For several years, I had wanted to visit Romania and explore the entire country. However, it was only this summer that I finally decided to go, and I must say that Romania exceeded my expectations in many ways.
On the first day, I visited Oradea. It is a beautiful historic city whose center is filled with an incredible number of colorful palaces. Unfortunately, most of them cannot be visited, and the fact that the city center is currently undergoing extensive reconstruction also affects its atmosphere. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the city. My favorite buildings were the Moskovits Palace and the Black Eagle Palace, whose interior is full of shops and restaurants.
On the second day, I visited Salina Turda, a former salt mine that has been transformed into an amusement park located 120 meters underground. You can find a Ferris wheel, play golf, tennis, billiards, and bowling, and even go boating. However, it should be noted that the entrance ticket and the individual attractions must be paid for separately. Salina Turda was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.
On the third day, we visited the Palace of Culture in Târgu Mureș, which serves as the administrative and cultural center of the Hungarian community in Romania. The Palace of Culture features a magnificent Hall of Mirrors depicting scenes and legends from Transylvanian folklore, as well as a large concert hall and an art gallery. The richly decorated City Hall next to the palace is also worth seeing, along with the medieval fortress, which can easily be reached on foot within 15 minutes.
About an hour’s drive from Târgu Mureș lies one of the best-preserved medieval fortified towns in Europe – Sighișoara. The city was founded by German merchants and craftsmen known as the Transylvanian Saxons, and until the end of the Second World War, Sighișoara served as their cultural center in the region. Besides its beautiful colorful historic buildings, the town is home to the Clock Tower, which is considered its symbol thanks to its astronomical clock featuring moving wooden allegorical figures representing sins and vices. Sighișoara is also famous as the birthplace of Vlad III Dracula, the Voivode of Wallachia.
Speaking of Dracula, I also visited Bran Castle. Many people believe that Dracula ruled from this castle, but that is merely a legend, and he most likely never even set foot there. His actual residence was in Târgoviște, where the ruins of his real palace can still be found. Nevertheless, Romanians continue to attract foreign tourists to Bran Castle. It is undoubtedly beautiful, but also relatively small, and you can walk through it in about ten minutes. You can decide for yourself whether it is worth spending €20 on the visit.
While in Transylvania, you should not miss the Racoș Geological Complex, a unique natural reserve famous for preserving traces of the last volcanic activity in the entire Carpathian arc. It offers three remarkable attractions:
The extinct Racoș Volcano, whose walls display shades of red, purple, and black, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding green vegetation and creating the appearance of a deep canyon.
The turquoise-green Emerald Lake, which was formed when a former basalt quarry was flooded after decades of mining, as rainwater and melted snow gradually accumulated.
The basalt columns – 15 to 18-meter-high hexagonal stone pillars that were created by the slow and even cooling of molten lava.
On the fourth day, I visited Peleș Castle, which is one of the most beautiful castles I have ever seen. It is located in the picturesque mountain town of Sinaia and surrounded by mountains and streams. The castle is famous for its unique blend of Baroque, Gothic, and Italian Renaissance architecture. It was also the first fully electrified castle in Europe. The interior is even more impressive, with over 160 rooms, each decorated in a different style, including German, Turkish, French, Moorish, and Italian. The smaller Pelișor Castle, located just a few minutes’ walk away, is also worth visiting.
I spent the fifth day in Romania’s capital, Bucharest, which had plenty to offer. The city is home to the Palace of the Parliament, the heaviest building in the world, whose construction was ordered by former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, although he did not live to see its completion. Today, the building serves as the seat of both chambers of the Romanian Parliament. Due to its enormous weight of 4.1 million tons, it reportedly sinks by about half a centimeter every year. Bucharest also has an excellent metro system that makes it easy to get anywhere in the city. Other notable landmarks include the beautiful Romanian Athenaeum, the Arcul de Triumf, and the Macca-Vilacrosse Passage, a historic covered arcade with a distinctive yellow glass roof located in the city center. Bucharest is also home to the largest Orthodox cathedral in the world.
The Cathedral of the Salvation of the Romanian Nation did not impress me much. Its golden roofs felt rather kitschy, and the architecture itself was nothing particularly remarkable.
On the sixth day, I visited Constanța, and to be honest, the city disappointed me. Despite being a seaside destination popular with tourists from Germany, Constanța felt rather underdeveloped. The historic city center was in poor condition, although it was clear that renovation work was underway. For one of Romania’s largest cities, it does not offer many historical landmarks compared to other major cities in the country. The Great Mosque and the historic Constanța Casino are certainly worth mentioning. The casino, built directly on the seafront, was once one of Europe’s most luxurious gambling establishments. It underwent a major restoration last year and is undoubtedly the city’s most beautiful landmark. I was also disappointed by the beaches, as they were lined either with abandoned hotels or old communist-era buildings that had clearly seen better days.
On the seventh day, I drove along the Transfăgărășan, the legendary 151-kilometer road that crosses the Făgăraș Mountains and is considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Along the way, we encountered bears by the roadside that were accepting food from tourists. This is strictly forbidden. You may take photos of the bears, but they are still wild animals, so it is not advisable to approach or touch them, and more than one tourist has paid for such behavior with their life. Feeding bears can also result in a fine of up to €2,000. The Transfăgărășan offers breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains, while cascading waterfalls can be found along the route. At its highest point, nearly 2,000 meters above sea level, lies Lake Bâlea, a glacial lake where there was still snow even in June.
I ended the day by exploring the beautiful historic city of Sibiu, which is famous for its “houses with eyes” (Case cu Ochi). The ventilation windows on the steep tiled roofs of the old merchant houses have a distinctive almond shape, creating the illusion that the buildings are constantly watching you. The best examples can be found on the city’s two main squares. Another iconic landmark is the Bridge of Lies, the first cast-iron bridge in Romania. Numerous legends are associated with it, one of which claims that if a person tells a lie while standing on the bridge, it will collapse with a thunderous crash.
On my final day, I first visited the Red Ravine, famous for its unique appearance, which resembles the eroded landscapes of Utah and has earned it the nickname “the Romanian Grand Canyon.” Getting there by car is quite challenging, as the road is unpaved, and there is even a warning sign in the parking area advising visitors not to leave valuables in their vehicles because of thieves operating in the area. Nevertheless, the view of the Red Ravine was absolutely worth it.
Afterward, I continued to the city of Hunedoara, home to Corvin Castle, one of the largest and most beautiful Gothic-Renaissance castles in Europe, whose atmosphere transports visitors back to medieval times.
I concluded my trip in Timișoara, a city that pleasantly surprised me with its charm. Union Square is undoubtedly the most beautiful and colorful Baroque square in the city. Here you will find the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the magnificent Baroque Palace, which now houses an art museum. The square is also filled with cafés and terraces. Victory Square is equally impressive—a grand pedestrian promenade lined with luxurious palaces dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At one end stands the building of the National Theatre and Opera, while at the other rises the monumental Orthodox Cathedral, distinguished by its mosaic roof and impressive height of 83 meters.
Romania is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited. The roads are relatively good, although a lot depends on whether you stick to the highways or venture onto smaller rural roads. As for affordability, Romania still offers reasonable prices, but it is certainly no longer one of the cheapest countries in Europe.
The local cuisine is very diverse, and everyone can find something they enjoy. Romania also has many of its own fast-food chains, such as Spartan, Salad Box, and Noodle Pack. Parking is very inexpensive as well—in some cities, I paid only €2 for an entire day.
As for the local people, most of them were very friendly and welcoming. On several occasions, they helped me when I had problems or needed assistance. The level of English is also fairly good, although many older people tend to prefer speaking German.
To conclude, I would highly recommend Romania to anyone considering a visit. It is a fascinating country with beautiful landscapes, rich history, and countless places worth exploring.
Pics:
1. Bear on the Transfăgărășan road
2. Peleș Castle
3. Botanical Garden Museum in Cluj
4. The Palace of Culture in Târgu Mureș
5. Salina Tuda
6. Palace of Parliament
7. Transfăgărășan Panoramic View
8. Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest
9. Vulcanul stins de la Hegheș
10. The Clock Tower in Sighișoara
11. Bâlea Lake
12. Bran Castle
13. "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village
14. The Racoș Basalt Columns Coloanele de bazalt de la Racoș
15. The Inside of romanian parliament
16. Red Ravine
17. Corvin Castle
18. Capra Waterfall i
19. Metropolitan cathedral in Timisoara
20. Union square in Timisoara