5 Incredible Places to visit in Romania beyond Bucharest!

If you want to visit Romania, here are five incredible places beyond the capital city of Bucharest that you shouldn’t miss.

Romania is a country on the verge of popularity with international travelers.  The country has some absolutely stunning scenery, while much of it is unspoiled by tourism. It is a place full of contrasts, with classic European old-world cities, villages where man still uses horse & cart, and, some of the most road trip worthy roads in the world.

I spent three weeks road tripping around Romania, logging over 1500 miles (2400km) from the south to the northern part of the country. It was difficult to narrow this list down to just five, but here are my recommendations if you wish to visit Romania and get beyond Bucharest. If you’d like details about places to stay, eat and things to do in each of these cites, click here to read my Romania road trip guide (video included).

When  you visit Romania don’t miss Sighisoara

This fairy-tale-like fortified city in the heart of Romania dates back to Roman times, although much of the city was built during the 11th Century. With colorful houses, cobblestone streets and a pedestrian-friendly Old Town, it is easy to fall in love with Sighisoara.

Sibiu is much larger than Sigisoara, but still retains its charm

Built in the 12th Century by wealthy German settlers, Sibiu is full of old-world charm with an “It factor” that is difficult to describe. The pedestrian-friendly cobblestone streets wind through old town where restaurants and outdoor cafés line the streets with plenty of vendors, shops and photo ops.

Brasov is in the heart of the Transylvania region

Brasov is the gateway to the Transylvania region, which is probably most well known for the Bran Castle, also called Dracula Castle. This is a great area to call home for a few days while exploring this incredible part of the country. The city center is full of Gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture, and, there is no shortage of shops and restaurants to enjoy. This remarkable 13th-century city will transports you back in time with an unassuming authenticity.

Dealu Mare is the epicenter of the country’s wine region

Dealu Mare is the largest and oldest wine producing region in Romania. The ancient Greeks and Romans knew Romanian soils produced excellent wine-making grapes—and archaeological evidence suggests that wine making may have begun in the region as much as 6,000 years ago. A great home base for exploring the area is the Dacian Farm (Ferma Dacilor)—which is sort of a boutique farm lodge set against and incredible panorama of rolling hills of fertile farmland. A remarkable nearby sight not to miss is the Mud Volcanoes (Vulcans Noroisii), a strange geological wonder where gas from beneath the earth bubbles to the surface, creating a dramatic landscape.

Maramures is where Romanian traditions still thrive

Maramures is located in the northern part of the country, a region that still maintains old Romanian traditions—from clothing, song, to the wooden arches that welcome visitors into villages and homes. This is an area of unspoiled landscape and remarkable sights, such as the Merry Cemetery where all the grave markers are hand carved and painted blue with humors epithets. Or the Barsanna Monastery with its ornate 18th century hand carved wooden churches.

Well that’s a look at five incredible places beyond Bucharest. I’d like to thank Allianz Travel for making this video possible. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. If you’d like more details about these destinations to visit in Romania, click the following link for my Romania Road Trip Guide.