10 Things To Do In Romania

#1: Explore the Medieval Beauty of Brasov

Brasov is like a fairy tale. The cobblestone streets, the coloured buildings, the old wall and fortress towers. Spend at least one night here to fully appreciate what it has to offer. Visit St Nicholas and the Black Church. They claim Rope St is the narrowest street in Europe. Hike up to the "Brasov" hollywood sign for a view of the entire city and countryside. 

#2: Go To Dracula's (Bran) Castle

You have to go, simply because it's Dracula's castle. All the stories you heard as a child and the lure of Transylvania are enough to make anyone want to go. In reality, it is a nice castle with some cool rooms but is missing a real element of strorytelling. The only real reference to spooky, bloodsuckers is a printed page of information posted in one of the castle rooms.

#3: Then Experience The Superior Beauty of Peles Castle

Now this is a castle. The beautiful, intricate detail on both the inside and outside are incredible. You will be moved through the rooms in groups, but try to sneak away and take time to explore each room more slowly. The grounds are also beautiful and you will take a leisurely stroll through the surrounding forest before you even arrive at the castle.

#4: Go to the National Opera of Romania in Bucharest

Because you can't afford not to. With tickets starting at 12RON (about $4), even if you hate the Opera you should go for the experience. You can dress up if you want to but casual attire is allowed. Check out the performance schedule here. Performances include both opera and ballet. You will need to create an account for the website to purchase tickets, but this only takes a few minutes.

#5: Explore the Romanian Craft Beer Scene

Craft Beer really is everywhere. Taste some of the local beers in the craft beer bars (Beer O'Clock, At 100 Beers, Beer O'Clock 2, Happy Pub) around Bucharest to see what Romania has to offer. Hop Hooligans is doing some awesome things and their brewery is only 30 minutes from Bucharest. Their Coconut Porter is amazing.

#6: Take a Tour of the Second Largest Administrative Building in the World

The Palace of the Parliament (or the People's House) holds this title, second only to the Pentagon. It's not the most beautiful building, but it is big. 

#7: Take a Walk In The Park(s)

Bucharest is home to several large parks where you can stroll and spend a sunny afternoon. If you have children, Herastrau Park alone has more playgrounds than most cities. Cismigiu Park is more centrally located if you are in the city centre.

#8: Wander the Streets of Old Town

The bars and restaurants are a bit touristy, but everyone who visits Bucharest will likely go to Old Town at least once. The Monastery is a little gem and Caru' cu Bere is an amazing old building that holds a restaurant with a large menu.

#9: Travel Backwards in Time Through the History of Romanian Homes

A section of Herastrau Park has been transformed into the open air Village Museum. Houses from different era and areas of Romania have been disassembled, relocated and reassembled to show real life examples of the history of Romanian village life. The museum is quite large and adds a nice couple of hours to your visit to the park.

#10: Visit the Citadel of Rasnov

While visiting Bran and Peles Castles, it is worth a stop at the Citadel of Rasnov. Dating back to 1225, the citadel was part of the defence network for Transylvanian villages against outside invasions. It is quite small, so it doesn't take long to explore, and offers a great view over the countryside.