Romania, lying in the southeastern part of Europe, has recently started experiencing flocking tourists for the first time. Romania’s tourist industry is based in Bucharest, the capital city, along with the Black Sea coast, the Carpathian Mountains, and Transylvania. Despite the name, the Black Sea is famous for its beautiful, white, sandy beaches. The Carpathian Mountains, with its dense forests and snowy peaks, make the area a popular ski destination. Transylvania is also known for Vlad Tepes the Impaler which is the basis of Brom Stoker’s “Dracula.” The rich cuisine of the area has also earned Romania a place on the world’s list of great gastronome with dishes like ciorba de perisoare which is a soup that contains meatballs and ciorba tanancasca which is a meat dish containing vegetables. Romania is also known for its wide variety of scenery which includes vast plains, majestic mountains, fine beaches, and hills as well as the rich flora and fauna in the Danube Delta.
Romania has a temperate climate as it has four seasons. Spring and fall generally have moderate weather, but summers are very hot, yet short. Winters in Romania are harsh and lasting. The best time to visit Romania in May and June or in September and October. There are approximately 22.5 million people living in Romania. The official language of Romania is Romanian, but other widely spoken languages include Hungarian and German. The electric outlets in Romania have a voltage of 230 and a frequency of 50 Hz. A plug with a round pin and attachment as well as a schuko plug with grounding contacts are used in Romania. It’s important to bring along adapters and converters so that foreign electronics are not ruined when plugging them in.
When meeting a person, the handshake is a common practice. It is also common to kiss when meeting a woman for the first time. Dress in Romania is conservative, yet casual, but people often dress up at special events such as parties or going to the theater. Smoking is against the law on public transport as well as theaters. A common gift, however, when visiting a Romanian in their home is cigarettes. Unlike many European countries, tipping in restaurants, hotels, and taxis is a common practice and the amount is generally 5-10% depending on the service.
Bucharest, known for being the Paris of the East, is a huge city filled with lights, cafes, restaurants, and many things-to-do. It is also famous for the Romania Opera House, the Old Court Church, the Athenee Palace Hotel, as well as many other sites. Brasov is another area of Romania which is famous for its rich history as well as Transylvanian castles. Sighisoara is also a major tourist attraction because it was the birthplace of Vlad Tepes. The Romanian Riviera along the coast of the Black Sea is a huge tourist destination and has many resorts and spas where tourists can relax. The mineral waters of the area are known for their exceptional curative powers. The Black Sea is famous for its pearls and caviar for those happy shoppers interested in a find. Northern Moldavia is famous for its painted monasteries which are on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
To reach Romania by air, Tarom Airline is preferred as it is the national airline, although there are a large number of other airlines that service Romania. The largest airport is the Bucharest Otopeni Airport which is located 10 miles outside of the city. This is the airport tourists are most likely to fly into. For those interested coming to Romania by sea, Constanta is a major port in Romania located on the Black Sea. There are many cruises that can take visitors to Romania from other major European cities. There is also rail service which brings visitors by train to Bucharest from many large cities in Western Europe.
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