Bucovina makes most sense on a map: almost every major sight sits around the Moldova and Humor valleys, less than an hour from one another.
Below is the tourist map of the region, split into four zones, with distances and driving times measured from Piriu’Morii Guesthouse in Mănăstirea Humorului. You can see at a glance what pairs with what, and in which order it is worth visiting.
Interactive map
The interactive map is centred on Mănăstirea Humorului, the starting point for every distance in this guide. You can zoom or drag it to follow the routes.
How touristic Bucovina is laid out
The sights fall naturally into four zones: the Gura Humorului area, with the nearest monasteries and the leisure complex; the north, with Sucevița, Marginea and Putna; the west, towards Moldovița and the mountains; and the Suceava area, with the fortress and the museums. From a central base, all four are within an hour and a quarter.
The mistake many travellers make is booking accommodation at random and then driving long distances every day. Staying midway, between Gura Humorului and the monasteries, means fewer kilometres and more time actually visiting. Read more about accommodation near Gura Humorului.
Gura Humorului and around
The densest tourist area in Bucovina and the best base. Two of the eight UNESCO monasteries are here, along with the town and its services, the ski slope and the leisure complex.
| Humor Monastery UNESCO | 4.6 km · 6 min |
| Gura Humorului Oraș railway station | 10.9 km · 14 min |
| Gura Humorului, town centre | 11.2 km · 15 min |
| Ariniș Complex and Escalada Park | 12.1 km · 18 min |
| Șoimul ski slope, chairlift | 15 km · 22 min |
| Voroneț Monastery UNESCO | 15.5 km · 22 min |
The Museum of Folk Traditions of Bucovina is in the town centre, and the Piatra Pinului and Piatra Șoimului nature reserves offer short walking trails.
The north: Cacica, Marginea, Sucevița, Putna
The area of crafts and fortified monasteries. It works well as a single day if you set off early, and the road to Sucevița crosses the Ciumârna Pass.
| Cacica Salt Mine | 16 km · 24 min |
| Marginea, black pottery | 36.3 km · 42 min |
| Sucevița Monastery UNESCO | 44.7 km · 52 min |
| Putna Monastery | 63 km · 1 h 13 min |
The Cacica Salt Mine is a good choice in bad weather, being the only major sight in the area visited entirely underground.
The west: Moldovița and the mountains
Towards Câmpulung Moldovenesc, along the Moldova valley. The landscape changes here: hills turn into the Obcine ridges and villages stretch along the water.
| Moldovița Monastery UNESCO | 41.9 km · 47 min |
| Huțulca steam train, departs from Moldovița | 41.9 km · 47 min |
The same direction leads to the Rarău massif and Pietrele Doamnei, with hiking routes for every level. Trail details are in our guide to the most beautiful mountain trails in Bucovina.
The east: Suceava
The historical capital of Moldavia, under an hour away. Half a day is enough, and the fortress and the village museum sit next to each other.
| Suceava Fortress | 47.5 km · 53 min |
| Suceava, city centre | 48.3 km · 53 min |
| Suceava Airport, Salcea | 59.6 km · 1 h 4 min |
Suceava also has the Bucovina Village Museum, the National Museum of Bucovina and the Monastery of Saint John the New.
How to split your days
- A weekend, two days: zone 1 on the first day (Humor, Voroneț, Gura Humorului), then zone 3 or zone 2 on the second.
- Three days: add the north, with Sucevița and Marginea, and possibly the Cacica Salt Mine.
- Four or five days: Suceava, Putna and a day of hiking in the Rarău mountains fit in as well.
- With children: alternate a monastery with something active, Ariniș or Escalada, so nobody gets tired.
- In bad weather: the Cacica Salt Mine, the museums in Gura Humorului and Suceava, and the indoor pool at Ariniș.
For the full list of sights with descriptions, see our guide to the top 10 attractions in Bucovina.
Where to stay to drive the fewest kilometres
Piriu’Morii Guesthouse, Mănăstirea Humorului
Every distance in this guide starts here, for a simple reason: it is almost central to all four zones. The first UNESCO monastery is 6 minutes away, the town 15, and the furthest major sight, Putna, just over an hour. Rooms with private bathroom and balcony, a restaurant serving Bucovina dishes, a sauna and a hot tub with salt water from the Cacica mine, and free parking in the yard.
See accommodation and ratesFrequently asked questions
How many days do I need for Bucovina?
Two days are enough for the two nearest UNESCO monasteries and the Gura Humorului area. Three days let you add the north, with Sucevița and Marginea. To also see Suceava, Putna and spend a day in the mountains, you need four or five days.
Where is the best place to stay in Bucovina?
In the Gura Humorului and Mănăstirea Humorului area, because it is close to central: two UNESCO monasteries are under 25 minutes away, and the remaining major sights within an hour and a quarter. Staying at the edge of the region means long drives every day.
Which are the UNESCO monasteries in Bucovina?
Eight churches in northern Moldavia are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, four of them in the area described here: Humor, Voroneț, Moldovița and Sucevița. All four can be visited in two days if you group them by route.
Can you visit Bucovina without a car?
Partly. Trains reach Gura Humorului, and buses and maxi-taxis run from there to the villages, but timetables are sparse, especially towards Moldovița and Sucevița. For the more distant monasteries, a guided tour is the simplest option.
What is there to do in Bucovina when it rains?
The Cacica Salt Mine, visited entirely underground, the museums in Gura Humorului and Suceava, the pottery workshops at Marginea and the indoor pool at the Ariniș Complex.
Distances and driving times are measured by car from Piriu’Morii Guesthouse in Mănăstirea Humorului and depend on traffic, weather and road conditions. In winter, the roads over the Pleșa and Ciumârna passes can be slower. The painted churches of northern Moldavia are listed as UNESCO World Heritage.