If you are visiting Romania for the first time, you might not be sure where to go first. Romania has so much to offer, so you pretty much can’t go wrong, but if you want suggestions for the top 10 most iconic spots in Romania, you came to the right place! Read below for our suggestions to make your trip to Romania something you will be sure to remember in the years to come!
1. The Black Church
The Black Church of Brasov was built in the 1500s and is the largest Gothic church in Eastern Europe. There is no other church that comes close to its size between Italy and Istanbul. Now, before you get worried, it is called the Black Church because its walls were darkened n a fire that nearly destroyed in entirely in 1689. Inside the church you will find a huge Bucholz organ and the largest collection of oriental carpets in Europe.
2. The Merry Cemetery
Located in northern Romania in the Maramures region, the Merry Cemetery is a cemetery that is, well, merry. All the tombstones are decorated colorfully and have poetry or other writing describing and celebrating the life of each person buried there. It is believed that Dacian culture viewed death as a joyful moment, as the person passes from this life of suffering to one filled with peace and happiness.
3. The Transfagarasan
This is considered by some to be “the world’s best driving road.” It is quite a site to see: the road is complete with tunnels, bridges and viaducts (which is similar to aqueducts if you are familiar with those). The road closes at the end of October though, so make sure that you plan to go before then. This winding road is absolutely beautiful, so be sure to bring your camera!
4. Corvin Castle
This is a huge castle that dates back to 1446. It is also known by its two other names, Hunyadi Castle or Hunedoara Castle. It is built in a Gothic-Renaissance style and is located in Hunedoara, Romania, which is in the central-western part of the country. After the 17th century, the castle had been abandoned for many decades, and then a fire destroyed a great part of the castle, leaving it in ruins. What stands today is a restoration of the old castle, with modern architects interpreting how a great Gothic castle would have looked. Perhaps because of this creative interpretation, this castle looks straight out of a Game of Thrones episode!
5. The Danube Delta
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that over 300 species of birds visit yearly. In the spring everything starts to get lush and green and the flowers start to bloom, so it is a great time to visit the Danube.
6. The Constanta Casino
This building is actually a defunct casino and is a beautiful work of architecture. It was commissioned by the King in the early 1900s and was used as a casino until World War II, when it was temporarily used as a hospital. When Nicolae Ceausescu came to power, the building was used as a restaurant, but the maintenance costs were so high that the building shut its doors in 1990. The building hasn’t seen any repairs since 1988, and the building is closed to the public to prevent injury and protect from thieves – but you can still marvel at it from the outside!
7. The Endless Column
This column was created by Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957) in honor of the soldiers in Targu-Jiu (where the column is located) against the Germans during World War I. The column measures 98 feet high and is made out of zinc, brass, iron, and steel. During the communist regime, this sculpture was not very highly regarded and there were attempts to take it down. Ultimately, it was left tilted but still erect. In the mid-1990s the monument was restored and it is beautiful as ever still today!
8. The Palace of the Parliament
The Palace of the Parliament is famous for being the heaviest building in the world, weighing in at 9.0356 x 109 pounds. The Palace of the Parliament is an administrative building. It is the second largest administrative building, second on to the Pentagon. You can enter only through a guided tour, and it is a good idea to book tickets ahead of time. You will also need to bring your passport to be able to tour the building. The tour will last about 45 minutes.
9. Bran Castle
There two castles that are considered “Dracula’s” Castle: Bran Castle and Poenari Castle. Bran Castle is significantly more popular, and subjectively more beautiful. This is the one that is most similar to the castle described in Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula. Although Stoker had never been to Romania himself, Bran Castle in Transylvania pretty much perfectly fits the bill for Dracula’s castle. It is perched at the top of an ominous hill, it is large and majestic, and it dates all the way back to the 1300s. Some people believe that the character Dracula is based off the real-life Romanian Ruler, Vlad the Impaler. Vlad did visit this castle during his lifetime, but he did not actually live here. Because of its age and perch overlooking the valleys, this is the ideal beautiful yet isolated and weathered castle to visit.
10. The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the paintings are absolutely jaw-dropping and wondrous. There are eight painted monasteries going all the way back to the 15th century, and they are painted with bright colors portraying different religious stories. Aside from being beautiful, these monasteries are a great display of Romanian history, culture, and religious traditions.