Romania is a land of legends, mountains, medieval towns, and gorgeous natural wonders. There’s something for every traveler, whether you’re drawn to Gothic castles, colorful monasteries, or winding alpine roads.
In this guide, we’ve rounded up the 14 best places to visit in Romania – a mix of destinations that showcase the country’s history, culture, and natural beauty. If you’re planning a trip, these spots will inspire your journey and show why now is the perfect time to travel to Romania.
Bran Castle
Bran Castle is a place steeped in legend, perched on a rocky hill between Transylvania and Wallachia. It’s often linked to Bram Stoker’s fictional vampire Count Dracula, making it one of Romania’s top tourist attractions, but that’s just a myth. With Trafalgar’s Romania tour, you’ll Dive into Culture as your Local Specialist reveals the real story.
Bran Castle, built in 1377, actually served as a royal residence for Queen Marie of Romania. Inside, winding staircases lead to antique-filled rooms and secret passageways. From its ramparts, panoramic views stretch across forests and peaks.
Bucharest
The buzzy capital mixes Belle Époque elegance with communist-era grandeur. When you visit Romania with Trafalgar you’ll cruise by famous landmarks, such as the Arcul de Triumf, with a Local Specialist, and discover the colossal Palace of Parliament. It’s the world’s heaviest building with 3,000 rooms to explore!
Stroll Lipscani’s cobblestone streets for 19th-century architecture, cafés and street art, then escape to Herăstrău Park for a green wander. As the capital, Bucharest’s nightlife buzzes with energy with rooftop bars and late-night clubs.
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Peleș Castle
Venture deep into the Carpathian Mountains where you’ll find Peleș Castle, a Neo-Renaissance masterpiece built for King Carol I in 1873. It’s one of the best places to visit in Romania and its 160 rooms dazzle with Murano glass chandeliers, hand-painted stained glass and carved walnut walls. The castle’s armory holds over 4,000 pieces of weaponry, while the theater boasts a private royal cinema. Fun fact – it was Europe’s first castle fully powered by electricity!
The Danube Delta
Europe’s longest river ends at the Black Sea in Romania. The Danube Delta is a UNESCO World Heritage site that forms Europe’s second-largest and most biodiverse delta, with 4,200 sq-km of wetlands. Its maze of channels, lakes, and reed beds shelter over 300 bird species, from pelicans to kingfishers.
Visit traditional fishing villages like Crișan and Mila 23, which preserve a slow, seasonal way of life. It’s best at sunset when you can take a boat trip on the lily-covered waterways and get up close with nature.
Brașov
Sitting in the heart of Transylvania, and framed by the Carpathian Mountains, beautiful Brașov is one of the best places to visit in Romania. Its medieval center is filled with pastel baroque facades and Saxon fortifications.
The largest Gothic church in Eastern Europe, Black Church, guards Council Square. Stop for a coffee and people watch, then wander Narrow Rope Street – just 1.3 meters wide – through the old town. For more fun, ride the cable car up Tampa Mountain for panoramic views.
Transfăgărășan Highway
Open only in summer, this route delivers jaw-dropping views at every bend – earning its “world’s best road” title from Top Gear. Winding through the Făgăraș Mountains, the 151-kilometer alpine road is Romania’s most thrilling drive.
It was built in the 1970s under Nicolae Ceaușescu and climbs to 2,042 meters, passing hairpin turns and sheer cliffs.
Sibiu
This pastel-colored city in central Romania is filled with Germanic architecture from the 12th century. A former Saxon stronghold, Sibiu is one of the most beautiful cities in Romania. It charms with cobblestone squares, arched passageways, and pretty facades “watched” by roof windows shaped like eyes.
The Grand Square hosts the Brukenthal Palace, one of Eastern Europe’s oldest art museums, while the Bridge of Lies carries centuries of local legends. In winter, its Christmas market glows with lights and mulled wine. In summer, festivals fill the streets!
Sighișoara
This living medieval citadel is one of only seven Saxon walled cities in Romania, all built around the 12th century. Sighișoara is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is famed as the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, whose childhood home is now a restaurant. Climb the 64-meter Clock Tower for sweeping views over tiled rooftops.
Corvin Castle (Hunedoara)
One of Europe’s largest Gothic castles, Corvin Castle rises dramatically from a rocky hill in Hunedoara. It was built in the 15th century by John Hunyadi, a key figure in defence against the Ottoman Empire.
The magnificent Gothic-Renaissance fortress boasts towering spires and dramatic drawbridges. Inside, winding staircases lead to knight halls, a chapel, and an impressive weapon collection. It’s said Vlad the Impaler was briefly imprisoned here.
Bucovina Painted Monasteries
Northern Romania is home to a series of unique fresco-covered churches, built between the 15th and 16th centuries by Moldavian rulers. Each exterior fresco depicts biblical scenes in vivid blues, reds, and golds, and the most famous one – the Voronet Monastery – has even been dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the East and dates back to 1488.
Maramureș
Maramureș is a land of wooden churches and tradition. It’s a bit of a time capsule, where you’ll likely still see horse-drawn carts and locals wearing traditional costumes in daily life. The region has 17 UNESCO-listed churches with steep, pointed roofs and intricate interior frescoes, and family homesteads are marked by beautiful, carved wooden gates.
Local artisans here make pottery and woven textiles, preserving centuries-old techniques amid the dense forests and rolling hills. It’s an authentic rural experience in Romania.
Hărman
Close to Brașov, Hărman is a small Saxon village with one of Transylvania’s best-preserved fortified churches. Built by Saxon settlers in the 13th century, the church’s thick walls, defensive towers and ramparts tell stories of medieval life under constant threat. Inside, simple frescoes and a historic organ preserve centuries of worship.
On Trafalgar’s Best of Romania, Transylvania & Hungary, after Hărman you’ll continue through the countryside to a traditional Saxon home for a Be My Guest experience with homemade Transylvanian recipes.
Turda Salt Mine
Carved deep beneath Transylvania, Turda Salt Mine is a surreal underground world that blends history, science, and amusement. It’s said mining began in Roman times, leaving vast chambers, tunnels, and salt stalactites – and today it’s an amusement park. Explore an underground Ferris wheel, play mini-golf and paddle boats on an emerald lake all in the cavernous, glowing salt halls. It’s certainly one of the more unique things to do in Romania!
Timișoara
Nicknamed “Little Vienna,” Timișoara charms with Baroque squares, colorful façades, and wide boulevards lined with cafes. In Union Square find the impressive St. George Cathedral and the ornate Timișoara Opera House. In 2023, it earned the title of Europe’s Capital of Culture, and Timișoara often buzzes with street art, theater shows and lively music festivals – check the agenda before your trip to Romania. Fun fact – Timișoara was the world’s first city with electric street lights in 1884.
That’s our list of the best places to visit in Romania. Is there anywhere that we should add? Leave us a comment…