Traveling in Romania (and Why You Should Go Right Now)
Most people don't necessarily equate “Romania” with “cool travel destination.”
This Eastern European country between Hungary and Bulgaria isn't usually a place people have high up on their must-visit lists. Romania is where communism and vampires live — not somewhere you travel to for fun. Right?
Well, that couldn't be farther from the truth.
While Romania is still developing after the fall of Ceausescu and communism (and most will say communism hasn't fully left), it's a much easier and interesting place to travel than you probably realize.
(And, for the record, I didn't see a single vampire while I was there.)
Romania, in short, blew me away. I had been looking forward to traveling there for years, but the country far exceeded my expectations. And here's why:
Why You Should Travel to Romania Right Now
It's affordable
Cheaper even than the Czech Republic and Hungary, Romania should be attractive just because of its price tag. Everything from accommodation to transport to food is affordable. Even the “touristy” places are far from expensive.
For example, in Brasov — one of Romania's top tourist destinations for both domestic and foreign tourists — entry to the major attraction (Bran Castle) was only $7 USD for an adult ticket with photo license. The most expensive meal I had in the country (at a really posh restaurant) was $12 — the cheapest was less than $3. You can only imagine how cheap beer was.
It's beautiful
The countryside, the medieval cities, the people… Romania has plenty of surprises in store.
Cities like Sighisoara and Brasov are ridiculously attractive and colorful, and the rolling countryside remains largely untouched in most parts of the country. And the locals? Lovely people who will undoubtedly be happy to see you and happier still to talk to you about their country.
It's relatively easy to travel
One of the biggest surprises for me was how easy it was to get around Romania. The country is fairly well-connected by trains, buses, and planes to the rest of Europe, and you can even use your Eurail pass here.
And, out of all the public trains and buses I rode while in Romania, only one was old and slightly dirty. Most were newer and clean — some even had air conditioning! And the best part? Every single train and bus I rode actually ran on time! (Not necessarily always the case, of course, but no delays in a week is pretty good.)
Most people speak English
Adding to the ease of travel is the fact that almost everyone in the country speaks at least a little English — especially those in the younger generations. This makes it easy to not only travel in Romania, but also to get to know the locals a bit.
It's not too crowded yet
Because Romania (and, really, most of Eastern Europe) is quite a ways off the usual tourist trail, even the “touristy” places feel relaxed and welcoming — even in high season. The only place I really found to be crowded was Bran Castle — but there are plenty of better things/places to see anyway.
Old traditions survive
Since Romania isn't teeming with tourists, older traditions — like making homemade schnapps and weaving and woodcarving — are still going strong.
You can still find quirky places like Merry Cemetery that nobody knows about. Villages still feel like villages. And the cows still come home at night.
It's ready for tourism
Because of the above reasons and more, Romania is very much ready for tourism.
Bucharest has a brand new subway system and buses equipped with GPS-enabled screens. Villages like Viscri are converting old heritage buildings into home stays. And nearly everywhere offers visitors free wifi access.
But this won't all last, of course. As the country continues to develop and Romania's economy improves (likely to happen once it officially joins the Schengen zone soon), many of these reasons may become irrelevant.
So, if you've ever considered traveling in Romania, go now!
Find accommodation in Romania:
Do you think you'll ever travel to Romania?
*Note: Intrepid Travel graciously provided me with a complimentary Eastern Europe Explorer tour. But all opinions, as always, are entirely my own.
If you're interested in doing the same tour I did, you can check it out here.
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Our stories of discovery are similar.
I met a nice woman on “YouTube”. We were discussing a piece of music by a modern Romanian band.
I liked her and we exchanged email addresses. After a few emails I discovered my initial opinion and belief were correct. She and I had similar morals and ethics. I felt she was perfect.
Anyway, I said I would love to meet her and she suggested I caught a plane to Bucuresti.
THAT was the reason I visited and immediately fell in love with initially Bucuresti and later, Romania.
To impress my new girlfriend, I have researched enough info for a university thesis. I have also taught myself some limba Romana.
Imi place Romania!
Peter.
What a great story, Peter! Glad to hear you fell in love with Romania, too.
I regularly thank Laura (the nice woman, who I love) for introducing me to Romania.
In my research, I have discovered the extreme depth of history and tradition to be appreciated. When you realise that since the Romans invaded Dacia and Thrace, the modern Romanian region has been the most invaded countryside in Europe and possibly the world!
This can be authenticated by a visit to a Romanian restaurant. You will see dishes like schnitzel and strudel from Austria, goulash from Hungary, moussaka from Greece, sauerkraut from Germany, mamaliga / polenta from Italy, stroganov from Poland / Russia, kebabs from Turkey… the list is endless!
Yup, there are a ton of outside influences in Romania!
Well the moussaka isn`t greek at all ( The English name came from modern Greek mousakás (μουσακάς). The Greek name came from the Turkish musakka designating roughly the same recipe. The same name and recipe is found throughout the lands that formerly were part of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. The Turkish name came from Arabic musaqa‘h (مسقعة), which in Arabic means moussaka but comes from an Arabic root literally meaning “chilled”.[1] In Arabic countries a variant of the same recipe is eaten cold. A popular Middle Eastern recipe called İmam bayıldı (it has that name in Turkish, Arabic and Greek) is eaten cold and is similar to moussaka. Moussaka is eaten warm – wikipedia ).
Polenta might be an latin name but the recipe was used largely in europe since ancient time. This is not making it an italian food. wikipedia says about mamaliga : Mămăligă (Romanian pronunciation: [məməˈliɡə]) is a porridge made out of yellow maize flour, traditional in Romania and Moldova. It is similar to the Italian polenta. Historically a peasant food, it was often used as a substitute for bread or even as a staple food in the poor rural areas. However, in the last decades it has emerged as an upscale dish available in the finest restaurants.
Roman influence[edit]
Historically, porridge is the oldest form of consumption of grains in the whole of humanity, long before the appearance of bread. Originally, the seeds used to prepare slurries were very diverse as millet or einkorn.
Before the introduction of maize in Europe in the 16th century, mămăligă had been made with millet flour, known to the Romans as pulmentum. Moreover, the Romans ate so much of it that the Greeks called them pultiphagonides (porridge eaters). <— Romans ate a lot. This doesn`t ment they invented the porridge since it was available since the dawns of humanity, got the point?
Same as pizza : The word pizza (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpittsa], from the Latin verb pìnsere, to press and from the Greek pēktos, πηκτός, meaning "solid" or "clotted") [b][i]is Greek in origin [/b][/i](see also pitta). The ancient Greeks covered their bread with oils, herbs and cheese. In Byzantine Greek, the word was spelled πίτα, pita, or πίττα, pitta, meaning pie. The word has also spread to Romanian as pită, Turkish as pide,[2] and Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian and Serbian as pita, Albanian as pite and Modern Hebrew pittāh.[3]
Modern pizza originated in Italy as the Neapolitan flatbread. – wikipedia. It is invented in italy? They made it famous with modernised receipe , that is another thing. Just as british made famous the curry. Btw, do the british invaded japan? Because curry is traditional here too since 19th century. Introducing a food in a country is not similar with conquest / invasion. See the "famous" american apple pie`s origins. Or Chop suey`s . And kebab is not traditional nor found in all restaurants in Romania! Same as stroganoff`s.
Wow, Alex, slow it down man!
First there was the Greek culture, the Greek agriculture, the Greek cuisine, the Greek pharmacology, the Greek city states and then the Arabs and the Ottomans came, gave up their nomadic style and started cooking and farming – at least about 1000 years later! Neither the ancient Arabs or the ancient Turks were renown for farming! LOL
Put it into the real perspective.
If you would have shown the history of porridge (in fact who the hell cares?) as being inherited FROM THE EGYPTIANS, I would have accepted it as true. But the Greeks did not take food stuff from the Ottomans or Arabs – it was the other way around, as the Greek civilization is the oldest, and not the others.
Thank you for visiting our country, I hope you had a great time here, but I have 2 objections:
a) Romania is in Central Europe, not in Eastern Europe… it is placed at exactly equal distance (2900 km) from the most Western point (Portugal), the most Eastern point (Ural Mountains) and the most Northern point (Norway) of Europe.
b) you have travelled only in Transylvania, the biggest region of Romania. But it is true, Transylvania is the most beautiful part of Romania, in the rest you don’t have anything interesting to see in the other regions excepting Transfagarasan road, the Black Sea seaside and the monasteries of Bukovina (which are amazing!!!)
Thank you for liking our country! I hope you will return one day! 🙂
Thanks for the comment! I did indeed really enjoy your country.
You may be correct that, geographically speaking, Romania is in central Europe. But most people I know definitely consider it a part of Eastern Europe culture-wise!
And I was also in the Maramures region and Bucharest in addition to Transylvania!
Hello!
First of all, it’s a shame I did not know about this blog before but, better later than never 🙂 Scond, when and if’re done with these ridiculous politicians of our, before they end with us ( which wouldn’t be impossible), I’ll have your name in mind as future Minister of Tourism 🙂 And 3rd, You should definetly try the Prahova Valley with all the ressorts, castles and incredible views that you will see there. BTW, is not in Transylvania so, there is more than Tranylvania worth to see 😉 One question., pls: did you get to see the second biggest building in the world? I name here a great place in Bucharest, where 99% of our deputes and senators sleep and snore: the Parliament 🙂 It was made during communism and was one of the biggest pride of Ceausescu.And no, it’s not people who killed him, it was a coup d’etat made to look like a Revolution but that’s another subject.
Best wishes and hope you’ll come again!
P.S. I’ve seen earlier someone mentioning old dacian bracelets … here, I leave for you and for whoever wants to know some interesting things about Romania. You might be surprised again 🙂
http://andreeasoarero.wordpress.com/beautiful-romania-wonderful-views-of-our-lakes/
http://andreeasoarero.wordpress.com/romania-always-surprising/
http://andreeasoarero.wordpress.com/romania-draculas-real-home/
http://andreeasoarero.wordpress.com/etymology-of-the-word-romanian/
http://andreeasoarero.wordpress.com/romania-top-of-the-world/
http://andreeasoarero.wordpress.com/things-id-like-to-share-with-the-world/
Yes, I did visit Bucharest and saw the Parliament building, along with some other things around the city. What a HUGE building!
That building is no-one’s pride but the naivest and the uninformed, Andreea Soare.
Architecturally it’s a big blob of kitsch, it’s uglier than all jokes with “yo momma” condensed in one. It was built on blood – no Romanian should ever FORGET – where that ugly building stands and that large boulevard in front of it opens up, there it was the oldest, most beautiful, most charming residential part of Bucharest – streets paved with cobbler stones or wood logs.
Have you ever seen (or even heard of) streets paved 200 years ago with round logs buried in the ground vertically after they were soaked in very fluid bitumen to make them weather proof and century lasting, and the entire street had thousands of round circles on it? I did, in Bucharest, before the dictator erased everything!
The logs were cut from tree trunks no wider than 15-20 cm in diameter and lasted forever…and they were so quiet in the traffic… as wood absorbs sound and doesn’t refract it onto the walls of the buildings.
Those streets had houses and churches built 3-400 years ago and Romania’s oldest hospital in a majestic old building with marble and mosaic floors, and intricate architectural details inside and out.
Those streets were lined with huge linden trees or huge poplars or chestnut trees and oak trees and they were so old, some of those trees stood there for 300-500 years, as once upon a time immemorial there were thick forests there! Some of those trees were true remnants of those forests.
That area was so gorgeous you wanted to spend weeks exploring it.
Here and there there were very old tiny private restaurants in little gardens with 4-5 tables only, under lilac trees or laced gazebos and they served delicatessen of all sorts that one could experience only in that area.
Between the cobbler stones, thick green moss was growing and the houses were covered in all sorts of flowering creepers and wines and climbing roses and in spring, all those linden trees and chestnut trees flowered and the air was sweet and the streets looked like parks – one could hardly see the houses through that greenery.
And all that was erased by bulldozers in few months in the Seventies and nothing was saved or even photographed for posterity (!!) or inventoried or rebuilt.
It lives in my memory like a never healing wound.
Shame on anyone who prizes that ugly, useless and expensive building, it’s like praising an abattoir.
I hate that building – it is tasteless, or better: it is in very poor taste and it killed half historical Bucharest to be erected as a megalomaniac monument to a tyrant.
We would be very happy if you all returned to Romania to help you with our car rental company.Only we know the old routes in Transilvania and Bucovina.The Transylvanian Saxon churches and monasteries from Bucovina.!We are proud to have you as guests!
I will definitely keep that in mind, thank you!
When you come again to Romania, we are waiting for you in Timisoara city. Thanks for the article (a Romanian entrepreneur).
Thanks so much; I will definitely keep you in mind!
[…] pe twitter la Ligia Adam despre blogul Amandei, un blogger american venita in Romania ca parte a unui trip prin tarile […]
If you ever visit Romania again, be sure to get in touch with me, and we can have a chit chat with the other female bloggers in Bucharest. 😀
We have a pretty large bloggers’ community. And this applies to every female/male blogger out there who decides to visit us.
By the way, there’s a Facebook Page about “273 places to see before you leave Romania” https://www.facebook.com/273.ro . You should definitely check it out as “273 places to see when you visit Romania”, as well. *happy face*
Best wishes,
Roxanne
Yes, I’ve heard about the blogging community in Romania! I will definitely keep that in mind.
Awesome. 😀
Drop me an email when you feel like revisiting.
Exactly. We all are people of God.We are all borned equal; but what you write in the comment please told other travellers that are disrespecting us when we travell. Me like Romanian I am facing many difficulties when travelling around Europe for example. People says that all romanians are gypsies. But Roma people is just an etinicity. And the fact that you put an picture with them, a single, make people makes people believe that we all are the same. Not many people achived to visit Romania. Please stop putting pictures on internet with poor kids,and dirty places. I know we are not perfect, bet we try our best. No country is perfect. I hightly recommend you to try to visit other regions of Romania, and bring other friends with you. Maybe like this you will learn more about us; what you see is different from what you read; you are a travel blogger; we have some influence; people reads your post, and form on opinion; in Europe we confrunt discrimination. A picture offers a mesage to its readers. Please put pictures with real Romania.
Ana, have a look at the whole bunch of other posts I’ve written about Romania – with TONS of other photos. Perhaps even some of this “real Romania” that you mention.
And, as far as photos of “poor kids and dirty places,” you will find very few of those on this blog. I really like Romania and frequently recommend it to other travelers. I’m sorry if you were somewhat offended by this post; no one else has been.
Is interesting that after days of traveling on your post is one single picture with humans being, and that one with gypsies. Romanians are not Romani people, for the God sake. Have you not learn that in your expensive schools?
First of all, just because there’s only one photo in THIS post with people in it doesn’t mean I didn’t take others. And, secondly, my “expensive schools” have taught me that people are people, no matter what race or nationality they are. Those little girls were sweet and adorable and asked me to take their photo, so I did. And they live in Romania, so as far as I’m concerned they absolutely belong in this post.
For all who like untouched nature, unspoiled rural areas and “real” rural people who will spontaneously invite you to share their meal, Romania is a MUST destination.
If you have 47 minutes to spare, check out the video WILD CARPATHIA. From all the recent films about Romania its one of the best, if not the best.
http://www.trilulilu.ro/video-film/wild-carpathia-un-superb-documentar-despre-transil
I definitely agree with that first statement!
I can not believe anyone has not mentioned the Transfagarasan Highway, National Road 7C. This is one of the greatest roads to drive threw the mountains. At the top there is a long tunnel that leads to Balea Lake with hotels to accomodate. Be sure to check out the some of the Penseuna “Hotels” at the bottom of the mountain. Great food, super views, dirt cheap, and hearing the sound of the water coming off the mountain is so relaxing. Be sure to order some Mititei and a cold Silvia Negra or a Ursus Black. You will thank me later! Bran is cool and ride the lift in Brasov. Make sure you get a GPS……………… As an American I look forward to going back!
That highway sounds great! Who doesn’t love a good drive through the mountains?
Not any kind of road. Those from Top Gear (the greatesc tv show about car) said that Transfagarasan is The best driving road in the world. The intresting fact is that meanwhile in Romania has been opened a new amaizing road through the mountains: Transalpina (reaching the maximum altitude of 2145 metres and having a history of over 2000 years). Another reason to visit again Romania 🙂
Oh pleaseee, don’t giveup Transalpina so easily, it used to be something esoteric 🙂 Really now, Transalpina is A W E S O M E, visited it before and after it was opened.
guys, she is a tourist, not Jeremy Clarkson
If you are interested in castles and history I recommend in Hunedoara, the Hunyad Castle that was part of Principality of Transylvania, and it’s believed to be the place where Vlad III of Wallachia (commonly known as Dracula) was held prisoner for 7 years after he was deposed in 1462. The castle is a relic of the Hunyadi dynasty. It was built in Gothic style, but has Baroque and Renaissance architectural elements. It is a large and imposing building with tall and diversely colored roofs, towers and myriad windows and balconies adorned with stone: http://www.castelulcorvinilor.ro/en/
If you love nature close by you can visit also Retezat National Park :
http://www.wonderfulromania.ro/en/parcul-national-retezat-taramul-lacurilor-glaciare/
Thanks for the suggestions!
If you visit Romania you should definetly check out Alba Iulia, a historical town in Transylvania with a wonderful star-shaped citadel that has undergone major changes in the past decade and is ready for welcoming tourists.
photos : https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.559641880732192.141479.253324688030581&type=3
A star-shaped citadel? That sounds cool!
Hy! The article its very nice! I’m a roumanian, 24 years old, and I admit that this year i visited my country, I was only in Europe in my vacation! Visit Bran castle, Peles castle, Rasnov castle, Sighisoara, Brasov, Constanta who is on the Black Sea, Tulcea(from where you cand go to the Danube Delta, the wildest and the beautiful place in the world, if someone needs a recomendetion for 4-5 stars hotels, please contact me*
Hello Amanda ! Thank you very much for all beautiful things said about Romania. I’m from Romania, so if somebody need some information or help, you can ask me.
You are most welcome. You come from a beautiful country!
Romania is truly a beautiful country with much to offer. If you are interested to visit you can see what we have to offer at https://www.facebook.com/273ReasonstovisitRomania?fref=ts
Agreed – lots of reasons to visit!