Unobvious, but very interesting - Romania: itinerary of 7 top spots

It is commonly believed that Romania is unsafe and not particularly interesting. In fact, it can rightfully be called the "Carpathian pearl" - it is so unusual and diverse. Here you can wake up in the morning in the mountains near an ancient castle, and in the evening - dine on seafood by the sea. Romania has many castles and palaces: Bran, Corvinov, Peleş, Pelisor, Poenari, Rişnov, Deva, Sighisoara - these are a few examples of the marvelous fortresses and castles this country is rich in.

To all this splendor, Romania is quite a cheap country, by European standards, in the ranking of the cheapest destinations in Europe.

You can travel around the country by the "classic" options: train, bus or airplane. Thus, a flight from Cluj to Bucharest costs about €35, by train - €18, by bus - €15. Accommodation in hostels will start from €5, in hotels from €17.

Our Romania itinerary is as follows: Palace of Culture in Iasi - Danube River Delta - Mamaia - Romanian Parliament Building in Bucharest - Dracula's Castle - Red Yar (Râpa Roșie) - Cluj. The total length of the route is 1148 km.

Palace of Culture in Iasi

The Neo-Gothic palace is the pride not only of the city of Iasi, but also of the whole country. The palace was built over 28 years and has at least 298 rooms. The building resembles royal palaces in the Netherlands or Belgium, but still with its own local peculiarities. The surroundings are also very beautiful, which makes for pleasant walks. The main highlight of the palace is the fact that it houses four museums at once: the Museum of Science and Technology, the Museum of Ethnography, the Museum of Art and the Museum of History.

Danube River Delta

A natural wonder - the Danube Delta - is a common attraction of Romania and Ukraine. But if fate takes you to Romania, this place is worth seeing with your own eyes.

You can book a hotel in Romania with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

The delta includes 23 ecosystems that are home to many species of flora and fauna - ideal for birdwatching (birdwatching) and fishing enthusiasts. The former is best visited in the spring, the latter in the fall. The total number of bird species is over 300 and fish 160 species.

No need to worry about lodging, these places offer many options from unique overnight stays with locals to posh guesthouses.

Mamaia

Romania has access to the Black Sea, and as such, there are many seaside towns that beckon tourists during the summer. Mamaia is the most popular resort in Romania - with a beach strip of about 8 km and a lot of entertainment for every wallet.

The resort boasts a water park (one of the largest in Eastern Europe), a planetarium, a dolphinarium and a Natural History Museum.

Romanian Parliament building in Bucharest

The Palace of Parliament is a truly unique building that is worth seeing with your own eyes. It holds the world record in three categories at once: the most expensive administrative building, the heaviest building, and the largest civilian building with administrative functions. The total area of the building is 350,000 m². The palace has 1,100 rooms, 12 floors and 4 underground levels.

The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest has its own interesting history, and also keeps many secrets, so you should definitely go on a tour and feel the atmosphere of grandeur yourself, walking through the marble corridors of the Parliament.

Dracula's Castle

Bran Castle, or, as it is often called, "Dracula's Castle", is a rather mystical place, but at the same time one of the most visited by tourists. The whole point is that it is attributed to a "connection" with Prince Vlad Tepes (known to the world under the nickname "Dracula"), who, according to legend, was a very bloodthirsty ruler. In fact, no one has ever confirmed this fact, but this legend has made the castle a great advertisement.

Bran Castle itself is a very beautiful and majestic structure from the Middle Ages. If your route will take you through Transylvania, this attraction should definitely be on your must-see list!

Red Yar (Râpa Roșie)

Another natural wonder that makes Romania a coveted spot to visit. The red color of the slopes is reminiscent of Martian landscapes, well, or the Grand Canyon in the USA.

Krasny Yar is an unusual geological place about 10 km long and 100 m high. Getting here is not so easy, as it is located away from the highway. But the location makes the way to it a little adventure, and the place itself is mysterious, wild and untouched - like other places in the wonderful country of Romania.

Cluj-Napoca

The city of Cluj-Napoca is a vivid representative of the new, progressive and European Romania, where there are many young people, noisy parties and celebrations. Here you can feel the unity of old and new, past and future. The city is very cozy, compact, dispose to walks. In 2015, it received the title of "European Youth Capital". This is not surprising, because the city has 11 universities! There are also many baroque and neoclassical buildings.

It is a must to climb the highest point in the city - Cetatuia Hill - to meet the sunset here and see the beautiful panorama of the city, the river and the new stadium.