Welcome to Romania

Romania is Europe's best-kept secret. While tourists crowd the Mediterranean coast, a country of breathtaking diversity slumbers in the southeast of the continent — medieval fortified churches, wild Carpathian peaks, a Danube Delta of biblical biodiversity, and hospitality that leaves you speechless. Romania is not trendy, not polished, and that's exactly why it's so authentic.

• The Carpathians — Europe's last great wilderness stretches in a mighty arc through the country. In the Romanian Carpathians live 6,000 brown bears, more than in the rest of Europe combined. Plus wolves, lynxes, and untouched primeval forests that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
• Transylvania (Siebenbürgen) — Forget the Dracula clichés: Transylvania is a fairytale land of Saxon fortified churches (7 UNESCO World Heritage sites), shepherd culture, flower meadows, and villages that look as if nothing has changed for 200 years. Because it hasn't.
• The Danube Delta — The second-largest river delta in Europe (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) is a paradise for bird watchers: 360 bird species, pelicans, cormorants, little egrets. A boat trip through the labyrinthine channels is one of the continent's most impressive nature experiences.
• The Moldavian Monasteries — In northeastern Romania stand monasteries whose exterior frescoes are among the most significant artworks of Christianity. The painted monasteries of Bukovina (UNESCO) are unique in their colorfulness worldwide.
• Bucharest — The capital is wild, chaotic, contradictory, and fascinating. Belle Époque palaces next to communist concrete blocks, an exploding gastronomy scene, legendary nightlife, and the second-largest administrative building in the world (Palace of the Parliament). Bucharest is not a beauty contest — it's an adventure.
• Unbeatable value for money — Romania is one of the cheapest travel destinations in the EU. An excellent dinner costs 12–20€, a double room in a good hotel 40–70€, a beer in the bar 2€. Your budget goes twice as far here as in Western Europe.
• Hospitality — Romanians are legendary for their hospitality. In rural areas, you will be invited to meals, offered homemade spirits (Țuică), and experience a warmth that has become rare in Western Europe.
• Vibrant Traditions — In Maramureș and Bukovina, the peasant culture is not an open-air museum but a lived reality. Horse-drawn carts on the roads, haymaking by hand, carved wooden gates, folk festivals in traditional costumes — Romania preserves a Europe that has disappeared elsewhere.

Romania is the counter-program to mass tourism: wild instead of manicured, real instead of staged, affordable instead of overpriced. Those seeking authentic Europe will find it here — before the rest discover it.

Romania can be divided into four major travel regions, each with its own character:

Bucharest & Wallachia

For whom: City explorers, history fans, nightlife enthusiasts
The capital Bucharest is the pulsating heart of the country — chaotic, contradictory, and full of surprises. Belle Époque villas next to Ceaușescu's monumental buildings, an exploding food scene, and the best nightlife in Southeastern Europe. Wallachia also offers the monasteries of Curtea de Argeș and access to the Southern Carpathians.

Transylvania (Siebenbürgen)

For whom: Culture travelers, hikers, romantics
The centerpiece of any trip to Romania: medieval towns like Sibiu, Brașov, and Sighișoara, surrounded by the Carpathians. Seven UNESCO fortified churches, Bran Castle ("Dracula's Castle"), hikes through wild mountain landscapes, and villages where time stands still.

Moldova & Bukovina

For whom: Art and culture lovers, pilgrims, explorers
The quiet northeast is home to the world-famous painted monasteries of Bukovina (UNESCO), the charming university town of Iași, and the original Maramureș area with its wooden churches and vibrant peasant culture.

Black Sea Coast & Danube Delta

For whom: Nature lovers, bird watchers, beach fans
The Danube Delta is a world-class natural paradise — Europe's largest wetland with 360 bird species. The Black Sea coast offers resorts like Mamaia, the ancient Greek ruin city of Constanța, and long sandy beaches. Perfect as a complement to a cultural trip inland.

1. Stroll through the old town of Brașov — The "Crown of Transylvania" at the foot of Mount Tâmpa is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Europe. The Black Church, the Town Hall Square, and the views of the Carpathians are unforgettable. → Chap. Transylvania
2. Visit Bran Castle — and learn the truth about Dracula — The "Dracula Castle" is touristy but atmospheric. More exciting is the story behind it: Vlad III Drăculea, the Impaler, was a real Wallachian prince — and not a vampire. → Chap. Transylvania
3. Stand on the Great Square in Sibiu — Europe's Capital of Culture 2007 has one of the most beautiful marketplaces on the continent: pastel-colored baroque facades, the "eyes" of the dormer windows, and a vibrant café culture. → Chap. Transylvania
4. Marvel at the painted monasteries of Bukovina — The exterior frescoes of Voroneț (the "Sistine Chapel of the East"), Sucevița, and Moldovița are unique in their colorfulness worldwide. Over 500 years old and still shining. → Chap. Moldova & Bukovina
5. Take a boat trip through the Danube Delta — Glide by boat through a labyrinth of channels, reed islands, and fields of water lilies. Pelicans, cormorants, sea eagles — here lives the wilderness of Europe. → Chap. Black Sea Coast & Danube Delta
6. Drive the Transfăgărășan Highway — Praised by Jeremy Clarkson as "the most beautiful road in the world." 90 km of serpentine roads over the Southern Carpathians (2,042 m), only passable from July to October. → Chap. Transylvania
7. Wander through the Middle Ages in Sighișoara — The only still-inhabited medieval fortress town in Europe (UNESCO). Birthplace of Vlad Drăculea, colorful houses, the Clock Tower, and an atmosphere like the 15th century. → Chap. Transylvania
8. Enter the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest — The second-largest administrative building in the world (after the Pentagon) is Ceaușescu's megalomaniac legacy: 1,100 rooms, 12 floors, a million cubic meters of marble. Madness carved in stone. → Chap. Bucharest
9. Drink Țuică in the countryside — The plum brandy is Romania's national drink. It is home-brewed in every village, served at every occasion, and always accompanied by a "Noroc!" (Cheers!). → Chap. Food & Drink
10. Hike in the Carpathians — The Bucegi Mountains, the Piatra Craiului, and the Făgăraș Massif offer alpine hiking at the highest level — without the crowds of the Alps. → Chap. Transylvania
11. Explore fortified churches in Transylvania — The fortified churches of the Transylvanian Saxons (7 UNESCO) are architectural uniques: village churches surrounded by defensive walls and towers, built against Ottoman raids. → Chap. Transylvania
12. Experience Bucharest's nightlife — The old town (Centrul Vechi) transforms into a giant party after dark. Clubs, rooftop bars, jazz cellars — all at prices unthinkable in Berlin. → Chap. Bucharest
13. Admire the wooden churches of Maramureș — In northern Romania stand wooden churches with pointed spires that pierce the sky like needles. Masterpieces of carpentry, built entirely without a single nail. → Chap. Moldova & Bukovina
14. Relax in the thermal baths of Băile Herculane — Even the Romans bathed here in the hot springs. The decaying spa ensemble in the Cerna Valley is morbidly beautiful and is currently being extensively restored. → Chap. Transylvania
15. Stay on a farm in Viscri — The village that Prince Charles called "the most beautiful in the world" offers guesthouses with homemade food, visits to fortified churches, and absolute tranquility. No Wi-Fi, no noise, no stress — just pure Romania. → Chap. Transylvania