Romania is a really surprising travel destination and one of the most underrated places to travel in Europe.
The official motto for the travel Romania tourism board is Simply Surprising and many first time visitors are compelled to agree when they first step foot in this enchanting country.
Located on the borders of Hungary, Moldova, Serbia, Bulgaria and the Ukraine; Romania is a breathtakingly beautiful country centered by the Carpathian Mountains and dotted with hills, plateaus and rich forests.
The Danube and the Black Sea add to the arresting beauty of this age old nation. For quite some time, Romania remained fairly isolated from the Western world; viewed by most Westerners as suppressed by a Communist rule. But now Romania is a thriving country in Europe and tourism is growing every year.
If you are considering visiting Romania; whether it’s personal, business or leisure, there are a few things to know and travel tips you should keep in mind to help ensure you enjoy the best trip possible.
Reasons to Visit Romania
While travelling in Europe, you will be covered in visit opportunities from all sides – the Old World is filled with unique sights to see and a long history to explore.
But there is a part that is most often left aside – and it’s a pity, because for example, Romania has amazing tourism destinations that are worthy of attention, like its untouched wilderness, its medieval castles, its caves and its culture.
Besides its very cheap prices, people in Romania are very welcoming and friendly. The official language of Romania is Romanian; classified as a Romance language. English, German and French are also widely spoken throughout the country.
Weather and Best Time to Visit
The climate in Romania is classified as temperate-continental; which means that this country tends to have very distinct seasons with summers that are quite hot and very cold winters. Keep in mind the time of year when you will be planning your travel Romania, in order to pack appropriate clothing. Regardless of the time of year; one essential item to bring along is a rai
Getting to Romania
Most people arriving in Romania from abroad come by air; with both flights available to major cities. International airports are located in Bucharest, Baneasa, Constanta, Otopeni, Mihail Kogalniceanu and Timisoara. Find cheap flights with Skyscanner.
You can also reach Romania via rail and road as well as by sea.
Top Things to See and Do in Romania
Here are some tips on what to see and try when visiting Romania.
Explore Cities
By far, the largest city in Romania is Bucharest; followed by Brasov and several other smaller cities. You can find lots of shops, museums, galleries, cultural tourist attractions and also day trips to see bears!
Transylvania
Put your stakes away Van Helsing, Transylvania is so much more than just a destination for the bloodthirsty kind. While it’s true, Transylvania is finally cashing in on the Dracula-themed tourism, the time to go is now to see the real gems (before all the kitsch gets worse).
From villages in the Carpathian mountains that have changed very (very) little since medieval times and have magnificent fortified churches, to the excellent cross country hiking and rock climbing, it’s a veritable vacation not only for the antique lovers, but also the ones who like to get their hands a little dirty.
Also, if you like to drive like a professional they’ve also got a rather cool, definitely one-of-a-kind, road through the mountains named the the Transfăgărășan Road, and while it’s only available for passing a few times a year, it’s one wild ride.
Vadu Crisului Cave in the Western Carpathian, Bihor County
A cave that is very easy to access – its mouth is located just a few yards away from the train station. There is a symbolic entry fee you have to pay to get in. A large portion of the cave was explored and made accessible for visitors, but there are still many unexplored tunnels in the cave system.
What makes this cave special is that it has a spring inside, with its water being clean enough to be drunk without any filtering. It also has one of the richest cave fauna in Europe. Despite being away from civilization, the area of the cave has acceptable mobile signal, so you can even play at the red flush online casino after you visit it.
The Scărișoara Glacier Cave
Harder to access, but it’s definitely worth it. The Scărișoara Glacier Cave is only accessible by car or by hiking to it from the nearby settlement of Gârda de Sus, Alba County. It is the largest ice cave in Romania’s Apuseni Mountains.
The ice cave was formed 3500 years ago, during the glaciations, when these mountains were covered by snow and ice, although the exact date when the cave was discovered is still unknown. Today the surrounding mountains are all green, but when you descend into the cave you step into a world of ice.
The temperatures are up to just +1°C in the summer – imagine the experience of descending into a 60 meter shaft and going from +30°C to +1°C in a matter of minutes. It’s a wonderful experience, worth trying once.
The Ghețarul de la Focul Viu Cave
Located in the Bihor Mountains, on the Valea Galbenă, close to the Piatra Galbenii peak and the Cuculeul de Fier peak, at an altitude of 1.165 meters. Visiting this ice cave will take you on a journey through forest roads, as it is again only accessible by road (not by train).
What makes this glacier cave special is that it has a hole in its roof, allowing the sunlight to access the interior – and the sights can be wonderful during the day. Perfect for photography enthusiasts.