Bethlen Estates Transylvania — Hotel in Daneș

We visited the Bethlen Estates for three nights while driving around Transylvania in October, and we’re so glad we did. Although the price is premium for the area, the experience is truly unique. If you’re a foodie, you’ll fall in love with the restuarant. For two nights, we were the only guests, allowing us to enjoy a bespoke three-course menu made exclusively for us, featuring local ingredients prepared by one of the best chefs around. Being from London, we’re accustomed to good food, but this was among the best we’ve had—every dish perfectly cooked, creative and seasonal, wholesome, imaginative, and local. From beef cheek to quail and even homemade 'chicken nuggets', the cuisine was exceptional. The breakfast was also amazing, with the local smoked trout being a standout – along with some absolutely delicious tapenades and sauces.

The only downside was some building work going on during our stay, but that didn't make a huge difference to us – the accommodation is luxurious yet compact. It’s a very different experience from a hotel, and it should be. The spaces are shared but well sound-insulated, ensuring quiet nights. The manager is available on WhatsApp and even helped us organise local horse riding, which was exceptional.

On the estate, there is an old historic property where you can explore the local history and learn more about the family undertaking this extraordinary renovation and restoration of the land in a sustainable manner.

We'd definitely recommend Bethlen for anyone travelling in the area or looking for a truly unique getaway. But ensure you've got a car to travel to all the towns...

We had a wonderful four day stay at Bethlen Estates in late September 2023 and our (already very high) expectations were more than exceeded on all fronts. ||Set in a small valley near Sighisoara / Schäßburg, the estate is surrounded by breathtaking scenery comprised of endless rolling hills, wild forests, and picturesque villages. The properties have all been beautifully restored by the owners (whose family have resided in this valley for over 700 years) and seamlessly blend modern comfort and luxury with the traditional charm of historic local architecture. I had the pleasure of spending a few nights in both the Caretaker’s house and the Depner cottage and find myself in real trouble when trying to decide which I liked best. ||There are numerous activities which the hosts can arrange, including cycling tours, horseback riding and hiking, to name a few. Our explorations of the surrounding countryside and our sightseeing tour (guided by Peter) of various local towns and fortified churches were some of the highlights of my trip. ||Lastly, a few words on the culinary offerings. They say a picture paints a thousand words. Yet, in this case, neither the photos of Robert’s food on Tripadvisor or Instagram, nor any words I can find, can do justice to this Chef’s talent. He serves up a wonderful balance of fine dining dishes and perfectly executed interpretations of traditional Transylvanian cuisine, all with locally sourced ingredients. Notwithstanding all the many many other charms of this place, I would come here for the food alone. In any case, I cannot recommend this place...

We had a super pleasant and relaxing stay at the Bethlen Estates||It all started with a very calm welcome where we didn’t even have to do a formal check-in – this made us at ease even though we had a lost luggage from the flight

||The estate is very picturesque, and the the rooms are spacious and comfortable

||The food in the restaurant is top notch, and turned out to be our best meals in Romania by far. We heartily recommend eating the dinners here, just make sure to be active during the days as the portions are quite big

||The hotel can set up several activities, of which we tried to e-biking tour. We had originally opted for the hike, but were suggested the e-biking tour due to the heat (30+C and sun). This was a very good idea, and we loved the trip with the guide. You could easily do most parts of the tour without assist, such that you could get some good exercise! We ended the tour with a picnic, which is definitely something to try as well!

||To top it off, we were even able to recharge our electric car

!||Only word of advice is that the rooms do not have air condition, so if you’re very sensitive to heat you may want to visit outside heatwave season. I measured 27-28C in the evening with our AirThings, so for most people it is ok, although I prefer 24C or below and did survive :)

||All in, a super pleasant stay we would...