WHY VISIT ROMANIA

2020, June 1st - by Eddie, local tour guide and passionate about Romania

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One could have dozens of reasons to visit Romania. I'm going to mention here only a few of them.

Romania is a very attractive country in many aspects, but especially for tourism. It has unique culture, welcoming people, fabulous landscapes,  rich history, delicious cuisine, living traditions and customs and many more.

We have here almost everything you could be interested in. But first of all, we have the Carpathian Mountains, the Danube River and the Black Sea. Since the ancient times the mountains served us as natural fortress, shelter, and they offered lots of natural resources. The Danube River was a very important trade route, source of water for agriculture, and a rich source of food. The Black Sea was our gateway to the world.

Here is what I would recommend to visit ..

1. Bucharest

You should start your visit in Romania with Bucharest, first of all because all major airlines operate at Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport. Bucharest is the largest and the most important city in Romania. Then Bucharest is an unique and fascinating city. Due to its commercial function since the middle ages, the nowadays city preserves an authentic mixture of East and West, old and new, displayed in a charming way at every corner. Known as The Little Paris, the city is very eclectic and non-standard, thus one could admire here almost all the major architecture styles.

Bucharest has its top attractions and you should not miss:

  • Palace of Parliament - which is the second largest building in the world and  the heaviest and the most expensive administrative building in the world.
  • "Dimitrie Gusti" National  Village Museum - is the most visited tourist attraction in Bucharest (in 2019).  Placed inside King Michael I Park, this 14 hectares open-air museum brings the Romanian authentic rural life in the middle of Bucharest. You will travel back in time for some centuries admiring the over 300 original constructions.
  • The Arch of Triumph - this impressive monument is a living proof of our strong cultural connection with France. If you are here visiting  the Little Paris, this is a must see attraction.
  • King Michael I Park - is the largest park in Bucharest and the largest park inside a city in Europe.  It is our green oasis and "the lung of the city". It was established in 1936, it has around 200 hectares, including here a beautiful lake of  80 hectares.
  • Victory Avenue - the whole history of Bucharest revolves around this famous avenue.  "Calea Victoriei" was the first paved street in Romania. The name of the street honours the victory of our brave Army over the Ottoman Empire  in The Romanian War of Independence.
  • The Old Town - one of the accepted hypothesis regarding the origin of the name Bucuresti (Bucharest) claims that it comes from the word "bucurie" (joy). Since the Middle Ages the city has been perceived by the foreign visitors as a very joyful one.  Moreover, nowadays Bucharest is famous for its joyful nightlife, and you could experience this by exploring our Old Town area.

Of course the city has lots of non standard attractions. Here are some of them:

  • Politehnica Metro Station - here the floor is covered in Transylvanian marble and you will practically step on visible fossils dating from the Cretaceous period.
  • Vlad Tepes Castle - a beautiful replica of Poenari Fortress (known as "The Real Dracula's Castle) this charming building is almost unknown and hidden, placed at the edge of  Carol Park.
  • Rooftop bars, hidden gardens, street art murals, beautiful abandoned houses, an unusual urban natural reserve, the communist heritage and many more

2. Famous Romanian Castles

From Bucharest you could book a day-tour and visit two of the worlds most famous or beautiful castles, Bran or Dracula's Castle and Peles Castle.

3. Transylvania

The cradle of our nation, Transylvania is a gothic and fascinating land. You will be enchanted by the beauty of the Transylvanian hills, rich natural reserves, yummy local gastronomy, unique ethnic mixture, lots of cultural influences, charming small villages, medieval castles, fortresses, fortified churches, many of them being UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Moreover, Transylvania is shrouded in many interesting legends and ancestral beliefs regarding malefic creatures, and  you'll discover here the connection between Dracula's story and these elements.

Here a few magnificent places to visit:

  • Bran Castle - more commonly known as Dracula's Castle is probably the most famous castle in the world. If you plan to visit Romania, you must also visit Dracula's Castle.
  • Medieval City of Brasov  - at only 30 minutes  driving from Dracula's Castle is the charming City of Brasov. Come and enjoy the well preserved medieval old town area, and don't miss the Black Church - the largest gothic church in this part of Europe.
  • Medieval City of Sibiu  - originally named Hermannstadt, it was established by the Saxon (German) minority in Transylvania. Sibiu is a former European Cultural Capital in 2007 and a former capital of Transylvanian Pricipality between 1692-1791. This stunning city holds many interesting records and has much to offer for tourism.
  • Sighisoara Medieval Citadel - is the only medieval citadel fully inhabited in South-East Europe. The medieval site is part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1999. And now..hold your breath..Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) was born here.
  • Biertan Fortified Church - a UNESCO  World Heritage monument, this is the most fortified church in Transylvania.  For 300 years it was the seat of the Diocese of Transylvania.
  • The villages of Viscri, Mesendorf, Crit - it is believed that in Transylvania the time passes slower, especially in the rural area. If you want to experience the authentic Transylvanian way of life you should visit these amazing villages.
  • Turda Salt Mine  - we have many salt mines in Romania but this one is a jewel. According to Business Insider this is one of the most beautiful underground places on Earth.

4. Danube Delta

After a long journey, crossing 10 countries and four capitals, the Danube River flows into the Black Sea, forming the best preserved delta in Europe. Danube Delta is a UNESCO site and the only one in the world declared a Biosphere Natural Reserve.

If you like to experience more about Romania you could book one of my tours here or ask for a fully customised one.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Let's HOPE SOON YOU'LL HAVE THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE ROMANIA..until THEN I'LL INVITE YOU TO..
EXPLORE MY TOURS

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