Peleș Castle alone makes Romania worth the trip

I'll be honest — I went to Romania primarily to see Peleș Castle, and it delivered beyond what any photo prepares you for. But the surrounding region surprised me just as much. Sibiu has a character I didn't anticipate, and wandering without a plan for an afternoon turned out to be one of the highlights.

The food is extraordinary. mici sounds simple but here it's done with real craft. Dracula tourism done right added another layer to the experience. Spent 13 days and honestly could have used a week more.