Dracula loves Romania, and I made a list of what you should visit in 2026 to inspire you for your travel.
So we will be promoting some cities, villages, regions, hiking routes, food places, nature reserves, picturesque roads, and some stuff that didn’t have their own category.
1. Urban suggestions – cities
Oradea
Top of the list small city, worth a weekend trip, beautiful architecture, well-restored city with Ciuperca Hill nearby to offer some great views. If you are looking for beauty, there is a wonderful Art Nouveau scene, a pinch of medieval, a pinch of baroque, and some medieval, and of course, don’t forget communism. It is not as expensive as Cluj or Bucharest, the atmosphere is relaxed, and if you are worried about not having a lot of things to do, I have some good news: there are some thermal spas nearby in Baile Felix, Valea Crisului Waterfall, Salacea (the village of 1000 cellars) and Stana de Vale, famous for its mineral waters but better for its views.
PROS:
- Has its own airport
- Plenty of stuff to see
- A hill from which you can observe the city
- Places nearby to explore
CONS:
- Still quite touristy
- Annoying to drive in
- If you love running around quickly to see everything, 1-2 days is enough for you
- You need a car to go exploring the surrounding areas, as public transport can be annoying
For more inspiration (written in Romanian, but you can easily get the info): https://iturist.ro/locuri-de-vizitat-in-oradea/
Bucharest
This is controversial for people in Cluj who dislike Bucharest, but hear me out. You have usually cheapest flights from here, you can easily get a train to the mountains in Brasov or Constanta, the seaside, really good art museums, far more tour guides with unique tours, neighbourhoods to explore where not a lot of tourists go to (Cotroceni, Gradina Icoanei, Aviatorilor), Therme Baths (foreign tourists just love them), it is a party city (El Comandante, Cotrol, Expirat, Frateli, BOA, Fabrica, Mojo Karaoke Bar, Hard Rock Cafe, Thor’s Hammer).
Don’t expect to find everything but there is a lot, and a fascinating underground scene (grafitti tours, Malaison Art Galeries in a former communist jail in Bucharest, Zadar Bar or Londohome as a wide range of live music completely out of this world, the Vacarest Delta a hidden secret) and that’s not to mention the generic stuff like The House of Ceausescu our dictator, The parliment Building one of the largest buildings in the world and the cheurches that were moved.
PROS:
- Plenty of things to do and explore
- Not very touristy
- Lots of places to drink and eat (will share some links at the end)
- In my opinion, the best city in Romania just because you get easy access to 2 of the top cities to visit in Romania: Contanta and Brasov
- Mostly a sunny city
- Lots of terraces
- One of the safest capitals in the EU
CONS:
- Badly promoted, as a lot of Romanians dislike the city because they don’t know it properly
- Most YouTube videos about Bucharest are generic; people usually stick to the center, which is a no-no
- Summers are too hot
- Requires doing a tour to get a sense of the city ( https://btripbucharest.com/ )
- It’s not a polished city, as it still requires many buildings to be restored
- Prices are not that great due to inflation
Sfântul Gheorghe – The one in Transylvania, not on the seaside
This one usually flies under the radar, as most tourists go to Sighișoara, which, don’t get me wrong, is a stunning city, but as my last choice of cities, I chose something off the beaten path, with a large Hungarian population, and something that I would argue is a hidden gem. It is quite small, but this is why I suggest taking the train there, as you can walk from the train station to the city center. The city center is quaint, with many beautiful small buildings, and what makes it special is the cafes (Kokojsa) and local pubs (Szimpla).
PROS:
- Not many tourists
- Good food
- Quite a few museums
- Unique culture
- Off the beaten path
- Good place to get a good goulash,
- Accessible by train from Brasov.
CONS:
- Not a lot of things to do in the city itself, more focused on slow traveling
2. Rural suggestions – quaint villages
Fortified Churches of Transylvania: Archita, Saschiz, Cloasterf, Harman, Prejmer, and many more.
People think of Biertan and Viscri when they think of fortified Churches of Transylvania. The fortified churches as a whole are considered UNESCO heritage sites, only 7 are monuments on their own. So I would like to suggest going to the less known ones, exploring on your own the culture of the countriside in Transylvania, eating authentic food at bed and breakfasts (in Archita I stayed here) while taking your time and relaxing (unless you are hiking).
Bonus: a really cool cafe: Tee House
PROS:
- Really good for hiking, close to nature
- Small local culture, strong local identity, people passionate for their region.
CONS:
- Getting there with public transportation can be a genuine pain, especially if you can’t navigate local mini buses
Rosia Montana
Unique charming small town that was saved from a toxic gold mine opening here. It is an excellent area for hiking, decompressing, and just general relaxation.
PROS:
- Serene atmosphere
CONS:
- You need a car to get the full experience
Rimetea
There are a few places in the world where you just wake up and have a stunning view. The town has its own particular atmosphere, small village life, strong regional identity, and great natural reserves nearby (one example here).
PROS:
- Perfect place for slow tourism, hiking, relaxing, and experiencing local culture
- If you have a car, you can travel easily to places around (Aiud, Turda Salt Mine, Trascau Fortress, Alba Iulia)
CONS:
- Not very accessible by public transport
- If you don’t like hiking in the town alone, there aren’t a lot of things to do
- You need a car to spend multiple days
3. Hiking in Romania
Via Transilvanica
Impossible to mess with the best-organized hiking route in Romania. You go from town to town in Romania, off the beaten path for more than 1500 kilometers from North to South, following a well-structured guide that tells you everything you need. It is an absolute experience where you go past the painted monasteries of Bucovina, the fortified churches of Transylvania, and ancient ruins from the Romans and Dacians. You can eat at local B&Bs, where you get a sense of who the people of Romania are, be they Romanian, Hungarian, ethnically German, or even Brits who moved to Romania. You can go for 55 straight days, or I would suggest 8 days with a break of 1-2 days in between to relax.
PROS:
- You know I like it, but everything you need to know is here (the complete guide made by the Via Transilvanica team)
CONS:
- Shepherd dogs can scare you, so you need to know how to act around the dogs or have a group
- It is recommended to avoid it during the day so you can avoid bears
- You need a strong liver in a country that is very meat-forward.
Piatra Craiului
The most beautiful peak in Romania, not an easy hike to say the least, challenging, no climbing equipment required, but experience is a must, to have the strong legs required to get you to the top and back safely.
Some info that you can translate here: https://hailaplimbare.ro/2021/08/08/trasee-de-o-zi-pe-cararile-din-muntii-piatra-craiului/
.https://www.exploregis.ro/2021/07/15/7-trasee-din-masivul-piatra-craiului/
PROS:
- It has its own alpine rescuers
- Amazing views
CONS:
- You can’t do it in bad weather conditions, especially when you haven’t done the path
- Not friendly for beginners.
Sighisoara View Point – Easy hike
For the best view of the city of Sighisoara, this hike is quite easy and doesn’t require days of preparation or any equipment if the weather is nice. It’s just a city stroll with a very nice view after an hour or less of walking.
Location: Google Maps
PROS:
- Easy hike and a great way to finish your last day in Sighisoara with a view of the city:
CONS:
- It doesn’t compare to the other hiking routes in intensity
4. Food Places
Obor Market experience in Bucharest
Obor Market is the biggest market in Bucharest; it is not glamorous, and it offers a very authentic experience of normal life in the city. It is becoming more and more a touristy experience, and that is because you can’t buy authenticity. You need to go there, experience a normal market, and after some beer and food, you will start understanding why this place is special (or not, it’s not for everybody).
Besides being able to buy local products or products that pretend to be local, you can find a retro restaurant called Petra, the best mici in Romania at Terasa Obor, funky cocktail vibes at Obor Amor, craft beer at Zaganu, fish and chips at Pesco Market, Sri Lankan food at Mathara Bat kade, and many more hidden gems waiting to be explored.
Location: Google Maps
PROS:
- It is the place where most of Bucharest does its shopping
- You can get some interesting things there, made by local artisans
- if you have a keen eye, you can get reasonable prices
- You can find products that are difficult to find in other parts of Bucharest.
CONS:
- It’s not glamorous
- Requires a bit of exploration to discover the more interesting spots.
Bistro de L’arte in Brasov
The best way to describe this place is grandma’s cooking with French cooking skills. It hits the right flavours, decent prices for the quality they have, and a long list of foods that Romanians eat from different regions of the country. And if you ask most food people in Bucharest, this is their favorite spot.
Location: Google Maps
PROS:
- Really good food
- Good value for your money
- In the heart of the city of Brașov
CONS:
- Small location with limited seating
Restaurant National – Radauti in the far North
The place where the Ciorba Radauteana was created. Restaurant National is owned by the lady who patented this soup, and it is a classic in Romanian cuisine. I have been to this restaurant multiple times, and all I can say is that it’s worth eating here!
Location: Google Maps
PROS:
- You can feel the quality of the ingredients; it tastes like a home-cooked meal
CONS:
- It’s far away
5. Picturesque roads to explore
First of all, I would like to remind travelers that we have more and more highways opening every year, and in time it will be very well connected. You will get to the best roads with a bit more ease in the future.
Transfagarasan Highway
A road in the mountains made by the communist regime, it is open only 7 months of the year. Hundreds of people died for this road, and Top Gear once declared it the most beautiful road in the world. Definitely on the list of roads you should experience.
Location: Google Maps
Transalpina
Romanians have 2 roads that they talk about: the previous one and Translapina, made in 1935, meant to connect Transilvania and the South. Great road, great place to take photos.
Location: Google Maps
Dobrogea Gorges
This is less grand but more subtle. Old mountains eroded by rivers over a very, very long period of time. To be honest, the whole Dobrogea region is amazing with windy roads following the curvature of the hills, windmills in the background, and old eroded mountains that barely pass 300 meters. One of my favorite places to drive. The gorges are only 10km long, but combine them with other areas of Dobrogea, and you will surely find some hidden gems.
More road inspiration in Romanian: https://www.autovit.ro/blog/top-20-cele-mai-spectaculoase-drumuri-din-romania-pe-care-merita-sa-le-parcurgi-cu-masina/
6. Nature reserves worth exploring
Danube Delta
Slow tourism, exploring protected waters, staying in isolated areas, and experiencing a time that was long forgotten. This area is so large, and there are many things to do and see, ranging from the Horses of Letea (wild horses), fishing following local laws, bird watching according to the season, boat rides to explore the wilderness, swimming in salt lakes, exploring fishing towns, and surviving mosquitoes, kayaking.
My parents go to Sfantul Gheorge, a city on the seaside, every year just to escape the loud music and hustle and bustle of the other seaside resorts while also eating freshly caught fish from the locals.
Bucegi Plateau + The Sfinx
The place where nature meets myths and legends. Ancient tribes used to send their priests to the clouds and imagine seeing this after days of rough hiking. A face carved out by the wind over a very long period of time. Today, the Bucegi Plateau is accessible by gondola and offers some stunning views. I also suggest hiking up top, or if you are brave, hike from the bottom to the top.
Location: Google Maps – you can also take the gondola from Busteni, which is accessible from Bucharest.
The Danube Gorges
As the Danube enters Romania, it carves through rock and what you get is an outstanding national park with incredible views, and outstanding wildlife. Just know you need to stay safe and pay attention where you step during viper mating season. But if you love nature, this is a protected area with beautiful views.
Mountain Marshes – Tinovul Mare in Poiana Stampei
This one is more of a hidden gem in the North of the country, an easy walk but isolated. A protected area that is quite unique, as it is a marshland in the mountains, unique scenery for the locals, and for me, it just had a strong Scottish vibe in terms of vegetation.
Location: Google Maps
7. Some interesting things you can find in Romania
The giant face of Decebal
55m tall face of a ruler from almost 2000 years ago, as the Danube enters Romania in the city of Orsova.
Heart of Jesus Statue
A statue that you can climb inside and get some incredible views, because of the steel work, it is also a very photogenic landmark.
Location: Google Maps
Densus Church
A church built out of stones from older buildings nearby (Roman and Dacian), and it feels like a collage of different types of architecture.
Location: Google Maps
Train ride – Oravita to Anina
The oldest mountain passage railway in South-East Europe, according to the official Romanian railway website. A truly unique experience with older train models and some impressive viaducts.
More information on the official website:https://www.cfrcalatori.ro/en/single-tariff-rate-section-route-oravita-anina/
More railway picturesque suggestions in Romanian: https://blog.stayhere.ro/calatorii-cu-trenul-prin-romania-cele-mai-pitoresti-rute
And some more things that we wrote in the past:
Dracula's Guide to Romania 
Leave a comment