Places to see

Romania offers a rich tapestry of tourist attractions and experiences unique in Central-Eastern Europe: medieval towns in Transylvania, traditional villages in Maramureş, the world-famous painted monasteries in Bucovina, the magnificent architecture of Bucharest, the romantic Danube Delta, fairy-tale castles, the Black Sea resorts, the majestic Carpathian Mountains, spas and much more.

Transylvania is probably the first travel destination for most international students enrolled to the University of Bucharest. In case you want to visit this region in search of the bloodthirsty Count Dracula, you are about to discover that Transylvania offers many sources of excitement and adventure. So pack your bags for an imaginary journey to the beauty of this legendary place.
Most Transylvanian cities (Alba-Iulia, Braşov, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca, Sighişoara) are very old settlements. Some of them date back to the Roman era, some were first built in the 12th century by Saxon colonists. Each has a captivating story to tell to the interested traveller. Braşov, Sibiu and
Sighişoara are some of Europe's best-preserved medieval towns. They are living symbols of Transylvania. Visitors can stumble upon unique architectural treasures, small ancient tiny houses that line narrow streets, cobblestoned passageways and covered stone steps as they wander. Tiny shops purvey a range of antiques and fine hand-made products of artisans and artists who have established little communities in the countryside.
Wander through their charming plazas, and unveil the secrets of centuries-old castles. Romania's numerous castles perhaps best illustrate the country's medieval heritage. While castles built from the 14th to the 18th centuries are strong and austere fortresses built mainly for defense against invaders, those erected beginning in the late 1800s are imposing and luxurious. Universal literature found valuable sources of inspiration in some of Romania's castles, with the most famous novels written about them being The Castle from the Carpathians by Jules Verne and Dracula by Bram Stoker. Some of the best-known castles and fortresses in this area are: Bran Castle, Peleş Castle, Hunedoara, Castle or Râşnov Fortress.

Maramureş is located in the mountains of northern Transylvania. Men are amazingly skillful wood carvers, and you shouldn't be surprised that all the old houses and churches are entirely made of wood. The most respected man in the village is the one who has the biggest and most elaborately carved front gate. The women, on the other hand, weave woolen clothes and blankets, in red-white-black patterns and the traditional outfit is still proudly worn every day. Both men and women have a wit and humor that traveled way beyond their land. They are famous for the merry inscriptions they write on their tombstones. Here is an example from the cemetery of Săpânţa:
Here lies my mother-in-law.
Had she lived another year,
I would have lied in her place.

From old monasteries to 21st century busy towns, Wallachia is an inspired mix of old and new.
The Western part of Wallachia, spread on the hills south of the Carpathians, is traditionally called Oltenia, because it lies on the river Olt. If you ever decide to visit this region, ask about the potters and people will guide you to their houses, which are also their workshops. Everything in this job is a family secret, from the choice of the clay to modeling, painting, cooking and finally glazing. The resulting plates, mugs, pitchers, and even toys and flutes, display specific colors (especially white, rich browns and grays, and sometimes green) and a specific design. Often symbolic drawings appear on these works. One of the most popular is the rooster, and another one is the fish. But most of the earthware is decorated in delicate, yet powerful geometric patterns, skillfully painted by the masters' wives using age-old tools such as cows horns and goose feathers.

This entire southern region is also famous for its spas. The modern resort at Herculane is beautifully placed in majestic scenery, and can be a great place to relax away from the busy towns. There are a number of comfortable hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops, and the city square proudly displays a large statue of Hercules. The legend has it that Hercules himself used to come here and enjoy the famous mineral water springs. Archaeological discoveries show that the rich mineral waters at Herculane were known well before the Romans conquered the region, in the first century AD. But since they were great engineers, the Romans developed the region, building public baths for everyone to enjoy. Today, little remains of the original constructions, but nevertheless the tradition is carried on.

Land of the brave kings, Moldavia reveals its softer side in the unique painted monasteries.
The fame of these Moldavian churches reaches well beyond the borders of Romania. Actually, most of them are protected by UNESCO as part of humankind’s world heritage. Probably the best known tourist attraction in the country, they are visited daily by hundreds of travelers from all over the world. What is so special about them?
They were all built in the 15th and 16th centuries, in a time of great political and cultural development of Moldavia. The period is related to the 50-year long rule of king Ştefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great). He used to build churches and establish monasteries in moments of great importance for the country, usually to thank God for an important military victory or to celebrate a prosperous period. What makes all these churches unique is the painting. Frescoes were typical to all Byzantine churches of that time. But here, the frescoes are on the outside! Painted more than 400 years ago, they still preserve their gorgeous colours, amazing the visitor with the mastery of the drawing and the wonderfully balanced tones. The most cherished of all monasteries is Voroneţ. It is widely known throughout Europe as the Sistine Chapel of the East, because of its interior and exterior wall paintings, which offer an abundance of blue-chromatic frescoes featuring a color that has come to be known as Voroneţ blue. The frescoes of this church and many other painted churches illustrate biblical scenes, prayers, episodes of sacred hymns and themes such as The Last Judgment and The Ladder of St. John.
Moldavia has also the advantage of well-preserved natural treasures or interesting natural phenomena. Among these, the Mud Volcanoes seem to be the most famous. This is a place where hot gases from the depth escape to the surface. When you combine this with underground water and minerals, you get geysers and boiling pools of mud. Local people have always associated this place with evil forces and feared the spot, calling it the gates of hell. But apart from that, the landscape is truly bizarre and deserves a visit.

Danube Delta is the last great wildlife refuge in Europe. It covers more than 2,000 sq. miles comprising channels and canals widening into tree-fringed lakes, reed islands, and pools covered with water lilies, oak forests intertwined with lianas and creepers, desert dunes and traditional fishermen villages. In this huge sea of reeds and water, animals outnumber humans 1000 to 1. Danube Delta is home to more than 300 migratory and permanent bird species; 160 kinds of fish that include caviar-bearing sturgeon and 800 plant families.
Wonderful as it is, this is a fragile paradise which needs good care and preservation efforts. That's why some of the Delta territory has been designated as restricted areas and natural reservations, and are on the list of UN natural monuments.

The Black Sea was cruised by the Greek sailors since the 8th century BC. Practically all of the Romanian Black Sea shore is a chain of resorts, among which: Mamaia, Eforie Nord, Eforie Sud, Costineşti, Neptun, Olimp, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn. The beach is wide and public, with fine golden sand and calm waters.
This area is also famous for its Greek ruins dating from the 7th century BC.

The majestic ranges of the Carpathians are a perfect getaway for hikers and wildlife lovers.
It is very easy to find a great hiking trail. Romania has more than 400 parks and nature reservations protecting hundreds of species of flora and fauna. The variety of terrain, from mountainous to gentle, offers something for every hiker regardless of skill or level. Rock-climbing enthusiasts should head for the main rock-climbing gateways: Buşteni with its 400 meters wall of Valea Albă, Zărneşti giving access to the 2.500 meters peaks of the Făgăraş mountains and Bran, overlooked by the limestone range of Piatra Craiului.
A multitude of mountain resorts offer slopes from easy to challenging. Many of these resorts provide a multitude of other activities including cross-country skiing, snowboarding and tubing. The highest ski point in Romania has an altitude of 2.100 meters. The major ski resorts are Poiana Braşov, Sinaia, Predeal, Păltiniş and Runcu.