The Top Things to see and do in Romania

Romania is an overlooked jewel of eastern Europe. A country that combines a rich history, unique cultural traditions and spectacularly wild landscapes, there is a whole host of different things to see and do. From the fairy-tale turrets of Peles Castle, the extraordinary fresco adorned painted monasteries of Bucovina and the medieval cobbled streets of Brasov and Sighisoara to the towering gothic edifice of Bran Castle, the subterranean labyrinths of the Turda Salt Mine and the fortified Saxon church of Biertan, this guide highlights the top things to do in Romania.

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Located within the Bucegi Mountains on the outskirts of Sinaia and with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, Peles Castle served as the summer residence of the Romanian royal family. The castle was commissioned by King Carol I in 1873 and built in a Germanic style with fairy-tale turrets and terraced gardens. Finally completed in 1914, the castle boasted lavish interiors, embellished with Murano crystal chandeliers, stained glass windows and rare artworks. Today there are 160 rooms to explore including the grand Royal Library, the armoury and the sumptuous Royal Apartments as well as the gardens and grounds of the surrounding Peles Park.

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The painted monasteries of Bucovina are rightly recognised as masterpieces of medieval art and design. Eight of the region’s monastic complexes – Voronet, Sucevita, Moldovita, Humor, Arbore, Patrauti, Probota and Suceava’s Saint George – are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites and date primarily to the 15th and 16th centuries. Their exterior walls are adorned with vivid frescoes depicting biblical scenes and saints whilst candlelit interiors house a host of treasures including ancient manuscripts and religious icons. Voronet, famous for its vivid frescoes that feature a bold shade of blue, Sucevita, the most fortified of the monasteries, and Moldovita’s ‘Siege of Constantinople’ mural are highlights.

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Medieval Brasov and Sighisoara are two of Transylvania’s finest towns. Protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites inscribed to preserve their exceptional historical significance, the architecture of both exhibits a unique fusion of Saxon, Hungarian and Romanian influences. Brasov, encircled by rolling hills and dense forest, was founded by Saxon settlers in the 13th century. Highlights include the Black Church, a towering Gothic masterpiece, and the Council Square with its baroque merchant houses. Sighisoara, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, is another charming town. Explore the citadel and climb the 14th century clock tower for sweeping views over the rooftops.

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Constructed over thirteen years during Nicolae Ceausescu’s dictatorial regime, Bucharest’s monumental Palace of the Parliament dominates the city’s skyline. This colossal structure, also known as the ‘People’s House’, is one of the world’s largest public administrative buildings and today remains the seat of the Parliament of Romania. Embodying both Romania’s complex history and an obvious symbol of Ceaușescu’s megalomania, the building covers 365,000 square metres and has 12 storeys and 1,100 rooms, many opulently adorned with marble, crystal chandeliers and gold leaf. Highlights include the Union Hall, where Romania’s Senate convenes, and the cavernous Human Rights Hall.

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Perched dramatically atop a rocky promontory in the Carpathian Mountains, Bran Castle is arguably Romania’s most recognisable medieval fortress. Built during the 14th century by Saxon settlers, the castle served as a strategic stronghold on Transylvanian trade routes, its jagged turrets and stone ramparts framed against forest and mist-shrouded peaks. The atmospheric setting and interior of narrow staircases and mysterious secret passages has long fuelled the imagination and although dubbed ‘Dracula’s Castle’, its connection to Vlad the Impaler is tenuous. Nonetheless, the castle’s Gothic grandeur and eerie atmosphere have cemented its place in vampire lore, drawing visitors from far and wide.

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At the meeting of the Danube River and Black Sea, the Danube Delta is a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve and considered Europe’s most pristine wetland. Spanning over 5,800 square kilometres, this labyrinth of channels, lakes and reedbeds is a sanctuary for over 350 species of birds including the iconic Dalmatian pelican and great white pelican, pygmy cormorant, heron, stalk and ibis, white-tailed eagle and red-footed falcon, European roller and black-winged stilt. A great number of bird species are migratory, due largely to the delta’s location along the Via Pontica migration route, which ensures spectacular sightings, particularly during the spring and autumn.

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Southern Transylvania is synonymous with fortified, defensive churches. Built by Saxons settlers between the 13th and 16th centuries to provide protection against Ottoman and Tartar invasion, the best known of these is in the pretty village of Biertan. UNESCO protected, Biertan’s fortified church, with its triple-ringed defensive walls and towering belfry, dominates its surroundings. Completed in 1524, the church’s late Gothic architecture houses a triple-naved hall, intricately carved altarpieces, a 15th century baptismal font, matrimonial prison where quarrelsome couples were confined until reconciliation and the largest polyptych in Transylvania, its 28 panels depicting biblical scenes that exhibit fine craftsmanship.

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The Turda Salt Mine is one of Romania’s most fascinating geological and historical sites. Located outside of the city of Turda, this extraordinary mine descends over 100 metres beneath the earth offering visitors the opportunity to explore a surreal underground landscape carved from ancient salt deposits. The complex’s origins trace back to the Roman era when salt, once a precious commodity, was first extracted here and, by the 17th century, the mine had become a major source of wealth for the Habsburg Empire. Today its vast chambers showcase towering salt walls, crystalline formations, an underground lake and amphitheatre that hosts concerts and events.

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The wooden churches of Maramures, eight of them UNESCO listed, are spread a across a series of rural villages in northern Romania. Masterpieces of timber architecture and late Gothic design, the majority of the churches were built between the 17th and 19th centuries, all remarkably constructed without nails and using only interlocked wooden joints. Many of the churches remain in regular use, highlights include the Church of the Holy Archangels in Rogoz with its soaring 54-metre steeple, religious icons and carved timber beams, and the monastery at Barsana which is renowned for its intricate frescoes depicting biblical scenes and collection of old religious documents.

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