A tourist route from Romania was included in the list of the best holiday destinations for 2026, made by the British publication The Times, alongside spectacular places from around the world, after approximately 700 proposals were analyzed.
Via Transilvanica, the 1,400-kilometer route that runs through Romania from Putna Monastery in Bucovina to Drobeta-Turnu Severin, on the banks of the Danube, was included in the “The Sunday Times Best New Trips for 2026” selection. The ranking, made by the British publication The Times, includes 51 destinations considered the most attractive for next year, selected from almost 700 proposals.
The selection was made by Chris Haslam, chief travel editor at The Times, who considered three main criteria: value for money, relevance to current tourism trends and a difficult-to-quantify element, which the publication calls the “quite fancy that factor” – that special something that makes travelers want to visit the place.
The top was created after extensive consultations with tour operators, airlines, hoteliers and with locals who know the realities of the destinations, and the recommendations are also organized according to the optimal period for visiting.
“In 2026, you’ll be able to swim around the islands of Sulawesi, bird-watch in a reborn oasis in the Sahara, explore parts of the Amazon that tourists don’t usually touch and, if the idea appeals to you, be the first to write about the new all-inclusive luxury hotel Ikos when it opens in Crete. Maybe you’d prefer a Finnish spa in a frozen forest, a ten-day trek through medieval Romania or a trip with the luxury train through Thailand. As far as I’m concerned, there’s a trip to observe tigers, guided by the four conservationists who saved the species, I find it very interesting.” writes Chris Haslam, who points to Via Transilvanica from Romania at position 23.
Vacation on Via Transilvanica
Via Transilvanica was inaugurated in October 2022, it crosses seven historical regions in 10 counties and was created by the Romanian NGO Tășuleasa Social with the aim of revitalizing over 400 marginalized and depopulated rural communities.
Named “the road that unites”the project connects traditional villages with tourists interested in ecotourism and authentic rural life.
Visitors can choose to stay in hotels, guesthouses or even in the homes of local people and parish houses, where they are served home-cooked meals with local products. Detailed guides for hikers and cyclists provide information on accommodation options for each section of the route.
A distinctive feature is the artist-carved andesite milestones that mark each kilometer, turning the route into one of the world’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibitions. Some of these landmarks are located near notable sights, such as the Alba Carolina Citadel or Saxon villages, such as Biertan.
The route crosses 12 UNESCO sites and has been recognized by Europa Nostra for local sustainable development, receiving two European Heritage Awards: one for Citizen Involvement and one Public Choice Award.
“In 2018, 100 years after the union of Transylvania with Romania, the idea of building a route to unite the nation was born. Eight years later, the Via Transilvanica is complete, 870 miles long, and could turn beautiful Romania into the next big hiking destination. This ten-day group trip focuses on the Transylvanian part of the route, combining visits to monasteries, museums and churches with walks of up to 21 kilometers per day.
Much seems unchanged here since the 15th century, with an aging population of foresters and farmers tending a beautiful land just as the generations before them did. You’ll spend a night in the UNESCO-listed medieval town of Sighișoara before a short final walk to the village of Bran – and not, despite what you’re told,
Vlad Tepes never lived here” describes The Times holiday on Via Transilvanica.
