ROMANIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Lying in southeastern Europe on the Black Sea, with the Ukraine and Bulgaria above and below, Romania is no longer playing second-fiddle to established European holiday destinations. People come here for better deals, but also for historic towns and the remarkable landscapes of Transylvania, spa resorts and skiing.
Although Romania is not as cheap as it once was, it still offers excellent value for money and couple that with a wide-ranging supply of well-priced hotels and entertainment and you have the makings of a good holiday. Highlights are Dracula’s Castle, the eclectic capital Bucharest, numerous attractive villages and the sublime resorts on the Black Sea.
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ROMANIA WEATHER - When To Go
Romania has a continental climate with boiling summers and freezing winters in much of the country, apart from the southern regions where the Black Sea tempers things somewhat. Although it gets very hot inland in the summer, much of the country is mountainous and you can easily escape the worst of it. If you are here any time other than the summer, the south of Romania is the best place to head. Bucharest has one of the mildest climates in the country.
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ROMANIA HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Bucharest: Located in the south of the country between the Transylvanian Alps and the River Danube, the Romanian capital is both the biggest city and the main attraction. Its ‘Little Paris’ nickname is fully warranted and comes from its collection of pretty tree-lined streets and many beautiful Belle Époque buildings. Bucharest was badly damaged by WWII bombs while earthquakes and former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu have also laid waste to much of the cityscape over the years, yet it keeps recovering.
The main sight to take note of in Bucharest is, surprisingly enough, the gigantic Palace of Parliament (Ceausima), a 12-storey behemoth of a building with the dimensions of the Pentagon in the USA. The ancient Old Court is also a must-see, while wandering around the old town’s cobble-stoned streets and taking in the many churches, palaces, shops, restaurants and bars is also good fun.
If it’s a particularly hot summer’s day, there are loads of parks in the capital to duck into. Cismigiu Garden lies in the heart of the city and is one of the smaller ones as well as the oldest. It has a lake with boat rentals available as well as ice skating in winter and a restaurant and bars. The best shopping is along the main street between Piata Romana and Piata Unirii.
- [For more info and useful web links on Bucharest, see Visit Bucharest].
- Transylvania: Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula was set here; a mountainous region of central Romania that is now the most famous part of the country. It is one of mountains and forests and of ancient villages and medieval castles and comes with some excellent sightseeing and trekking. One of the main Transylvanian towns is Braşov, a major stopping off point for those coming to visit the infamous Castle Bran and nearby resort of Poiana Braşov. Cluj-Napoca is another popular Transylvania town and also the largest, home to thousands of students and innumerable cafés and bars.
- Brasov: lying to the northwest of Bucharest and most famous for the nearby Bran Castle, Braşov is the second most-visited city after the capital. It is situated in the mountains of Transylvania and comes with excellent shopping, eating and sightseeing. It’s a bit overpriced but is a must-visit for its vibrancy and sheer tourist value. Braşov is surrounded by fascinating scenery and most notably Bran Castle, the home of the legendary Count Dracula. This 14th century castle is a huge and imposing structure which was built to keep out invaders and of course inspired author Bram Stoker. You can tour the castle, its towers and grounds, but its best to get here early and out of season to avoid the inevitable crowds.
- Romania’s Black Sea Resorts: these feature a load of nice beaches and warm waters perfect for bathing for kids. Although Romanian territory only occupies a sliver of the Black Sea coast, it has a number of excellent resorts and a good tourist infrastructure. These resorts include Mamaia, Mangalia, Jupiter and Venus, while the city of Constanţa is the main centre of the region and its main Black Sea port. Many people choose to visit Mamaia as the water sports options here are particularly good and there are a slew of hotels, shops, restaurants and bars. The beautiful and vast Danube Delta is just up the coast.
- The Danube Delta: this is the largest river delta in Europe, and is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site that is loaded with migratory birds and scores of fish species. River tours around the region are very popular as the delta features an intricate network of lakes and waterways situated among the three main channels of the Danube, which are dotted with several impressive fishing villages.
- Iasi: for something a little different to Bucharest, Iasi, the previous capital of Romania on the border with Moldova in the northeast of the country, is one of stunning landmarks and monuments. There are impressive churches and monasteries in the old part of town. Iasi’s most famous building is the huge neo-Gothic Palace of Culture and its four museums, while the 19th century Traian Hotel is also a must-see. Iasi also has Romania’s oldest public university and is well-known for its pumping nightlife. Trains and minibuses run to Iasi from Bucharest in about five hours.
- Other Romania Highlights include: the town of Pitesti on the Arges River; the Southern Bucovina, known for its fine painted monasteries; and the Merry Cemetery in Sapanta village, right up in the north of the country.
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ROMANIA HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
- Food and Eating Out: Romanian food is a mix of Austrian, French and Asian tastes and is hearty and cheap in all but the top restaurants. Bucharest is loaded with eateries of every ilk, from cafés and snack bars to small kebab shops and posh restaurants. The Black Sea resorts also have good food to Western European standards, while snacking on pastries is the done thing. Local dishes worth sampling are bulz [(roasted polenta (mush) with cheese and bacon)] and friptura (steak).
- Entertainment and Nightlife: Romania has a strong beer culture and every town and city bustles with a supply of pubs and bars. There are also a growing number of trendy wine bars in the resorts and Bucharest, while local wines, beers and spirits are well-priced. Being university towns, Bucharest, Iasi, and Cluj-Napoca have the best nightlife.
- Accommodation: hotels in Romania are generally cheaper than elsewhere in Europe although are not the steal they once were. Staying at the likes of the Intercontinental in Bucharest will set you back, although discounts can be had through booking online. Mid-range places and lower are the best value, with rural guesthouses (under the ANTREC banner) generally being a particularly good option. Try Booking.com for hotel deals in Romania.
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ROMANIA FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
Try Skyscanner to compare all flight deals to Romania from the UK.
Direct flights to Bucharest exist from London Heathrow with BA / British Airways and Romanian airline Tarom.
Wizz Air operate flights from London Luton airport to Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara.
Also try travel sites such as Expedia.co.uk or ebookers for flight deals to Bucharest and Romania, probably featuring stop-overs with airlines such as Lufthansa, KLM and Air France.
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