Romania Castles, Carpathian peaks and Count Dracula
Hear the word Romania and chances are you’re already thinking of Transylvania, a region synonymous with Dracula, the bloodthirsty character from the iconic novel. But there’s more to Romania than the vampire count. You could discover fairytale castles, captivating wildlife, an epic mountain range and sandy beaches. Plus Bucharest, the buzzy capital that’s giving Budapest and Prague a run for their money as an ideal city break. Despite having shaken off communism’s shackles over 30 years ago, Romania has yet to become a mass tourism destination.
Where it is
Eastern Europe
When to go
April to October
Why go there
Wildlife encounters
Medieval castles
Invigorating treks
What to see
Transylvania
Bucharest
Carpathian Mountains
A bite of Transylvania
Yes, you must see Bran Castle, the fictional home of Dracula, but then allow Cosa to take you to lost-in-time villages, alpine meadows and forests for walking and wine tasting.
A lively capital city
One of the world’s gloomiest capitals under Communism, today Bucharest is abuzz with cosmopolitan bars, trendy restaurants, art nouveau buildings and elegant boulevards.
The great outdoors
Make for the commanding Carpathian Mountains for fresh air and the chance to see wild orchids, wolves and bears with an expert local guide who knows the best viewing spots.
Black Sea beauty
The vast Danube delta is a wildlife paradise, with over 300 species of birds, from eagles to cormorants. Explore this maze of waterways by boat with a naturalist guide.
Travel in Romania
As the largest of the Balkan countries (it’s about the same size as the UK), travel in Romania takes longer than you think. That’s where we come in, planning your trip so that you’re in the right place at the right time, while still giving you plenty of downtime. Whether it’s cruising along the Danube, or exploring historic cities like Sighisoara or even going on a bear hunt (with cameras), Romania has it all.
Romania facts
This Eastern European nation is so full of fascinating facts, it’s difficult to know where to start. Perhaps that Romania inspired one very famous novel: Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Or that the country’s 4G network is the envy of the world – it has the fourth fastest internet speed. Or that Romania has the heaviest building in the world: the Palace of the Parliament, built for Communist leader Nikolae Ceausescu at a staggering cost of $4 billion.
Time zone
UTC +2
Flight time
Approximately 2 hours, 20 mins from Switzerland
Local currency
Romanian leu
Dialling code
+40
