Painted monasteries, Saxon villages and castles in the Carpathians.
Romania is one of Europe's most rural and varied countries. Transylvania has medieval towns like Brașov and Sighișoara, Saxon fortified churches and Bran Castle; Maramureș keeps its wooden churches and old farming traditions; and Bucovina's painted monasteries are covered in centuries-old frescoes. The Carpathians curve through the middle, and the Danube Delta is a vast wetland full of birdlife.
Food is rustic and filling, with sarmale (cabbage rolls), mămăligă and grilled mici. Trains and buses link the cities, but a car is best for villages and the Transfăgărășan mountain road, usually open only from early summer to autumn. May, June, September and October are ideal; high summer is hot in the lowlands, and winter brings snow and skiing.
Best time to visit Romania
May, June, September, October.
Places to visit in Romania
Bucharest: Romania's capital, mixing belle époque mansions, Orthodox churches and one of the world's largest buildings.
Brașov: A handsome Transylvanian town of Saxon squares, beneath forested mountains and close to Bran Castle.
Sibiu: A graceful Transylvanian city of pastel squares and roofs with eye-shaped windows.
Sighișoara: A colourful fortified hilltop citadel, one of Europe's best-preserved inhabited medieval towns.
Essentials
Currency: Romanian Leu (RON)
Language: Romanian; English common in cities
Plugs: Type C / F, 230 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC+2
Tipping: About 10% in restaurants
Getting around: Trains and buses link cities; a car is best for villages and mountain roads
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking