Table of Contents
- Is Targoviste worth visiting?
- Why is Targoviste so important for Romanians?
- 1. Targoviste is easy to reach if you travel from Bucharest
- 2. Targoviste is a compact city
- 3. Targoviste is affordable to visit
- 4. Targoviste is not your tourist-packed destination
- 5. The old town is well-preserved
- 6. Don’t miss the panoramic view from Chindiei Tower
- 7. In Targoviste everything is within walking distance
- In conclusion, is Targoviste worth visiting?
Is Targoviste worth visiting?
A few weeks ago, I revisited Targoviste, a city I had not been to in years. The latest restoration works refreshed the city. It felt quiet, yet it was a good tourist destination for those looking to go somewhere new and leave the Romanian tourist traps behind.
After a day trip to Targoviste, I thought this place deserved a dedicated blog post on my website. I will write a series of blog posts dedicated to Targoviste, which you can check out here.
The first blog post of this series will look at why Targoviste is worth visiting.
As a Romanian, I tried not to be biased when writing the bullet points below. I believe these points are valid and will help anyone interested in Targoviste decide whether they want to visit Targoviste or not next time they are in Romania.
Why is Targoviste so important for Romanians?
Targoviste was the medieval capital of the southern region of Romania. Due to its geographical position, Targoviste has always played an important role in Romania’s history. It became the capital city of Wallachia in the Middle Ages, when Romania was still divided into three main regions (Wallachia, Transylvania, and Moldova).
Because of its historical meaning, Targoviste remains nowadays one of the most important tourist attractions in Romania.
The city was once home to the historical figure Vlad Tepes, or, as the rest of the world knows him, Count Dracula.
If you are interested in Dracula, I recommend skipping the overly touristy Bran Castle (spoiler alert: Dracula never lived there anyway) and instead visit Targoviste, where Vlad Tepes (aka Dracula) actually lived for some time.
1. Targoviste is easy to reach if you travel from Bucharest
Targoviste is close to the capital city, Bucharest, so you don’t need to travel long distances to get there. Most tourists visiting Romania land in Bucharest anyway, so you won’t make an extra effort to visit Targoviste.
Getting to Targoviste by car
According to Google Maps, if your starting point is Otopeni Airport (the main Romanian airport, located outside Bucharest), you can get to Targoviste in less than 1h30 one-way (assuming there is no traffic). You will need to hire a car first.
Driving Tip: Unless your car isn’t equipped with a SatNav, I recommend using Waze instead of Google Maps. In my experience, Waze is much better than Google Maps, which I assume has not been updated for Romania. In all fairness, most Romanian drivers use Waze over Google Maps in Romania.
Getting to Targoviste by train
If you prefer public transport, there is a direct train from Gara de Nord (Bucharest’s main train station) to Targoviste. You have to take the train from the airport to Gara de Nord and then get another train to Targoviste. According to the CFR website, the journey should not take more than 2 hours (one way).
The Romanian Railway System
There is no need to book your ticket in advance, as train tickets in Romania are affordable compared to other European countries. The downside is that Romanian trains are also very slow. Delayed trains are common around here. Also, depending on the route, some carriages look better than others. Every time I travel by train (I always travel on the same route), I experience the same: delays and not-so-clean carriages.
There is a strong driving culture here since public transport, especially the railway system, is slow and unreliable. As a Romanian, I don’t travel by train much either. Personally, I only take the train for short distances (around 2h).
Therefore, if you have more budget available, I would recommend hiring a car. If you are on a tight budget or you don’t drive, taking a train in this case is doable since the distance between the 2 cities is not long.
Getting to Targoviste by bus
There is a 3rd option to travel to Targoviste from Bucharest, and that’s by bus. According to this website, several bus services operate daily between the two cities. The ticket price starts from as little as 10 Ron (2,17$/1,68£/2,01€) and the journey lasts around 1h20.
The website offers information about departure and arrival points in Bucharest and Targoviste, so please check it out if you are interested in taking the bus to Targoviste. I use this website to plan my travels in Romania, and it comes in handy because it gets translated into several languages, including English.
2. Targoviste is a compact city
Targoviste is the perfect destination for a day trip. What I like about Targoviste is that everything is in one place.
If you visit Curtea Domneasca (The Royal Court or the Princely Court of Targoviste as you often find it translated), you will find everything in one place. The Royal Court is located here.
During the visit, you can admire Turnul Chindiei (Chindiei Tower), the main attraction, and a local museum that hosts an impressive collection of manuscripts.
A beautiful Orthodox Church is located near the tower. You will also see the remains of the ancient walls of the fortress. Don’t miss out on exploring the underground spaces, which I assume back in the day served as a refuge for the court members.
3. Targoviste is affordable to visit
Many travel websites confirm that Romania is an affordable holiday destination in Europe.
Based on my experience as a budget traveller, I can confirm that my native country is indeed way more affordable than other European destinations.
To put things into perspective, the 30-minute train journey from the airport to the Bucharest main train station will not cost you more than 2$/2£/2€ (one way).
The entrance ticket for an adult visiting the Royal Court of Targoviste is 20 RON, that’s less than 5$/5£/5€.
In general, there aren’t many gratuities when visiting museums, galleries, etc, except for the museum’s night. During this event, most of the museums, galleries, etc in Romania are free to visit. However, this only happens once a year, and because it is free to visit, you will need to face big crowds.
You can still visit Romania’s sites, museums and galleries all year round because entry tickets are affordable.
4. Targoviste is not your tourist-packed destination
Romania is mostly known to foreigners for its Transylvanian villages and cities, and medieval castles. Yet, Romania encompasses more than Transylvania. The rest of the country is as beautiful and fascinating as Transylvania. It’s also full of history (e.g. Targoviste) and nature (The Danube Delta, etc.).
Therefore, if you want to visit a place in Romania that’s not overly touristy, like Brasov and Transylvania, consider Targoviste. You will enjoy the rich Romanian history without too much of a crowd around.
5. The old town is well-preserved
Considering its medieval origins (the city is first mentioned in the 15th century), Targoviste’s old town was well-preserved over time.
The Royal Court of Targoviste is in excellent condition considering it’s a few centuries old.
During the centuries, the city continued to expand, and nowadays the rest of the city is a mix of communist architecture and modern buildings. Yet, this is what makes Targoviate such a special place. Because it combines ancient with modern architecture.
6. Don’t miss the panoramic view from Chindiei Tower
When Vlad Tepes (Count Dracula) built the tower a few hundred years ago, he never imagined it would become the main attraction in Targoviste.
Initially, the tower was used for protection purposes. Nowadays, Chindiei Tower is Targoviste’s main attraction.
Climbing up the tower is what most Romanians do when visiting the Royal Court. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
If you are a fan of panoramic pictures, this is the best place to get one in Targoviste.
7. In Targoviste everything is within walking distance
If you are not that fit, visiting Targoviste should not put you off. Targoviste is surrounded by plains. Everything in the city is flat and does not require much physical effort.
That’s why Targoviste can be an excellent option for families with children or people who are not necessarily that fit.
The only thing that requires some level of fitness is climbing up the stairs to reach the top of the Chindiei Tower. Climbing the 122 stairs requires not only some level of fitness but also a good balance. The stairs are rather narrow, and if you suffer from vertigo, you might want to skip climbing the tower.
Visiting the rest of the Royal Court, including the old town, is a walk in the park.
The Royal Court is conveniently located within walking distance from the old town. So, as you finish visiting the Royal Court of Targoviste, you can right away enjoy something to drink and eat in the old town to charge your batteries.
Targoviste is also great for families with children and people with a lower fitness level because everything is within walking distance.
In conclusion, is Targoviste worth visiting?
I think Targoviste is worth visiting. Targoviste is not only a good destination for Dracula’s fans, but also for everyone interested in Romania’s history.
If you need more information about Targoviste or about visiting Romania, you can either leave a comment in the comments box below or contact me via the contact form. I would be more than happy to help.
Alternatively, you can also check the dedicated section on Romania here. Here, you will find more useful tips on travelling to Romania and many more ideas on what to visit in this country.