Things not to miss

It’s not possible to see everything Romania has to offer in one trip – and we don’t suggest you try. What follows, in no particular order, is a selective and subjective taste of the country’s highlights: outstanding architecture, natural wonders, spectacular hikes and unforgettable festivals.

1 Peleş Castle, Sinaia

Once a refuge for Ceauşescu and visiting dignitaries, Peleş remains the country’s most opulent palace.

© cge2010/Shutterstock

2 Bucharest

Romania’s noisy, chaotic capital boasts a number of terrific museums, remarkable architecture and arguably the best nightlife in the Balkans.

Revolution Square, Victoria Avenue in Bucharest, Romania © Augustin Lazaroiu/Shutterstock

3 Danube Delta

This remote and beautiful landscape is teeming with fabulous wildlife, and promises some of the finest birdwatching in Europe.

Pelican colony Danube delta, Romania © Calin Stan/Shutterstock

4 Black Sea

Strewn with lively resorts and sandy beaches, the Black Sea coast offers everything from wakeboarding to kayaking, while Constanţa is a cultural hub with a fine restaurant scene.

© mandritoiu/Shutterstock

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5 Fortified churches

Scattered among the lush hills of southern Transylvania are dozens of marvellous fortified Saxon churches.

Aerial view of Prejmer fortified Church. UNESCO world heritage site, Romania © Iulius Agency/Shutterstock

6 Constantin Brâncuşi

Romania’s greatest sculptor has bequeathed an impressive legacy of striking works of art, such as the Endless Column in Târgu Jiu.

© Radu Bercan/Shutterstock

7 Skiing

Hit the slopes in Poiana Braşov, or at one of the country’s other popular, good-value centres.

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Poiana Brasov famous ski resort in Romania

© Gaspar Janos/Shutterstock

8 Sibiu

Beautiful architecture, terrific museums and fabulous festivals make the once great Saxon town of Sibiu an alluring destination.

Cityscape with old house of historical center of Sibiu town Transylvania, Romania © Chursina Viktoriia/Shutterstock

9 Bucovina hills

Cloaked in beech, fir and pine, the gorgeous rolling Bucovina hills are a walker’s paradise.

Mountain landscape with fog and a haystack, Bukovina, Romania © Seqoya/Shutterstock

10 Braşov

Shadowed by mountains and boasting a fine Baroque centre, this erstwhile Saxon settlement is one of Transylvania’s most appealing cities.

Brasov, Romania © emperorcosar/Shutterstock

11 Vişeu de Sus train ride

Jump aboard the early-morning logging train for a meandering ride up the picturesque Vaser valley.

© Andreica Ioan Daniel/Shutterstock

12 Bear- and wolf-tracking

Spend a day trailing Romania’s largest carnivores – if you’re lucky, you may see one of these magnificent creatures up close.

Carpathian brown bear in the wilderness © Angyalosi Beata/Shutterstock

13 Measurement of the Milk Festival

At this enjoyable and unusual spectacle, Transylvanian shepherds vie to see who has the most productive animals.

© eugenegurkov/Shutterstock

14 Merry Cemetery, Săpânţa

True to its name, the Merry Cemetery is a riot of beautifully carved and brightly coloured wooden headstones.

© Niall O'Donoghue/Shutterstock

15 Village homestays

Wonderful rural retreats offering cheap, friendly and relaxing accommodation, and great home-cooked food.

The church from Magura village, near Zarnesti city, Brasov county, Transylvania, Romania © Iulius Agency/Shutterstock

16 Wooden churches of Maramureş

The beguiling landscape of this isolated region is dominated by marvellous wooden churches.

Barsana Wooden Monasteries, Maramures, Romania © Mikadun/Shutterstock

17 Timişoara

The crucible of the 1989 revolution, this most cosmopolitan of Romanian cities promises handsome architecture, fine parks and a vibrant arts scene.

View of one part at Union Square in Timisoara, Romania, with old buildings and mineral fountain © Martina Pellecchia/Shutterstock

18 Sheep’s cheese

Fresh from the highland pastures, a sample of tasty sheep’s cheese is a must.

© Maryna Kovalchuk/Shutterstock

19 Sighişoara

Atmospheric medieval town with a brooding skyline of ramparts, towers and spires.

© Cristian Balate/Shutterstock

20 Făgăraş mountain hiking

The spectacular peaks of the Făgăraş provide access to some rewarding hikes.

Transfagarasan highway, the most beautiful road in Europe, Romania (Transfagarash), Ridge Fagaras © Yevhenii Chulovskyi/Shutterstock

21 Dracula

The Princely Court at Târgovişte is just one of many sites linked to the Dracula legend.

Bran castle in autumn, Romania © Zamfiroiu Dragos Marian/Shutterstock

22 Painted monasteries

The monasteries of southern Bucovina and Moldavia are renowned for their magnificent exterior frescoes.

The Moldovita Monastery, Romania. One of Romanian Orthodox monasteries in southern Bucovina © emperorcosar/Shutterstock

23 Folk and Gypsy music

Don’t miss the wild, irrepressible sounds of Romanian folk and Gypsy music.

© Aleksandar Kamasi/Shutterstock

24 The Carpathian range

One of Europe’s least spoiled mountain ranges, full of wildlife and first-class hiking trails.

A beautiful mountain landscape in Carpathian mountains, Romania © Romija/Shutterstock

Travel advice for Romania

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