There are many reasons to visit Romania. Unfortunately though, very few people know about this beautiful country at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe.
For most westerners, Romania is this former Eastern Bloc country of Nadia Comaneci – the famous Romanian gymnast who scored the first perfect 10 in the Olympics. But there is so much more to Romania than just the name of a great gymnast.
I used to live in Romania during the Communist Era, but there wasn’t much to visit there at the time. That wasn’t because we didn’t have beautiful scenery or interesting places to visit. One of the problems was that infrastructure which was really poor. Secondly, almost all historical sites, fortresses and monuments were in a dismal state.
After the fall I could Communism, Romania’s tourism began to develop and today the country counts itself among the most attractive European destinations. So if you are a first time visitor to Romania, you’ll be glad to know there are very many reasons to visit this country now.
Table of Contents
- 10 Reasons to Visit Romania
- It has beautiful, old architecture
- It has amazing churches
- It’s easy to visit
- It has gorgeous scenery
- It has beautiful castles and fortresses
- It’s affordable
- Delicious food and historic restaurants
- Beautiful cities, Medieval towns and old authentic villages
- The Danube Delta
- The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
- Friendly people
- Why You Shouldn’t Postpone Visiting Romania
10 Reasons to Visit Romania
If you are not sure whether you should include Romania in your European itinerary, here are 10 good reasons why you should visit Romania now:
It has beautiful, old architecture
You’ll find beautiful old architecture throughout the country, but especially in Bucharest, where you’ll encounter a lot of elegant structures built between the First and Second World Wars. Sadly, among the city’s great art-deco and 19th century buildings you’ll also see some new modern blocks of flats. Nonetheless, the capital city is a lot of fun to explore and discover.
There are many interesting things to do in Bucharest, but unfortunately the city is still a mixed bag.
Many of the historic buildings received a new face, especially in the downtown area. But there are still some old and beautiful structures that are in a dismal state of disrepair. While there are some nice and well maintained areas, many parts of Bucharest are still rundown and neglected. Even so, Bucharest has a charm that you can’t deny.
It has amazing churches
From wooden churches and painted monasteries, to synagogues and grandiose cathedrals, Romania has a multitude of beautiful worship places. During the Communist era, many of the old, historic churches in Bucharest have been demolished. But miraculously, a good number of them survived.
The European Union invested serious funds into rebuilding some of the historic areas in the country. As a result, most these beautiful religious monuments regained their initial glory.
It’s easy to visit
As a former communist country, Romania isn’t usually the place that people have high up on their must-see lists. But that’s only because they don’t know what to expect. Tourist attractions in Romania are easy to visit because you won’t encounter as many restrictions and limitations as in other countries.
You can walk just by yourself in a castle without having to wait for an guided tour. Also, you can take pictures in an old church, as long as you are not disturbing the worshipers.
Historic sites are not overcrowded and picture-taking is not prohibited in most places. Unfortunately though, this started to change lately as the number of tourists visiting Romania is growing every year.
It has gorgeous scenery
There is a great abundance of unique places to visit in Romania. The country enjoys a very diverse scenery. From high mountain peaks reaching almost 3,000 meters, to hills and plains, the Danube Delta and the Black Sea shore.
There are countless rivers, streams and lakes in the country There are two main highways crossing the Carpathian Mountains: Transalpina and Transfagarasan running at very high altitudes, with twists and turns and deep ravines, equally beautiful and dangerous.
It has beautiful castles and fortresses
There are many beautiful medieval fortresses and castles in Romania. Places like the elegant Peles Castle, Bran Castle, or Corvin Castle, are famous throughout Europe.
It’s affordable
Romania is still a budget destination where your dollar goes a long way. Hotel and food prices are very low compared to other European countries. Food is also very inexpensive. A loaf of bread is $0.30. One pound of beef tenderloin is $3.50. A bottle of domestic beer is $1.50. So it’s for a good reason why Romania counts itself among the cheapest countries to visit in Europe.
Restaurants and cafés can be slightly more expensive near the tourist sites, but still affordable. Admission fees for museums and other attractions are also very reasonable and so is public transportation (busses, metro, or cabs).
Romania’s railway system is one of the largest in the world and prices are very cheap. Many low-cost European airlines connect Romania’s cities with other European countries.
Romania is also great to visit if you are backpacking through Europe. With so many low cost accommodations and restaurants, you’ll not have to dig deep into your pockets in this country.
Delicious food and historic restaurants
Tasty food has always been a part of the Romanian culture. Almost anywhere you eat the food is delicious. Romanian cuisine has some Hungarian, Germanic and Turkish influences but still maintains its identifiable character.
An example would be the classic sour soup (“ciorba“) made with “borş” (a sour liquid made from wheat and cornflower). Or the fried mutton pastrami with polenta. So if you like to eat, chances are you’ll most likely gain a few pounds when you visit Romania.
But besides tasty food, Romania is also home to many excellent restaurants that specialized in traditional Romanian dishes, but also fine-dining restaurants specialized in international cuisine.
Some of the best restaurants in Romania are in Bucharest, like Caru’ cu Bere, Hanu’ lui Manuc, Hanu’ Berarilor, The Artist, etc. There are also several good vegan restaurants in Bucharest for those interested in eating vegetarian food.
Beautiful cities, Medieval towns and old authentic villages
Romania is home to many great cities. While they don’t hold the glam of their counterparts in Western Europe, they are equally interesting and fun to visit. There are also many beautifully preserved medieval towns, like Brasov, Sighisoara, Sibiu, Cluj, or Alba Iulia whose citadels make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Throughout Transylvania there are villages that remained almost unaffected by modern civilization, still looking like they did three centuries ago. Like for instance the village of Viseul de Sus, where you can ride the Mocanita, one of those nostalgic steam engine locomotives.
The Danube Delta
Spreading over 1,500,000 acres, the Danube Delta is Europe’s largest and best preserved delta, home to hundreds of species of birds, particularly two species of pelicans, herons, storks, cormorants and terns.
There are many beautiful sites in Romania that are worth visiting, but if you are a bird-watcher and pure nature lover you shouldn’t miss this one. It is largest and the best preserved delta in Europe, with over 300 species of birds living in its lakes and marshes. The Danube Delta is a protected habitat and was declared a biosphere reserve.
The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
Among the most picturesque churches in Romania is a group of 8 Painted Monasteries located in the northeastern part of Romania, in Bucovina. The churches date back to medieval times (15th to 16th century). In most cases they have been founded as burial places for the noble families in the area.
These churches are extremely well preserved and absolutely unique. There is no other place in the world where you can find such a group, with such high quality interior and exterior frescoes. The frescoes represent biblical scenes from the Old and New Testament.
The painters (most of them unknown) gave the biblical scenes their own interpretation. Also, they used colors that are are very specific for each monastery. Like the famous Voronet blue, the red of Humor, the yellow of Moldovita and the green of Arbore.
The Byzantine frescos covering the churches’ façades have an inestimable artistic value. In 1993, eight of the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina have been declared World Heritage sites.
READ NEXT: Curtea de Arges Cathedral: from Legend to History and Back
Friendly people
In the end, no matter how beautiful a country is, it is its people that will make the difference. Romanians have the reputation for being very hospitable and friendly. The best part is that almost everywhere you go you’ll find someone who speaks English, especially the young generation.
And even if they don’t, they will do their best to accommodate you or point you in the right direction. In fact they may even offer to accompany you to where you need to get if that’s not very far.
Why You Shouldn’t Postpone Visiting Romania
Romania is one of the least expensive countries to visit in Europe, but this is changing. One thing to keep in mind is that Romania’s popularity is raising fast. After the collapse of Communism in Europe, its tourist industry started developing fast and the country began catching up with its neighboring competitors.
Romania was once underestimated destinations, but not any longer. So in a near future, you’ll be seeing higher prices, like almost everywhere else in Europe. My advice would be to include this beautiful destination in your travel plans while it is still cheap to visit.
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Denis
Your article perfectly captures why visiting Romania now is a fantastic idea. Romania offers beautiful architecture, stunning churches, ease of travel, gorgeous scenery, castles, affordability, delicious food, charming cities, the Danube Delta, painted monasteries, and friendly locals. Don’t delay your visit; Romania has it all!
Best regards,
A Romania Enthusiast
Renee
These photos are breathtaking! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Renee.
Emese
Great post about my home country. Like you, I grew up there, and left about 25 years ago. We grew up in a magical place, and it took me years after I left to realize it. Thanks for the reminder. Beautiful photos!
Anda Galffy
How nice, I didn’t realize you you are from Romania. So good we found each other.
Alex
I recommend you to visit: Bigar cascade, mud volcanoes, Turda Salt Mine, The Danube Delta, Transfagarasan.
Anda Galffy
Thanks for your suggestions, Alex. I’ve been on the Transfagarasan and in the Danube Delta. Don’t forget I was born in Romania. However, I didn’t see the Bigar waterfall, Turda salt mine or the Mud Volcanoes, but I’d love to.
Lolo
I’m so excited to be visiting this country soon as part of our honeymoon! We’ll be spending about 4 days there beginning of June!
Anda Galffy
Hope you’ll have a good time in Romania, Lolo. Can hardly wait to hear your impressions about it.
Mike
This seems really cool, I’m flying in soon on a business trip, I’ll make sure to check it out. I usually travel with Bucharest Transfers. I hope they will know how to get there, they have not let me down so far.
Anna
Vlad’s been making a really great case for Romania for the last couple of years, and now you’re helping too! It’s creeping farther and farther up on my list, mostly because of the castles and the bucolic countryside.
Anda Galffy
I’m glad to hear you’d love to visit Romania, Anna. It’s a beautiful country.
Paula
Hey, I couldn’t help thanking you for the way you described our country. I am romanian and I’m proud to see other people notice what a beautiful country we have and actually seeing the good not just the bad. Greetings from Danube Delta.
Anda Galffy
You are welcome, Paula. Don’t forget, Romania was my country too and although I left for political reasons, I can’t deny its beauty.
Jess
I loved Romania, it was just beautiful. I will definitely head back one day 🙂
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Jess. Romania is beautiful indeed and it’s still very inexpensive.
John
Couldn’t agree more! Went to Romania for the first time this year and have my next trip already booked 🙂
Anda Galffy
Glad to hear you liked Romania, John. Is my birth place.
Luminita
Hi, Anda,it’s so nice to see you show others that there are some very beautiful places worth visiting in Romania. Asides from medieval towns, the charming countryside and everything else, it’s also very easy to for a swim in the Black Sea and then hiking on the mountains in the same day (depending on the traffic, as we all know too well). I’m certain that Romania will become a more and more popular travel destination.
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Luminita. I appreciate you taking the time to read my post. I’m sure Romanian tourism will pick up in the near future. After all, this is such a beautiful country!
Anda Galffy
Thanks for your comment, Dan. “Small country” in this case was used a term of endearment rather than a reference to the size of the Romania.
Victoria @celebratetheweekend
Anda, I haven’t realized that you are from Romania until today:) I visited a couple of times when I lived in neighboring Moldova and then spent a month there about 20 years ago. I loved it. if you hadn’t include the people as one of the reasons, I would have! they were this country’s most prominent feature for me- so friendly and well cultured. I stayed in Buchurest, Sinai, and Neptun on the Black Sea. I hope I return one day with my kids.
Anda Galffy
So glad to hear you like Romania, Victoria. It seems we were neighbors for a long time, while we both lived in Europe. You know that Romanians still claim Moldova is theirs…
IVES
Romania is well known all over the world for its rich natural beauty as well as stunning heritage sights. Its villages and valleys are breathtaking and awesome. It is also very famous due to its amazing castles and churches. I have been there about a year ago after completing my USA trip with my family. Peles Castle is my favorite attractions there. It was built at the command of the first Romanian king.
Anda Galffy
I am really glad you enjoyed your trip to Romania. This country had a very sad and tumultuous history that kept it behind for centuries. Its beautiful sites have been neglected for a long time too but now things started to change for the better. Thank you for your beautiful comment.
Marisol@TravelingSolemates
Hi Anda, I feel the same way about my hone country, the Philippines. I have so much appreciation of it now then when I was still living there. Thank you for sharing the beauty of yours. I look forward to visiting Romania someday. Those old authentic villages that are frozen in time truly interest me. I’d love to see its beautiful landscapes, monasteries, architecture and meet its lovely people.
Anda Galffy
I hope you will get to visit Romania someday, Marisol. You’ll definitely enjoy the visit.
Adelina // Pack Me To
I’ve only seen a little part of Romania. I always wished I had gone further into the country. It really is beautiful and with such unique architecture.
Anda Galffy
There is still time to visit it, Adelina. Maybe next time you are in Hungary…
David Ryan
The first five are enough for me. Hope I can go there next year.
Anda Galffy
I hope you’ll like Romania, David.
Jolanta
I love your photos. Even the “old building in need of repairs” looks stunning. Thank you for writing this post. I rode through Romania on the train on my way to Bulgaria very long time ago, but the trip did not include stopping there. I hope I’ll get to see this beautiful country some time. I’m also pinning your post to my “East Central Europe” Pinterest board, hoping that travelers who come across that board while planning a trip to Central East Europe will find your post interesting as well, and maybe put Romania on their itinerary.
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Jolanta. I’m very thankful to you for sharing my pictures on Pintrest. I hope you’ll get to visit Romania someday.
Em
Your information is great, and – WOW – those photos! Just tantalizing! I’m in Central Europe but haven’t thought much about visiting Romania. This definitely piqued my interest. Cheers.
Anda Galffy
Glad to hear that. I hope Romania will meet your expectations.
Stephanie Mayo
I can’t wait to visit Romania! I’m pleased to hear of their friendly nature, especially since I’ll be solo! Everything from their castles to their churches look breath taking and so unlike anything I’ve seen thus far!
Anda Galffy
I’m so glad to hear that my post made Romania look appealing to you. I hope you’ll have a wonderful visit there.
Esther
Oh my! This looks absolutely stunning. I will have to show this to my husband in a bit… we may have a new holiday destination on our hands!
Anda Galffy
Glad to hear you like Romania, Esther. I have more recommendations for you if you if you decide to go there.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
I have always found Romania interesting and intriguing. What an absolutely stunning place with so much to offer for everyone. The churches and castles alone are such big draws for me. Beautiful photos!
Anda Galffy
Romania has many more attractions than the ones I listed.
Sand In My Suitcase
So nice to read about a country we don’t hear very much about :-). Bucharest sounds interesting with all its historic buildings (even though many are in disrepair). And your photos are lovely…
Anda Galffy
Thank you, Janice. Unfortunately, Romania is still in the group of the overseen Eastern European countries, but it has vary many interesting things to offer.
JP
I’m sold!! I want to go! You’ve listed some great reasons to visit for sure. Love the photography too.
Anda Galffy
Thank you for your beautiful comment. I’m sure you would not regret visiting Romania. And if you were to do it, it’s better to go before it turns into a touristic place like any other.
Vlad
You were faster than me, I am planning a couple of posts on Romania as well 🙂 Excellent reasons (especially the first 3) and as always, stunning photos!
Anda Galffy
Thanks Vlad. There are so many other reasons to visit Romania. I’m sure that as a local you can come up with great suggestions.
Laszlo
Great post! I should mention that a limiting to 10 will necessarily leave out stuff! Romania is a famous hunting destination for Boar, Bear and Deer. It is a treasure trove of folk art and rural civilizations, amazingly diverse, surviving live into the 21st Century, as well as one of the greatest places on earth for artifacts of ancient civilizations going back to Europe’s Stone Age.