Transylvania, tales of Dracula, and a rich European history beckon in Romania! While we’ve got the castles of Scotland and Ireland up next on our big Europe trip in 2020, I’ve been keeping my eye on Romania as a good travel destination for another return visit to Europe.
I’ve heard wonderful things about it and it seems to be a destination that’s incredible to visit but not overcrowded yet. I love visiting medieval areas of Europe and Romania seems to do a great job of preserving its history and structures – and they don’t seem shy about embracing their legends or using them to lure travelers to their land.
I’m starting to plan out what to see and do in Romania for some future trip there and I’ve narrowed down our itinerary to include these 10 best things to do in Romania.
Romania bucket list
See the castles
Romania is home to some impressive, historic castles and I can’t wait to snap photos of as many of them as possible! With famous castles like Bran Castle, Peles Castle, and Corvins’ Castle, we’ll have plenty of historical and architectural beauties to keep us busy. Some date back to the 14th and 15th centuries and would be quite cool to explore.
Bucharest tour
We’ll have to plan a stop in Romania’s capital to see the majestic buildings, museums, parks, and fun bars. While touring Old Centre, we can check out the Palace of Parliament or meander through the Museum of Contemporary Art. We could also opt to time travel by visiting the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum as part of our tour of Bucharest.
Brasov tour
I’m actually quite familiar with Brasov as I wrote tour descriptions for a former client who did walking tours of Brasov. I can’t wait to see it with my own two eyes and explore this charming area. We’ll have to stop by the Gothic Black Church, get some photos of the impressive views, and soak up the history in this town – and definitely stop for some yummy food.
Visit the Snagov Monastery
Rumored to hold the remains of Vlad the Impaler, this one-of-a-kind and heavily decorated monastery was founded in the 14th century and has become a top attraction in Romania. We can wander across the footbridge to the island and see the supposed grave of Dracula – though my research tells me photos cost extra. Will the grave even show up in photos?
Enjoy the Danube Delta
I’ve read one of the best ways to experience the Danube Delta is on a sightseeing boat ride. This UNESCO site is home to lakes, marshes, and a wide variety of marine life and bird species. Another option is to take the ferry across if we want to spend the night in another city, but I think we’d opt for a narrated wildlife tour of the region.
The Merry Cemetery
It’s a little macabre and a little silly, but I want to check out the “Merry Cemetery” or formally known as Cimitirul Vesel in Sapanta. The gravestones and crosses are clever and share shocking stories and details of those buried below, sometimes even illustrations of how the person died, like beheading or being run over. Definitely for visitors with a dark sense of humor, so sign me up! Many of the grave markers were made by the same man for more than 40 years, Stan Ioan Patras, who created his own cross before passing in 1977 but having already taught the artistry of these interesting graves to his apprentice.
Check out Constanta Casino
This early 1900s casino is supposed to have a great view of the Black Sea and the old port at Constanta, and has lived several lives as a casino, WWII hospital, and restaurant before finally being abandoned in 1990. Many take to touring the closed-to-the-public building as it’s rumored that the police don’t exactly enforce the closure. It looks pretty unique and is said to look like a hearse when viewed from above.
Try traditional dishes
Trying local and traditional dishes is one of the best parts about traveling to learn more about a place and try new foods. Romanian cuisine seems to focus on hearty dishes, with plenty of meats, vegetables, and stews on the menu. Of course, many of the doughy and sweet desserts sound pretty tempting. I think we’ll easily be able to find a few new favorite dishes while exploring Romania.
Top foods to try in Romania:
- Meatball sour soup
- Sarmale
- Stuffed squash
- Ciorba de burta
- Balmos
- Mici
- Jumari
- Chimney cake
- Koliva
- Papanasi
Catch some sun by the sea
Along the Black Sea, we can rest and relax as we soak up the sun on the beach. There are quite a few resorts to choose from along the 45-mile stretch of beaches, and it’s said that the waters along the Black Sea coastline have healing properties and can act as medicinal aids. Some of the most popular sea resorts include: Mamaia, Jupiter, Neptun, Venus, Saturn, Mangalia, and Eforie Nord and Eforie Sud. It won’t take much convincing to get me to set aside a day or two of our Romania trip to spend time by the sea!
Go hiking
Being in Colorado, Rick and I are spoiled when it comes to stunning hiking opportunities, but checking out some of the peaks and trails in the Carpathian Mountains is making me want to pack up my hiking boots right now. Some spectacular trails offer waterfalls, glacial lakes, and incredible panoramic views. Of course, there are also some easy trails near the main cities for a quick trek through nature, but I feel we’ll want to dedicate some time to the longer, challenging trails.
Of course, we’ve got a while to go until we plan a trip to Romania, so please let us know if there’s anything else we should add to our Romania bucket list in the comments below or tell us on Twitter!
