December is soon to knock on Europe’s door, and though some may dread the thought of freezing temperatures and limited sunlight, we’d argue there’s no better time to experience the Old Continent than the jolliest time of year:
Picture all those beautiful Christmas markets, church spires under the snow, and imposing medieval castles enveloped in mist, as if Bram Stoker had conjured them up himself… summer may have the pleasant temps, but it lacks the quiet season’s spellbinding magic.
Sounds dreamy enough to you? Wait until you hear you can board a historic night train connecting 5 of Europe’s most beautiful winter destinations from only $53:
Welcome Aboard The Dacia Train Traveling From Central To Eastern Europe!
The Dacia Train is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets this winter, carrying passengers from Austria, in Central Europe, through the heart of Hungary, all the way southeast towards Romania, a country famous for its vampiric tales and Wednesday associations.
At opposite ends of the line, separated by 685 miles and a 19-hour journey, there is Vienna in Austria, and Bucharest in Romania, though the Dacia’s biggest appeal is all the lesser-known gems it rattles through that first-time visitors to Europe in winter often skip altogether.
The Dacia is a low-cost night train, with tickets for the cheapest category starting from only $53, so you should expect less-than-impressive amenities than its counterpart Nightjet offers, i.e. no WiFi onboard and not-so-spacious couchettes, but it’s still pretty comfy.
What Is The Level Of Comfort In The Dacia Train?
Considering you’re traveling overnight, and you’re likely to be asleep for much of the journey, it will do the job: accommodating 4 or 6 people, the sleeping compartments are equipped with soft mattresses, pillows and blankets, and there are clean, modern toilets for each carriage.
For those who are concerned with privacy, especially women, there are private sleeper berths hosting two travelers at a time and single sleeper berths in first class, with prices ranging from $107 to $172. In the couchette category, the option of a same-sex compartment is also offered.
As it whooshes past the Carpathian basin and the eerie Transylvania, the Dacia serves 20 municipalities along the route, including these 5 beauties below:
Vienna, Austria
Littered with Habsburg-era palaces, Baroque churches and atmospheric winter gardens, Vienna is one of Europe’s most hotly-anticipated city breaks in the quiet season, if not for the big choice of cultural events, then for the all the amazing food.
Whether you’re here for the iconic St Charles Church rendition of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, or simply to gorge on currywurst fresh out the local Christkindlmarkt, it’s a (Christmas) gift that keeps on giving––that is, if you don’t mind the occasional snow flurry.
Győr, Hungary
Halfway between Vienna and Budapest, Győr is a seriously-underrated winter destination for its cozy spas, that will keep you protected from the bitter cold, and big selection of wellness centers and massage parlors, some costing as cheap as $35 for a one-hour rub-down.
Though it does have a pretty historic center, dominated by an ornate Town Hall and cut through with cobbled streets, tourists mainly come here to unwind at the Rába Quelle Élményfürdő spa, open year-round and boasting a 150-seat Japanese-style sauna.
Budapest, Hungary
The Dacia pulls up to Budapest with little to no fanfare, but don’t be fooled by the unceremonious entrance: the capital of Hungary is one of the grandest European cultural hubs, playing host to architectural marvels, elegant thermal baths, and storybook castles.
Explore a conical-towered Vajdahunyad Castle, perched on the banks of a frozen lake, take a cruise down the Danube amid the rolling mist, passing the Hungarian Parliament, or comfortably sink into the steamy Szechenyi Baths––we guarantee there’s nothing quite like a Buda winter.
Sibiu, Romania
Once the train crosses the final border on its itinerary, the next major point of interest is Sibiu, or how we like to call it, the City With Eyes: its eyebrow-shaped dormers are on every red-tiled roof of every house, and the medieval streets have remained virtually unchanged with the passing of time.
It is a testament to the legacy of Saxon settlers in Transylvania, with extensive walls surrounding the perimeter of the Old Town, and a monumental Evangelical Cathedral rising above the maze of winding alleys below––add a sprinkle of snow and festive lights, and you get the gist of it.
Brașov, Romania
The most-visited destination in Transylvania, Brașov is a perfectly-preserved 13th-century town dotted with churches, bastions and pastel-colored houses, home to a Gothic ‘Black’ Church and backed by the snow-capped Carpathian Mountains.
In winter, it’s somewhere you go for Christmas markets, mulled wine and some laid-back exploring, and if you have a soft spot for folk tales and dark tourism, don’t miss out on a day trip to Dracula’s Castle––yep, the actual real-life Dracula––from only $23.75.
The full Dacia Train itinerary, including all the stops from Vienna, Austria to Bucharest, Romania can be seen below, with the five best destinations highlighted:
- Vienna, Austria
- Hegyeshalom, Hungary
- Győr, Hungary
- Tatabánya, Hungary
- Budapest, Hungary*
- Szolnok, Hungary
- Békéscsaba, Hungary
- Lőkösháza, Hungary
- Curtici, Romania
- Arad, Romania
- Deva, Romania
- Simeria, Romania
- Sibiu, Romania
- Brașov, Romania
- Predeal, Romania
- Sinaia, Romania
- Ploiești, România
- Bucharest, Romania
*Stops in Kelenföld, Ferencváros and Keleti stations
Book your tickets to travel on the Dacia Train this season here.
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