Romania

Country info

Square area:

238,397 km²

Population:

19.5 million

Capital:

Bucharest

Currency:

Romanian Leu (RON)

Language:

Romanian

Religion:

Christians

Political:

Semi-presidential republic

English:

Not so widely spoken

Safety level

Romania is a safe country with occasional cases of petty crime - pickpocketing, mugging and scams - rarely occurring, and mostly in big cities.

When Romania comes up in a conversation, Count Dracula is the first to come to mind. The next is Nicolae Ceaușescu, the despotic communist leader who impoverished the country. His execution in 1989 marked a new beginning for Romania, which led to it joining the EU in 2007. Ever since, Romania has nurtured an attractive investment climate and, as a result, is quickly changing its facades from concrete to glass.

The Carpathian Mountains traverse the country. It's a challenge for human habitation, but a heaven for wildlife, from deer and foxes to bears. Travelling in Romania, you’ll find its remote landscapes dotted with mystical castles and medieval towns, rich in folk tales and superb outdoor activities. And on the Black Sea, where the Danube River completes its long European journey, find the Romanian Riviera and just relax.

Between belle-époque villas and Orthodox churches, take in the vibrant street life in Romania’s capital of Bucharest.
Hike, mountaineer or climb in the National Parks Apuseni and Rerezat in the Carpathian Mountains.
Explore the myth of Dracula in Romania’s castles, such as the famous Bran or the spooky Corvin castle.
Birdwatchers should head to the Danube delta, protected habitat of over 300 bird and fowl species.
Taste premium Romanian wines at boutique producers in the Dealu Mare region.

THE

MYSTICAL

ROMANIA

Perfect For

Unfavorable geographical conditions have resulted in the emergence of villages where crafts are like bread-making and pottery were eventually mastered by the Romanians.

Culture

Your lenses will adore Romanian wildlife, unspoilt views of hills, mountains and river Danube, and impressive architecture involving wooden churches and charmingly mysterious castles.

Photography

Taste some the most delicious traditional Romanian specialties which include chicken meatball soup, Zacusca (seven-vegetable spread), smoked cheese and bacon roulade.

Food

The busiest and oldest markets in Bucharest would be Obor (descriere cum se ajunge); Matache, Rahova, 1 Mai, Norilor, and Moghioros where you will find the tastiest vegetables, dairy, and local bread.

Nature

DAY 1

Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by your chauffeur and transferred to hotel. Settle in and relax before a welcome dinner!

DAY 2

A "communist" start of the day will be by visit Palace of Parliament followed by a private tour of the residence of the Ceausescu couple. Art and architecture tour of Bucharest downtown in the afternoon.

DAY 3

A transfer to Brasov, Transylvania with en-route stop to Peles Castle.
Take a cable car to Bucegi for the Sphynx and finally a visit to mystic Dracula's castle to discover it's chambers and secrets.

DAY 4

Proceed to Copsa mare with en-route visit to village Viscri to adapt to Transylvania's slow pace.
See the UNESCO heritage fortified church and medieval citadel of Sighisoara village.

DAY 5

Visit the Fortified Church in Biertan followed by tasting at the cheese manufacture in Cund. Visit the Gypsy community from Brateiu and Mosna church followed by another Saxon village Malancrav.

DAY 6

A two day stay in Sibiu.
Stroll under Footway Ramp and cross the Bridge of Lies. Visit Brukenthal museum and "top it off" with a climb up the clock tower for a panoramic view of the city.

DAY 7

Visit Astra museum to get a full picture of rural Romania and Saxon and Hungarian heritage. Afterward, see the country's largest collection of painted glass icons in the Glass Icons museum in Sibiel.

DAY 8

En route to Bucharest, visit the Horezu ceramics center and learn about traditional pottery. Visit Hurezi Monastery, a masterpiece of the purely Romanian Brâncovenesc style before arrival to the capital

DAY 9

Depending on your departure time, more activities can be arranged for this day. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your return flight.

Beyond the castle of Dracula and the socialist heritage of Romania, lies a country of historic treasures and natural beauty worth exploring.

DAY 1

Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by your chauffeur and transferred to Transylvania. Settle in and relax before a welcome dinner, an introduction to Romanian cuisine.

DAY 2

A morning travel photography workshop followed by horse back ride to the village to visit the blacksmith and barrel maker. Afternoon visit to bear hide deep in the forest followed by a palinka tasting.

DAY 3

After a dawn photo safari and traditional breakfast proceed to La Hansi via Crit and Racos. Arrival in time for the recital with the candle lit in Saxon church after the afternoon tea and strudel break.

DAY 4

Photo shoot of animals set off for the meadows. Bike ride to Mesendorf with en route stops to local producers to get ingredients for picnic lunch. Afternoon visit to UNESCO listed church in Viscri and open-fire cooked dinner.

DAY 5

After a morning photo and walking tour of Sighisoara enjoy a cross country panoramic drive to Apuseni Mountains. En-route make a stop in the perfectly preserved village of Rimetea.

DAY 6

Get up early to capture rivers of swirling mist rising from the valleys. A walk to bat caves through forested hills of Alba. Simple cooking demonstration and Romanina wine and cheese tasting experience.

DAY 7

Enjoy some time at leisure. Pamper yourself in hot tubs and sauna before farewell lunch. Meet your chauffeur for a private transfer to Cluj Airport.

Finest of Romania awaits! From private tours and behind the closed doors experiences to unique meals and tastings. Romania is a wonder waiting to be discovered.

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What to Expect

ACCOMMODATION

Although Romania is not among the most visited destinations in Europe, the infrastructure has become really good in recent years. From international chain hotels in Bucharest to boutique properties in other regions, Romania has it all. Besides, the service is far from what it was a decade ago.

Boutique hotel in Bucharest

• Luxury chain hotels in Bucharest
• Boutique and charming properties throughout the country
• Good selection of beach and sea resorts
• Pensiune or B&B, provide good service and are only options in some remote areas

WHEN TO GO

Romania has all four seasons as it is with the rest of European countries. Hot summers and seriously cold winters are the norm. Best time to travel is from late April to late October. Variety of festivals take place all over the country during the warmer months and it may be worth including them in your itinerary, if of interest. Many of them feature traditional folk costumes.

Bucharest year-round temperatures

• Best time to travel is from April to November
• Winters are cold and snowy, especially in the mountains
• The Maidens' Fair or Targul de Fete is century-old matchmaking festival of Gaina Mountain
• Halloween in Transylvania

STAYING CONNECTED

Like in the rest of Europe, there is an excellent WiFi connection in most hotels and even public spaces. For staying connected on the go, local SIM card or a portable router are great options. Some areas of the country don't have the best coverage but those are only remote areas where one probably wants to disconnect completely anyway.

Romanian SIM card

• Country code: +40
• Great WiFi connection in all hotels
• Local SIM or portable router for internet on the go
• Poor GSM coverage in remote areas
• Plug type is C (European); standard voltage is 230 V and it operates on 50Hz

FOOD

Romanian food is typical of the region: filling and savory. Various influences, from German to Turkish and everything in between, brought a selection of dishes. Like in the rest of Europe, there is a variety of seasonal dishes and dishes connected with certain celebrations and religious festivities.

Romanian zacusca

• Traditional cuisine of Eastern Europe with variety of regional influences
• Great selection of restaurants throughout
• Enjoy world-class Romanian wines
• Timisoreana beer since 1781
• 'Beraria H' is the largest brewery in Eastern Europe

SHOPPING

Like most countries Romania, Bucharest particularly has many generic malls. But, visiting local markets will give you much better satisfaction, especially in remote areas where goods are transfered between villages by horse-draws wagons. Pottery, Romanian fabrics with rustic motives, porcelain, rugs, and wool jumpers are some top picks as Romanian souvenir.

In a local convenient store

• Timișoara is known for arts and crafts scene
• Horezu ceramics, Oltenia rugs, glass-painted icons, hand-painted Eastern eggs
• Tuica strong alcohol drink usually made of plums, pears, apricots or peaches
• Le Blouse or veils once a part of folk costume now can be find in finest silk versions that can be worn as unique modern peace of wardrobe

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Romanians are a polite and welcoming nation. A bit reserved with strangers at first but very hospitable. Romanian society is patriarchal and traditional outside major cities. A man is the head of the family and the elders are particularly respected. Keep in mind that titles are very important and denote respect.

Social contact is very strong among Romanians

• Traditional society outside the urban centers
• High respect for elderly and family hierarchy
• Titles are very important and respected

SAFETY

Romania is a very safe country and rare occurrences of petty crime happen mostly in big cities. The roads are not in the best condition outside the popular areas so going off the beaten path may be somewhat difficult. Medical attention outside the major centers may not be of satisfactory standards.

Romanian police officers

• Not all roads are in best of conditions outside the major urban areas
• Medical assistance is best in big cities
• Tap water is safe to drink in all of the country

GETTING AROUND

As in most Eastern European countries, private car and driver/guide is the best way to move around. This also ensures overcoming the language barrier. Car rental is a solid way to explore. The network of local flights is also very good with 16 international airports in the whole country.

Curvy mountain roads

• Driving side: right
• The main airport is Henri Coandă in Bucharest (OTP)
• Best way to travel is in a private car with a driver and guide. SUV vehicles for off-road adventures
• Train network is very slow and old

Let's Start Planning

What to pack

As a typical European country, Romania has all three seasons so pack accordingly. Winter in the mountains is not a joke so be prepared. For a scenic country like Romania, make sure to get some extra memory cards or back up discs!

Romania Travel Guide

Transylvania Bradt Travel Guide

GoPro Hero 8

Universal Travel Adapter

Water Bottle with Straw

In The Media

Things To Do In Romania

TThe best of Bucharest and Transylvania.

Romanian Wilderness - 8 reasons to visit Retezat

Retezat National Park Pearl of Carpathians.

Bran Castle in Romania - Dracula Castle

Mystery and Legends of Transylvania

21 Things to Do In Bucharest Romania

Ultimate Travel Guide

Bucharest City Tour

All Faces of Romania Capital

The Motans - Versus

Popular Romanian Music

Romanian for Beginners

Learn some useful phrases

Best to combine with

The neighboring countries are all on the list of least visited countries in Europe. A pure delight for travelers interested in going off the beaten path!

Serbia
Romania's big western neighbor offers an insight into former Yugoslavia and Belgrade is one of the most fun cities of Europe by many.

Bulgaria
Known for it's spectacular beaches, Bulgaria is one of the most interesting countries in the region boasting superb cultural heritage as well.

Ukraine
Ukraine is a fascinating country that definitely deserves more visitors. For those who are more adventurous, a private tour of Chernobyl is a pure treat!

Serbia

Bulgaria

Ukraine

Quirks for the Curious

Constanța Casino
If you are looking for something cool and unique, Constanța Casino cannot be beaten! It was commissioned in 1900 and first opened to the public in 1910. It was one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau in the region. But, hard times came quickly and it was the first hospital during WWII and then the restaurant till 1990 when it was completely abandoned.

Decebel Statue
Although it looks like something from the Lord of the Rings, Decebel statue is quite recent. It was completed after 10 years of rock carving in 2004. Decebal (Decebalus the Brave) was the last king of Dacia and also one of the mightiest rulers of this ancient kingdom. He fought three wars against two Roman emperors before finally succumbing to the power of Rome in 106 CE. The sculpture was commissioned by a local businessman but all of Romanians take huge pride in ancient Dacian heritage.