Popular Destinations in Romania
Bucharest
Capital of Romania, Bucharest is the economic hub of the country. Located
in southern Romania, the city boasts architectural landmarks, a dynamic
cultural life, booming nightlife, and a range of fascinating museums.
Visitors here will find an eclectic mix of eras and styles, with medieval
cobbled streets, grand boulevards, Baroque palaces, and Art Deco
masterpieces, mingling with the dull grey blocks and other Soviet era
structures. Some of the major landmarks in Bucharest are Palace of the
Parliament, CEC Palace, Stavropoleos Monastery, Caru cu bere,
Macca-Vilacrosse Passage, Casa Presei Libere, Revolution Square, Curtea
Veche, Great Synagogue of Bucharest, and Arcul de Triumf. The cultural city
is home to several theaters, opera houses, art galleries, and performing
art venues, such as Romanian Athenaeum, George Enescu Philharmonic
Orchestra, Romanian National Opera, State Jewish Theatre, and I.L.
Caragiale National Theatre. For history and culture buffs, Bucharest offers
an array of museums, including the Bucharest History & Art Museum,
National Museum of Contemporary Art, Village Museum, Grigore Antipa Natural
History Museum, and Museum of the Romanian Peasant. The charming Lipscani
district in Old Town is lined with hip cafes, art galleries, and antique
shops. In terms of nightlife, Bucharest has a vibrant bar scene and several
swanky nightclubs.
Transylvania
In 1897, Bram Stoker set his vampire novel Dracula in Transylvania and
captured the world’s attention. A region in central Romania, Transylvania
is internationally renowned as the mysterious land of bloody-thirsty
Dracula. The region is famed for its Gothic castles, legends, and history.
Bordered to the east by the Carpathian Mountains, Transylvania is home to
lush pastures, hardwood forests, and wildflower meadows scattered in some
of the Europe’s most dazzling castles and fortified citadels. Described as
‘the Last Medieval Landscape in Europe,’ the region transports you to an
era gone by. Transylvania is also brimming with culture, art, and
spectacular medieval towns. Visitors here must not miss out on Sibiu - a
European cultural capital with a fantastic Old Town, excellent museums, and
high-quality restaurants, and Cluj-Napoca - among Romania’s biggest, most
vibrant, and culturally-rich cities.
Sinaia
Sinaia is in central Romania’s Bucegi Mountains, in the Prahova County. The
mountain resort town is surrounded by ski trails. The city is a popular
destination for winter sports and hiking, especially downhill skiing.
Sinaia is home to the 17th century Sinaia Monastery, which is a
former residence of the royal family. The Neo-Renaissance Pele? Castle was
used as a summer retreat by King Carol I of Romania. The castle, now a
museum, has stained-glass windows, and frescoes. Other notable tourist
attractions in Sinaia are Peli?or Castle, George Enescu Memorial House,
Sinaia Train Station, Sinaia Casino, Heroes Cemetery, and the Franz Joseph,
and Saint Anne Cliffs. The city also hosts Sinaia Forever Festival
annually.