Things to do in Romania

25 things to do in Romania

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Visit Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle)

  Explore the medieval fortress that inspired Bram Stoker’s vampire legend, perched on a rocky hilltop guarding the Transylvanian mountain passes. Inside, labyrinthine stairways and period furnishings evoke a real sense of Gothic intrigue.

  Bran, Brașov County

• Explore the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

  Gaze at the world’s heaviest building and second-largest administrative complex, a colossal legacy of Ceaușescu’s megalomania with marble halls, crystal chandeliers and a vast underground bunker.

  Bucharest

• Stroll through the Old Town of Sighișoara

  Wander the cobbled lanes of one of Europe’s best-preserved inhabited medieval citadels, a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with pastel houses, craft workshops and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler.

  Sighișoara, Mureș County

• Hike to Bâlea Lake and drive the Transfăgărășan Highway

  Cross the Făgăraș Mountains on Romania’s most spectacular road, then trek from the high-altitude glacial lake to dizzying viewpoints surrounded by jagged peaks and summer snow patches.

  Făgăraș Mountains, Sibiu/Argeș

• Marvel at the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina

  Admire the 15th-century external frescoes of Voroneț, Humor and Sucevița with their vivid biblical scenes and unique Voroneț blue, still radiant after centuries of weathering.

  Bucovina, Suceava County

• Ride the narrow-gauge Mocănița steam train in Maramureș

  Chug through the wild forests and valleys of the Vaser River on a vintage logging train pulled by a steam locomotive, a living piece of industrial heritage rumbling past remote villages.

  Vișeu de Sus, Maramureș

• Sample traditional Romanian cuisine at Caru’ cu Bere in Bucharest

  Dine in a majestic 1899 beer hall with Gothic vaulted ceilings, stained glass and wooden galleries while tasting sarmale, mici and other hearty dishes accompanied by live folk music.

  Bucharest

• Sail through the labyrinthine channels of the Danube Delta

  Glide by boat through Europe’s largest wetland reserve, where dense reed beds, floating islands and willow forests shelter pelicans, herons and over 300 bird species in a water world of serene silence.

  Danube Delta, Tulcea County

• Descend into Salina Turda, the underground salt‑mine wonderland

  Enter a surreal subterranean park inside an ancient salt mine, where a Ferris wheel, mini-golf, amphitheatre and rowboats float on a salt lake deep beneath the earth’s surface.

  Turda, Cluj County

• Explore the Baroque squares and Brukenthal Palace of Sibiu

  Cross the Passage of Stairs into the majestic Grand Square, then tour the palace housing Romania’s oldest museum, filled with European paintings, Transylvanian gold and lavish interiors.

  Sibiu

• Hike to the Sphinx and Babele rock formations in the Bucegi Mountains

  Follow scenic trails to wind-sculpted stone giants atop a high plateau, where the Sphinx’s human-like profile and mushroom-shaped Babele offer dramatic 360-degree views over the Carpathians.

  Bucegi Mountains, Prahova

• Party through the night in Bucharest’s Lipscani district

  Bar-hop along the neon-lit cobbled alleys of the Old Town, where rooftop terraces, hidden cocktail bars and high-energy clubs keep the party going until sunrise.

  Bucharest

• Visit the colour‑splashed Merry Cemetery of Săpânța

  Contemplate life and death among vividly painted wooden crosses featuring humorous epitaphs and naive-art portraits, a uniquely cheerful folk cemetery full of local storytelling.

  Săpânța, Maramureș

• Walk the drawbridges of Corvin Castle in Hunedoara

  Enter one of Europe’s most spectacular Gothic‑Renaissance castles, where pointed towers, knights’ hall and tales of Vlad the Impaler’s captivity set a darkly romantic atmosphere.

  Hunedoara, Transylvania

• Summit Moldoveanu Peak, Romania’s highest point

  Trek through alpine meadows and rocky ridges to the 2,544‑m crown of the Făgăraș Mountains, rewarded by breathtaking panoramic views over the endless Carpathian chain.

  Făgăraș Mountains, Argeș

• Sip coffee in Cluj‑Napoca’s artsy Unirii Square

  Lose yourself in the youthful vibe of Transylvania’s cultural capital, framed by the Gothic St. Michael’s Church and flanked by bookshops, design cafés and bohemian terraces.

  Cluj‑Napoca

• Go brown‑bear watching in the Carpathians near Zărnești

  Join a ranger at dusk in a specially designed hide to observe Europe’s largest brown‑bear population foraging undisturbed in their wild forest habitat.

  Zărnești, Brașov County

• Admire the Black Church and Council Square in Brașov

  Stand under the massive Gothic spire of Biserica Neagră, then sip a coffee on the square surrounded by colourful merchant houses and the backdrop of Mount Tâmpa.

  Brașov

• Taste mici and local bites at Obor Market in Bucharest

  Join the lunchtime queue at the city’s liveliest traditional market for freshly grilled skinless sausages served with mustard, beer and a side of authentic local bustle.

  Bucharest

• Admire Oradea’s stunning Art Nouveau architecture

  Stroll the elegant streets of a city reborn, discovering ornate façades, the Black Eagle Palace and whimsical buildings that rival those of Vienna and Budapest.

  Oradea, Bihor County

• See the bubbling Mud Volcanoes of Buzău

  Walk a lunar-like landscape of miniature cones spurting cool gray mud and salt water, a rare geological oddity set against the rolling sub-Carpathian hills.

  Berca, Buzău County

• Hike to the Beușnița Waterfall in Cheile Nerei

  Follow forest trails through limestone gorges to a gentle cascade flowing over mossy travertine rocks, surrounded by the emerald pools and unspoiled wilderness of a secluded national park.

  Cheile Nerei-Beușnița NP, Caraș-Severin

• Discover the wooden churches of Maramureș

  Visit the tall, shingle-roofed steeples of Bârsana and other villages, masterpieces of Gothic‑inspired carpentry built without nails and still at the heart of local spiritual life.

  Bârsana, Maramureș

• Browse contemporary art at MNAC in the Palace of Parliament

  Climb to the modern rooftop addition of the colossal palace to encounter thought-provoking Romanian and international contemporary exhibitions in an unexpected gallery space.

  Bucharest

• Kayak the turquoise waters of Bicaz Lake and Gorge

  Paddle beneath towering limestone cliffs that pinch the road to just a few metres, then glide across a reservoir mirroring the forested walls in brilliant green-blue hues.

  Bicaz Gorge, Neamț County