on a rather wintry day, but still had a good time resting on the reclining chairs, especially after getting up early, and felt like resting for a bit prior to exploring the area and grabbing lunch. On our last day in the hotel the weather was hot, so after our tour of the gothic quarter we decided to pass two hours in the pool and enjoy the perfect weather.
Of course, no Spanish vacation is complete without a Sangria, so we called room service from the pool and asked them to bring us Sangrias to the pool. We took a few photos and I read a book while Roman was in the water.
Cheeses and wine
At precisely 17:00 we came down for the cheese and wine tasting (It’s one of our favourite activities, so we definitely didn’t want to miss the opportunity). We took a plate of some quality cheeses, crackers and olives. We asked for two glasses of wine and sat down on the sofas next to the bar, enjoying every moment of it. At some point, I wanted to get some more Bree but discovered the cheese station had already been closed (So be aware that the cheese station only lasts 10-15 minutes, so arrive on time :))
Breakfast
Roman is a fan of buffet meals, while I enjoy eating à la carte off the menu. I was glad to see this hotel had a breakfast menu. You may sit inside or outside (There are very nice sitting areas outside). At first, our table was set with a pastry basket, a bread basket, a variety of jams, a plate of purée, a bowl of fruit and milk and coffee pitchers. The menu has a large selection of breakfast dishes and you can order as many as you’d like.
On our first morning, Roman ordered smoked salmon and an English breakfast and I ordered salmon. On the second day I had porridge (I explained to the waiter how I’d like it made and that was exactly what I got – A porridge with soy milk, banana and berries :)), and Roman had salmon and hard-boiled eggs.
There’s also a table with cereal, breads, fruit and desserts to pick from. I was also pleased to discover I could order a Cappuccino with soy milk.
The hotel bar and restaurant
The bar has a food and alcohol menu available to anyone, not only hotel guests. On our final day at the hotel, after spending two hours at the pool, we needed to continue to Costa Brava. We were already hungry and tipsy off the Sangrias 🙂 so we decided to have lunch at the hotel.
We ordered two dishes of poached egg with purée and truffle oil, I also ordered a fish ratatouille and Roman had meatballs with fish and ham. The dishes were excellent. I really liked the poached egg (The secret ingredient is the truffle oil) and the ratatouille with fish was great. Roman was very excited about his food as well, and honestly, the prices were very reasonable. The meal cost us 25 euros for 5 large dishes and a bottle of water.
Tour in the gothic quarter
As I mentioned in the beginning, the hotel offers two free tours to its guests. We joined the tour in the gothic quarter which leaves the hotel at 10am. There’s no need to sign up to it, just show up 10 minutes early and wait at the reception desk. We were a large group of about 20 people and got on our way. The guide gave us a short tour of the central areas of the gothic quarter and told us about the place’s history. It was a nice, light tour and a good way to get to know and learn a bit more about the area.
The hotel’s location
The hotel is located in the gothic quarter, which after this trip, we decided is our favourite part of Barcelona. It’s central and close to everything, yet quieter than Las Ramblas and Catalonia square. I’ve been to Barcelona twice already, staying in the areas I mentioned and honestly didn’t enjoy myself quite as much. Everything felt more touristic and with fewer good places to eat at.
In the gothic quarter are many small, high quality restaurants, as well as boutique cafés. The are itself, with its many little alleys, was much more exciting in my eyes. On Saturday we also went on a tapas tour, part of which was in the gothic quarter, which convinced me even further that it is the best part are to visit. Additionally, it’s close to the main touristic areas and Barcelona’s beaches.
A 3-minute walk away from the hotel is the Santa Caterina market (A smaller version of la Boqueria market), a minute away from the hotel is the only cathedral in Barcelona and about 20 minutes away is the sea. Rambla avenue is a 5-minute walk away. There is also public transport by the hotel.
A few months ago, we were at a tourism convention in Berlin where we met Anna, who is a director of hotels in Barcelona and Costa Brava. She was excited by the blog and the Israeli crowd and invited us to stay at their hotels.
After reading reviews about the hotel and seeing their location, the decision was easy, and we ordered tickets right away.
The hotel we booked in Costa Brava was Delamar hotel in Lloret de Mar.
Delamar hotel in Costa Brava
We arrived at the hotel with a car from Barcelona. It’s possible to reach Lloret de Mar by bus or by train then bus. The hotel has paid parking if you come by car and there’s also a free parking a bit further from the hotel.
We personally loved having a car on hand but it’s possible to travel the area by public transportation and taxis or rent motorcycles and ATV.
We arrived at the hotel during the afternoon, parked our car and went to the reception. We were greeted with a smile and received the card to our room. We were told that at 17:30 there is a cheese tasting, along with a free glass of wine, for hotel guests at the pool area. There’s a pool area downstairs as well as a terrace with a pool on the top floor. Additionally, we were given a straw hat (Which Roman really liked and wore the entire time) and a beach bag.
The room itself
We got a room on the 6th floor. The room was cute and basic with two beds, a TV, a room with a shower stall and a toilet. It had a nice balcony with a table and two chairs and view of the pool.
After we got the room we decided to go down to the pool.
The pool
The pool area is a lot of fun, there are sitting spots, some with tables and chairs and others with reclining chairs, tanning beds with mattresses and pillows, access to the hotel bar and a modern design.
We laid down on the reclining chairs and I read a book as usual, Roman was on his phone. Then we noticed it was already five and a half, which meant it was time for the cheese tasting to begin.
Cheese tasting and glass of wine
So, at precisely five thirty, they brought out a large table on wheels, covered with different varieties of cheeses, crackers and olives. A line of people waiting for the cheeses formed quickly, but we managed to be among the first and each of us got himself a plate of cheeses. Afterwards, we ordered two glasses of white wine from the bar and returned to the reclining chairs.
The bar
On our second day at the hotel we decided to have two cocktails after dinner. I ordered a sangria as usual and Roman has a Tequila sunrise cocktail. What’s nice was that we could have them on the tanning beds and just spent two hours there, talking and drinking our cocktails.
Food at the hotel
Our stay at the hotel included breakfasts and dinners. Breakfast is a buffet and is highly varied, there’s some of everything. There are fruits, vegetables, cheeses, sausages, breads, desserts, eggs to your taste, hot stews and more.
Dinner is a buffet as well, and what I liked about it is the option to order meat or fish straight off the grill. There were many stews, salads, vegetables, soups, breads, varied sides such as Risotto and pasta, as well as a dessert area which included a chocolate fountain for Fondue (There were fruits and marshmallows you could dip in the chocolate).
Dinner didn’t include drinks, so if you want light beverages or alcohol you may order them from your table’s waiter and get it for an extra price (The price is very reasonable).
We enjoyed the food a lot, the variety and quality of it. The dining room itself was very clean and felt like a restaurant.
More about Delamar hotel
The hotel has a gym we unfortunately didn’t get to try out due to a busy schedule. There is also the top floor with the terrace, which offers a beautiful view, it’s highly recommended to go up there during sunset. There are other sitting areas such as reclining chairs and tanning beds, and also the pool. Additionally, there are yoga classes in the morning and a massage room. There are also lockers to keep your things in (I really liked the concept of coded lockers, rather than a storage room).
The hotel is quite large and had many guests, but the feeling is very nice, clean and quiet.
The hotel’s location
The hotel is in a very central location, a two-minute walk away from the beach. The beach is nice and clean, with tanning beds and sun umbrellas for rent (7 euros per chair and 7 for an umbrella), though you can simply lie on a towel. The beach is actually made up of many tiny rocks rather than sand (I personally preferred it, that way the sand doesn’t end up sticking to your whole body). The beach was rather crowded, but you can find calmer areas. There are also water sports like boats with little slides and paragliding.
In the evening, the area by the hotel becomes lively and you are a minute away from all the action. There are many bars, restaurants, cafés, stores and clubs within walking distance. There is also the boardwalk, with more bars and restaurants. There’s fast food and a supermarket. Also next to the hotel is a bus stop for those without a car.
The Lloret de Mar museum is a few minutes’ walk away. Despite the central location, the hotel itself is quiet, as are the rooms. Put short, it’s an excellent location.
Our experience at the hotel
I must say I’ve had the chance to stay at many hotels in vacation towns. Most are crowded and noisy, not to mention – of lower quality. This hotel is a whole other hosting experience. The mere fact you are given a hat and bag, as well as the free tastings, is already a tell. Service is excellent, the design is modern and innovative, everything is clean and quiet.
There are many sitting spots by the bar as well, the cocktails were great, as was the food, and the location is central and comfortable.
I can understand why this hotel gets such a high rating and such positive reviews.
Before arriving in Barcelona, it was clear to me that one of the attractions we had to do over there is a food tour. Barcelona is known for its tapas and wine scene and I felt like trying out as much of what Barcelona has to offer as possible. I looked for a food tour which included wine and had a local tour guide and came across the tour with Adrian (Link to the tour). It received great reviews and I ended up mailing a request for us to join the tour straight away.
Adrian replied to me and was very pleasant, so on Saturday, at 5pm (Early September) we joined the food tour. Adrian had a ton of energy and stories and I immediately knew it was going to be an interesting tour, and hopefully a tasty one. In retrospect, it was even better than I had anticipated.
Recommended Things to Do in Barcelona
Food tour in Barcelona
We had 4 stops.
Stops along the tour
We started the tour at the meeting point by the metro station. The group consisted of Roman and I and six other guys. Three guys from South Africa, a girl from the Netherlands and a couple from the USA. The first place we visited was a local bar. There’s no chance of you seeing a tourist there, there isn’t even a sign with the place’s name. Only the locals know it.
We got sparkling wine, Manchego cheese, Jamon (ham) and spicy sausage. Simple food, yet really delicious, especially for cheese and ham enthusiasts. Afterwards, we got a glass of Cava. Adrian told us about the food and drinks and the difference between sparkling wine and Cava. After the first stop I already felt a bit tipsy. Oh, and it’s also possible to purchase wines and other local produce.
We moved on to the next stop, a place that serves the best Potatos Batats (a very popular potato dish you’ll find in every restaurant). Adrian said it’s the recommended spot to have this dish. We also tried a tapas named Bomba which was spicy and delicious and for dessert we had bread with tomato tapas. There’s a whole ritual that goes into preparing the dish, which is simple and super tasty. At this stop we had a light beer mixed with lime soda (a fun, refreshing drink).
The next stop was at a lovely bar where they served us excellent olives, Chorizo and ratatouille (roasted vegetables) tapas on toast. We drank such delicious wine there, that by the end we decided to buy a bottle of it to take back to Israel with us.
The last stop was a restaurant-bar where we drank wine (Rosé) in the traditional manner (It didn’t sit well with me haha) and ate tomato salad with onions, friend anchovies (I was surprised to discover how tasty they are) and killer sausages (At this point I was stuffed and drunk and didn’t try them, Roman claimed they were excellent as well)
Experiences on the tour
During the tour, Adrian told us a lot about Barcelona’s history, I was surprised by how knowledgeable he was despite only living in Barcelona for only 3 years. He’s originally American and lived in many different countries. He knows every location in Barcelona well and showed us where we should hang out at night, where good bars are, where there’s really recommended food, delis and more during the tour. The people on the tour with us were super nice and there was a fun and light atmosphere.
This was my third time in Barcelona and I must say I wasn’t incredibly impressed by it, I found it very touristic and commercialized, but this tour made me realize I simply hadb’t visited the right places. Adrian managed to show us the authentic Barcelona with its unique, hidden locations, the goth quarter was very magical in my eyes, full of alleyways with cool bars, modern little cafés and different boutique shops.
If you want to fall in love with Barcelona, I highly recommend this tour which will allow you to experience Barcelona through an experienced local guide who’s full of knowledge and affection for it.
Notes on the food tour in Barcelona
- Tickets for the tapas tour with Adrian can be purchased with a free cancellation option
- Come hungry!!!
- Bring comfortable shoes
- The tour is 3.5-4 hours long
- The tour started at Carrer del Doctor Aiguader and continued to the goth quarter.
If you have any food intolerances or preferences you should notify in advance - The tour price includes all food and alcohol
- If you’re looking for a highly class tour in terms of food and drink, as well as knowledge about Barcelona and its history – this is the one for you.
- Our participation in the tour was as part of a cooperation with the company.
Our itinerary in Romania. It took place during August 2018, but I keep it updated. I recently updated it on March 2024.
Sibiu city – Ocna Sibiului salt lakes – Gura Raului village – Walking route in the Cindrel mountains – Dam and park – Transfăgărășan road
A year ago we went on a different, 10-day trip in Romania. Link to 10-day itinerary in Romania.
Tips before traveling to Romania
SIM card
I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.
Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.
The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.
Car rental in Romania
I think this is the most convenient and fun way to travel. Car prices are low and the roads are easy to drive.
You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
Attractions in Romania
You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and Viator.
Places to stay at in Sibiu district, Romania
Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb, a nice apartment with a luxurious garden, a bit far from the city center – about a 20-minute walk. Suitable for those looking for a quiet place in Sibiu’s residential area. Next to an excellent restaurant.
Airbnb apartment in Gura Raului village (A half-hour drive from the city). Apartment with magical view in a charming little village in Sibiu district. One of the best apartments we’ve stayed at, while only costing 80 shekels a night! Link to extended post about the apartment.
On our final night we stayed at Floare de colt apartment house, relatively close to the Sibiu airport. The apartment doesn’t have an air conditioner, only a fan, and so it’s better from the cold months.
You can search for places to stay in Romania via Booking.
How much did our trip to Romania cost?
The whole trip (7 nights in Romania) cost us around 1300 euros , or even less. Including flights, lodging (200 euros for a couple, for 7 nights), a car we rented through Paapm Paapm for five days (230 euros), food and drink (Supermarkets, markets and restaurants).
Here’s our itinerary detailed by day in Romania:
Days 1-2, Sibiu city
We found a cheap flight to Sibiu during August and decided to take advantage of the low price to keep exploring Romania (We traveled to Romania last year as well but visited different areas). We landed in the afternoon and the Airbnb apartment owner came to pick us up at the airport. You could also take a cab, as taxi prices are very low – a taxi, not during high traffic hours, will run you about 15-20 lei.
Afterwards, we went to an excellent local restaurant by the apartment, called Prima. Then, after getting some rest at the apartment, we went for a stroll around the old town.
The next day we kept on exploring the city, went up to a vantage point in a tower, went on the bridge of lies, visited some nice cafés, bought souvenirs at stalls and more. Here’s an extended post about the things you can do in Sibiu.
Day 3 – Ocna Sibului salt lakes
In the morning we collected the car we ordered through the Paapm Paapm rental cars search engine. We took the car from the airport, since it was cheaper that way, and could therefore return it straight there on the day of our flight back home (We didn’t rent it from day one since Sibiu really doesn’t require a car). After picking it up, we drove to Ocna Sibului salt lakes, which are half an hour away from the city.
We spent the entire day there and it was a ton of fun. It’s a great activity for hot days in Romania (Which don’t come around frequently, but it’s a great option when they do :)). I’ve written a full post about our experiences at the salt lakes, along with other important information. Link to post about salt lakes.
Day 4 – Gura Raului village
Our fourth day happened to be a Friday, so at first we drove to the local market in Sibiu, by the cathedral (The market is only open on Fridays, from 10:00 to 13:00). It’s a small market with good, local produce. We bought fruit, vegetables, honey and cheeses, then continued to an Airbnb apartment in the village.
It was a half hour drive from the city before we reached a beautiful, authentic, pastoral village. We had a picnic in the apartment’s garden with the products we bought (We also bought bread and sausages from the nearby supermarket), then we rested and walked around the village and in the evenings went to a romantic dinner in a restaurant in the adjacent village – Conacul Maria Theresa
Day 5 – Walking track in the Cindrel mountains
We really enjoy walking tracks and while were in the village, we decided it would be a good opportunity to look for a nice trek in the area. Since it was the middle of August, we looked for a track in the mountains, so it wouldn’t be too hot and lucky for us, then route we chose was shaded for the majority of the way, which made for a nice experience. We also ended the trek on an excellent meal at a restaurant with a breath-taking view of the mountains and greenery. Link to extended post about the walking track we went on and the restaurant.
Day 6 – Park and dam
Dam
15 minutes away from the village we stayed at is an enormous, impressive dam and a little river. We saw many families go there to have a picnic and get a tan, while the little kids played in the shallow waters. Arrival there is by a kurkar road, on the right (Map). If you continue on the paved road on the left side (Meaning, avoid turning onto the kurkar road and keep driving down road 106m), you reach the dam from above, and can even keep driving to the other side of the dam – which is beautiful.
Dumbrava Sibiului National Park
After visiting the dam, we continued to Dumbrava Sibiului National park. It’s a giant park with a lake, a museum – Muzeul ASTRA, with exhibits in different pavilions throughout the park, and restaurants.
It’s a great park to simply walk around, check out the museums exhibits, eat local food at the restaurants and just sit and enjoy the park. We ate at Cârciuma din Bătrâni (Map). The restaurant was full but service was relatively quick. We ordered Mămăligă, soup and a plate of starters. The plate had many fatty foods, so I didn’t enjoy it as much, the Mămăligă and soup were good (Not the best restaurant we’ve been to, but a good option for lunch if you’re in the park)
Day 7 – Transfăgărășan road
There’s a reason why this road is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. We drove there in the late morning hours on a Monday. We were lucky enough to have great weather and spent a whole day there. We spent two hours at lake Bâlea and stopped to take photos a ton of times, enjoying the views. I’ve written a full post with information about the road and our experience there. Link to post about Transfăgărășan road.
While this post was originally written after the trip we took to Romania in August 2018, it is updated for Summer 2026 with comments and corrections I received from friends and followers of the blog who visited Transfagaran up until June 2026. It means you can trust the prices and the content being up-to-date. Surely you are welcome to write me in the comments.
Summer 2026: The latest updates from travelers in June 2026 say that the road is fully open, so you can drive to the top or cross to the other side. It’s expected to stay fully open until October 31st, 2026, between Bâlea Cascadă (Waterfall) in the north and Piscu Negru in the south.
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 (2018), 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 Summer 2026
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. Traditionally this section remains closed between 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 June 2026 say that the road is fully open, so you can drive to the top or cross to the other side. It’s expected to stay open until October 31st, 2026, between Bâlea Cascadă (Waterfall) in the north and Piscu Negru in the south.
During winter – if you’re driving from the north to the south and find it closed, you can still 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.
