Before diving into the next leg of my journey, letโs do a quick recap of how far this Transylvanian road trip has brought me. My six-day adventure started with the royal elegance of Peleศ Castle in Sinaia, followed by two days soaking in the fortress vibe of Braศov and its surrounding gems like Rasnov and the Viscri Saxon village. From there, I headed north to the beautifully preserved citadel of Sighiศoara before finally basing myself in the grand, cultural capital of Sibiu.
It was on my first morning in Sibiu that I faced a major traveller’s dilemma. After weighing my options over a morning cup of green tea, my inner curiosity won. I decided to bypass the nearby open-air museum and instead commit to an ambitious, fast-paced day trip loop: first driving west to the legendary Corvin Castle in Hunedoara, and then swinging up to the historic fortress city of Alba Iulia on my way back. Because I only finalised this plan in the morning, I had to hurry. The drive to Hunedoara takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes each way, meaning I was looking at nearly three hours of total driving time, plus the exploration stops.
Fortunately, this day trip to Corvin Castle and Alba Iulia went incredibly smooth. I was highly impressed by Romanians A1 highway; the infrastructure is fantastic and built to a very high standard that easily rivals Western Europe, making the drive feel safe, fast, and effortless.
๐ญ Arriving in Hunedoara
Hunedoara itself feels like a town in transition. You can clearly see its industrial past, but there is an undeniable sense of upcoming potential. Hopefully, the immense global popularity of the nearby castle will continue to propel its modern development in the coming years.
As you approach the castle area, the most practical logistical move is to head toward a massive old factory with towering silos. The site has been brilliantly repurposed into a sprawling, secure paid parking lot, which is easily the best place to leave your car. From there, it is a short, easy walk to the castle grounds. You will pass rows of local vendor stalls selling everything from street food and cold drinks to artisanal souvenirs, so you definitely won’t go hungry.
The moment the castle actually comes into view, it completely takes your breath away. The imposing Gothic-Renaissance architecture, the dramatic defensive towers, and that iconic, massive wooden bridge leaping across the moat to the entrance are just awesome. It looks incredibly spectacularโlike something straight out of a dark fantasy novel.
โ๏ธ Corvin Castle Fast Facts: Also known as Hunyad Castle (Castelul Corvinilor), this 15th-century masterpiece is one of the largest castles in Europe and one of the official Seven Wonders of Romania. It was built by the powerful military leader John Hunyad (Iancu de Hunedoara) to replace an older keep. It features a stunning blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles, complete with knightly knights’ halls, deep dungeons, and a legendary 30-meter-deep well that, according to myth, was dug by Turkish prisoners who were promised freedom but ultimately betrayed.
๐ป Roaming Free in a Giant Stronghold
Because the castle is so remarkably vast and sprawling, the experience feels wonderfully exclusive. Even though there were plenty of other tourists visiting, it never felt crowded, and we were never squeezed into tight hallways.
One feature I deeply appreciated is that there is no mandated walking route. Unlike most European castles where you are forced to follow a strict, single-file path, here you are completely free to roam around as you please. I crafted my own route through the stronghold, climbing up into various defensive towers and exploring every mysterious nook and cranny.
During my wanderings, I stumbled upon a fascinating temporary exhibit of eerie, contemporary art. It featured paper-mรขchรฉ painting-like sculptures of human faces that looked as though they were trapped inside the canvas, desperately trying to break free. It added a beautifully haunting, avant-garde layer to the ancient stone surroundings.
More pictures of the castle:
๐ฅ A Divine Papanasi Detour
By the time I crossed back over the drawbridge, it was lunchtime and I was craving a proper meal. While the outdoor street stalls were tempting, I really wanted to sit down, relax, and chill out after all that walking and tower-climbing. On my way in, I had spotted a stylish restaurant called Urban Werk just on the left side of the street leading to the castle entrance.
The restaurant was quite busy, and I initially had my eye on a hearty lunch dish. However, the waitress honestly warned me that because of the high volume of diners, a full meal would take at least 40 minutes to arrive. Needing to stay mindful of my tight schedule for Alba Iulia, I decided to pivot to something I assumed would be quick: Papanasi (pronounced papanosh). This is the famous, iconic Romanian dessert consisting of fried cottage-cheese donut dough topped with decadent sour cream and sweet blueberry jam.
I foolishly thought a dessert dish would take maybe 10 minutes to arrive. Instead, I ended up waiting for over 30 minutes! The waitress was incredibly apologetic, explaining that she hadn’t realized the kitchen was strictly working through every single order one by one in chronological order, rather than scanning ahead for the quicker, simpler dishes.
In my head, I was calculating the time: I’ve lost over half an hour! I should be almost arriving in Alba Iulia by now! But the ultimate consolation came with the very first bite. The Papanasi at Urban Werk was absolutely divineโcrispy, warm, and perfectly balanced. I had previously tried one in Bucharest, but it paled in comparison to this masterpiece. Lost time or not, I walked back to my car as one very happy traveller.
๐๏ธ Alba Iulia: The Birthplace of Modern Romania
The drive from Hunedoara to Alba Iulia took approximately one hour, providing a nice opportunity to watch the changing Transylvanian landscapes roll by.
๐ Practical Parking Tip: When setting up your navigation, make sure to target the parking areas near the Monumentul Unirii (Union Monument). This brings you right to the main front entrance of the citadel, where you will find convenient paid parking lots located both directly in front and along the sides of the fortress. Finding a spot here was completely effortless for me.
My Romanian friend had told me beforehand that this city holds an incredibly sacred place in the hearts of locals. It was right here, inside these defensive walls on December 1, 1918, that the unification of Transylvania with the Kingdom of Romania was officially declared, marking the birth of the modern Romanian state. Walking through the gates, you can instantly feel that heavy, proud sense of historical importance.
โช A Tale of Two Cathedrals
As I walked toward the heart of the citadel, I was immediately greeted by an architectural marvel: two massive cathedrals sitting almost side-by-side, perfectly showcasing the complex cultural tapestry of Transylvania.
To the right stands the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael, a striking medieval structure. But it was the one sitting proudly in the centerโthe massive, gated Coronation Cathedral (Catedrala รncoronฤrii)โthat completely left me in awe. The approach is stunning, framed by grand arched passageways and open-air hallways that act as a monumental gateway into the complex. Inside, the Orthodox iconography, shimmering gold details, and soaring ceilings were breathtakingly beautiful.
โช Cathedral Fast Facts: St. Michael’s is the oldest surviving cathedral in Romania, dating back to the 13th century, and houses the tomb of John Hunyad (the builder of Corvin Castle!). Right next to it, the grand Orthodox Coronation Cathedral was built much later, between 1921 and 1922, specifically for the historic coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie as monarchs of a newly united Greater Romania.
โ๏ธ Seeking Refuge in Piaศa Cetฤศii
From the cathedrals, I strolled over to Piaศa Cetฤศii, a grand public square ringed with elegant cafe terraces. By this time, the weather in Romania had shifted; the air felt heavy, as if the country was bracing itself for an impending summer heatwave. As much as I wanted to explore every single corner of the fortress, the toxic afternoon sun was becoming intense, and I desperately needed to find some shaded refuge.
Before ducking out of the heat, I made sure to check out some of the iconic gates of the Alba Carolina Citadel. The spectacular Third Gate (Poarta a III-a a Cetฤศii) was unfortunately covered in scaffolding for renovations during my visit. However, it still looked incredibly dramatic, especially with the historic wooden bridge connecting the stone fortress walls to the soaring Horea, Cloศca, and Criศan Obelisk. Standing near the bridge rewards you with fantastic panoramic views over the lower surrounding valley. The Second Gate (Poarta a II-a) is also beautifully preserved and well worth the short walk to see.
Back at the main square, I claimed a seat in the shade and treated myself to a crisp, refreshing Ursus Non-Alcoholic Lemon drink. It hit the exact spot. One of the absolute delights of Alba Iulia is that it feels much less touristy than Braศov or Sighiศoara. There were far fewer crowds drifting through the square, giving the entire fortress a peaceful, exclusive atmosphere.
Later, as I was heading back toward the outer perimeter, I came across a restaurant called Pub 13 – Restaurantul Cetฤศii. Its entrance is uniquely located outside the main square, built right into the ancient stone fortification walls of the citadel. It looked incredibly inviting and promisingโif I had planned an overnight stay here, this is absolutely where I would have dined.
๐ Reflecting on the Road Ahead
Heading back to the car to drive back to my apartment in Sibiu, my mind was already racing with future travel plans. This region is so packed with hidden gems that a six-day itinerary naturally forces you to make tough choices. If I had been blessed with just a few more days on the clock, I would have loved to swing by the historic town of Mediaศ and the famous fortified church of Biertan.
But that is the beauty of a Transylvanian road tripโit always leaves you craving more. For now, it was time to head back to Sibiu, where I would arrive in the late afternoon to freshen up and get ready for another fantastic dinner in the old town, before packing my bags for tomorrow’s ultimate driving challenge: the world-famous Transfฤgฤrฤศan Highway!
๐บ๏ธ Catch Up on the Transylvania 8-Spoke Road Trip Series!
If you missed any of my previous drives, check out the first seven spokes of the journey below before my ultimate trip directory drops very soon:
- Spoke 1: Royal Elegance in Sinaia โ Exploring the stunning Peleศ Castle
- Spoke 2: The Fortress Vibe of Braศov โ Two days soaking in historic charm
- Spoke 3: Day Trips from Brasov โ Exploring Rasnov, Bran, and the Libearty Bear Sanctuary
- Spoke 4: Saxon Heritage in Viscri โ A step back in time
- Spoke 5: Picturesque Sighiศoara โ A night in the Citadel Sphere
- Spoke 6: Grandeur and Mystery in Sibiu โ The historic heart of Transylvania
- Spoke 7: Day Trips from Sibiu โ Corvin Castle and Alba Iulia Citadel (this post!)
- Spoke 8: Bears and Driving Transfagarasan Highway โ Epic Transfagarasan highway drive from Sibiu to Bucharest
Happy Travels!
With love from Jo
Travel Period: August 2026
Corvin, Hunedoara (Transylvania), Romania
Alba Iulia, Alba (Transylvania), Romania