Putna · Drobeta-Turnu Severin · Brașov
How do I plan Via Transilvanica?
In short — thru-hike: map + Maior GPX and the Hiker's Guide; one section: the land page + day chapters; cycling: the Cyclist's Guide; preparation: guide + videos + app; Brașov: the Borza extension (187.9 km measured, single source); proof: the 1400km+ list. Maior measures 1,392.8 km between Putna and Drobeta; 1,600 is the official rounded network figure. Below: the detailed verdict, measured access and the 8 lands.
The quick verdict
Pick by intent: thru-hike, section, cycling, preparation, Brașov or the finishers list. Need–resource pairings are editorial recommendations; all resources are official; the guides download free, and lengths marked “measured” are our calculations from the official GPX, not VT-published distances.
| Thru-hike | Map + Maior GPX | 1,392.8 km measured Putna→Drobeta (official: “around 1,400”), with the Hiker's Guide day chapters. From Bucharest Drobeta is nearer (341.0/280); from Cluj, Putna (270.4/359). Start north or south, as the lands page says. |
|---|---|---|
| One section | Land page + GPX | Pick the land by area and time: each has an official page, dated GPX and guide day chapters (map, elevation profile, infrastructure). Stages of a few days or a whole land — same official page. |
| Cycling | The Cyclist's Guide | A separate free guide for cyclists (RO/EN), plus the interactive map and the VT app. “By bicycle” is also an official 1400km+ list mode. |
| Preparation | Guide + videos + app | The intro chapter of general advice, the 5 prep videos (backpack, clothing, dogs, bears), the VT app (iOS+Android) and the Safety page. Difficulty is estimated so “almost anyone” can walk it. |
| Brașov / Borza | The Borza Teutonica extension | The first Maior extension: 187.9 km measured (single source) between Archita and Brașov, via Viscri, Poiana Mărului, Bran and Râșnov. Brașov is an access gate to the main route, not the Maior terminus. |
| Proof | The 1400km+ Hikers list | Walked it end to end? Form + verification by a VT team member. Four modes: on foot, horseback, bicycle, running. The “1,400km+” name fits the measured 1,392.8 of the Maior. |
Access, measured by road
Two bases, three gates. Brașov is the Borza extension gate; the Maior ends are Putna and Drobeta. OSRM times are continuous driving, no stops, no traffic.
Method: OSRM car routes on OpenStreetMap, measured on 17 September 2026. Times are continuous driving, no stops, no traffic, one way.
| From | To | km | min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piața Unirii | Putna | 521.8 | 413 |
| Piața Unirii | Drobeta-Turnu Severin | 341.0 | 280 |
| Piața Unirii | Brașov | 181.8 | 165 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Putna | 270.4 | 359 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Drobeta-Turnu Severin | 376.5 | 350 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Brașov | 274.8 | 262 |
Shortest access listed: Bucharest–Brașov, 181.8 km / 165 min. Longest: Bucharest–Putna, 521.8 / 413. Nearer terminus: from Bucharest Drobeta (341.0/280), from Cluj Putna (270.4/359).
The lands, one by one
The official resources, compared
All official; the guides are free. What each covers and which languages you get it in.
| Resource | Covers | Languages & access |
|---|---|---|
| The Hiker's Guide | general advice + the route by 8 lands and by days (map, elevation profile, infrastructure) | free RO/EN/DE/HU/ES, updated periodically |
| The Cyclist's Guide | separate guide for riding it by bicycle | free RO/EN |
| Map + GPX | interactive map (each colour = one day) + 9 dated GPX files, July–August 2026 | online + download, layers (lodging etc.) |
| The VT app | the official trail app | iOS + Android |
| Safety | the official safety page | online (content lives there only) |
| The 1400km+ list | signup for end-to-end hikers, with verification | online form, 4 modes |
Plus 5 prep videos (backpack, clothing, dogs, bears) and a newsletter. The Hiker's Guide is written by Szekely Anna with an all-women team.
Bucovina start
- 144 km (land page); Maior measures 146.3 on the same stretch.
- Starts at Putna Monastery (Ștefan cel Mare), via Sucevița, Vatra Moldoviței, the Obcine, Mestecăniș Pass; ends at Poiana Stampei.
- Road gate: Putna; from Cluj 270.4/359, from Bucharest 521.8/413.
Plan: The first land, the north end of the Maior.
Ținutul de Sus 210 + 216.8
- 210 km (land page); 216.8 measured from GPX (double-corroborated).
- Starts at Lunca Ilvei (Bistrița-Năsăud, Rodna foothills); mountains, lowland forests, gentle hills, plains; ethnic diversity.
- The Bucovina junction is at Poiana Stampei / Lunca Ilvei (confirmed geometrically).
Plan: The second land, out of the mountains toward the plains.
Terra Siculorum 150.6
- 150.6 km measured from GPX (double-corroborated); the page gives no length.
- Câmpu Cetății → Sovata–Praid depression → Székely villages → Odorheiu Secuiesc (hearth-town) → Archita (Harghita/Mureș border).
- Gentle hills, meadows, forests; stages vary in difficulty.
Plan: The Székely land, from the mountains to Archita.
Terra Saxonum 199.8
- 199.8 km measured from GPX (double-corroborated); the page gives no length.
- Archita → Brașov county → revived Saxon villages (Mureș) → Sighișoara → Sibiu county → Micăsasa.
- Fortified churches, the bacon tower; Sighișoara is in the orase-medievale guide.
Plan: The Saxon land, with Sighișoara in the middle.
Terra Dacica 294.6
- 294.6 km measured from GPX (double-corroborated) — the longest land; the page gives no length.
- Alba and Hunedoara counties: the Mureș valley, Târnave plateau, toward Retezat; enters Caraș-Severin via Poarta de Fier a Transilvaniei.
- Small-to-medium difficulty (the only official difficulty rating read).
Plan: The longest stretch, small–medium difficulty.
Terra Banatica 241.5
- 241.5 km measured from GPX (double-corroborated); the page gives no length.
- Mountain Banat: Poarta de Fier a Transilvaniei → “Gugulan country” → national parks with secular forests → the Nera.
- Caraș-Severin: 15 ethnic minorities, peaceful coexistence (land page).
Plan: Mountains, secular forests and 15 ethnicities.
Terra Romana 143 + 143.2
- 143 km (land page: “the last 143”); 143.2 measured from GPX (double-corroborated).
- From Crușovăț (Caraș-Severin) through Mehedinți: unique climate, Dacian-Roman stories, the Mehedinți Plateau — an “epic finish”.
- Ends at Drobeta-Turnu Severin; road gate: from Bucharest 341.0/280, from Cluj 376.5/350.
Plan: The last land, the south end of the Maior.
Terra Borza Teutonica 187.9
- 187.9 km measured from GPX (single source — a Minor branch with no Maior-file counterpart).
- The first Maior extension, Archita to Brașov: Viscri → Poiana Mărului → Bran → Râșnov → Brașov.
- Brașov (Kronstadt) is an access gate to the main route; Bran/Râșnov are in the castele-de-vizitat guide.
Plan: The Minor extension: Brașov as the way in.
“Measured” lengths are haversine calculations from the official GPX files of 19-08-2026 (Siculorum 21-07-2026), not VT-published distances; r2–r7 are double-corroborated (region file + Maior), Borza is single-source. Bucovina: the land page says 144 km (Maior measures 146.3 on the same stretch); the region file contains extra loops and is not used here. Sucevița: the manastiri-pictate guide. Sighișoara: the orase-medievale guide. Bran/Râșnov: the castele-de-vizitat guide. Fortified churches: the biserici-fortificate guide. Putna stays scenery, with no guide pointer (not covered by manastiri-pictate).
Practical
Money
The guides download free from the Ghid VT page. VT asks for maintenance-and-development donations and runs a membership programme. Trail tariff: none officially found — uncited.
Gates
Putna (north), Drobeta-Turnu Severin (south), Brașov (Borza). From Bucharest: Drobeta 341.0/280, Brașov 181.8/165, Putna 521.8/413. From Cluj: Putna 270.4/359, Brașov 274.8/262, Drobeta 376.5/350. Start north or south.
Method
“Measured” lengths are haversine from the dated official GPX (regional 19-08-2026, Siculorum 21-07-2026, Maior 19-08-2026), rounded to 0.1 km. R2–R7 match in both files; Borza exists in one file only. Bucovina: the region file has extra loops (+31 km), hence 144 + the 146.3 note.
Gaps
Official season: none found on the pages read — no season advice here. No lodging/food/water inventory here: they live on the official map layers and day chapters. No estimated hiking times and no guarantees everything is operational. Emergencies: the VT Safety page.
Questions
How is the trail marked?
An andesite km-borne every kilometre, signpost pillars at intersections and very dense paint marks — the Concept page. The bornes are individually sculpted and form “one of the largest open-air sculpture exhibitions in the world”.
How many km is it really — 1,400 or 1,600?
Both official figures reconcile: the Putna–Drobeta Maior measures 1,392.8 km in the GPX (“around 1,400”, says the page), and with the Borza branch (187.9 measured) the network reaches 1,580.7 — consistent with the official rounded 1,600. Borza branches at Archita; it does not extend the terminus.
Do the guides cost anything?
No: the Hiker's Guide (RO/EN/DE/HU/ES) and the Cyclist's Guide (RO/EN) download free from the Ghid VT page; the map, GPX and app are there too. VT asks for maintenance-and-development donations.
Can it be done by bicycle?
Yes — there is a separate Cyclist's Guide, and “by bicycle” is an official 1400km+ list mode alongside on foot, horseback and running.
How do I join the 1400km+ list?
Fill in the form on the Drumeți 1400km+ page after the end-to-end hike; a VT team member contacts you for verification.
When is the season?
We found no official season recommendation on the VT pages read (neither months nor weather) — so this page gives no season advice. Check the map and guide before leaving.
Sources
- VT — Lands (Maior/Minor, 1,600, variants)
- VT — Concept (signage, bornes)
- VT — Bucovina
- VT — Ținutul de Sus
- VT — Terra Siculorum
- VT — Terra Saxonum
- VT — Terra Dacica
- VT — Terra Banatica
- VT — Terra Romana
- VT — Terra Borza Teutonica
- VT — Map + GPX
- VT — Guides (Hiker + Cyclist, free)
- VT — 1400km+ Hikers
- VT — Safety
- The manastiri-pictate guide (Sucevița)
- The orase-medievale guide (Sighișoara)
- The castele-de-vizitat guide (Bran, Râșnov)
- The biserici-fortificate guide
- VT — 5 prep videos (YouTube)