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Things to do in Romania

Bears, bats and birds, oh my! If you're longing to find out some more things to do in Romania then read on as from intricately woven carpets, shawls and table cloths, to karst mountains and UNESCO listed wooden churches, this is one country that won't leave you wanting when it comes to cultural and natural discoveries.

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Things to do in Romania

Forget vampires. You'll find Europe's greatest toothsome creatures in Romania's wild.

Bears, bats & birds

With around 5,500 bears, 4,000 wolves and 2,000 Eurasian lynx, Romania is a land of hunters. Stalk them in woods ablaze with spring and autumn colour - or use the winter book of snowy tracks. Brave Europe's largest bat colonies in vast caves like Huda lui Papara in the Trascau Mountains. Flying wonders fill the outdoors too: bee-eaters, black storks, eagles and Ural owls inland; pelicans, cormorants and geese in the gorgeous water-world of the Danube Delta.

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Middle ages spread

Much of Romania's largely unspoilt countryside follows a timeless rustic lifestyle extinguished almost everywhere else in Europe. Horse and cart are primary transport, colourful garb looks like something from a Middle Ages history yarn, while hay scything is a top calorie-burner. Centuries-old folklore and traditions thrive in picturesque villages, especially around Maramures. Many folk still claim a belief in witchcraft, while quirky sights abound – a tree hung with pots means a marriageable daughter awaits nearby...

Ancient crafts thrive as a vital way of life. Woodworkers may combine making sturdy ornate carvings with perfectly-honed tulnic (Romania's take on the alpenhorn). Carpets, shawls and table-cloths are hand-woven, while dining tables are covered with locally made produce, from cheeses to potent fruit schnapps – usually made from plums, and freely offered to visitors! Tuica is its general name, with palinca the double-distilled more polished version.

Geology and ecology have blessed Romania

Karst your net

Tectonics made majestic mountains across Romania – the Apuceni and Bucegi alongside the Carpathians - while aeons of water carved limestone into Europe's finest karst landscape - pale crinkled rock riven by bat-filled caves.

Hike alpine meadow and dive into dense beech forest where bears are more common than people. Alternatively, set pulses racing in the dramatic Bicaz Gorges – or enjoy the calm oak wood pastures of the Breite Plateau.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Romania or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Saxon enchantment

As medieval Saxony, Romania's heartland was guarded by seven citadel towns that are magnificent reminders of a past as colourful as their buildings. Brasov's old quarter jostles Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance styles. Beautifully-preserved 12th century city gems like Sighisoarra and Sibiu further Romania's love affair with architectural colour, blazed too across the gorgeous painted monasteries of Bucovina. If you're visiting the monasteries, be sure to see the fabulous Popa folk art museum in Tarpesti.

By contrast, the enigmatic UNESCO-listed wooden churches of Maramures are paeans to timeless rustic craftsmanship. Small scale wonder manifests too in Transylvanian villages whose houses are roofed with hay and fronted by ornately carved gates, or pretty hill shepherd communities like Sibiel in the Traseu mountains. And there are castles everywhere. Bran is a fairytale classic – though ignore spurious links to Dracula model Vlad Tepes. The most exquisite is Renaissance-styled Peles, where Romania's King Carol I peered out on the stark beauty of the Carpathian mountains. In the Orastie mountains, visit the stunning stone sanctuaries at Sarmisegetuza, the 2500-year-old capital of the Dacians, Romania's first civilisation.

More about Romania

Best time to visit Romania

The best time to go to Romania is spring or autumn, for wildflowers and fiery foliage. Winter brings snowy adventures, and in summer head to the mountains to escape the heat.

Romania travel guide

Prowl through our Romania travel guide and you'll discover there's much more to Transylvania and the surrounding regions than you might have first thought...

Where to go in Romania

Find out how to make the most of your time in Romania with our interactive map, plus sample travel times and suggestions on what to see and do...

Self drive holidays in Romania

Navigating Romania’s roads as they cross the Carpathians from one historic region to the next is easy with route notes, local maps and overnight stays at locally owned guesthouses.

Transylvania

Take a trip through Transylvania and you might be surprised as to what you might find.

Bear watching in Romania

Joining an expert tracking guide is the best way to undertake bear watching holidays in Romania.

Painted churches in Romania

The eight UNESCO-listed painted churches of Romania are all nestled in the northeast of the country, surrounding the city of Suceava.

Romania with kids

Romania has an array of activities to suit the whole gang. Fairytale castles, Halloween frights, hiking, biking and horse-drawn carts - and that's just Transylvania...

Romania travel advice

With health and safety advice, suggestions from tour leaders (and a real life Count!) and tips from our holiday reviews, this is your one stop shop for travel advice in Romania...

Responsible tourism in Romania

Treading lightly is best when it comes to holidays in Romania - one of Europe's poorer countries, but with huge riches when it comes to wildlife and habitats...