January, February and March in Romania are best left to winter sports enthusiasts hoping to make the most of the snow covered and lesser visited slopes and tracks of the Carpathians.

Temperatures at the start of the year can be bitterly cold, especially in rural areas and away from the milder coastline, and it’s not until April that things start to warm up as trees and meadows become adorned with blossom and wild flowers.

May is notoriously wet so pack accordingly if you’re attracted by the bird watching potential on the Danube Delta. Hikers will also need to be aware of conditions under foot as things can get a tad slippery, especially on steep slopes in and around the Bucegi Mountains, just south of Brasov.

Just after the Easter holidays is the best time to go to Romania for cultural sightseers as there are less crowds, milder temperatures and the snowy sludge has all but vanished from the city streets.

Warm weather hikers will be in their element during June however, the summer attracts the crowds and getting out of the cities and into the countryside is best advice for responsible travellers looking for alternatives to the coast.

July and August might be the best time to go to Romania for those restricted by the school holidays but if you can travel during September and October you’ll find fewer crowds, milder temperatures and a more authentic atmosphere associated with the autumnal colours of harvest time.

Romania in winter is a much darker prospect with Transylvanian tales told in front of log fires and over steaming bowls of soup - the only things to keep lonely travellers warm during November and into December.