Wander With Wonder – Discovering Wow Moments Around the World or Across the Street
Discover Romania’s best hidden gems—from medieval villages to natural wonders. This is a must-read guide for planning unforgettable Balkan tours and cross-country adventures.
Traveling in the Balkans is an epic journey with its historical marvels, ancient civilizations, and beautiful scenery. Although most tourists head for the Balkans’ popular destinations, Romania remains one of the region’s best-kept secrets. Mysterious forests, medieval villages, salt mines, volcanic lakes, and many more are all places that you can only experience in Romania in Eastern Europe.
Whether you are considering Balkan tours or combined Bulgaria and Romania tours, this guide will help you discover Romania’s best-kept secrets to enrich your travel experience.
1. Viscri – An Old Saxon Village
The pleasant little Saxon village of Viscri is a place where no time passes. With cobbled streets, houses in pastel colors, and a fortified 12th-century church, it offers an accurate picture of rural Transylvanian life. This village is well known for preservation, and in relation to King Charles II, who is the proprietor of an old farmhouse here. Viscri will be memorable to those who prefer a slow pace and want to experience the culture in detail.
2. Turda Salt Mine – Underground Wonder
Located beneath the town of Turda is one of the world’s most significant salt mines. The Turda Salt Mine is a vast underground facility that has been converted into a strange amusement park, featuring an underground lake, a Ferris wheel, and a futuristic lighting system. The mine has well-ventilated, ionized air, making it ideal for therapeutic visits. This is one of those underground beauties that you should visit regardless of your destination, whether you are going alone or with family.
Look for wild animals, including brown bears, as you explore the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. Photo by DrDjJanek via iStock by Getty Images
3. Corvin Castle: Gothic Masterpiece
Corvin Castle is one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Eastern Europe, often being overshadowed by Bran Castle. Its stone towers, wooden bridges, and grand courtyards transport visitors directly to medieval Romania. The castle is situated on a rocky cliff, surrounded by myths, legends, and chilling tales that lend it a mysterious air. It is an ideal place for a history buff going on vacation in Transylvania.
4. Natural Wonder of Romania: Red Lake and Bicaz Gorge
The Red Lake is a rare natural phenomenon in the Eastern Carpathians, created by a landslide in 1837. There are still tree trunks that emerge through the water, most beautiful and unearthly to behold. Located nearby, Bicaz Gorge stuns visitors with its high limestone cliffs and winding roads that are cut through the mountains. Together, Red Lake and Bicaz Gorge offer some of the most picturesque sights in Romania and the best spots for boating, hiking, and photography.
5. Alba Carolina Citadel Star-shaped Fortress in Romania
Alba Carolina Citadel is a massive 18th-century star-shaped fortress, located in Alba Iulia. It is the largest citadel in Southeastern Europe, with baroque gates, Roman ruins, museums, and active cultural reenactment events. Entering its massive walls is like going back in time. The citadel is a particularly beautiful place at the golden hours of sunrise and sunset.
6. Sighișoara – Dracula Birthplace (Vlad Țepeș)
Sighișoara is among the finest medieval towns in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a fairytale destination with its colorful buildings, small cobblestone streets, and the Clock Tower. The historical figure behind the legend of Dracula was born in this town. Besides its spooky association with Dracula, Sighișoara attracts tourists with its rich history, crafts workshops, and traditional cafes.
7. Apuseni Mountains- Nature In Its Purest
The Apuseni Mountains are a paradise for travelers who want to observe untouched landscapes. This remote area is characterized by lush forests, dramatic caves, and traditional villages hidden in the mountains. The Scarisoara Ice Cave is one of the largest underground glaciers in Europe and a major tourist attraction here. The Apuseni area is ideal for hiking, camping, and experiencing the authentic rural culture of Romania without people.
8. The Buzau Mud Volcanoes Lunar Landscape
The Mud Volcanoes are found in Buzau County, Romania, and this area presents one of the strangest landscapes in the country. Small gas eruptions push mud to the surface, creating bubbling craters that resemble the moon’s surface. It is a geological wonder not common in Europe and offers a rare adventure to explorers seeking something out of the ordinary. The place is very inactive, lonely, and very serene despite its dramaticism look.
9. Transalpina Road – The King Road over the Clouds
The Transalpina Road is the highest paved road in Romania and is often regarded as even more spectacular than the well-known Transfăgărășan. It has splendid scenery, with magnificent views over snow-white clouds and through exquisite mountain waterfalls. The road is a nightmare for road-trip enthusiasts and was initially constructed in the interwar years, but has been enhanced over the last few decades. In the summertime, the alpine landscape is as good as it can be.
10. Danube Delta – Europe’s Last Wild Haven
The Danube Delta is one of the largest and most biodiverse wetlands in the world, situated on the southeastern edge of Romania. The area is a UNESCO biosphere reserve with more than 300 bird species, floating villages, and serene waterways ideal for a boat tour. It is a paradise for those who love nature and want to retire to a peaceful and unspoiled world.
Iron Gates National Park along the Danube River in Serbia and Romania. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Why Romania Is on Your Balkan Trail
Romania offers an ideal combination of history, culture, and nature, and can provide experiences far more impressive than its famous sites alone. This is the first thing you like about Romania: you are attracted by the medieval towns, the dramatic mountains, or some secret natural wonders. The ten gems of Romania show why this country is one of the most impressive destinations in the Balkans.
Balkan tours can take on a special meaning when those exploring the country add these undiscovered destinations to their itinerary, making their journey more significant and authentic. If you decide to visit both parts of the region, you can also consider the Bulgaria and Romania tours, which will let you explore two beautiful Balkan countries in a single adventure.
Final Thoughts
Romania remains an oasis for tourists seeking something out of the ordinary. These unsung wonders provide a peek into the soul of the country, one that is full of the past, enigma, nature, and immortal beauty. They should have been part of your Balkan travel plans, as they are a sure way to have a trip of a lifetime. Cultures, adventure, and just magnificent scenery, underrated destinations found in Romania will leave you with the urge to do more.
Explore more of Eastern Europe with Wander With Wonder.
.
The post 10 Hidden Gems in Romania You Should Add to Your Balkan Tours appeared first on Wander With Wonder.