As one of the most beautiful countries in Eastern Europe, Romania attracts millions of tourists each year with its scenic landscapes, unique culture and historically significant landmarks. there are so many great Places To Visit In Romania. Whether you’re looking for soaring mountains to climb, warm waters to bathe in, forests to explore or plains to run across, Romania has it all. A land of diversity, ruggedly beautiful, Romania has a lot to offer to its visitors, from traditional villages, where customs are being kept for thousands of years, to medieval castles and impressive landscapes. Cruise through the channels of the Danube Delta in the south or visit the villages in the northern part of the country, you'll be amazed. Here are a few his attractions: | |
12. Sighisoara
Sighisoara is located on the Tarnava River in Mures county, Romania. It is located in the historic region of Transylvania. German craftsmen and merchants, The Transylvanian Saxons, were invited here by the King of Hungary during the 12th century, to settle and defend the frontier. Central Sighisoara has preserved in an exemplary way the features of a small medieval fortified city and it has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Each year a Medieval Festival takes place in the old citadel in July. Sighisoara is a popular tourist destination due to its well preserved walled old town. The landmark of the city is The Clock Tower, a 64 meter high tower build in 1556. It is presently a Museum of History.
11. Voronet Monastery
Romania is renowned for the painted monasteries from southern Bukovina. Voroneț Moastery is probably the most famous of them all. The church became well-known for its exterior frescoes of bright and intense colours, and for the hundreds of well-preserved figures placed against the renowned azure background.
The legend tells that Stephen the Great - Prince of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504 - was in a moment of crises during the war against the Ottoman Turks. He went to Voroneț to see Daniel the Hermit and to ask for advice. After winning the battle, he kept his promise to the monk and built a new church dedicated to Saint George, the "bringer of victory in battle". The Metropolitan Bishop of Moldavia, Grigorie Roşca, added in 1547 the exonarthex to the west end of the church.The church was built in only four months and a half in 1488, a real record of the time. The church still has the original decoration on the north façade with beautiful rows of ceramic enameled discs in yellow, brown and green, decorated in relief. Situated 36 km from Suceava and only 4 km from Gura Humorului, the church is a real treasure of Romanian culture and history. Voronet Monastery is one of the Painted churches of northern Moldavia listed in UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites.
The legend tells that Stephen the Great - Prince of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504 - was in a moment of crises during the war against the Ottoman Turks. He went to Voroneț to see Daniel the Hermit and to ask for advice. After winning the battle, he kept his promise to the monk and built a new church dedicated to Saint George, the "bringer of victory in battle". The Metropolitan Bishop of Moldavia, Grigorie Roşca, added in 1547 the exonarthex to the west end of the church.The church was built in only four months and a half in 1488, a real record of the time. The church still has the original decoration on the north façade with beautiful rows of ceramic enameled discs in yellow, brown and green, decorated in relief. Situated 36 km from Suceava and only 4 km from Gura Humorului, the church is a real treasure of Romanian culture and history. Voronet Monastery is one of the Painted churches of northern Moldavia listed in UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites.
10. Neamt Citadel
The Neamt Citadel is perhaps one of the most impressive citadels in Romania, and it can be found in the northeastern part of the Country, in close proximity to Targu Neamt in Neamt County. This imposing yet elegant structure was built in Moldavia in the 14th century, when Petru I of Moldavia was in charge. The first mentioning of the Neamt Citadel was on February 2, 1935, when Sigismund of Luxembourg led an expedition to Moldavia. The structure was constructed using river stone and quarry stone, and it features a defensive ditch that separates it from the rest of the plateau. The middle of the fort features a large interior courtyard that is surrounded by different buildings, each with its own specific purpose. The east side featured the storage room, kitchen, prison and money room, while the west side had the armory, a judgment room and a passing hall. The citadel was built as a fortified outpost that would protect the western border of Moldavia against the expansion of the Hungarian Kingdom. In 1935, Sigismund brought his armies to Moldavia with expansion in mind, but he was defeated by Stephen I at Hindau, just 7.2 miles south of Targu Neamt.
9. Transfagarasan Road
The road was built between 1970 and 1974, during the rule of Nicolae Ceausescu, mainly with military forces. It was expensive not only from the financial point of view, but also 40 soldiers lost their lives during it's construction. The bends of the Transfagarasan are also an attraction and a challenge for drivers and motorcycle enthusiasts. Even though some may be tempted to push the pedal, the recommended speed is 40 km per hour. The road is closed from the end of October until June, because of the snow. A journey on this road will offer you dramatic views and breathtakingly beautiful places. Passing by the Balea Glacial Lake (2034 m altitude, through the longest road tunnel in Romania (884 m) and having the most tunnels and viaducts than any other road in Romania, Transfagarasan is one attraction that must not be missed. The road became even more popular when the crew from Top Gear filmed a show on the Trasfagarasan, in September 2009.
8. Bran Castle
According to this legend, the castle used to be the place where Dracula, the character of Bram Stoker's book, lived. But there is a confusion between Dracula and Vlad Tepes, ruler of Wallachia, as they are not one and the same person. The first is just a mith, a character, and the second has nothing to do with Dracula, it is just a result of the interference between some real historical facts about the rulership of Vlad Tepes, mentioned in the writings of some chroniclers of the time, who wanted to put him in bad light and the association of these facts with Dracula's character. There are many stories about the cruelty of Vlad Tepes "The Impaler", but no one can prove their veracity, so they still remain surrounded by mystery.Bran Castle, got the name of Dracula's Castle, three decades ago, when tourists who came to Transylvania in the look for Dracula, the famous character, saw the castle and thought it resembled the castle described in Stoker's book as being Dracula's Castle. In 1920, the castle was donated to Queen Maria, by the City Council of Brasov. She brought an architect from the Royal Court, by the name of Carol Liman, to restore the place. The restoration took seven years, and in the end the castle was transformed in to a gorgeous summer residence, surrounded by a beautiful park with alleys, a lake and several fountains. It was enharited by the queen's daughter, Princess Ileana, who will own it until the year of 1948, when the royal family is expelled from the country.
It becomes a property of the state, but unfortunately, it is devastated and abandoned. Only in 1956 it is opened as a history museum, but still it's state is very bad and has to be restaured, starting from 1987 to 1993. On the 18th of May, 2009, the Castle was retroceded to the family of Princess Ileana. It suffered some thematic changes: a special room dedicated to Dracula was arranged, and it is called "Bram Stoker", a room in which you can see video projections from the National Archives, about Queen Maria and Princess Ileana.
It becomes a property of the state, but unfortunately, it is devastated and abandoned. Only in 1956 it is opened as a history museum, but still it's state is very bad and has to be restaured, starting from 1987 to 1993. On the 18th of May, 2009, the Castle was retroceded to the family of Princess Ileana. It suffered some thematic changes: a special room dedicated to Dracula was arranged, and it is called "Bram Stoker", a room in which you can see video projections from the National Archives, about Queen Maria and Princess Ileana.
7. Brasov
Brasov, known as Kronstadt in German or Brassó in Hungarian has a population of 283,901 and is the 7th largest city in Romania. It is located almost in the center of the country and surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. The city provides a mix of wonderful mountain scenery in the nearby Poiana Braşov and medieval history with German influences in the old town. The city is 176 km from Bucharest. Brasov is up there with the surrounding mountain resorts as the most visited city in Transylvania, Romania, and this is something that's not in vain. Braşov boasts everything from dynamic modern life city life to old world charm and fascinating scenery. Also, it's pleasant to have some of the extras as well, including some of the best cleanliness records in the country, great transport and great food. Even though it's a bit overpriced for Romanian standards, especially in the high season, Brasov is definitely worth it. As some people say, "Why bother coming to Romania if you're not going to see Brasov?" The Brasov county is one of the most visited by tourists. Other than Braşov city and its immediate attractions, the resorts of Poiana Brasov (12 km west) and Predeal (27 km south), which also offer great tourism too.
6. Bucegi Mountains
The Bucegi Mountains can be found in the central part of Romania, just south of the city of Brasov. Apart from their immense natural beauty and high peaks, the Bucegi Mountains are also the home of 2 of the most famous natural landmarks of Romania – the Babele and the Sphinx.
The Babele are rocky formations placed in close proximity to the Baba Mare peak, which boasts an elevation of 7,519 feet. The stones were shaped by erosion over vast amounts of time, and they now feature a distinct mushroom-like shape. The origins of the rocky formations are still subject to controversy, especially since no scientific evidence can fully explain the phenomenon. The nearby Babele Cabin is definitely the most popular in the region accommodation-wise, since it provides a perfect base for visiting these fantastic landmarks as well as the famous Sphinx. The Bucegi Sphinx was also formed by erosion, and it can be found just 10 minutes away from Babele.
The Babele are rocky formations placed in close proximity to the Baba Mare peak, which boasts an elevation of 7,519 feet. The stones were shaped by erosion over vast amounts of time, and they now feature a distinct mushroom-like shape. The origins of the rocky formations are still subject to controversy, especially since no scientific evidence can fully explain the phenomenon. The nearby Babele Cabin is definitely the most popular in the region accommodation-wise, since it provides a perfect base for visiting these fantastic landmarks as well as the famous Sphinx. The Bucegi Sphinx was also formed by erosion, and it can be found just 10 minutes away from Babele.
5. The Danube Delta
The Danube delta hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes and is the second largest delta in Europe, after the Volga Delta, and is the best preserved on the continent . The greater part of the Danube Delta lies in Romania (Tulcea county), while its northern part, on the left bank of the Chilia arm, is situated in Ukraine (Odessa Oblast). The approximate surface is 4152 km², of which 3446 km² are in Romania. If the lagoons of Razim-Sinoe (1015 km² of which 865 km² water surface; situated in the south, but attached to the Danube Delta from geological and ecological perspectives, as well as being the combined territory of the World Heritage Site) are to be added, the considered area of the Danube Delta grows to 5165 km². The Danube branches into three main arms into the delta, Chilia, Sulina, and Sfântu Gheorghe. The first two branches form the Tulcea arm, which continues as a single body for several kilometers after the separation with Chilia arm. At the mouths of each arm alluvionary processes take place, as a sign that the delta is continuing its expansion.The Danube Delta falls within east European steppe ecosystem, with Mediterranean influences. As a young region in full process of consolidation, the Danube Delta represents a very favourable place for the development of highly diverse flora and fauna, unique in Europe, with numerous rare species. It hosts 23 natural ecosystems, but due to the extent of wetlands the aquatic environment is prevalent; the terrestrial environment is also present on the higher grounds of the continental levees, where xerophile ecosystems have developed. Between the aquatic and terrestrial environments, is interposed a swampy, easily flooded strip of original flora and fauna, with means of adaptation for water or land, depending on the season or the hydrological regime. At the contact between freshwater and sea water, some special physical, chemical and biological processes take place, which determined biologists to consider this area as a very different ecosystem called befored
4. Palace of the Parliament
The Palace of the Parliament is a record-breaking building that can be found in Romania’s capital – Bucharest. This massive structure was designed by Anca Petrescu and flaunts 12 stories, 4 underground levels as well as a total floor surface of 3,7 million square feet. Finished in 1997, the Palace of the Parliament is a fine example of neoclassic architecture, but it does feature multiple design elements borrowed from other sources. The construction costs for this massive landmark soared to $4.1 billion, and so the palace currently holds the record for the “most expensive administrative building ” while other records include “heaviest building” and the “largest civilian building with an administrative function”, all 3 titles being acknowledged by the World Records Academy. During his days as Romania’s leader, Nicolae Ceausescu named the building “The People’s House”, which is why the Palace of the Parliament is more commonly known in English as the “Palace of the People”.
3. The Merry Cementery, Sapanta
This place is only about 18km from Sighetul Marmatiei, in Maramures and it is unique not just in Romania but likely in the entire world, because it hosts the only known 'funny' cemetery. You should definitely stop by and not only visit a merry cemetery, but also understand a little more of the Romanian culture, known for its humor and self-irony. In the village of Sapanta, Stan Ioan Pătraş started carving his first wooden cross of the Merry cemetery in 1935, sculpting bas-relief and writing poems about the deceased. His naive paintings use a bright blue dubbed the “Sapanta blue”, most probably representing the sky and lots of other vivid colors such as green (representing life), yellow (representing fertility), red (representing passion) or black (standing of course for death). All these colors were obtained from natural pigments, and are well preserved.
Walking between the 800 wooden crosses is happy experience. You'll find it hard to hold back a beautiful smile, because every cross will tell you in just a few words the story of a life, of a person, a sad destiny seen through a pair of funny lens. The villagers from Sapanta defy tragedy - it is said the culture of this cemetery is rooted in Dacian times, in which "passing away" is only seen as passing on to a better and more satisfying life.
Walking between the 800 wooden crosses is happy experience. You'll find it hard to hold back a beautiful smile, because every cross will tell you in just a few words the story of a life, of a person, a sad destiny seen through a pair of funny lens. The villagers from Sapanta defy tragedy - it is said the culture of this cemetery is rooted in Dacian times, in which "passing away" is only seen as passing on to a better and more satisfying life.
2. Peles Castle
Today a historical monument, the castle was home to several Romanian monarchs including King Carol I, who died here in 1914. Located in Sinaia - 44 km from Brasov, in Prahova country - the Neo-Renaissance castle is set on an medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia, built between 1873 and 1883.
The German prince Carol I de Hohenzollern - was to become a king - chose the location. Although the building of the castle began in 1873 under the direct order of the Viennese architect Wilhem Doderer, the castle was inaugurated only on October 7, 1883. The work was abandoned during 1877-1879 because of the war. The Guard's Chambers, The Economat Building, The Foisor Hunting House, The Royal Stables, and the Electrical Power Plant are annexed to the castle, and were built simultaneously. The castle has over 160 rooms and was built in wood, stone, bricks and marble. The seven terraces that surround it are decorated with statues, Carara marble and stone-made-fountains. The luxurious interior is also abundantly decorated with paintings, statues, ceramics, gold and silver plates, the Meissen and Sevres porcelain, the Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, ebony and ivory sculptures, as well as the extensive weapon collections
The German prince Carol I de Hohenzollern - was to become a king - chose the location. Although the building of the castle began in 1873 under the direct order of the Viennese architect Wilhem Doderer, the castle was inaugurated only on October 7, 1883. The work was abandoned during 1877-1879 because of the war. The Guard's Chambers, The Economat Building, The Foisor Hunting House, The Royal Stables, and the Electrical Power Plant are annexed to the castle, and were built simultaneously. The castle has over 160 rooms and was built in wood, stone, bricks and marble. The seven terraces that surround it are decorated with statues, Carara marble and stone-made-fountains. The luxurious interior is also abundantly decorated with paintings, statues, ceramics, gold and silver plates, the Meissen and Sevres porcelain, the Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, ebony and ivory sculptures, as well as the extensive weapon collections
1. Timisoara
The second largest city in Romania and the most important economic and cultural center in the western part of the country, Timisoara is a delight to the travelers' eye. It is also know under the name of "Little Vienna", due to the very long period under the Habsburg Empire. The buildings in the center of the city have been built in the Kaiser era and they resemble a lot to old Vienna. The city abounds with churches, a Jewish quarter, a baroque square and a pedestrian downtown area. Thanks to its mild climate, Timisoara has lots of public squares and lush green retreats. The Roses Park is the perfect place for a romantic walk, or you can choose the Botanical Garden. A great way to spend a sunny afternoon would be a walk along the Bega River. The city is easy to explore on foot, and you will discover many hidden places and small cafes at every corner.
Timisoara is home to year-round musical and theatrical performances, art galleries, museums and a buzzing nightlife.
Timisoara is home to year-round musical and theatrical performances, art galleries, museums and a buzzing nightlife.