Romania possesses an inviting geography with some of the most beautiful countryside in Eastern Europe. Its access to the Black Sea, Carpathian Mountains, and the Transylvania countryside create the potential for interesting vacations: however, the potential of the attractions has not been realized and "tourist" Romania is not yet quite ready for prime time. It is also known as the country of “count Dracula”.

Romania has undergone profound political and economic changes since the 1989 revolution and is in a period of economic transition. Most tourist facilities, while being upgraded, have not yet reached Western European standards

The team at “There Are Places” has developed a proprietary method for evaluating the attractiveness of towns and regions as tourist destinations. We used this methodology to create our list of the best places to visit in Romania. We believe that the cities and regions described below are the country’s key tourist destinations, contain Romania's best attractions and urge you to visit them during your travels in Romania.

CLIMATE IN ROMANIA

Romania has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are cool and pleasant, making May and June, and September and October the best months to visit. Summers are hot from July to August and winters are harsh and very cold between December and March, with snow falling throughout most of the country. Spring and summer are the wettest seasons, but rain can be expected throughout the year. A continental climate ensures that Bucharest experiences hot, dry summers and cold winters when temperatures often drop well below freezing. The city lies on the Romanian Plain, and this brings chilly winter winds. Summer temperatures are usually pleasantly warm with occasional heat waves, and humidity is low, but there can be occasional rainstorms. The rainiest seasons in Bucharest are spring and autumn.

VISA INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS

All passports must be valid for period of intended stay. Visitors must hold all documents required for further travel, onward or return tickets and sufficient funds and proof of reserved accommodation are required for period of stay.

Americans: United States nationals require a valid passport, but no visa for stays of up to 90 days.
UK nationals: UK passport holders do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Canadians: Canadian nationals require a valid passport, but no visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Australians: Australian nationals require a valid passport, but no visa for stays of up to 90 days.
South Africans: South Africans require a valid passport and a visa to enter Romania.
Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport, but no visa for stays of up to 90 days.
New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a valid passport, but no visa for stays of up to 90 days.

TRAVEL ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO IN ROMANIA

Peles Castle
The Peles Castle is former royal residence which became a museum in 1953 and it is a genuine lesson in history. The German renaissance style prevails, both outside and inside the building. The Castle also has halls in Italian renaissance style, German baroque style, French roccoco, Spanish-Maori style etc.

Sinaia Monastery
The Sinaia Monastery or “Carpathians' Cathedral” is situated in a fairy-tale like natural landscape. It dates back to the 17th century and represents the historical identity of the town, being the first building on this territory. The Monastery and the old church were built in 1690-1695 by Mihai Cantacuzino, Sword Bearer, and dedicated to the Sinai Mountain. Later on, the name was assumed by the locality (Sinaia).

Bran Castle
It is situated 30 km from Brasov, between the Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains, Bran Castle is a major national monument and a landmark of Romania's tourism, due to both its beauty, the scenery and the Count Dracula legend; it is said that his spirit is still haunting these ancient places.

Black Church
Poiana Brasov is Romania's most famous winter sports resort, and at the same time, an important international tourism center. A major attraction of the Black Church is one of the most important buildings in the Gothic style in Transylvania, built during the 14th - 15th centuries. It displays decorated portals, exterior and interior sculptures (statues, etc). Parts of the mural paintings from the 15th century are still preseserved, as well as a collection of oriental carpets from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Church suffered after the big fire of 1689, which destroyed large parts of the town as well. Ever since due to the persistent smoky colour, it has been known as the “Black Church”.

The Village Museum

It is most fascinating outdoor museum with a collection that spans more than 300 buildings representing the history and design of Romania's rural architecture including peasant homes, barns, wooden churches and Transylvanian houses from all regions of the country to recreate a village setting. Traditionally dressed peasant workers portray life during the 16th and 17th centuries along with everyday tools and accessories. Traditional crafts are also for sale around the site.

National History Museum

Housed in the former 1900 Post Office building is one of Bucharest's most important museums, the National History Museum. Spread throughout 41 rooms the exhibits recount the country's development from prehistoric times to the 1920s. The highlight is the basement National Treasury crammed with a dazzling display of gold, jewelry and valuable Neolithic curios. It is the biggest and best museum in the country and affords an excellent opportunity to get to grips with the exciting history of Romania

Sighisoara

Sighisoara is one of the seven fortified towns founded by the Saxons in the hills of Transylvania, and is a beautifully preserved medieval town that is renowned as the birthplace of 'Dracula', or Vlad The Impaler. The hilltop citadel dominates the town with the original medieval settlement enclosed within the fortress walls, surrounded by nine surviving towers. Within the old town, the narrow cobbled streets and steep alleyways, brightly-painted tiny lopsided houses, ancient churches, stone archways and covered stairways are overlooked by the striking Clock Tower, the control tower of the main gate with magnificent views over the whole town and countryside. At the foot of the Clock Tower is the simple yellow building where Vlad was born and lived with his father, Vlad Dracul, and is marked by a hanging wrought-iron dragon. It now houses a restaurant with medieval furnishings. The ancient cobblestone street that passes beneath the Clock Tower leads to the lower town, and although shabbier than the citadel, it has some interesting little shops where 'Vampire Wine' and locally made products can be bought. There are also lively markets here and pretty stone squares where townsfolk gather to chat animatedly about daily affairs.

Brasov

Nestled at the foot of Mount Tâmpa, Brasov is a charming medieval town, and along with Sighisoara is one of the seven fortified towns settled by the Saxons, with a distinct Germanic flavor to its architecture. The Saxons built massive stone walls and seven bastions around the city that are still visible today, as well as ornate churches, elaborately trimmed buildings and a fine central square that is said to be the spot from where the legendary Pied Piper was to have led the children of Hamlin. Lining the square are the red-roofed merchant's houses, now occupied by cafes and shops, and in the center is the 15th-century Old Town Hall that is home to the History Museum. The town's landmark is the impressive Gothic structure known as the Black Church, so named because a fire blackened its outer walls in 1689. The interior is beautiful, with balconies, stained glass windows, an enormous organ, stone columns and walls adorned with fabulous Turkish carpets. Many people use Brasov as a base for visiting the nearby attractions of Dracula's Castle at Bran, as well as Râsnov Castle and the ski resorts of Sinaia and Poiana Brasov.