Romania holidays

Holidays to Romania cover both ends of the spectrum, from sightseeing city breaks to peaceful countryside escapes.

Black Sea beauty

Romania’s perched on the western coast of the Black Sea, and has a ring of five international neighbours gathered around it. The history books here date back more than 2,000 years, and the tale of its past is told in regions like Transylvania, where brightly painted Baroque buildings coat the countryside with colour. This region’s famed for its links to the tale of Dracula, in particular Bran Castle where it’s believed Vlad the Impaler – the Romanian ruler that inspired the story – was once held prisoner. Meanwhile, in Sighisoara you’ll see a well-preserved fortified centre, makes up one of the country’s eight UNESCO-certified spots.

A taste for the countryside

Bucharest sees the most footsteps from tourists, but Romania’s just the ticket for countryside escapes, too. Bucovina is a top spot for clean-air holidays – it’s in the country’s northern region, and the emerald-green countryside is sprinkled with pocket-sized traditional villages and small towns. Time-stopped Maramures is another great option for take-a-breather breaks – the churches and houses here are made with wood, and look as if they’ve been plucked from a fairy tale. And the region’s residents use horse-drawn carts to get around, and many have their own patches of land where they grow their own food and keep livestock.

Trips across the border

Twinning your trip to Romania with another European country is super simple, thanks to the horseshoe-shaped border of countries. Bulgaria’s a winning choice, as it’s within driving distance of the capital – you can reach the beach-backed city of Varna in four hours by car. And if you’re staying on Romania’s northern tip, trips to the Hungarian city of Budapest can be ticked off in around three hours.