05/15/2026
Golden Krone Hotel in Bistritz
Date: May 3-4
Character: Jonathan Harker
Is/Was it real? Unlikely
Can I visit there? No
The hotel described in the book sounds very much like a pensiunea, a sort of bed and breakfast, still found throughout Romania. The pensiunea in Bistrița today are more like hotels, but out in the Borgo Pass, they have a different vibe. Most include outdoor kitchens with wood fire grill and oven, along with picnic tables under a roof. Open grassy areas invite play, and some even have a playground. Hot tubs are also common.