Traveling in Romania gives you the opportunity to see many interesting and wonderful places. The country offers something for everyone: beautiful landscapes, museums, spas, old cities, castles, restaurants, shopping, movies, malls and more. Those with an adventurous spirit will not run out of things to do.
It is difficult to create just one list, as there are many great places to visit in Romania:
Danube Delta: The waters of the Danube form the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas and flow into the Black Sea. The Danube Delta hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes. It is a designated UNESCO heritage site.
The Sighişoara Citadel is in the old historic center of the town of Sighişoara. It was built in the 12th century by Saxon colonists and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. It is a unique window into the past history and culture of the Transylvanian. It was the birthplace of Vlad III the Impaler, also known as Dracula.
The Black Church from Brasov has a turbulent and interesting history. It was built between 1385 and 1477 on the site of an earlier church (destroyed by Mongol invasions in 1242). The construction of the Marienkirche (the German name of this place) was affected by extensive damage caused by Turkish raids in 1421. The church was renamed in 1689, when Hapsburg invaders torched and leveled most of the town – the church was heavily damaged and its wall was blackened from the fires. Restoration took almost 100 years and most of the church’s artifacts date from this time.
Rasnov citadel is located at about 15 km from the city of Braşov and is about the same distance from the Bran Castle. In 14th century, German documents used the name Rasnov, but the modern German name of Rosenau is based on a popular etymology, being influenced by the German word "Rose". In Râşnov, the citadel was built around the year 1215 by the Teutonic Knights. The citadel was conquered only once in its history, around the year 1600 by Gabriel Báthory.
Bran Castle, situated near Bran, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle", it is marketed as the home of the titular character in Bram Stoker'sDracula, which has led to persistent myths that it was once the home of Vlad Ţepeş, ruler of Wallachia, who is said to have been Dracula himself. The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Maria. Tourists can see the interior individually or by a guided tour. At the bottom of the hill is a small open air museum and park presenting traditional Romanian peasant structures (cottages, barns, etc.) and objects from across the country.
Histria citadel was first settled by Greek traders in 657 BC and is considered Romania’s oldest town. It eventually surpassed Constanta as being the primary port in the region. The city was abandoned in the seventh century AD and its ruins were discovered in 1914. You can visit the remains of the citadel, and in summer you may have a chance to see the archaeological work in progress.
Painted churches in Moldavia and the Olt Valley. There are seven churches in northern Moldavia with their exterior walls uniquely painted with 15th and 16thth century. Here you can find tombs of the first Romanian rulers, the Govora Monastery, the Arnota Monastery or the Horezu Monastery. In the area of Horezu you will find exquisite ceramics and pottery, adorned with beautiful and traditional decoration unique to the region.
Peles Castle in Sinaia: this Castle is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful castles in all of Europe. It was the final resting place for several Romanian monarchs including King Carol I, who died here in 1914. The building of the castle began in 1873 under the direct order of the Viennese architect Wilhem Doderer and was continued in 1876 by his assistant, Johann Schultz de Lemberg. The location for the castle was chosen by the German prince Carol I de Hohenzollern, who was to become a king and it draws its name from the river which passes through the courtyard.
The Merry Cemetery (Cimitirul Vesel) is a cemetery in the village of Săpânţa, in Maramureş county. It is famous for its colorful tombstones with native paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives. The Merry Cemetery became an open-air museum and a national tourist attraction. This cemetery diverges from the prevalent belief that death is something solemn. These inscriptions imply death is a moment filled with joy and anticipation for a better life.
Sibiu is one of the largest cities in Transylvania and has a population of about 150,000. It is about 282 km north-west of Bucharest. It is one of the most important cultural and religious centers in Romania as well a major transportation hub in central Romania. The city used to be the centre of the Transylvanian Saxons in Romania until World War II. Sibiu was designated the European Capital of Culture in 2007 together with Luxembourg. The architecture was greatly influenced by the German colonists who lived and worked here. In Sibiu, you can visit the Brukenthal Museu, the Lutheran Church built in 14th century, the Roman Catholic Church and the Traditional Art Museum. Around Sibiu, there are also salty lakes in Ocna Sibiului or a famous spa in Balea Lake. Around Sibiu in the area known as Marginimea Sibiului, you can find many hostels and you can see and experience traditional Romanian life.
