Plan a trip in 2026 inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Famous stories like Dracula and Nosferatu (both the 1922 and 2024 movie versions) have excited readers and viewers for over a century. Dramatic, moody forests and somber, yet seductive castles.

In both cases (since Nosferatu is inspired by Dracula), a large part of the story takes place in Transylvania. But where exactly is that? And is it easy and safe to travel there?

We're going to take a look at Transylvania, as well as where scenes from the 2024 Nosferatu movie were filmed.

Where is Transylvania?

Transylvania is in the European country of Romania, which is in the central/eastern part of the continent.

Transylvania isn't a city; it is a region of Romania. It is similar to how Americans look at the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, etc., but with more defined borders.

Some of the cities in the region include Cluj-Napoca, Braşav, and Sibiu. Sibiu specifically plays a very important role in the original Dracula, which we will talk about.

How to travel to Transylvania

Yes, of course. Traveling to Transylvania has changed in the past couple of years due to the fact that Romania recently joined the Schengen area.

This means that some travelers will need a Schengen visa to visit Transylvania, while others will not. Whether or not you need one depends on your nationality, how long you want to visit, and what you're planning to do.

Getting a visa for Transylvania

Some travelers need a visa to head to Transylvania, no matter how long they're planning to stay (whether it's 1 day or 100). This depends on the traveler's nationality.

Other travelers do not need a visa for short trips (fewer than 90 days). This includes US, UK, and Canadian citizens, as well as several others.

You can learn more about whether or not you need a visa to visit Transylvania by checking the Romanian Government's official immigration website.

If you need a visa it isn't as simple as applying online. You will need to adhere to Schengen visa requirements and book an in-person appointment to submit your application.

With that being said, beginning in 2026, travelers who do not require a visa to visit Romania will need to get a travel authorization (called ETIAS) to enter the country.

This new rule isn't unique to Romania. It will be a requirement for all Schengen countries.

Where did Bram Stoker's Dracula take place?

The story itself took place in Transylvania, London, and Sibiu (it used to be called Hermannstadt).

Romania's Bran Castle is often called the "Dracula's castle", though there are varying accounts as to whether Bram Stoker (an Irishman) knew about Bran Castle when detailing Count Dracula's infamous haunt.

According to the official Bran Castle website, he did, but other media sites say he didn't. It's a bit up to speculation at this point.

Whether it's true or not, Bran Castle has been deemed so, and it is known as the Dracula Castle worldwide.

Can you visit Dracula's castle?

Yes! The Castle is located in Bran, a small town outside of Brașov. If you want to visit, you will need to get tickets, which can be found on the Bran Castle official website.

Museum hours vary depending on the season, but the website does a great job of letting travelers know when, where, and how to visit, so always start there.

Brașov is accessible by train, as well as by plane, depending on where you're traveling from. There are trains, buses, and cars that can get you to Bran/Bran Castle.

Sibiu, an important city for the story

According to the official Bran Castle website, the fictional Count Dracula did his studies near the modern-day town of Sibiu. This would make it the "college town" for Dracula.

It's said that here (which would have been known as Hermannstadt at that time), Dracula began his studies in "black magic". He would have mastered a range of skills, including telepathic and hypnotic proficiency.

If you're looking to visit places that were important in the making of Dracula, this is a good one to add to your list.

Where Nosferatu takes place

Both the 1922 and 2024 Nosferatu storylines take place in Wisborg, Germany, a fictional town. Without giving anything away, a main character in the story travels to Transylvania for work, where he ultimately ends up in the Carpathian Mountains - and Nosferatu's Castle.

While the story takes place in this fictional town, filming for the 2024 remake primarily took place in large studio warehouses in the Czech Republic (another country in the Schengen zone).

We'll take a look at a few of them now.

Prague: a storybook setting for Nosferatu

Prague is the Czech Republic's most visited city. In fact, it's one of the most popular destinations in Europe.

This city inspired the creators of 2024's Nosferatu, with winding cobblestone streets, ornate buildings, and notoriously moody weather.

You may notice similarities between Prague and Nosferatu, but the city street scenes were actually rebuilt in a studio warehouse!

A few other locations in Czechia appear in the 2024 film as well, such as the grounds of Rožmitál Castle and Pernštejn Castle, as well as lakeside in southern Czechia, closer to the border of Austria.

Nosferatu's lair: Corvin Castle

The movie wasn't only filmed in Czechia, though. True to its vampiric roots, they also filmed parts in Romania.

Corvin Castle (Castelul Corvinilor), for example, was chosen instead of Bran Castle (even though Bran is more famous for its ties to Dracula).

While this castle, which is in a town called Hunedoara, doesn't seem to be tied to the original story of Dracula in any way, it was still chosen to be "Nosferatu's castle" in the 2024 film.

Planning a Dracula-inspired trip

Both Romania and the Czech Republic are considered safe destinations for travelers, with international airports, train stations, and modern amenities.

From Brașov and Sibiu to Hunedoara and Prague, you'll be able to imagine the classic story coming to life right before your eyes. Just keep an eye out for bats!