If you live in Bucharest with children, those are the two windows to plan around. If you're visiting, they're the dates when Romanian families hit the road, so mountain hotels and the roads out of the city get busy. Below: the remaining days off in 2026 and six road trips from Bucharest that fit them.
Romania's remaining holidays in 2026
| Dates | Days | What's off |
|---|---|---|
| 24 October – 1 November 2026 | 9 | Autumn break, all schools |
| 28 November – 1 December 2026 | 4 | Weekend, St Andrew's Day (30 Nov) and National Day (1 Dec) |
| 25–26 December 2026 | 2 | Christmas (Friday and Saturday) |
| 23 December 2026 – 10 January 2027 | 19 | School winter break |
| 1–2 January 2027 | 2 | New Year (Friday and Saturday) |
| 6–7 January 2027 | 2 | Epiphany and St John's Day |
St Andrew's Day and National Day are both public holidays, so the 1 December weekend needs no extra day off.
Why rent for the whole nine days
Nine days fall in the 7–9 day price band, and in October the daily rate for 7–9 days is 30% lower than for three days.
Mileage is unlimited, accident & theft cover is included, the child seat is free and so is the first additional driver. For a family with luggage, look at the Ford Focus Estate (an estate with a big boot), the Skoda Octavia or the Ford Kuga, an SUV. The security deposit is €50 on most cars, and the road vignette is already paid.
Six road trips for the autumn break
Brașov, Bran and Râșnov
Brașov is about 170 km from Bucharest and works as a three-day trip or as the first stop of a longer one. Walk the old town, drive up to Râșnov fortress and keep a separate day for Bran. The castle's Halloween event for 2026, "The Legend of Dracul", runs 24–30 October and 1 November. From 24 to 30 October there are daytime tours for all ages (on 26 October it opens at 12:00), on 31 October there's also a daytime visit from 09:00 to 17:00, recommended for adults because it's darker and scarier, while the evening has tours and parties for adults only, and 1 November has daytime tours designed for families. Tickets are sold on the castle's website. Leave early on the DN1: on Saturday mornings the road up the Prahova Valley fills up. Worth reading first: the new speed displays on the DN1.
Sighișoara, Biertan and Viscri
Sighișoara's lived-in citadel pairs well with the Saxon villages of Biertan and Viscri. See the fortified churches in daylight and don't try to squeeze all three into one day; the local roads are slow and you'll want time to stop. In late October the hills still have colour and the villages are quieter than in summer. Our five-day Transylvania circuit lays it out day by day.
Bucovina and the Bicaz Gorge
Bucovina makes sense if you have all nine days. Since 31 August 2026 the A7 motorway is open between Adjud and Bacău, so the roughly 310 km from Bucharest to Bacău are now almost all motorway (A3, then A7), skipping the villages on the DN2/E85. From there, the painted monasteries are within reach, and so is the Bicaz Gorge. In late October the frescoes are best seen in morning light. See our Bucovina circuit and the Bicaz Gorge and Red Lake route.
Maramureș, for the full nine days
Maramureș is the farthest option, so it suits the whole break rather than a weekend. Split the drive in two, then stay a few nights in one place and make day trips to the wooden churches and carved gates. Mornings are cold by late October and it gets dark early, so leave slack in the plan. The route is in our Maramureș by rental car guide.
The Transfăgărășan, last chance for 2026
The autumn break is usually the last chance of the year for the Transfăgărășan. The high road normally closes on 1 November and stays shut all winter, and it can close earlier if it snows. Don't assume it's open: check CNAIR or the Romanian Police's Infotrafic on the morning you set off. The Transalpina is the alternative, but it also closes at the first serious snow. Read our Transfăgărășan and Transalpina guides before you go.
Close to Bucharest: Dealu Mare and the Slănic salt mine
With only two or three days, head for the Dealu Mare wine hills and the Slănic Prahova salt mine. The wine road is good for villages and a winery stop, but Romania has zero tolerance for alcohol at the wheel: the driver doesn't taste anything. The salt mine works in any weather. More ideas in our weekend trips from Bucharest.
The 1 December long weekend: three ideas
Alba Iulia is the natural choice for National Day. Celebrations usually take place in the Alba Carolina citadel, and the town is worth the drive even if you skip the programme.
The Christmas markets are the second option. Sibiu and Craiova open on 13 November 2026, Brașov and Bucharest on 27 November, and Brașov's official opening, with the lights, falls right on 30 November. Check the dates announced by each city hall before you book a room, because a lot of people head the same way that weekend.
Or keep it quiet in the mountains: two nights in one place, some walks, and home before the Tuesday traffic. By late November there can already be snow in the mountains, so read our guide to winter driving in Romania. If you stay in Bucharest, the military parade at the Arc de Triomphe usually closes roads in the north of the city on the morning of 1 December.
Before you set off
- Leave early, especially on Saturday mornings towards the mountains and Sunday afternoons coming back.
- The road vignette is included, and the Fetești bridge toll no longer exists since 1 October 2026. See what changed with the vignette.
- The driver doesn't drink at all, winery or family dinner alike.
- Children up to 135 cm tall must travel in an approved child seat (Romanian law, HG 1391/2006), and at driveXplore the child seat is free.
- Our working hours are Monday to Friday 09:00–18:00 and Saturday 09:00–14:00. Sunday is outside working hours, so a return on Sunday 1 November costs €10 for that trip.
- Book early so you can choose a car that fits your luggage and your group.
FAQ
When is the autumn school break in Romania in 2026?
From Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. School starts again on Monday 2 November, so it's nine days off in a row.
Which days are off around 1 December 2026?
St Andrew's Day falls on Monday 30 November and National Day on Tuesday 1 December. With the weekend before, that's four days off: 28 November to 1 December.
When does the school winter break start in 2026?
On 23 December 2026, and it ends on 10 January 2027. It covers Christmas, New Year, Epiphany and St John's Day.
Can I rent a car just for the 1 December weekend?
Yes. The minimum rental is three days and the long weekend is four. We meet you at the Otopeni or Băneasa terminal, or you collect the car from our base in Bucharest.
Which car suits a family with two children?
The Ford Focus Estate is an estate with a big boot, the Skoda Octavia is a practical all-rounder, and the Ford Kuga is an SUV. The child seat is free.
In short
- Autumn break: 24 October to 1 November 2026, nine days.
- 1 December long weekend: 28 November to 1 December, four days.
- Bran's daytime tours suit families on 24–30 October and 1 November; on 31 October the daytime visit is recommended for adults and the evening is adults only.
- The A7 now runs to Bacău, which brings Bucovina and the Bicaz Gorge closer.
- Check the Transfăgărășan and Transalpina on the day you go.
Picked your dates and your route? See our cars.
Sources: Romania's 2026–2027 school year calendar (Digi24) · Halloween 2026 at Bran Castle · A7 Adjud–Bacău opening (Promotor).
