Are you looking for a top destination in Europe for rural or cultural tourism? We have a suggestion for you. Plan your vacation in Romania, a unique country in many ways.
In this article, you will find dreamy places to add to your list, and then you can build your own tourist map to explore.
Finally, Travlocals will help you quickly and without commission to book the most beautiful accommodations in Romania.
3 Reasons Why You Should Plan Your Next Vacation In Romania
A Complex Country, Always At The Crossroads Of Great Empires
Romania is a country located in Southeastern Central Europe. Throughout history, it has been at the crossroads of great empires such as Dacia, the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
This has left its mark on the country's architectural, cultural, and gastronomic heritage. In essence, you will find a mix of influences from the greatest empires that have dominated Europe in the last two millennia.
A Country With Unmatched Natural Wealth In Europe
Romania has been endowed with breathtaking landscapes. It is one of the few European states that includes all forms of relief: delta, sea, mountains, plateaus, etc.
This is complemented by very rich and versatile fauna and flora. Romania is home to the last virgin forests and medieval pastures in Europe, over 50% of the continent's large carnivore population, and many other plants, animals, insects, reptiles, or birds on the brink of extinction.
An Authentic And Very Conservative Country
We can say that European rural and cultural tourism has its epicenter in Romania. This very conservative country still preserves customs and traditions that are centuries old.
Civilizations in rural areas can offer you unique experiences, long gone in the rest of the continent. Here, people live as their ancestors did.
Romanian villages have a unique charm, resembling a portal capable of teleporting their guests back in time. Romania is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Europe.
11 Reasons That Make Romania A Unique Holiday Destination In Europe
The Most Beautiful Road In The World
Romania is home to the most beautiful road in the world. It is the Transfagarasan, an alpine road that connects two historic regions, Transylvania and Muntenia. This is one of the great creations of the Ceausescu dictator. The initial purpose was to provide him with a quick escape route through the mountains in the event of a Soviet invasion.
The road is 151 km long and reaches a maximum altitude of 2042 m at Lake Balea. From this point of view, Transfagarasan ranks second, after Transalpina, another spectacular road in Romania, with an approximately equal length, but which climbs up to an altitude of 2145m.
The Largest Mammals In Europe
Romania hosts the largest mammals in Europe. The European bison (also known as the wisent) can reach impressive sizes: up to 3 meters in length, 2 meters in height, and 900 kg in weight. Even though this species has very few natural enemies, humans hunted it to near extinction.
In 1927, there were only 50 specimens left in the world, all in captivity. Currently, the mountains of Romania host over 100 European bison specimens, and the repopulation continues.
The Largest Population Of Brown Bears In Europe And Over 50% Of Large Carnivores
Romania hosts the largest population of brown bears in Europe and over 50% of large carnivores. They are strictly protected by law, and hunting is only allowed when they pose a threat to local communities.
The Most Beautiful Churches And Monasteries In Europe
Romania hosts some of the most beautiful churches and monasteries in Europe. At the same time, it is the most religious country in Europe. Over 50% of Romanians affirm that God exists and that religion is very important in their lives. This aspect is reflected in a large number of places of worship, as well as in their spectacular architecture.
Many churches and monasteries in Romania are included in the UNESCO World Heritage, most of them being found in Bucovina or Maramures. Also in Maramures, you will find the unique Merry Cemetery, the Sapanta Cemetery.
The Best Preserved Delta In Europe
Romania has the best-preserved delta in Europe. It is the Danube Delta, one of the wildest and most spectacular places on Earth. With an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, this biosphere reserve attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.
The Largest Rock Sculpture in Europe
The largest rock sculpture in Europe is also located in Romania. It's about the face of Decebal, a 55 m high bas-relief, overlooking the Danube River, in the gorge area (the deepest part of the river - 120 m). This sculpture can only be reached by boat.
Also in the area, you can admire one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world, Bigar Waterfall. It was even ranked first by the renowned publication The World Geography.
One Of The Largest Wine Producers In The World
Romania is one of the largest wine producers in the world. In addition to the refined drinks, in our country, you will have the most beautiful experiences offered by European wine tourism. You can take winery tours with tastings in Moldova, Dobrogea, Muntenia, Oltenia, and Transylvania.
The First Fully Electrified Castle In Europe
Also in Romania, there was the first fully electrified castle in Europe. It's about Peles Castle, an architectural masterpiece located at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains. Moreover, the heating system of the castle was built in 1888 and is still used nowadays.
The Oldest Fossils Of Homo Sapiens
The oldest fossils of Homo Sapiens have been discovered in Romania, in the Bones Cave in Anina, Caras - Severin. These have an age of 35,000 years and 40,500 years respectively. And speaking of caves, our country also excels in this field.
One of the most beautiful caves in Romania is the Bear Cave. Here, many remains of the cave bear, extinct over 15,000 years ago, as well as other fossils of species such as the lion or the cave hyena, have been found.
The Second Largest Open-Air Museum In The World
The Astra Museum or the Village Museum in Sibiu is the second-largest open-air museum in the world. It hosts over 300 exhibits specific to Romanian villages, from traditional houses to mills and churches.
Now that we have revealed so many reasons why you should spend your next vacation in Romania, we provide you with another very useful article. This will present each tourist destination individually, with its own attractions and particularities.
9 Tourist Destinations In Romania: Dream Places For A Memorable Vacation
The Most Beautiful Accommodations In Romania
To have the best vacation in Romania, you must carefully choose the places where you stay.
In the last 30 years, Romania has gained a negative reputation regarding the quality of tourism services. However, things began to change four years ago, with the arrival of the pandemic.
Even though the global effect was catastrophic, rural tourism in Romania has benefited greatly from this calamity.
People with higher financial resources, who spent all their vacations abroad, had to access accommodations and experiences within the country. The high demand, compared to the low supply, attracted investors who began to completely change the face of Romanian tourism.
Today there are over 1,000 premium accommodations and experiences in Romania. Travlocals is the platform that verifies and centralizes them, offering you the chance to book them quickly, safely, and commission-free.
Therefore, now you have all the reasons to spend your next vacation in Romania.