Romania is famous for medieval castles, mountain villages, and of course… vampires! My trip focused on the central part of the country, where I visited the capital of Bucharest, traveled through Transylvania, explored several castles, and spent some time in the Carpathian Mountains. Romania ended up having a great mixture of history, old towns, dramatic scenery, and places that still felt relatively untouched by mass tourism.
Two important places I didn’t make it to were Constanța on the Black Sea and the Danube Delta. The Danube Delta is one of Europe’s great wetland wilderness areas, where the river divides into a maze of waterways before reaching the Black Sea. That’s probably number one on my list when I return, although I’d also love to spend more time exploring Romania’s mountains.
Explore Bucharest
Bucharest isn’t as famous with travelers as many other European capitals, but there’s plenty to explore in this enormous city. Public transportation makes getting around relatively easy, while different neighborhoods offer everything from historic architecture and museums to restaurants and nightlife. One of the city’s most imposing landmarks is the Palace of Parliament, an enormous government complex built during Romania’s communist era. For a completely different atmosphere, the historic Old Town is packed with restaurants, bars, cafes, and some of the city’s older architecture.
Explore Bran Castle
Bran Castle is Romania’s most famous castle and one of the country’s biggest tourist attractions. Perched above the surrounding countryside in Transylvania, the medieval fortress has become internationally known as “Dracula’s Castle.” Its connection to the historical Dracula is much weaker than popular culture would suggest, but that hardly makes the castle any less interesting. Between its towers, narrow passages, medieval rooms, and dramatic location, Bran Castle is certainly worth visiting even without the vampire legends.
Explore Dracula’s Castle
For anyone determined to find a castle with a stronger connection to the real Dracula, Poenari Castle is a much better candidate. The ruined fortress sits high above the surrounding landscape and was used by Vlad III, better known as Vlad the Impaler, the brutal 15th-century ruler who later helped inspire the Dracula legend. Unlike the heavily visited Bran Castle, Poenari feels far more remote. Much of the fortress has been destroyed, but its isolated mountain setting and connection to Vlad make the ruins an interesting destination of their own.
Explore Piatra Craiului
Piatra Craiului is one of Romania’s most beautiful mountain areas and gave me a chance to experience a completely different side of the country. The park contains forests, streams, caves, steep limestone cliffs, and a long mountain ridge that rises dramatically above the surrounding countryside. There are numerous hiking trails and opportunities for camping, along with wildlife throughout the region. Some of the higher routes cross exposed terrain where a fall could be extremely serious, making this a place where hikers need to pay attention to both the route and conditions.
