Ultimate Female Packing List for Transylvania in Early Spring

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The following packing list for Transylvania in early spring was submitted by Anna. See all female travel packing list posts.

Recently, I got the chance to go to Transylvania for the second time. Transylvania is a beautifully captivating place filled with rich history and amazing architecture located in the central region of Romania.

Many people don’t know that Transylvania is a real place, they think it only exists in storybooks as the home of Dracula.

I was only there for a long weekend near the beginning of spring, but wish I could’ve stayed longer! Everything about it was so enchanting. The castles, fortresses, and even lush forests. It’s a stunning region of the country.

Early spring is still quite cold in Transylvania, so make sure if you’re visiting then you add a few more warmer pieces to your packing list than I did! Find my full packing list for Transylvania in early spring below.

Spring Weather in Transylvania

I was in Transylvania near the beginning of spring and the weather was a lot colder than I was anticipating. It was wishful thinking hoping the weather would be more “spring” than “winter”, rather than realistically thinking that Brasov (where we stayed) is surrounded by mountains!

I was disappointed that I made the last-minute decision to leave my hat and gloves off my packing list for Transylvania! However, the weather warms up the closer to summer you visit.

March: During March, winter is still very much lingering in the air (don’t be surprised like I was). Temperatures range between 32° to 52°F (0° to 11°C). The good news is that there is low rainfall.

April: Temperatures start to warm up a bit in April averaging around 42° to 64°F (6° to 18°C). However, if you’re staying in a mountainous area like I was it may still get colder. It’s also a relatively dry month.

May: May can be a rainy month, so don’t forget your rain jacket! The temperature is a bit warmer during the day but can still get cooler in the mornings and evenings. The average temperature range is 48° to 71°F (9° to 22°C).

Packing List for Transylvania in Early Spring

Luggage

I was only in Transylvania for three days, so I didn’t need that much luggage. My friend and I traveled there together, and we both used 25­-30L backpacks to comply with budget airline rules. 

I packed in an older (probably 11 years old) North Face ‘Recon’ Backpack, which I believe is 29L. My friend and I flew through Wizz Air which is pretty stringent about luggage. They only let you take a free personal sized item and this bag fit their size requirements.

• Find the perfect female travel backpack here.

Packing List for Transylvania: Clothing

1 short sleeved shirt -­ I chose a loose fitting t­-shirt that layered well.

1 long sleeved shirt -­ A boatneck black and white striped top was perfect for me, it also layered.

1 longer flannel plaid shirt -­ This was my shirt for travel days. It’s a favorite of mine; comfortable and cozy but doesn’t look sloppy!

2 tank tops -­ I brought one in black and another in white. They don’t take up much space and they’re great for layering for warmth…or if you just have an extra long torso (like me).

• Read about why layering is so important when choosing travel clothing.

2 pairs of leggings -­ I’m a big believer in wearing leggings as pants, and an even bigger believer in investing in quality leggings that aren’t see-through. I wore one pair of older leggings for travel days, the other was for a sightseeing day. You can also dress them up or down depending on your planned activities.

1 pair of jeans -­ I chose a pair of black jeans because they went with my neutral color palate, blue denim would work just fine.

1 coat -­ I brought a lightweight puffy coat, it’s warm but also packable so it fit perfectly in my backpack.

1 jacket­ – Either a denim or leather jacket would work just fine as a layer under a coat. I chose a denim jacket for no specific reason. It just depends on what works well with the rest of what you’re bringing.

1 sweater­ – I chose to bring a chunky sweater for warmth and because I had space for it. You could choose to pack something less bulky instead.

1 pair of pajamas -­ This doesn’t need to be explained. Everyone needs pajamas when traveling. Bring your favorite pair.

1 scarf -­ I brought a simple black versatile travel scarf for warmth and for any churches I might have visited. I wore it every day while in Transylvania. Surprisingly I didn’t end up going into any churches this trip; but, if you were planning on it, you would need a scarf as the Romanians follow the Eastern Orthodox Church (and you need to cover your head for that).

Bras, underwear, and socks -­ 1 bra, a few pairs of underwear, and a pair or two of socks will do. I brought a thicker pair of socks to wear with boots.

• Check out our guide to travel socks.

Hat and Gloves ­- I decided to not pack mine and regretted it.

From this packing list, you can see that I brought almost exclusively neutral colors. If that’s not your thing, bring whatever colors suit you.

Packing List for Transylvania: Footwear

There was nothing I did that required any sort of specialized gear on my packing list for Transylvania. I would, however, recommend bringing a sturdy pair of shoes. Mostly because the castles and fortresses required walking up and down different types of terrain like gravel, rocks, or grass. 

Depending on the season you travel, your shoe selection could vary. Since I traveled in a transitional season, winter­-spring, I brought boots. If you were traveling during summer I’d recommend some sandals.

1 pair of black boots­ – I wore these on the plane as well as on the day that I went and toured the castles and fortresses that Transylvania has to offer.

1 pair of tennis shoes -­ I brought a pair of white slip­-ons.

1 pair of shower shoes­ – Because everybody knows that hostel showers can be questionable! 

You could probably get away with only packing 2 pairs of shoes. Either tennis shoes or boots along with shower shoes.

• Read the first timer’s guide to staying at hostels.

Toiletries

Shampoo and conditioner -­ I used a Lush shampoo bar. I brought a leave­-in conditioner for no reason other than the fact that it was already in a container less than 3oz/100ml.

Makeup­ – I brought my makeup but it’s a personal choice. I know people who don’t like to bother with makeup when they travel. I just happen to enjoy makeup.

• Check out the low-key traveler’s beauty kit.

Coconut Oil -­ I know this sounds weird, but it’s a great makeup remover. I also used it to wash my face. I put some in a small 2oz mason jar and called it good.

Hair ties -­ Bring whatever you need to manage your hair. For me, this meant hair ties.

Activated Charcoal tablets -­ Thankfully I didn’t have to use these. But, I brought this in the rare case of food poisoning. In my experience, it shortens the food poisoning!

• See what HPL thinks should be in your travel medical kit.

Moisturizer -­ Bring your favorite, Transylvania was very dry!

Razor, washcloth, hairbrush, shower gel, toothbrush, and toothpaste

I normally travel with a quick­-dry travel towel, but for this trip, I didn’t bring one because the accommodation provided towels.

Electronics and Paperwork

iPad Mini­ – To be honest, I used this for late-night Facebook and Pinterest activities, but it also serves as my e­-reader since real books, although great, can be bulky.

iPhone­ – Such a handy gadget! I used this for the smartphone capabilities, had it loaded with podcasts, and it served as my camera for this trip. If I was gone longer than a few days I would most definitely bring a “real camera.”

Chargers -­ You don’t want to forget these on your packing list for Transylvania! Romania uses the standard European outlets. Pack a travel adaptor if you are traveling from outside Europe.

Travel documents -­ Along with bringing my passport, for me this also meant bringing my work permit so I could get back into the Schengen zone with no problems. US citizens don’t need a visa while traveling to Romania!

Extra Information for Your Trip to Transylvania

Safety

While in Romania I felt very safe. The railway station felt like it had some seedy characters hanging around but nothing to make me feel worried or uneasy about my personal safety.

Although I was traveling with a friend, I would have still felt comfortable traveling here alone and even walking around in the evening.

Money

The Romanian currency is the Leu. Like many Eastern European countries, making cash transactions instead of using a credit/debit card is extremely common. Banks were easy to find, so just make sure you have ample cash. Fun fact: The banknotes are made out of plastic!

Must­-Dos­

I would say that the free walking tour of Brasov was extremely valuable! I love free walking tours for a couple of reasons: they’re free (which is good for any budget), and I feel that they help you get your bearings and get to know the city better than if you were just wandering aimlessly!

Secondly, my friend and I ended up hiring a driver for the day (through our hostel) to take us to visit 2 castles (Peles and Bran) and 1 fortress (Rasnov). This ended up being about $20 each and was so worth it! There was no way we could see all 3 places in one day if we had used public transport or tried to get around on our own since these three places were not in the same vicinity.

Also, if you are a coffee lover I would highly recommend Hof Cafe, located smack dab in the city center of Brasov. The coffee and atmosphere were both wonderful!

Would you add anything else to this ultimate female packing list for Transylvania in early spring? Let us know in the comments below.

About the author: After a solo backpacking trip around Europe in 2013 I fell in love with Central/Eastern Europe. After living in Hungary and teaching English for a few years, I now live in Seattle. I have a poorly updated blog Hungary for Adventure but keep my Instagram up to date.