There are all different types of travelers out there – some want to visit all the best art museums and galleries, others want to learn about the history of the place they are visiting, and still others want to be active and experience rather than just see. If you are of the last category, this one’s for you! We have curated some of the top, most exciting things to do in Romania, rather than just things to look at. Read below for more!
1. Attend a festival
Romania is festivals galore! What is so great about Romanian festivals if you are a tourist is that they allow you to learn about and participate in Romanian culture and traditions. If you are into electronic music festivals or other pop music festivals, Romania has that. If you are more into celebrations of classic music, Romania has that. If you want a smaller, more traditional village festival in celebration of a local flower or fruit, Romania has that too. Just go online and search your interests and go from there!
2. Head to the Danube Delta
If you want to be outdoors as you explore Romania, then head over to the Danube Delta. Aside from being Europe’s best-preserved Delta, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site too. It has so many lakes, canals, and marshes, and over 300 different birds visit this delta every single year. Bring out your camera or binoculars and head over to this amazing piece of nature!
3. Look for ghosts in Romania’s haunted forest
The Hoia Baciu Forest covers over 250 hectares and is known as Romania’s Bermuda Triangle and as the “World’s Most Haunted Forest” because of all the freaky and unexplainable events that have happened in the forest. Aside from strange events, this forest has very odd vegetation. The trees look straight from a sci-fi movie or some kind of dystopian parallel universe.
The trees do not grow straight up, but bend and spiral, almost as if they were twisting their limbs to reach out and touch you. Even weirder is that all the trees turn in a clockwise direction. Scientists have been out to the forest to examine the tree growth patterns, but have been unable to figure out why the trees grow in such an erratic fashion.
Whatever it is that makes the trees bend in weird ways, it is quite a site to see – come camp here for a night if you want to experience the thrill for yourself!
4. Participate in the nightlife of Old Town Bucharest
This is the capital’s liveliest part of the city for nightlife. Perhaps it is ironic, but all the young people gather in Old Town at night. Mingle with the locals and tourists alike, and don’t be surprised if you see bridal showers partying it up in the bars on this side of town. If you want a more luxurious clubbing experience, head over to the north side of Bucharest. Dress well, nad visit the Fratelli or the Gaia, or pass the Herestrau Lake for even more clubs. If you plan on going out at night in Bucharest, just note that things don’t get started until 11pm or midnight, so if you are not much of a night owl, this one might not be for you.
5. Go back in time and visit a traditional village
Although Romania is a country that is plenty modern (and has some of the fastest internet in the world), it is not hard to find villages where people ride in horse-drawn carriages and wake up to roosters. Note that this is not because rural Romania is poor, but rather because people have held onto their traditions and make use of what they have. Take a day to drive out to a village and hang out with the locals. Go to the small coffee shops or restaurants and make conversation – Romanians are very friendly and open!
6. Drive through the Transfagarasan Highway
According to Jeremy Clarkson, English broadcaster, journalist, and writer, this is 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!
7. Spot a brown bear in nature
Romania has one of the largest populations of brown bears. Worldwide, there are only about 200,000 brown bears. Romania has roughly 6,000 of them, forming the largest population of brown bears in Europe outside of Russia. Although you should perhaps read up on brown bear safety before you go out there searching for them, know that if you go to the right spots, especially within the Carpathian Mountains, the brown bears will not be hard to find!
8. Go bowling in a salt mine
Alright, even if you aren’t really into bowling, this is a cool site to see! The Salina Turda is a giant salt mine located in Turda, which is northwest Romania. More than just a salt mine, this is now an amusement park too, complete with a Ferris wheel, a bowling alley, rowboats and a mini golf course. This place is fun for the kids, but good for everyone because you breathe in all that healthy salt!
9. Go on a scenic steam train ride
The Mocanita Steam Train is slow, and there are only a handful of rides a day. However, just check the schedule ahead of time and make a day out of it. You can buy a meal on the train too. The trip takes you through the heart of the Maramures mountains, up near by the Vasser Valley. Even though the train ride is still relatively unknown, there are not a ton of trains so they tend to get packed – just make sure to book your tickets ahead of time.