Top 6 places to visit in Romania

Published 27 July 2019

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

Bucharest

Sinaia

Bran

Brasov

Sighisoara

Sibiu

Are you planning a trip to Romania?

No doubt you are looking for nice places to visit in Romania so we made a selection of postcard-perfect destinations, some that were featured in films for its Romanian beauty and character.

Romania is rich in history and culture with plenty of historical places to see, some of which are now very popular tourist sites, and for good reason. During the summer the weather is fantastic. And, compared to some other places in Europe, the prices in Romania are relatively low. These factors make Romania a good choice as a holiday destination.

The best places to visit in Romania

Bucharest

There are plenty of stunning cities in Romania but let’s not overlook the capital. The chances are that if you are flying to Romania you will land in Bucharest, conveniently located to explore the city that has much to offer.

There are plenty of nice places to visit in Bucharest, as well as interesting things to see and do. We have done a short Bucharest Romania Travel Guide with some unique pointers.

If you have a more generous amount of time, there are also fantastic places to visit around Bucharest. This brings us to our next destination of Sinaia.

The best time to visit Bucharest is from April to October to avoid the cold. July and August get extremely hot, so if you don’t like you may wish to avoid travelling to Bucharest during these months.

Many famous films have been filmed in Bucharest, including The Dying of the Light (2014), The Zero Theorem (2013), A Farewell to Fools (2013), The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman (2013), Hatfield and McCoys (2012), Ghost Rider – Spirit of Vengeance (2011), Transporter 3 (2008), and so on.. The list is huge.

If Bucharest is good for Hollywood then it will be good for your Instagram too.

Sinaia

If you are looking for places to visit near Bucharest that are of outstanding natural beauty take a day trip to Sinaia. The twon is known for its mountains and supposedly medicinal springs.

Located in central Romania’s Bucegi Mountains, yet a reasonably short train ride away from Bucharest, the town is an attractive day-trip destination for visitors.

During the winter months Sinaia becomes a popular skiing resort.

Top attractions in Sinaia are the Peles Castle dubbed by some as the prettiest castle in Europe, Pelisor Castle that’s part of the same complex as the larger castle of Peleș, Sinaia Monastery located only minutes away from Peles Castle, Ialomicioara Monastery and Cave – allocate about an hour to explore the caves, and Bucegi Mountains.

Gondola Sinaia is the cable car situated in the heart of the Bucegi Mountains reaching 2050 metres, the highest cable car altitude in Romania. The views will be amazing and if you are a mountain lover you might just melt at the beauty you see in front of you.

Bran

From Senaia you can go to Brasov and on the way make a tiny detour for the Bran Castle.

The imposing 14th century hilltop castle is situated near Bran village and sits in the immediate vicinity of Brașov, on the border of Transylvania and Wallachia.

Bran Castle is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Romania. The castle is open to tourists who can explore the interior. Outside the castle visitors will see examples of traditional Romanian farm houses, water driven machinery, and so on.

Some visitors feel a strong association that Bran Castle has something to do with the fictional character of Dracula. However, if it is Dracula you are seeking, then you will not find him in Bran.

From Bran to Brasov it will be approximately a 30km trip. Around half way between Bran and Brasov you can find the recently restored Rasnov Fortress and citadel. This is a slightly less known site among tourists so you will be able to explore the Saxon fortifications, and its old stone buildings without having to fight through the crowds as much as in Bran.

Brasov

Brasov is one of the top sites in Romania, popular for its historical architecture as well as the Hollywood-style mountain top sign spelling out the name of the city. The BRASOV sign on the mountaintop can be reached by cable car where you can observe great views of Brasov and the wider landscape.

The 13th century medieval city is located in the Transylvania region of Romania surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains.

In the old town of Brasov start with the Council Square, visit the Black Church, stroll along Brasov’s historic street where you can find one of the narrowest streets in Europe, and in between your walks get a snack or a beverage at a café with outdoor seating to rest and absorb the views. You can also walk down to the cable car and during the day take the cable car to the top of the Tampa Mountain where you can admire the views of the medieval town from above.

If you have extra time you can extend your stay to explore local villages around Brasov and hike the Carpathian Mountains.

During the winter the town is a popular skiing resort.

Sighisoara

The citadel of Sighisoara was built in the 12th century and further extended in the 15th century.

Today, Sighisoara stands out as one of the best and most amazing places to see in Romania as it is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved medieval towns in Europe.

Dracula chasers will also be delighted to know that Sighisoara is the birthplace of Vlad Dracula who was also known as Vlad Tepes or Vlad the Impaler and ruled the province of Walachia from 1456 to 1462. He’s house if a popular attraction in Sighisoara.

Others points of interest include the Church on the Hill that has 500 year old frescoes, the 13th century Venetian House and the Church of the Dominican Monastery where you can find a 17th century organ.

Sighisoara was used as a film location for films The Nun (2018), A Farewell to Fools (2013) and BloodRayne (2005). It is a very picturesque place.

Sibiu

Sibiu is a must-see city during Romania travels. The old town of Sibiu is well-preserved and is in a marvellous state. Here you can walk around the charming historical streets, visit museums and religious landmarks, eat some good food, and drink a good drink.

You can start your sightseeing adventure in Sibiu from the Big Square where you can visit the Brukenthal National Museum and The Catholic Basilica - one of Sibiu’s 3 religious landmarks. The museum and the basilica are located on the Big Square.

Then from the big square take a walk down Strada Nicolae Balcescu where you can also grab a Romanian pretzel known as Covrigi. Walking and snacking seems to be a done thing here.

Other sites not to miss in Sibiu are the Orthodox Cathedral that has a beautifully decorated interior on a grand scale, the Council Tower which you can climb for pretty views of the city, and the lower town which is full of character.

For something a little bit more quirky you can make a quick visit to the Pharmacy Museum located in the Small Square which has 2 rooms packed with pharmaceutical artefacts.

Sibiu is a very beautiful place and like Sighisoara makes an attractive film location. For example, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011) had some scenes filmed here.

Travel advice

Be aware of the pickpockets, bag snatchers and other street criminals, much the same way as you would in the UK, and especially in London. Here is the page on Romania Safety and Security from GOV.UK.