Romania

Eco-friendly travel guide to Romania advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Romania, Europe.

Lake Vidraru, Romania

Air quality: 2.5 / 5

Bus connections: 4 / 5

Train connections: 4 / 5

Hitchhiking: 4.5 / 5

National parks: 5 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4 / 5

Locals' English level: 3 / 5

Safety: 3.5 / 5

Accommodation: US$15 - $190

Budget per day: US$60 - $325

Responsible Travel

Romania is a Balkan country that sits at the crossroads of Southeastern, eastern, and central Europe. It is famous all over the world for the vast forested regions in Transylvania. Romania shares its borders with Bulgaria, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Moldova, and the Black Sea. When it comes to global recognition, you will find that it is the 12th largest European country. The country's capital city is Bucharest. Romania is spread over an area of 238,397 square kilometers that homes more than 19 million people. More than 80% of the local communities consist of Romanians, while Hungarians and Romani are other significant ethnic groups. Therefore, the most common religion is Romanian Orthodoxy that 86.45% of the locals follow.

While visiting Romania, you will find that the pollution levels are quite alarming. Such bad conditions are because of the heavy use of motorized vehicles like taxis, fossil-fuel operated cars, and bikes. These vehicles also cause a lot of noise pollution because they contribute to traffic. As a tourist, you must ensure that you opt for electronic vehicles or public transports as they don't contribute to the increasing pollution levels and are eco-friendly.

Instead of buying from malls and other retail stores with international ownership, you must prefer buying items from local businesses. It is because the items sold by the retail shops are usually available all over the world. On the other hand, the local businesses' items are only available in their present area. It will help you get deep insights into the local culture and traditions while supporting them earn a living.

During your visit to Romania, try to follow these two advice pieces as they will help you lead a sustainable trip. Besides them, you must also adopt some eco-friendly measures like opting for staying in green hotels, apartments, hostels, or campgrounds. You should also prefer using recycled and reusable items and avoid plastic usage at most. If you follow proper measures, your trip to Romania will become a memorable one, and you can be satisfied with your experience.

Air Quality and Pollution

The air pollution in this country is a significant problem which is faced in each city. A total of 55 % of the air in this country is polluted. Air pollution means the presence of different substances such as pollens, dust, smoke, and gases, damaging health and the environment. There are a lot of adverse effects of air pollution. Global warming is caused by air pollution; the polluted air, which has carbon-di-oxide and methane, damages the ozone layer. Non-periodic climate change is another problem caused by air pollution, climates have their systematic months, but this non-periodic climate change has been noticed in Romania, where summer took longer. On some of the days, there is a smog present in many cities. Other than this, there are many other negative impacts on humans, such as breathing polluted air, which can cause many respiratory problems such as asthma, which causes deaths of Romania's people. The main reason for air pollution is traffic, which generates a lot of carbon dioxide emissions. Other reasons are construction, which involves heavy machinery like drills, which creates a lot of dust.

Pollution index – 58.4

Pollution exp scale – 99.81

The capital city of Romania, Bucharest, is the most polluted

Another pollution which is at a moderate scale is noise pollution. Any sound which can cause damage to health is noise; too much noise causes noise pollution. The prime reason for noise pollution is traffic. The locals prefer using their vehicle rather than using public transport, which creates a lot of traffic. As Romania is a developing country, there is much construction work in every city, including heavy machinery types. Too much noise pollution can cause damage to the ears and disturb the citizens' mental peace. As a responsible tourist, it is your duty not to contribute to these increasing pollution rates.

Respect the Culture

It would be best if you respect every culture. Respecting the culture of the country you are visiting helps you in understanding traditions, beliefs, faith. It will help you in connecting with the locals more efficiently. Culture and traditions are associated with locals emotionally. Therefore, disrespecting their culture and beliefs will hurt their sentiments. Hurting or defaming any religion and their feelings is a criminal offense in Romania, leading to imprisonment. The most followed religion in Romania is Christianity. Therefore, the festivals celebrated with great enthusiasm in Romania are Easter, Good Friday, Christmas Eve, etc. Other than this, celebrations of other religions connected with history or mythologies are also celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Most of the culture of Romania is derived from Slavic people. Slavic people are the ancient people who lived in Europe, especially in the central-eastern and southeastern parts. Some evidence of this group is also found in northern and central Asia. In the culture of Romania, there is evidence of the Greek and Byzantine empires. Romania's cultural music involves folk music, which is enjoyed and supported by a lot of audiences. Before the modern instruments used in folk music, there were old instruments through which this music was composed. Those are Tola, which is a double side drum, Caval, which is an old shepherd pipe, Cobza, which is an Arabic musical instrument, Cimpoi, which is a small bagpipe, and Tamburina, which was used since the time of the Ottoman Empire. Folk music is generally enjoyed by clapping, shouting, and whistling, which shows enjoyment and support. The cultural festivals of Romania involve fairs where old traditional style paintings are kept for exhibition and sale. Other than this, street vendors are selling traditional style food that is prepared on the spot.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Hunedoara Castle, Hunedoara: It is the best castle in the country. The official name of the palace is Corvin Castle. This castle is called Hunedoara castle because it is located in the city of Hunedoara. It is magnificent and has a very unique architecture. This palace is located in the mountains of Poiana Rusca. Some of the significant places in Hunedoara are Nandru caves, St. Nicholas Church, Furnace of Govajdia. You can also see or go hiking in the Poiana Rusca mountains. The population consists of a mixture of Germans, Romanians, and Hungarians.

Brasov: The mountains of Carpathian surround this city. This city is located in Transylvania. It is a popular tourist destination and visited by many tourists every year. This city has the perfect blend of ancient and modern architecture, which makes it very unique. It also has a vibrant history. One of the must-visit places in this city is the Black church, which consists of 4000 pipe organs. The city has a lot of stunning landscapes. One of the most famous landmarks in this city is Dracula Castle. It is a popular name, and the official name of this castle is Bran Castle. This castle is now transformed into a museum. You can visit this museum and learn about the different myths about Dracula. The other places to visit in this city are Casa Stafului, a local museum, and Piata Sfatului, a council square. You will also love strolling on the maze street. One more fascinating thing here is the gingerbread house.

Bucharest: This city is Romania's capital. This is also the commercial center of Romania. One of the most important landmarks which is pretty iconic is the Palatul Parlamentului. This building has been serving as a government building since the time of the communist era. It has a massive blueprint with a total of 1000 rooms. It is also awarded as being the second largest building on the planet. It also has Curtea Veche palace, which is as old as the 15th century. It is the place where Vlad the Impaler ruled. There is also a garden named Chisimugiu garden, which is highly popular in the city. The city perfectly combines the remains of the communist era with modern capitalism. It also has many elegant and massive villas, lovely parks, churches that belong to the 17th cemetery, and trendy restaurants and cafes.

Sibiu: This city is culturally significant in Romania. In 2007, Sibiu was also voted as the cultural capital of Romania. It is situated on the bank of the river Sibin which is in Transylvania. This city is also voted as the capital of European culture. This city was the first city in Romania to create a hospital, a library, and a pharmacy. There are many unique things or places here, like streets of quaint cobblestone and the Baroque squares. Being culturally very vivid, it hosts many festivals. We can also say that this city has the most festivals than any other city in the country. This city is culturally very vivid, and it also has many places to visit and many fun activities you can do. Some of them are ASTRA national museum, Brukenthal National Museum, and a gothic church with 6002 pipes. If you are getting bored by visiting so many places, you can also climb the Church Tower, which looks dizzy. Even the tomb of Prince Mihnea the Bad is a fascinating place here because it is said that he was murdered here right in front of the church.

Sighisoara: It is probably the best town which is preserved since medieval times. It is stated so because it is considered a perfectly intact gem since the 16th century. This town is old, dating around the 12th century. The city can be called Transylvania Saxon town. This city is filled with places to visit. It has almost everything a person would want to see as a tourist. It has nine towers, cobbled streets, burger houses, and stunning churches. There is a lesser-known fact about this town, which is quite significant because Vlad the Impaler, popularly known as Vlad the Dracula, was born here. While visiting here, one can also look at his birthplace, the Dominican Monastery, Church on the hill, Venetian House, and many other historical sites.

Sulina: This city is not that active, and sometimes it is also called a sleeping town. It is a major fishing port in Romania. This town is situated on the extreme east of Romania. This city has an impressive and vivid diversity of flora and fauna. Deep excavations into the black sea are done here. Sulina is taken as a home base for this purpose. There are many popular tourist destinations and places for visitors to relax. One of them is the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, which has many flora and fauna species. You can also visit Argamum and Enisala, which are two fortresses from the medieval period. Also, there are two monasteries to see they are Celtic Dere and Saon. These two monasteries are highly orthodox.

Deva: This city can be called the gymnastic capital of the country Romania. The best place to visit in Deva is a citadel hill built in the 13th century. There are remains of the citadel left now. This place is high on the mountain and can be reached with a cable care. The Corvin castle situated here is also one of the best places to visit. Other important areas include Patria cinema, which is a cinema since ancient times. You can also visit the old center and an arts theatre. Truly one of the best cities to visit in Romania. It has a perfect blend of modernization and historical remains.

Sinaia: The name Sinaia comes from mount Sinai. One of the best things you can see from this place is a big cross on the mountain placed there in 1963 by a great nobleman. Later, on that nobleman opened a monastery there, which was called Sinaia. In this castle, the first king of Romania lived. The palace is filled with passages that are hidden from the public. But if you find it, you are free to use it. This town is situated in between a valley which is small but very beautiful. There are trees all the way. In the summer season, the city is filled with hikers, and in winters, the town is filled with skiers.

The Danube Delta, Chilia Veche: The Danube Delta is also included in UNESCO's list of world heritage sites because of its enormous flora and fauna diversity. It is home to 3450 animal species, 23 natural ecosystems that include 300 types of birds. Some of the birds come here from Africa and Asia and others from faraway lands. The Danube Delta, which is in Romania, is as large as 4152-kilo meters square. The delta includes lakes, marshes, sandbanks, and islets. The delta also consists of a great stretch of reed beds globally, which provides visitors with landscapes of exceptionally stunning natural beauty and great opportunities for wildlife spotting and bird watching. You can also stay here to find accommodations of all types ranging from pocket friendly to luxury.

The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, Voronet: They consist of a collection of jewels adorned with 15th and 16th-century frescoes. The monasteries are painted in old and new testaments. Most of the monasteries here are included in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. They indeed are the masterpieces made of mural arts. They are unique, gorgeous, exceptional, and have a very artistic surrounding. Some of the best-preserved monasteries are Probota, Sucevita, Moldovita, Patrauti, Arbore Humor, the Church of St. George, and also the Monastery of Voronet, which is famous all over the world for its shade of blue. This shade of blue is unique because it cannot be replicated. The actual color is voronet Blue. Visiting a monastery is difficult because they are mostly located in the countryside with minimal transport and no place to stay. But when you see it, the view is impressive.

Bucharest city center

Explore

There are many places to explore in every city of Romania. This country is filled with castles and other historical monuments that can be visited at any time or season. Some of the palaces have entry fees, while most castles can be visited free of cost. Many of the tourist attractions can easily be reached by public transport, including many busses and taxies. There are city parks in every city. These parks are free to visit and serve as the right picnic spot to spend some quality time with your friends and family. There are national parks which can help you in observing flora and fauna in detail. Several stunning beaches on the Black Sea coast can help relax and release your fatigue. Exploring new things and places will enhance your experience, and if you get bored from your daily routine exploring, it can naturally help you rejuvenate so that you can get back to your daily routine with a fresh mind after the tour. Exploring places while roaming in a city is a good exercise that will help you remain fit and healthy. It will also prevent you from becoming obese, which is a growing concern now.

City Parks

There are many city parks in each city that do not require any entrance charge or entrance fee. Most of the city parks have a great variety of flora and fauna which are of different species. These trees can also help you to explore nature in depth. City parks can be used for various exercises like walking, jogging, and running. There are jogging tracks present in almost all of the parks all over the country to support the activity. Besides walking, there are sports like cricket, badminton, tennis, volleyball, and many others that can be enjoyed with your friends and family. Some parks with ponds or waterfalls give it a unique look and a special feature that can be enjoyed while walking in these parks. Walking among the park trees relaxes and refreshes your mind, and walking provides strength to the body. Many local people visit these parks so even if you are traveling alone you can make new friends. You can enjoy the sunset in these parks as some of the gardens are connected with lakes.

Queen Mary, Baia Mare

Youth Park , Bucharest

Izvor Park, Bucharest

Palas Public Garden, Iași

Parcul Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt, Brașov

Central Park Simion Bărnuţiu, Cluj-Napoca

Citadel Park, Sibiu

Parcul Nicolae Titulescu, Ploiești

Roses Park, Timișoara

Faleza Bega, Timișoara

File:Parcul Izvor (1).jpg

Izvor Park and the view of the Parliament building

National Parks

National parks are parks that are built to protect nature and animals as well as plants. The national parks which are famous among the locals and travelers are listed below. Visiting these parks will provide you with the knowledge about different species of plants and animals. Many national parks offer jungle safaris; jungle safaris include an open or closed jeep, a driver, a tourist guide who has an in-depth knowledge of that particular national park, and the expertise specific tour guide to observe nature at a deeper range. Few national parks offer guest houses' service at different costs ranging from pocket friendly to luxurious. So, even if you want to enjoy here for a couple of weeks, you can book one of these guest houses and enjoy your stay. There are many camping tours organized by private agencies at certain minimal charges for people who love adventures. These tours include camping, trekking, food, and enjoyment in nature. These tours are suitable for solo travelers as they can find many tourists and local people on this tour. Some of the national parks are connected with various water bodies, which gives a chance to observe several marine creatures. Moreover, several flora and fauna species in the national parks are endemic, and some are even endangered.

Ceahlău National Park

Piatra Craiului National Park, Ciocanu

Retezat National Park, Nucșoara

Beusnita National Park, Lăpușnicu Mare

Rodnei Mountain National Park

Cozia National Park, Căciulata

Apuseni National Park, Comuna Rieni

The magnificent Ceahlău National Park

Beaches

Beaches are places connected with water bodies that form sediments, resulting in beaches' construction. Beaches are suitable for relaxing. You can even try various water sports like windsurfing, parasailing, snorkeling. The types of equipment which are used in these water sports are also available for rent. This innovative method allows everyone, including tourists, to enjoy water sports without carrying their gears. There are often multilingual guides that are available on these beaches. These guides help you to enjoy it correctly and make your trip a memorable one. If you do not prefer water sports, you can try land sports like beach volleyball and many other sports. Beaches are one of the best places to enjoy with your friends. Walking on the beach is much more useful than walking on the tracks as you have to move your legs through the sand. Some beaches offer camping, which can help lower your body's stress levels and get a night of better sleep.

Mamaia Beach, Constanta

Constanta Beach, Constanta

Sulina Beach, Sulina

Plaja de Carte, Vama Veche

Corbu Beach, Constanta

H2O Beach, Constanta

2 Mai, Mangalia

Shut Up Beach, Mamaia

Mamaia Beach

Landmarks

Landmarks are trendy amongst tourists and can be used to get to a specific place. Most of the landmarks include a castle, which shows the architectural richness and preferences of ancient empires. Some also have a unique amusement park below a salt mine and offer various amusement rides, including the ferries wheel. These landmarks are the most popular and serve as major tourist spots; therefore, they can be covered using public transport. Casinos are legal in Romania, and Constanta Casino is the most famous and luxurious casino in the entire city. Some natural landmarks are present, including a waterfall present near Anina and spread over 176.6 Hectares. A landmark built to pay tribute to the heroes of World War 1 is also listed under this as it includes a 1.3 kilometers long sculpture.

Constanța Casino, Constanta

The Endless Column, Târgu Jiu

Salina Turda, Turda

Bran Castle, Bran

Sarmizegetusa Regia, Costesti

The Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest

The Sphinx, Busegi Mountains

The Merry Cemetery, Maramures

Peleș Castle, Sinaia

Bigăr Waterfall, Anina

Bigăr Waterfall

Museums

Museums are the best place to get knowledge of various categories. The category might include science, art, and history. Museums are the places where many historic or unique artifacts, shreds of evidence are presented along with their details. These museums can be used to increase the general knowledge of the place you are visiting. You can even learn from the rich culture different people belonging to other groups follow. Some of the museums offer daycare or play area for children so that you can visit these museums. These museums require some minimal charge paid in exchange for joy and knowledge from the museum.

Vergu-Mănăilă House, Buzău

Craiova Art Museum, Craiova

Museum of Oltenia, Craiova

Luminiş, Sinaia

Iron Gates Region Museum, Turnu Severin

Resita Steam Locomotive Museum, Resita

Romanian Literature Museum, Pogor Memorial House, Iași

Ion Creangă Museum, Iași

Mihai Eminescu Museum, Iași

George Topîrceanu Museum, Iași

Mihai Codreanu Museum, Iași

Vergu-Mănăilă House

Eat

Sarmale (Cabbage Rolls) : You can find this food comforting and in every traditional Romanian wedding or during the Christmas and New Year holidays in Romania's streets. It consists of spices, onions, and rice mixtures rolled up in fermented cabbage leaves. They are boiled for hours in a traditional sauce made of tomato juice, saurekraut juice, and a blend of its secret spices and ingredients.

Mămăligă (Polenta): It is a side dish sarmale or so playing with Romanian cheese and sour cream. It is made from corn flour boiled in water with a pinch of salt and sunflower oil drops. It's a healthy side dish that pairs with gravies or strews.

Mici (Grilled Minced Meat Rolls) : The literal meaning of Mici is translated as small one as their size is only big as an adult human finger. It is prevalent and genuinely delicious on barbecue cottage weekends, street food, and birthday celebration. It is a food that can be smelled from miles away and makes your mouth watering. It is easy to make the dish and requires minced pork and beef mixed with spices, sodium bicarbonate, and garlic. It has a small sausage-like structure grilled juicy from inside but crispy from outside. You can savor it with mustard and bread.

Ciorbă de burtă (Beef Tripe Soup) : It is the most popular soup in Romania and a very bold and brave flavors. Its name doesn't sound authentic or appealing, but in reality, it's a pure delicacy that can make your tongue dance. The soup is made from the stomach of particular cow bones flavored with lots of garlic, sour vinegar, and some vegetables. Along with these, hot chili pepper goes very well with the soup.

Pomana Porcului (Honoring The Pig): It is an old ruler traditional dish. In Romania, the ancient rulers' tradition happens in December's cold crispy air when the pigs are sacrificed for Christmas dinner. The fresh meat cut from the slaughtered pig is fried in its fat in a deep pan. This savory food goes on the bullet with the authentic Pickles. This meal can also be found on the restaurants' menu, but if the pig is not freshly slaughtered, the dish won't taste the same.

Drink

Traditional Romanian wine: Romanian wine is not well outside of the country's outskirt. Romania is one of the largest producers of wine globally, and among Europe, it's the 5th largest producer behind countries like Germany spin France, and Italy. Romanians Making wines dates around 6000 years back. During the visit to Romania, you can check out wine in the shop and ask the vendor for a recommendation.

Traditional Romanian beers: On a visit to Romania, beers might not be the priority when you are roaming around, but Romania has a vast variety of delicious beer crafted. As craft beer is trendy in recent times but Romania as several brands which has been around for hundreds of years. The classic beer of Romania is Timisorena. It was first brewed in Romania in 1718 and uses traditional recipes and is made only by the master Brewer.

Socata: It is not an alcoholic drink; Socata is just a drink made from elderflower. The variety includes carbonated or non-carbonated and is a healthy drink. As elderflower is good for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, this drink is good for digestion. It can be slightly alcoholic if the beverage is fermented, but the point of drinking is never the consumption of alcohol.

Cocktails: It is a mixed drink, and you can find plenty of Romanian cocktails to try. The famous Romanian cocktail is white Romanian made with Kahlua, banana liquor, milk, banana slices, and vodka. Apart from white Romanian, Hugo Cocktail is famous for elderflower cordial, cordial prosecco, and soda water.

Tuica: It is considered as an absolute must-try remaining classic drink when you are visiting the country. It is a plum brandy spirit similar to Bulgarian Rakia and Hungarian Palinka. It serves two guests during the welcoming and is bored into traditional ceramic tuica cups. It is the best gift you can bring back home.

Tap-water

This country's tap water is safe for drinking, but you should keep it as a backup rather than always drinking tap water. You must buy bottled water that is readily available in every city. Using bottled water can increase plastic consumption, which will pollute the country. Therefore, you must use regular water and refill it. The reason for not drinking water directly from the tap is that tap water sometimes gets chlorine, which helps clean the water, but chlorine consumption is not suitable for health. If you stay in an apartment, you must install a water purifier or a reverse osmosis filter that will help you purify water. However, in some of the cities, there is water pollution seen in this country. Therefore, you must get a detailed knowledge of the town in Romania you are visiting. The main reason for water being so polluted is the lack of wastewater treatment. Most of the water in Romania depends on rivers and groundwater, which supplies ample water, but this does not mean that you can waste it. If you want to drink the tap water, it is advised that you must boil it before drinking. This country's tap water can be used for other household works like washing dishes, clothes, cleaning, etc.

Activities

Visiting castles

Visiting Beaches

Snorkeling

Jungle Safari

Scuba Diving

Parasailing

Mountaineering

Rock Climbing

Accommodation

There are different accommodation options available in this country which depends on the facilities, luxuries. The luxuries and facilities which they offer vary from price to price. If you want to stay in this country with all comfort and luxury, then you can have a beautiful sunset view adventurous feeling. Using different staying-in methods gives you different experiences that can be sometimes luxurious or can be adventurous sometimes. You can even meet a lot of new people while staying in any place.

Green Hotels

These are certified hotels, which makes them different from the usual hotels. The main difference is that green hotels use methods that protect and support nature. Like the electricity which is used in hotels are usually self-generated by solar light or wind energy. Other than this, the dishes served are made with organic ingredients that are good for health as they are free from chemicals and harmful substances. The components such as fruits and vegetables are freshly picked from organic farms, either hotel's farm or some local farmers, supporting local business. The bedsheet and towel in the bedroom are generally made up of cotton and hand-stitched. They use organic and herbal cosmetics products, which are suitable for your skin. These hotels are very much available in each city as they are famous and mostly preferred by locals. In terms of facilities, these hotels provide almost similar features but in an eco-friendly manner.

Hostels and Guest Houses

These are best for solo travelers as many of the hostel rooms are available here. The public spaces are mostly shared rooms; therefore, you can even make friends even if you are traveling alone. These rooms come with adequate facilities, including a bed, a cupboard, and some personal space. Some of the hostels also come with a balcony; therefore, they do not cost too much. While checking in, you must confirm the various rules and regulations and facilities so that you may not get into trouble because some of the hostels have time restrictions or leave hostels at night. However, another thing that must be kept in mind is that you must be alerted with your belongings as you might not know your roommate; therefore, you must care for your things. There are not many hostel rooms seen in Romania because most people prefer to stay in low-cost hotel rooms.

Apartments

There are semi-furnished and fully furnished apartments available with two bedrooms, a hall, and a kitchen. Flats are best if you have a partner, friends, or family with whom you are traveling. You will get a modular kitchen where you can cook your food rather than bring it from outside as you might not know where that food is prepared and its hygiene. Another reason for cooking your food is that you might not find your favorite food; therefore, you can cook and eat that, and the third reason is that it can be budget-friendly. Other than this, an apartment can help you become independent as all the work, including cleaning, mopping, and washing, has to be done by you. It will boost your self-confidence. Apartments offer you complete privacy and are highly secured with guards and cameras covering the entire premises. Some of the flats provide you swimming pool, fitness center, and indoor sports area, including snooker, table tennis, carom, chess, and other sports. They often have extensive gardens or parks used for yoga or morning walks, jogging, or running.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing means to stay at any local's house with his permission, and in exchange, he doesn't charge any fees; instead, you should help him in his daily household works. There are more than one hundred thousand hosts that allow Couchsurfing. Also, Romania's crime rates are too low, which states that Couchsurfing can be done quickly. Couchsurfing's most crucial benefit is that you can be friends with the host, and he can tell you about various hidden tourist spots and some money-saving tips. Couchsurfing can help you in saving a lot of money. The most important thing that must be kept in mind is that you must not be entirely reliable on Couchsurfing as many of the hosts can cancel your accommodation just before your arrival. Therefore, it is advised that you must keep any accommodation option as a backup. You must not expect anything related to your stay because your sleeping place can vary from host to host. If you are lucky enough, you can even get your room, and if the host gives you a mattress, you have to sleep on it.

Camping

Camping along the beach can be very adventurous and can help you in getting adequate sleep. There are few available camping grounds, but many of the public beaches offer camping. Other than this, there are camping tours which offer camping in national parks. It would help if you choose things according to the weather and avoid bonfire as it creates a lot of pollution. Instead of a bonfire, you can take a battery-operated pocket heater, which will not create pollution.

Regions

The regions of Romania

Transylvania

Banat

Oltenia

Southern Bukovina

Maramureş

Crişana

Dobrogea

Moldavia

Muntenia

Cities

Bucharest — the capital of Romania, in which megalomanic monuments, including "House of the People" (now the Palace of Parliament), built during Ceauşescu's regime, overlook medieval and later neo-classical neighbourhoods.
Brașov — located in south-eastern Transylvania, its main attractions are the well kept medieval downtown, the nearby luxury resort of Poiana Braşov and the proximity to Rasnov and the Bran ("Dracula's") Castle.
Cluj-Napoca — the largest town in Transylvania, is a major economic center and a youthful city, housing one of the largest universities in Europe.
Constanța — Romania's main Black Sea port and one of the major commercial hubs in the region. The northernmost Litoral district, Mamaia, is thought to be one of the best Black Sea resorts.
Iaşi — the second largest Romanian city, once the historic capital of the Moldavian principality until 1861, and for some time capital of Romania. Today it is one of the major economic and cultural centres in the country.
Sibiu — one of the most beautiful cities in Transylvania, it has the best preserved historical sites in the country, many museums and exhibitions, proximity to the stunning Făgăraş mountains, for which reasons it became the 2007 European Capital of Culture.
Sighişoara — the city's downtown area, the Sighisoara Citadel, is the last inhabited medieval citadel in Europe and one of the best historical monuments preserved nowdays.
Suceava — the main city in Bukovina and the medieval capital of the Moldavian principality; it can be the starting point for visiting the famous painted Monasteries in the region.
Timişoara — the largest town in the Banat region, it is one of the most prosperous and modernized cities in Romania; it was there that the 1989 Romanian anti-communist revolution began.
Tulcea — a city in Dobrogea, Romania.

Getting There and Moving Around

Getting in Romania is very simple as its airways are connected with many major cities in Europe and Asia; therefore, you can easily reach here by airways. However, it might happen that you might not get to the desired city, but you can even land in the neighboring town. You can reach the desired city through many means of transport, including intercity buses, taxi, or train. However, it would be best to avoid taxis or motorcycle rides as engine cars, and motorcycles create a lot of pollution by emitting a lot of smoke. Already air pollution is a significant problem in this country.

Air

There is a total of 12 international airports in Romania, which covers almost all countries and cities. This country can only be reached by air. Traveling through the air is the most convenient and time-saving means of transport. It would be best to prefer a direct flight instead of a transfer flight to not contribute to the increasing pollution levels.

Henri Coanda International Airport, Bucharest, Romania

Bus

There are a lot of buses running across the whole country. The buses here are divided into three categories – day buses, night buses, and intercity. Day buses run throughout the days from 6 in the morning till 5 in the evening. Night buses are buses that run overnight, starting its service from 6 in the evening till 5 in the morning. The third category is the intercity, which are buses which travel intercity. The ticket price depends on the distance you are traveling.

A local public bus in Bucharest, Romania

Train

There are a lot of trains which run across the whole nation covering each city. The available trains are air-conditioned and well maintained. Traveling the country via a train is more affordable than any other transport available. Different trains run inside and outside the cities. You can use them as you like and make your trip eco-friendly by using them.

The main railway station in Tulcea, Romania

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking means asking for a lift or a free ride. This method can be utilized if you need to travel from one city to another in Romania. You have to be present on a busy road to get a person who might offer you a free ride. It can be a bit challenging if you are a beginner, but the upside is that the people are amiable and love to help out tourists.

Others

Other means of transport involve a taxi or motorcycle but using them is not advised. It would be good if you only used them in case of emergency or not getting other means of transport. In some areas, waterways are also available, but they are also not the right choice as they use fossil fuels to run. Some boat owners are also involved in illegal activities, which might get you in trouble with the country's authorities.

Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping refers to a type of shopping where instead of buying from retail and international stores that sell frozen and packed items, you opt for fresh and organic items. This type of shopping also includes buying second-hand and eco-friendly items. This trend's main aim is to make people realize how much harm the packed and frozen items do to our body. You can find such things in the local markets where you will find stalls owned by locals instead of retail shops. Second-hand stores and eco-fashion shops are also great places to find sustainable items for your stay in Romania.

Recycling

Recycling plays an important in reducing the overall garbage of a country. It is because this technique helps in reusing items that are waste for others. These recycled items don't require the excessive need for energy or fuel to become reusable and are very eco-friendly. You will find that there are many recycling plants and units present in different cities in Romania. It shows that the country's government is also trying to create awareness and supporting recycling.

Waste

The waste management in Romania is not as efficient as the pollution levels are increasing at steady rates. You will find that some people often litter their waste on the streets. The government has set up different garbage disposal containers like dumpsters, dustbins, garbage trucks, etc. As a tourist, it is your responsibility to dispose of your waste correctly and try to make the locals realize it. It will help you in contributing to the positive impact of tourism in Romania.

Work and Study Abroad

Because of the political, commercial, historical, and cultural significance, education and career development opportunities are the best in Europe. You will find different international and local businesses present in the various cities that often look for foreign representatives or employees for their operations. You will need to meet their eligibility criteria to work with them. The country also homes some significant educational institutes to apply for unique courses and broaden your knowledge.

Exchange Student

The educational institutes in Romania offer different local and international students programs to study in their colleges or a partner institute. These programs also have additional scholarships that you can avail of if you meet their eligibility. The student exchange program is a great way to study in a different part of the world, learn about other cultures, and meet new people. This program aims at developing a student's mind, personality, and career.

Au Pair

Au pairing is a great way to get a job in the country that you are visiting. This type of employment provides you with a place to stay and earn some money and befriend the local family that employed you. You will find that Au pairing is available in Romania, but it is not that common. The local families don't always trust foreigners and are skeptical about letting them stay in their house and interact with their children. Therefore, it would be best if you create a pleasant and kind image in the first meeting.

Volunteering

The people in Romania will help you make your trip a memorable one by helping you out in any way they can. You will find that the best way to show your gratitude to the locals is by helping in making their city or country a better place. Volunteering is the best way to do so as it will help you interact with different people and understand their lives. These organizations will help you become aware of the issues, and you can give your valuable ideas to help the local communities. By participating in volunteering activities, you can travel responsibly and create tourists' right image in the locals' eyes.