Romania holidays

Thought holidays to Romania were all about Dracula myths and Gothic stories? Think again. This lesser-visited part of Europe showcases everything from quaint medieval villages where time seems to have stood still, to dramatic forested mountains hiding bears and wolves.

There are fairytale castles, of course, but far from being gloomy and mist-shrouded, they’re filled with Murano crystal chandeliers, Ottoman antiques and artwork collected by Romanian royals (you can find out more in our Romania travel guide). They’re mostly scattered across Transylvania, a region of rolling countryside and walled Saxon settlements, bordered to the south by the spectacular Carpathian Mountains.

No tour of Romania would be complete without a stay in Bucharest. The country’s capital has a quirky jumble of curvy art nouveau and stark Stalinist architecture, including the mighty Palace of Parliament, while the abundant parks, beer gardens and artisan coffee shops make it a more relaxed city break destination.