1. Sighișoara
This small, medieval town in Transylvania has a UNESCO-protected historic center and charming streets lined with colorful houses. But beware: It& #39;s also the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, and is considered one of the world& #39;s most haunted cities.
This small, medieval town in Transylvania has a UNESCO-protected historic center and charming streets lined with colorful houses. But beware: It& #39;s also the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, and is considered one of the world& #39;s most haunted cities.
2. Lacul Roșu (Red Lake)
Located in the Eastern Carpathians, Lacul Roşu doesn& #39;t exactly look reddish in color, but you& #39;ll be too busy admiring the stunning mountain views and evergreen trees reflecting in the waters to care about semantics.
Located in the Eastern Carpathians, Lacul Roşu doesn& #39;t exactly look reddish in color, but you& #39;ll be too busy admiring the stunning mountain views and evergreen trees reflecting in the waters to care about semantics.
3. Bran Castle
Located in Romania& #39;s Carpathian Mountains on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, this national landmark is also known as "Dracula& #39;s Castle", due to its similarity to the fortress described in Bram Stoker& #39;s novel.
Located in Romania& #39;s Carpathian Mountains on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, this national landmark is also known as "Dracula& #39;s Castle", due to its similarity to the fortress described in Bram Stoker& #39;s novel.
4. The Transfăgărăşan
With extra-long S-shaped curves weaving through the southern Carpathians, it& #39;s no wonder the Transfăgărăşan is regarded as one of the most thrilling highways in the world.
With extra-long S-shaped curves weaving through the southern Carpathians, it& #39;s no wonder the Transfăgărăşan is regarded as one of the most thrilling highways in the world.
5. Salina Turda
Not all beauty is found above ground, as proved by Salina Turda, a unique theme park that happens to be found in one of the world& #39;s oldest salt mines. Visitors head about 400 feet below earth& #39;s surface to find a bowling alley, a lake with paddle boats,
Not all beauty is found above ground, as proved by Salina Turda, a unique theme park that happens to be found in one of the world& #39;s oldest salt mines. Visitors head about 400 feet below earth& #39;s surface to find a bowling alley, a lake with paddle boats,
6. Sarmizegetusa Regia
This archeological site is Romania& #39;s version of Stonehenge, the remains of ancient Dacia& #39;s capital during the first centuries B. C. and A. D.
The city was built under the rule of King Decebalus, then was conquered by the Romans at the beginning of the
This archeological site is Romania& #39;s version of Stonehenge, the remains of ancient Dacia& #39;s capital during the first centuries B. C. and A. D.
The city was built under the rule of King Decebalus, then was conquered by the Romans at the beginning of the
7. Statue of King Decebalus
Speaking of King Decebalus, you can find a 131 foot-tall stone rendering of his face along the Romanian side of the Danube. Although it looks like the stuff of ancient myths, it was actually created between 1994 and 2004.
Speaking of King Decebalus, you can find a 131 foot-tall stone rendering of his face along the Romanian side of the Danube. Although it looks like the stuff of ancient myths, it was actually created between 1994 and 2004.
8. Culture Palace, Târgu Mureş
Built between 1911 and 1913 at the request of Târgu Mureş& #39;s then-mayor György Bernády, the Culture Palace features Art Nouveau architecture, bronze busts of composers and intricate stained glass. The building has served many purposes over the years
Built between 1911 and 1913 at the request of Târgu Mureş& #39;s then-mayor György Bernády, the Culture Palace features Art Nouveau architecture, bronze busts of composers and intricate stained glass. The building has served many purposes over the years
9. Bâlea Lake
This glacial lake situated 6673 feet high in central Romania& #39;s Făgăraş Mountains is known for its two chalets (open year-round) and accessibility via the Transfăgărăşan road.
This glacial lake situated 6673 feet high in central Romania& #39;s Făgăraş Mountains is known for its two chalets (open year-round) and accessibility via the Transfăgărăşan road.
10. The Hotel of Ice
One more thing Bâlea lake is known for: the Hotel of Ice. Built in 2005 and then rebuilt every year using water from the lake, the frozen hotel has an ice restaurant and bar, rooms and igloos with fur blankets and an adjacent ice church where couples can get
One more thing Bâlea lake is known for: the Hotel of Ice. Built in 2005 and then rebuilt every year using water from the lake, the frozen hotel has an ice restaurant and bar, rooms and igloos with fur blankets and an adjacent ice church where couples can get
11. Ceahlău Massif
The 6257 foot-high Ceahlău Massif is one if the most renowned mountains of Romania, featuring beautiful views of the Eastern Carpathians and an incredible concentration of wildlife and plant species.
The 6257 foot-high Ceahlău Massif is one if the most renowned mountains of Romania, featuring beautiful views of the Eastern Carpathians and an incredible concentration of wildlife and plant species.
12. Cimitirul Vesel (Merry Cemetery), Săpânța
You& #39;d probably expect a Romanian cemetery to be pretty scary, but these sky-blue graves with hand-carved, painted crosses are anything but gloomy.
You& #39;d probably expect a Romanian cemetery to be pretty scary, but these sky-blue graves with hand-carved, painted crosses are anything but gloomy.
13. Danube Delta
Formed by the meeting of the Danube and the Black Sea, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to wetland marshes, beautiful beaches and over 300 species of birds.
Formed by the meeting of the Danube and the Black Sea, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to wetland marshes, beautiful beaches and over 300 species of birds.
14. Corvin Castle
This 15th-century Gothic fortress has enough nightmarish features to rival Bran Castle- impenetrable walls and a drawbridge on the outside and a massive dungeon and torture chamber on the inside.
This 15th-century Gothic fortress has enough nightmarish features to rival Bran Castle- impenetrable walls and a drawbridge on the outside and a massive dungeon and torture chamber on the inside.
15. Timişoara
Timişoara is the third most populated city in Romania (after Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca), attracting people with its public squares, swanky hotels and frequent music and cultural festivals.
Timişoara is the third most populated city in Romania (after Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca), attracting people with its public squares, swanky hotels and frequent music and cultural festivals.
16. Casino Constanța
Opened as a casino overlooking the Black Sea in 1910, this Art Nouveau masterpiece was used briefly as a hospital during WWII before becoming one of Romania& #39;s most beautiful abandoned spots.
Opened as a casino overlooking the Black Sea in 1910, this Art Nouveau masterpiece was used briefly as a hospital during WWII before becoming one of Romania& #39;s most beautiful abandoned spots.
17. Cheile Nerei-Beuşniţa National Park
Declared a natural protected area in 2000, this 142142-square-mile park in southwest Romania is known for its waterfalls and dazzling blue lakes.
Declared a natural protected area in 2000, this 142142-square-mile park in southwest Romania is known for its waterfalls and dazzling blue lakes.
18. Vidraru Dam
Built in 1966 on the bank of the Argeş River, this massive, arched dam created Lake Vidraru (a body of water over six miles long) and has a pretty epic statue of Prometheus erected nearby.
Built in 1966 on the bank of the Argeş River, this massive, arched dam created Lake Vidraru (a body of water over six miles long) and has a pretty epic statue of Prometheus erected nearby.
19. Palace of Parliament
With more than 300 ornately decorated rooms, the Palace of Parliament is the second-largest administrative building in the world (after the Pentagon).
With more than 300 ornately decorated rooms, the Palace of Parliament is the second-largest administrative building in the world (after the Pentagon).