There are many reasons to visit the beautiful country of Romania. Nowadays though, not a lot of people know about this country at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It is actually not one of the most popular destinations in the continent of Europe. But its less touristy nature might actually be a good thing. This is one of the reasons we recommend it to you. Below you can find 4 reasons why you should visit Romania.
This country has a very rich past, one that you see around in its landscape. Romania’s history can be seen in the restored towns and castles and the small villages. If you visit regions like Transylvania, you will feel like you have visited a bygone era. Nevertheless, Romania is quite a new country in some ways. After the fall of Communism, it was renewed in many ways. As not many years have passed since then, the memories still seem fresh, you just have to look around carefully. With this great mix of very old and new, Romania is close to having a tourism boom. Once only a few travelers knew about it, but soon loads more will appreciate it more than ever before.
1. Reasons why you should visit Romania: for the beautiful landscape.
Romania has a great number of undisturbed forests but also lots of wild animals that live free in them. There actually lives the largest population of brown bears in Europe. These facts make the country a brilliant destination for nature lovers. But wait, there is more to add. The most beautiful part of Romania’s nature is the Carpathian mountains. These mountains are running through the center of the country. The combination of natural beauty and villages makes it perfect for anyone who loves hiking. Just grab your stuff and get ready to fall in love with these places.
The Carpathians are some of the most unique mountains in Europe. They are the perfect combination of beautiful rocky peaks surrounded by pine trees and lots of other flora. Note that many of these landscapes have not been unaltered by humans. If you want to stay and not just pass through, there is a network of huts that offers accommodation for those who are curious to travel to the peaks.
2. Reasons why you should visit Romania: for the amazing history.
Romania has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Actually, in 2002, archaeologists found 35,000-year-old human remains in Caraș-Severin. These were and still are among the oldest remains ever found in Europe.
The medieval times that followed after centuries had their own impact on the country. Most people who have heard of Transylvania only know it because of count Dracula and its myth. But this part of the country is home to some villages that remained unaffected by modern civilization. They still look like they did two or three centuries ago. In the central part of the country, you can find beautifully preserved villages and medieval towns, such as Brașov, Sibiu, Alba Iulia, Cluj, or Sighișoara. Visit them to see their unique citadels and feel like you’ve traveled in time.
In modern times, Romania is a product of its own history. The major ideologies and conflicts that swept through Europe, have left their mark on every part of it. Today Romania is a unique mix of collective experiences and values.
3. For the traditional cuisine.
Romanian people have a great appetite, especially for their own homemade and traditional food. Anywhere you’ll go in Romania, you’ll find plenty of nice places and friendly faces happy to serve you a traditional meal. If you’re looking for a restaurant, note that Romanian cuisine has some strong Germanic, Turkish, and Hungarian influences. Of course, it is still unique and the dishes that make it are easily identifiable. To give you a better idea, we can describe it as the ultimate comfort food. It is built around high-calorie dishes, with a rich taste that will keep you warm and full. This kind of food is as comforting as it gets.
The typical sour soup is called ciorba and it is quite unique as well as other foods. One of them is sarmale, stuffed pickled cabbage leaves with rice, ground meat, seasoning, and herbs. If you actually visit Romania, be prepared to come back to your home country with a full belly. In addition to the tasty meals, this Eastern European country is home to historical restaurants. Their beautiful interiors with painted ceilings and wood decorations will steal your heart. You will find the most famous ones in Bucharest’s historic centre, like Crama Domnească, Casa Doina, or Caru’ cu Bere.
4. For the affordability
Romania is actually an extremely affordable country. As a tourist used to travel to European countries you would expect things to be different. But this country is very cheap according to these European standards as well. In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that Romania is the most affordable European country you can visit. You can eat and drink well, stay in a comfortable place and still not break the bank. Sightseeing will not cost you much either and you can find a lot of free things to enjoy as well.
Food and hotel prices are quite low compared to Western Europe. Food prices, when you shop at supermarkets or other shops are very low as well. For example, 0.5 kg of beef tenderloin is around 4 euros, a loaf of bread is 0,3 euros and a bottle of local beer is just 0,5 euros. Cafés and restaurants are usually more expensive if they are located near famous tourist sites, but they are still affordable. As mentioned above, admission tickets for castles or museums are very reasonable. Last but not least so is public transportation is cheap and easy to use, but it will also save you a lot of time. In order to save money for your trip there, keep an eye out for cheap flights. More and more low-cost airlines have started to connect the major cities in Romania to Western Europe for great prices.
