Is it worth going to Romania by the sea? Tips and advice for traveling to Romania. Dracula's Castle and other historical sites

Is it worth going to Romania, what can you see there, is it dangerous to travel there, what does the Romanian sea look like? Read the most vivid impressions of your trip to Romania in the article below.

Let's start with the fact that when we woke up in the morning in a hotel in Bucharest, we saw such a sad picture. It's June outside, but the weather was cool and it was raining heavily. In general, the city landscapes in Bucharest are very depressing: the roads are not of very good quality, old peeling panels, some strange, unkempt buildings. Since the goal of our trip was not Bucharest, after breakfast we immediately rushed to the mountains.

First we passed the city of Ploiesti, which is located in historical region Wallachia. The city looks more prosperous than Bucharest. This city is famous for the fact that the world's first oil refinery was opened in 1857. Yes, yes, you heard right. This region is major center on oil production and oil refining in the region, during the trip we saw several oil wells near the highways, but did not have time to take photographs. Back in 1900, Romania was the third largest oil producing country in the world. During World War II, Romania was the main country that provided oil to Hitler.

On the way back our route passed through Pitesti. The city also looked more prosperous than Bucharest, apparently because Dacia people's cars are produced here. The car got its name from the name of this region, which was formerly called Dacia.

Right there in the city is the Arpechim oil refinery, which produces 3.5 million tons of gasoline. Pitsheti, in addition to its oil refinery and automobile production, is famous for the fact that Romanian Prime Minister Ion Antonescu was born here

Now I’ll tell you a little about the roads and driver behavior. When we drove from the airport, it seemed to us that we were in our homeland, but in the morning our fears were confirmed. People here calmly overtake on oncoming tram tracks, change lanes brazenly and without turning, honk constantly, run red lights, in general, behave like our drivers. In the photo you see a typical Romanian picture: I park wherever I want. Here you can easily see parking on the sidewalk, in the second row, on the lawn, or even in the middle of the road! Pay attention to the fences: fences in cities can be seen everywhere, advertisements are pasted on them in a hundred layers.

Romanians also love black jeeps, black Mercedes-Benzes and cool license plates. Such a black jeep will be polished, tinted, and the driver with a gold chain in his finger will show with all his appearance that he is cool as a camel.

This is what the driver of the jeep will look like, only in clothes.

This is what Romania is all about - stopping at a traffic light and going out for a smoke, no problem. Even after a smoke break, the driver swapped places with his companion.

The power lines reminded me of Thailand.

My next surprise is that villages and houses in villages look much more decent than houses in cities. In Romanian villages it is clear that the houses are looked after, that the houses have a strong good foundation, the fences are again solid, the houses are always decorated with flowers. In the photograph we see that people are driving cows, by the way, into agriculture employs 29% of the country's population. Farmers produce a lot of vegetables and fruits, raise poultry, small and large livestock.

Let's move on from economics to landscapes. The Carpathians here are very beautiful, but just beyond this pass is the most high mountain Romania - Moldoveanu (2544 m.).

The fog in the mountains is very dense. In the photograph you can see powerful power lines, houses with tiled roofs, and a normally constructed pedestrian crossing.

As elsewhere in the Balkans, there are many stray dogs in Romania; they are sad, but, unlike Serbia, non-aggressive: they simply approach travelers and ask for a piece of bread.

Typical cityscape for Romania. Scary houses, new houses nearby, advertisements for cell phones and fast food, sleeping homeless people, cheap cars. Maybe because of such landscapes, people in the country are dissatisfied, do not smile and are very closed. Although during our entire trip we did not meet a single beggar or swindlers, we did not see broken car windows or other signs of crime. The country has quite strict laws for criminals and, apparently, it is easier for criminals to move to other EU countries, where the laws are softer, in order to carry out their business there, while hard workers remain in Romania. Also, there are no blacks or Arabs in the country, because this country looks unattractive for illegal immigrants, who are now very active and are pouring into Germany and England.

If you think that there are no attractions in Romania and its capital Bucharest, then this is not so, there is one, and the main one is the Parliament building. This building is not just big, it's gigantic! This palace began to be built under socialism in 1984, when the country was ruled by Nicolae Ceausescu, who drove the country into such a state that when he was overthrown, he was simply killed, and the country is still paying off debts for it. This is the largest, most expensive and heaviest administrative building in the world, the construction cost of which was 3 billion Euros.

Romanians are very fond of parties and revelry, especially on Friday. You can’t get into restaurants, taverns and bars on Friday, everything is packed, you can hear songs, dances, wedding celebrations everywhere, and the rooms are very smoky. And young people from all over Europe come to the center of Bucharest to party. Here the entire historical center is given over to restaurants, cafes, brothels, pubs, Thai massages, cabarets and clubs.

Prices in Romanian supermarkets are the same as in the Czech Republic. It was interesting to see electronic price tags on goods: as I understand it, they are connected to the store’s database and if the price of a product changes, then the number in the database simply changes, and the price on the price tag changes automatically. In the photo, the juice costs a little more than 1 Euro per liter bottle (the exchange rate today is 1 Euro = 4.5 Lei). They have a funny name for a small thing - a bathhouse! It’s worth saying about supermarkets that, unlike central Europe, the people there are nervous in queues, they constantly want to squeeze closer, overtake, climb on their heads, run over with a cart, put their products on top of yours. I'm unaccustomed to this behavior.

I noticed that in the country of restaurants national cuisine quite few, fast food with kebabs, Turkish or Greek dishes, as well as pizzerias. Their dishes are very beautiful

Next, our path lies to the Black Sea through the Dobruja region. This region consists of hilly steppes where wheat and grapes are grown. By the way, Romania is in 11th place in the world in wheat exports. And it ranks 5th in terms of wheat production. Along the road we saw a lot of modern granaries.

The bridges across the Danube here are very powerful; this is the Cernavodă bridge, 2.5 km long.

Railway transport in Romania is the best in the Balkans. The country's railway transport began to develop in 1894, and now the country ranks 4th in Europe in terms of the length of railway tracks. There are many old trains in Romania, but trains are gradually being replaced with new ones from the German company Siemens. In the photo, the train is traveling over the bridge over the Danube, the length of the bridge is 4 km, the bridge was built at the end of the last century and was named after the Prince of Wallachia and Romania, and later the King of Romania - Carol I.

We are approaching the city of Constanta. The city is famous for its port, which is the largest on the Black Sea. In Europe, the port ranks 20th in size, employing 6,000 people, with a cargo turnover of 55 million tons. The photo shows only a small part of the port. The port has a very advantageous location and good transport accessibility, therefore, to deliver cargo across the Black Sea, transport companies choose it rather than Bulgarian ports, which are only now beginning to develop.

We drive past Constanta and head to the beaches of Romania. Romania is unlucky with its beaches: the country has only a small access to the sea, and in the north there is the Danube Delta, and almost all of that territory is swampy, and there are no beaches there. We were in the town of Mangalia - south of Constanta. The hotels here, to put it mildly, are not very good; they look like Soviet ones.

The beaches here are so-so, but sandy. On our way we met several good beaches, with beautiful African umbrellas and quite culturally decorated.

The right place for a seaside holiday in Romania is the town of Mamaia. There is a steep wide beach, good hotels and service, and the sea is much better than in Mangalia Bay. Mamaia is a party place; vacationers not only from Romania come here for beach parties, casinos, bars and clubs. Here is a list of the most best hotels, prices for holidays in them will be much lower than in Spain or Italy: Hotel On Plonge Junior, Hotel Del Mar Mamaia, Best Western Hotel Savoy, Vega Hotel. This place is also suitable for families with children. For example, this resort has a cool water park, Aqua Magic Mamaia. You will not find such a good water park throughout neighboring Bulgaria, where our tourists love to go on vacation.

On the map of Romania you can see all the places I talked about.

This short trip around Romania turned out to be very informative and interesting, the main thing is to put a Romanian dictionary on your phone, because there is a problem with the English language in the country. It's worth visiting the country at least for the sake of visiting. The nature here is very beautiful. It’s worth a trip here at least once if you’re traveling through the Balkans.

Of all the countries in Europe, Romania can be called the most diverse, budget-friendly and beauty-rich country. The birthplace of the most famous and bloodthirsty villain - Dracula, excellent seaside resorts, wonderful place for skiing, gastronomic paradise. All these advantages are slightly spoiled by the fact that Romania is the poorest European country. You shouldn’t expect miracles from the service and level of hotels, you shouldn’t expect the ideal condition of roads and developed tourism infrastructure. However, vivid impressions and a wonderful healing climate, as well as delicacies and mysterious stories there will certainly be.

Visa, insurance and other formalities

Romania is an EU country, but has not joined the Schengen Agreement. A visa for tourists from Russia is required. It costs 35 euros (provided that you do the registration yourself). Along with the application form and passport, you must submit a hotel reservation, return ticket, and a bank statement proving that you have the necessary funds for travel (at least 50 euros for one day). Sometimes consulates may require a certificate from your place of work indicating your position and monthly income. This requirement does not always apply, but it is necessary to prepare this document.

You can apply for a visa at the Romanian consulate or at visa centers (paying extra for services). The hassle of obtaining a Romanian visa can be entrusted to travel company, but then the price of the coveted sticker will increase by 100%, or even more.

You definitely need to be insured; it is better to purchase insurance yourself from any company. The main thing is that the total sum insured is not less than 80,000 euros.

Road

The most convenient way to get to the Romanian capital is by plane. A round-trip ticket will cost 170 euros (the cheapest tickets are offered by Aeroflot). A direct flight from Moscow to Bucharest lasts two and a half hours.

The train to Bucharest from Moscow takes 24 hours and another 12 hours. Runs only during tourist season(May-September), and the ticket price is practically no different from an air ticket (from 155 euros).

You can get to Bucharest from Chisinau by bus (the journey takes 9 hours, a round trip ticket costs 40 euros). And by train - from Lviv (11 hours travel, 35 euros one way).

Hotels

A day in a hostel in the center of Bucharest will cost 7-9 euros. A modest hotel on the outskirts of the city at *** level will cost 12-15 euros/day. In the center, a double room with breakfast will cost 25-30 euros.

In the Romanian provinces, especially in the towns most beloved by tourists, an overnight stay will cost the same amount. A modest hotel on a quiet street in Sibiu welcomes guests in double rooms for 20 euros/day.

A popular place to stay in Romania is the family home. Tourists are provided with a room with all amenities, breakfast included. You can ask the owners about full board. A day in such an establishment costs from 25 euros. But if you stay here for several days, a significant discount is provided. This option is suitable for a large family or a youth group.

Where and how to eat?

Traditional breakfast in a street cafe (coffee, pastries or sandwich) - 2-3 euros. Lunch in a restaurant - 10-12 euros. Dinner in a traditional Romanian tavern - from 7 euros (with wine - from 10 euros). In Romania there is a very big difference in prices between cafes for tourists and those for local residents. It is worth choosing a cafe or restaurant for Romanians. The food there will be just as tasty, but the bill will be several times less. A visit to a traditional tavern is enough to enjoy the local flavor.

If you choose an apartment and provide your own meals, your daily diet will cost 7-10 euros/day, it all depends on your gastronomic preferences. It is better to buy products at the market, here you can bargain.

You should try corn porridge - mamalyga, chorba with meat, stuffed tomatoes. These dishes are offered to tourists in traditional restaurants.

Where to visit? What to see?

Tourists come to Romania to relax by the sea in the summer, ski in the winter, see castles and wine cellars in the fall, and get medical treatment at numerous balneological resorts- in the spring. It doesn’t often happen that the capital of a country is poorer in attractions than the province. In the case of Romania, this is exactly the case. You can live in Bucharest for two days and no more. The main tourist treasures are kept in cities such as Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Sinaia. Let's consider all the possibilities for tourists who decide to visit Romania.

Dracula's Castle and other historical sites

Bran Castle known as Count Dracula's castle

The history of Romania is replete with bloody wars, internal strife and constant conflicts with its neighbors. The main reminder of this is the numerous castles fortified with impenetrable walls, ditches and drawbridges. Among all this diversity, the place stands out for which most tourists come to the country.

Dracul means “dragon” in Romanian. The nickname of the ruler Vlad the Impaler is associated with his cruelty. Only specialists and schoolchildren would know about this personality from textbooks. But Bram Stoker's novel changed everything. For more than a hundred years, tourists have been coming to Romania to visit the castle of the bloodsucking count. There is a medieval museum inside. For many, it will be a disappointment that the famous Dracula spent only one night here, but the majority of tourists do not care too much about this.

Dracula Bran Castle is located in the vicinity of Brasov, 30 kilometers from its center. The town can be reached by train from Bucharest (the journey takes 2.5 hours, a ticket costs 10 euros one way). From Brasov we go by bus (40 minutes journey, ticket - 1.60 euros one way).

The entrance ticket to Bran Castle costs 6.80 euros.

Particular attention should be paid to the souvenir market, which is located in front of the castle. The variety of souvenirs on the theme of “blood-sucking” is simply amazing, as are the prices for these very souvenirs.

A trip to Brasov will be interesting not only because of the Bran Castle, as the town itself is interesting for tourists: narrow medieval streets, coffee shops, ancient churches, a mixture of architectural styles.

Other royal castles of Romania are nearby: Poenari, Peles and Pelisor. But it is better to visit them as part of a tourist group, so as not to waste time on transfers and waiting for public transport. Such an excursion will cost 50 euros if you buy it at a travel agency in Bucharest or Constanta. A trip to the castles of Romania is the most popular tour that will be of interest to even the youngest travelers.

Tourists are offered numerous “Dracula tours” with an individual Russian-speaking guide. The cost of such a tour (duration 6 days), including meals and accommodation, starts from 350 euros per person.

Black Sea resorts

Almost three hundred kilometers of the Black Sea coast, which belong to Romania, are dotted with sanatoriums, hotels, beaches, water parks and other tourist delights. The climate here is the same as in, but the service and opportunities are completely different. Low prices for holidays also attract tourists.

Romanian beaches are perfectly sandy. The entrance to the sea is gentle, and on the beaches themselves there are sun loungers, umbrellas, and cafes. Public beaches do not look as attractive, but they are much better than domestic ones. Fees for using private beaches can reach up to 5 euros/day.

The resort area is not happy with the prices. A place in a city hotel will cost 40 euros/day.

The average bill in a restaurant is 18-20 euros (two courses and a glass of wine).

rest in resort town Mamaia will cost less. Overnight stay in a villa - no more than 20 euros/day. But the room must be booked in winter.

Mamaia's entertainment includes water parks (day ticket - 14 euros, children 7 euros), a dolphinarium and an aquarium (ticket 2.50 euros to each establishment), numerous amusement parks, etc.

In Mamaia you can take a course of mud therapy. Local healing mud well known all over the world. People come here to relieve diabetes, normalize metabolism, lose weight, and get rid of skin and nervous diseases. In medical centers on Black Sea coast In Romania, you can undergo a course of treatment (6 days and 12 treatment procedures - from 160 euros per person).

The whole world comes to Romanian resorts for rejuvenation. Local mineral water and mud works wonders. Rejuvenating treatments (baths, massages, inhalations, masks, etc.) can be purchased individually, or in one package (from 250 euros per person).

Ski resorts

Romania - Mountain country. For lovers alpine skiing There is an excellent selection of resorts here:

Poiana Brasov - next to Dracula's castle. Perfect for inexperienced skiers and families with children. The slopes are gentle, there are many sledding hills. Among the shortcomings - there are few restaurants and cafes;
Sinaia is an hour's drive from Brasov. Well-developed infrastructure most picturesque place. There are several hotels in the town. Slopes of varying difficulty levels;
Azuga is not far from Sinai. The most modern ski resort in Romania. In addition to ideal slopes for skiers of different experience, there are nightclubs, entertainment centers, wine cellars, etc.

Accommodation in local hotels - from 25 euros for a double room.

The average bill in mountain restaurants and cafes is 15 euros (dinner with wine).

A one-day “ski passport” to the resorts of Romania will cost a tourist 32 euros (88 euros for 4 days). Children's "passports" cost half as much. The ski season starts in December and ends in mid-March.

We also recommend reading the article. From it you will find out which are the cheapest ski resorts there are in Eastern Europe and Russia, including: Harrakhov, Kopaonik, Abzakovo, Elbrus region and others. The article provides an overview of the most budget places in Eastern Europe, where prices are 2-3 times cheaper than in the West.

Excursions abroad in Romania

Most often, tourists do not want to travel outside of Romania. The country is self-sufficient, diverse and very interesting. But if your soul requires even more impressions, you can easily get to:

— it’s better to go from Constanta. Just get to Varna, for example. The excursion will cost 40 euros and will last one day;
— you can get from Bucharest to by train in 13 hours. One-way ticket - from 96 euros.

beautiful castles

detailed description

Traveling outside of Romania is a hassle. The country is not small, and all trips involve additional costs. In addition, such trips do not always bring more vivid impressions than the beauty of Romania.

When to go?

Romania is good all year round. Every season will be interesting. The best time to visit the castles of Transylvania is in autumn or spring. At this time, the Carpathian views are especially charming, and the crowds of tourists are not so numerous.

Ski lovers come to Romania in winter and in the first half of March (the cheapest time!).

Holidays on the Black Sea and mud treatment - summer pleasures. But to be treated in Carpathian sanatoriums (salt caves, mud and mineral springs) can be done at any time of the year.

Be careful!

Despite its extraordinary attractiveness for tourists, Romania is one of the poorest countries in the EU. Unemployment, lack of investment, low level life, the Roma diaspora - this list of the country’s problems can be continued for a long time. The police here work with full dedication and are trying with all their might to protect tourists from all kinds of scammers and beggars. But the police can't do everything. Travelers should be careful and follow four rules to ensure a carefree and positive holiday:

keep all documents in the hotel safe, and carry only photocopies with you;
never carry a wallet in your back pocket and generally try not to let it out of sight;
do not respond to offers from street vendors and suspicious individuals;
Do not buy jewelry secondhand.

Be that as it may, Romania is a country for the brightest and at the same time budget holiday. Have a nice experience!

Due to the high level of inflation, prices in the country change quite quickly, although recently there has been a certain stabilization in this matter. IN tourist areas prices in shops and markets are often indicated in both lei and euros.

Safety regulations

Theft is a big problem in Romania. Availability large number Roma, for the most part, do not work anywhere, creates excellent soil for petty theft and car break-ins. You should never leave any valuables in your car, even paid parking. There are a lot of pickpockets on public transport, so documents and money should be kept in places that are most inaccessible to a thief. Likewise, it is not recommended to leave any expensive items or documents in the hotel room.

Today Bucharest is safer than most European capitals. Petty theft and fraud, although widespread, usually flourish far from the main attractions of the country and the eyes of the police, who have very broad powers in this country. Street checks are infrequent, but they are carried out scrupulously and thoroughly. In this case, you must always have a copy of your passport or driver's license with you. Drug use is prosecuted with particular severity - even a foreigner can be convicted of drug-related offenses for up to 7 years. Petty theft, currency fraud and credit cards, sometimes scammers dress in the uniform of a policeman or taxi driver.

Roads

Of course, Romanian roads can be called one of the worst in Europe. With the exception of a few main routes, the vast majority of roads are in very poor condition: they are narrow, with many holes, cracks, insufficient road signs and indicators, livestock roaming freely, and lack of lighting at night. All this, and especially coupled with the unusual mountainous terrain, creates significant difficulties for the autotourist.

Stray dogs

Numerous packs of stray dogs pose a real threat to tourists. According to various sources, up to 300 thousand stray dogs live in Bucharest alone. Even taking into account the fact that most of these animals are absolutely harmless, nevertheless, every year hundreds of people become victims of attacks and bites by dogs. In 2009, a Japanese tourist was mauled to death by dogs near Bucharest's Gara De Nord train station. To avoid trouble, you should avoid vacant lots, remote parts of city parks and unkempt, uncrowded courtyards. In addition, it is not recommended to walk in dark time days when packs of dogs go out in search of food.

Corruption

IN last years, especially since Romania joined the European Union in 2007, the level of corruption (previously reaching dismal levels) has decreased significantly. The vicious practice of total police stops of cars and extortion of money has already been practically eliminated. A car enthusiast can travel around Romania as calmly as in any other country in Europe. The no less difficult situation on the Romanian borders with neighboring countries has also significantly normalized. Many tourists remember very well entering Romania by land, which was almost always accompanied by attempts to extort money - this is no longer the case.

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited in public transport and in almost all cinemas and theaters. Photography of military installations, bridges and ports is prohibited. In some places (mostly most palaces and some churches) you will need to pay about 2 thousand lei for permission to photograph.

Alcohol

The classification of Romanian wines complies with European standards. Wines are divided into “traditional” wines, which in turn are divided into table wines (VM) and quality table wines (VMS), and “quality” wines, which are divided into wines highest quality(VS) and quality wines with controlled designation of the region (VDOC). In turn, VDOC wines are divided into wines with a controlled name of region (DOC), wines with a controlled name and quality degree (DOCC), wines of a full maturity vintage (CMD), wines of a late harvest (CT) or selected vintage (CS). ), noble wines (CIB), late harvest wines (CSB) and noble ripeness wines (CMI). The price of the product is determined in accordance with this classification, but in general local wines are very inexpensive.

Water

Tap water is usually chlorinated and is relatively safe, but can cause stomach problems. It is recommended to use only bottled or boiled water. Romania is currently experiencing water shortages, so in some areas (especially around Bucharest and other large cities) mains water is only supplied for a few hours a day. In the mountains this problem practically does not exist. It is safe to drink water from mountain springs.

Nutrition

Milk and dairy products are widely pasteurized and considered safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables are considered relatively safe to eat, but market products require mandatory processing.

Natural Hazards

Natural risks also include earthquakes, which most often occur in the south and southwest of the country, as well as landslides.

Tips

Tipping is not accepted. You can leave 5-10% in a first-class restaurant or, if the cost of service is included in the bill, round the bill up. Tipping is not required in taxis.

Electricity

Mains voltage 220 V, 50 Hz. Two-pin sockets. Some luxury hotels have European-style sockets.

Our decision to go to Romania was quite spontaneous. At the beginning of summer, when I was leafing through the pages of the “Tourism and Leisure” magazine and dreaming (as in the joke) about another globe, my gaze fell on the “Romania” section. A certain company offered combined tour: seaside holiday + trip to the mountains. It was all called “In the footsteps of Count Dracula.”

Then my daughter and I had the following dialogue:
Me: Shouldn't we go to Romania?
Daughter: Where is it? Is there even a sea there?
I am. Black... And Romania is the birthplace of Dracula.
Daughter: So what? Can I go visit him?!
Me: Dracula's Castle is on the tour program.
Daughter: Mom, act!

In general, we went... As the great Lem said, “in reality, everything is completely different from what it really is.” This is what I really want to tell you about what we actually saw.

So:
Visas. Until recently, Romania was for Russians visa-free country. Recently, a visa has been needed, but it is issued without any problems - you just fill out a simple form, submit one photograph, and after five working days you receive a visa.

The local currency is lei. As a matter of fact, thousands of lei. One leu roughly corresponds to our ruble before redenomination. The current exchange rate is approximately 34,000 lei per dollar, so converting local prices into rubles is very convenient - you just subtract three zeros and a little more from the price in lei. Then, however, you go crazy at the resulting price - everything is so cheap (by our standards).

Safety. The country is quite safe, there are practically no violent crimes. The only place where you need to keep an eye on bags and wallets - Old city in Bucharest (there are many gypsies there). Hotels of any star rating are sure to have free safes, and you won’t have to leave the balcony door open when you leave your room. I was told that in a neighboring hotel, a tourist (Ukrainian) was robbed in our presence - a friend left the balcony open and went to the beach. The documents were then given to him, but the digital camera, cell phone and money were never returned. Well what can I say? This doesn't only happen in Romania...

Sanitation. This is okay. You can eat it anywhere.

Service. The only thing we noticed was that in restaurants, waiters don’t like it when a large group asks for a separate bill for each person. Otherwise, everything is very decent - change is given carefully everywhere, in restaurants there are no Turkish tricks with double menus. Hotels clean and change linen quite regularly (in the three stars where we lived, towels were changed every day, bed linen every three days). Any problems that arise (for example, a light bulb in our room burned out) are resolved quickly and without reminders.

Tips. In hotels (neither maids nor porters) are not provided; in restaurants, as a rule, the waiter brings change, rounded up to 10 thousand lei in his favor. I don’t know about taxis - if we went somewhere outside the program, we used public transport.

Language. Naturally, Romanian. The older generation, when meeting Russians, joyfully tries to remember Russian; young people, as a rule, can communicate in English or (less often) in German. The level of English proficiency, it seemed to us, was surprisingly good (we were scared that Romanians don’t know English at all). However, we met a surprising number of English speaking people. Well, okay, there are waiters or salespeople in resort towns, but when in residential area In Bucharest, in a store “for our own”, the cashier smartly spoke to us in English... Maybe we were just lucky - I don’t know.

Romanians. I thought that all Romanians were brunettes. No matter how it is: I, fair-haired and blue-eyed, were mistaken several times for one of their own and spoke to me in Romanian.

That's probably all the introductory information... Now about our journey. First we spent nine days at sea. Resort centers there are several in Romania, but we didn’t have the opportunity to choose a resort - everyone who went on the combined tour was sent to Neptune-Olympus. In principle, we did not regret it. Neptune, one of the oldest resorts, began to develop quite a long time ago due to its microclimate. There’s a huge forest nearby (called Komarovo, by the way. Hello, St. Petersburg people!), and the breeze blows all the time, so it’s never too hot. Disadvantages of Neptune - hotels, as a rule, are not new (although they are maintained in good condition), built under Ceausescu. Basically, these are two stars, there are a few three stars. There seems to be only one four, built recently and, as a result, not on the first line. The neighboring resorts – Saturn, Venus, etc. – look approximately the same. (named after Roman gods).

I read unflattering reviews about the Mioritsa hotel - members of our tour group also complained about it. Among other things, it is also located far from the sea and next to the railway. Why our travel agencies work with him is a mystery to me. Our three ruble was quite consistent with its stars.

Romanians say that if you want to have a more luxurious holiday, you should go to Mamaia - it began to develop later than Neptune, there are newer and more star-studded hotels, and there is even a water park (the only one in Romania).

The sea in Romania is, naturally, Black (after the Mediterranean, you want to add salt to it). In some places it is really very shallow (knee-deep), but in Neptune there is a good bay about two kilometers long, where you can swim three steps from the shore. By the way, in Romania the buoys are placed very funny. Usually they show the border where you can’t swim, and in Romania - where you can’t stand up. If you wish, you can swim behind the buoys; rescuers (if you don’t swim a kilometer from the shore) take this calmly. Another advantage of Romania as a poor country is that there are almost no motorized pleasures (in Tunisia, because of the motorboats, you won’t be able to swim beyond the buoys).

Beaches (small shell rock) are publicly accessible. In some places there are sun loungers and umbrellas (for a fee), but the majority of vacationers come to the beach with their own umbrellas and rugs. There are equipped volleyball courts and basketball hoops. Romanians (and 90 percent of them are vacationers at sea) are a sporty and active people, they really love all kinds of ball games (on the shore and in the water). If you want to join an unfamiliar company, you will be welcome.

The sea is clean, the beaches are also clean... I liked the Romanians as neighbors on the beach. First of all, by not leaving children unattended and not believing that their precious children can do whatever they want. If a Romanian child starts yelling, one of the adults immediately materializes next to him, comforting or (depending on the situation) punishing him. If the child accidentally disturbed you, they will apologize to you and give the child a reprimand. Adult Romanians on the beach behave correctly and do not pester, at most they can ask for a lighter.

Food. We had BB (breakfast only) in our package. Breakfast in our three stars was quite decent. In addition to the standard set (muesli, sausages, eggs, omelet, ham, sausage, cheese, yoghurt, fruit), a nice addition was the presence of dairy products (cottage cheese, local curdled milk, etc.) - everything was fresh, and baked goods. By the way, there were no juices for breakfast. And in general, drinking juices is somehow not customary in Romania. Even in expensive restaurants, freshly squeezed juices are usually not on the menu. But Romania is a country where they simply don’t know how to brew bad coffee. The tea in the hotel was from tea bags, but the black coffee was boiled and strong.

As for lunches and dinners, eating in Romania is not a problem. The only inconvenience is that the menu is not always in English (the coast, as I already said, is a resort mainly for its own people). However, we got out of the situation simply: we went to a tavern we liked, looked at what the natives were eating and asked the waiter to bring us the same thing. The waiter showed us the chosen dish (and its price) on the menu and, after our “yes” (in Romanian “yes” is “yes”), he rushed to fulfill the order. Prices (ridiculous by Moscow standards). It cost us a maximum of 250-300 rubles for two to eat (without alcohol) (the only time we paid more was lunch at a restaurant in the mountains - salads, mountain trout, local cabbage rolls, venison, water, coffee and cakes cost us less than 600 rubles). A trip to the pastry shop (4 cakes, tea and double coffee) – 80 rubles.

Prices on the local market: tomatoes - 15-20 thousand lei, apricots, peaches, plums - 20-25. The grapes were not in season yet (it was July), so the most expensive one cost 50 thousand. I must say that after Romania in Moscow I am not drawn to fruits - the taste is too different.

Another point where Romanians are simply wizards is puff pastry. Something like puff pastries (with cottage cheese, feta cheese, apples), called strudel, are truly delicious. They also sell something like bagels with poppy seeds or sesame seeds, called covrigi. Don't pass by! And local cakes, of course...

Disadvantages of holidays on the Romanian coast. Since 80 or 90 percent of vacationers are Romanians, the souvenir industry on the coast is almost undeveloped. And there are few excursions from the coast offered. You can go to the Danube Delta, visit a winery (with wine tasting), go to a folk dinner with singing and dancing. There are excursions to Budapest and to “Dracula’s Castle”, but we had them in the tour program. That's probably all. In Konstanz, as they say, there is nothing special to see (the city was badly destroyed during the war), but there seems to be a good oceanarium and dolphinarium. My daughter and I, however, never made it there. In general, such excursion “poverty” is understandable - those who vacation on the coast are mostly their own people.

As for entertainment in Neptune... I know that there is a bowling center, nightclubs, discos and all that stuff, but we led a plant life on the coast and didn’t go anywhere.

Part two. Travel to the mountains.
Our route looked like this: reference point - Sinaia (with the Sinaia Monastery and Peles Castle), Bran Castle, Rasnov Fortress, Sighisoara, Brasov, Bucharest. In addition, there is also a climb to Mount Busteni (2200 m above sea level). The distances are not small, but the roads in Romania turned out to be quite decent, and they gave us a Daewoo minibus - brand new and with air conditioning. I won’t dwell on the beauty and sights. Suffice it to say that all members of our group constantly bought more film - no one expected it to be SO beautiful.

In the mountains foreign tourists much more than on the coast. Accordingly, prices are higher (though not much), and there are more souvenirs. However, it seems to me that it is mainly not souvenirs that are worth buying, but handicrafts - sheep skins, wickerwork, embroidery. In Sinai, for example, there is a long alley in the park where local embroidery and lace are sold. The saleswomen immediately knit or embroider themselves. If you like a certain pattern, you can order yourself, for example, a tablecloth or blouse of a certain size and certain colors, and then after a few days pay and pick up your order. The prices are again ridiculous (by Moscow standards). But the Dracula T-shirts we bought near Bran Castle turned out to be Turkish-made. In addition to this place, there are also souvenir rows along tourist routes. Sami mountain roads amazingly beautiful. In the mountains there are untouched forests with unafraid animals, so along the way we saw roe deer, foxes, and squirrels. They say that sometimes bears come out onto the road.

However, the mountains and forests end about fifty kilometers from Sinaia, and the further path to Bucharest is no longer so picturesque. Bucharest is a completely different matter. I can believe that in the last century or the century before last this city was called little Paris.

But good uncle Ceausescu did more for his capital than Stalin, Khrushchev and Luzhkov combined for Moscow. The buildings he built for all sorts of ministries and departments are called by Romanians with gloomy humor “Ceaushans”. The spectacle is absolutely surreal... Suffice it to say that the unfinished building of the Palace of the Soviets (or something like that) is the second largest in the world in terms of area (after the Pentagon). And to build this architectural nightmare, entire blocks of historical buildings were demolished. Where the old buildings have been preserved, it is clear that at one time this city was very beautiful. However, now they have slowly begun to restore it.

And also - the highway leading from the center of Bucharest to the airport and one of the parks in the area of this highway are called Chiseleva Highway and Park. Not in honor of the journalist, of course, but in honor of the Tsarist general Kiselev, whose troops liberated Bucharest from the Turks. Grateful residents of Bucharest collected money for a gift, but he refused, saying that it would be better if the Bucharest residents paved the roads with this money. The Bucharest people did just that - they built a road from Bucharest to the north and named it after Kiselev. And then they chipped in again and built a park next to the highway, also named after him. By the way, neither the highway nor the park were renamed even under Antonescu. But Ceausescu at one time frolicked with renaming. Brasov (and it is not for nothing that it is called the Romanian Salzburg) under him was called Stalingrad. Thank God, the city was returned to its historical name...

But I have to repeat myself - Bucharest, in general, didn’t look very good to us, but I think that judging Romania by its capital would not be very accurate...

In general, as with any trip, there were pros and cons, but my daughter and I are quite seriously going to Romania again - this time with a stop in Bukovina and western Transylvania. For some reason, this country, as they say, “hooked” us.

Is it worth going to Romania and what is it famous for? Is it safe to travel around the country alone? Is it suitable for family vacation? Romania - reviews about the country, its cities and attractions, pros, cons and personal impressions, as well as recommendations for obtaining a visa and other tips and life hacks from experienced travelers.

Romania: the most controversial journey

The first country that I remember more for its atmosphere, mentality and traditions than for its sights. The trip to Romania greatly expanded my experience. If you want to relax so that you can laugh and be scared, then you are clearly on the road with me. My friends and I heard that Romania is very high level theft But I left not only with what I came with, but also with gifts for my loved ones. From my own experience I can say that legends about theft have long become an awkward stereotype. But you shouldn’t breathe a sigh of relief, because there are still many other reasons to be afraid of traveling to Romania.

Mysticism, decadence, traditions in Romania

Visiting Romania was like traveling back in time, with many traditional villages dotted with haystacks. And even wild horses pulling carts along dirt roads. The roads I saw were quite impressive compared to, say, others European countries. A kind of futurism in everyday life.
And now to the horror stories that made the country popular. Vampires are real and they live in Romania. If watching True Blood, Twilight, and The Vampire Diaries has taught me anything, it's that vampires are real. But the real fans of the vampire theme are the locals. They told me many legends, which they call life stories. This is mysticism in action. Plus, hi, this is the birthplace Dracula. Known as Vlad Dracula, aka Vlad the Impaler, and yes, those are Creepy Pants.

When I hitchhiked, the locals sometimes treated me strangely. They asked questions about the reason for my appearance in the country and how long I had arrived for. But even less, they took me, and even to the desired location. Public transport in Romania it turned out to be very expensive, it shocked me.
Since Romanian is a Romance language, I had to forget the Russian language that helped me in the rest of Eastern Europe. Romania feels a certain decadence, I don’t know if it’s temporary or not. If everything continues like this, the country will soon be empty. Locals they say that the reason for this is the lifting of restrictions on working in the EU.
The cities look like they were created from dark storybooks. But the mountains won my heart. Romania is full of magnificent mountain peaks who are simply begging to be ascended. Therefore, the country allows you to feel mixed emotions that make you think about a lot.
I will share a little experience of delicious food. Romanian cuisine is my paradise, because I love delicious home-cooked dishes. The ingredients are not exotic, which makes the dish even cooler, because quality matters here. I had no problem finding organic fruits and vegetables at an affordable price and very tasty. In Romania, I tried traditional dishes that are very popular here: sarmale and mamaliga. I didn’t even understand the names of some: mămăligă, mititei, ciorbă and papanași. The signature variety of plum brandy deserves special attention; it is divine. Throughout the trip I was surrounded by beauty and untouched nature. I already miss the atmosphere of the country, and it’s not thanks to material things. All this is thanks to the color of the country, the spirit of the local residents who do not leave their native corner. I was impressed by the different holiday options she had to offer: sea, mountains, vineyards and golden fields of wheat, beautiful lakes, mysterious and spectacular caves, and amazing wild nature. I was impressed by the incredible views of the plains of the south wild mountains Carpathians and smooth hills of Transylvania.
Folk craftsmanship and creativity occupy a large number of places in Romania. last place, rather, it is a reason for pride. My favorite Romanian artifacts are Ia (traditional peasant blouse), wood carvings from Maramureș and Romanian ceramics: Horezu and Marginea. For example, the Romanian peasant blouse is a representative of Romanian folklore, which has inspired international designers such as Tom Ford or Jean Paul Gaultier
.Whereas the wooden culture in the north is impressive and rich in symbolism. Horezu ceramics are included in the List of Intangibles cultural heritage UNESCO.

Now I’ll tell you a little about traditions, hospitality and faith. Romania welcomed me warmly and showed me its essence: open, happy and hardworking people. I got to know an important part of the Romanian way of life, customs and traditions. I had the opportunity to touch the rich and exciting universe of Christian holidays, entangled in ancient superstitions. Yes, this is one of the most superstitious and religious peoples I have met. One of the main reasons to return to Romania is to admire the beautiful Kaluţ, the ritual dance from the south or the colorful traditions of the north, Maramures. If you are in Romania, be sure to visit the churches to feel the creativity, faith and hope of the Romanian people. It helped me get closer to the country.

It's time to sum up my journey

I recommend going here alone without children or friends. Perhaps only you will like this vacation, and you will have to return home at the request of your loved ones. Therefore, it is better to travel alone. This place really has a sense of mysticism, and it’s not for nothing that it became the birthplace of Dracula. The trip turned out to be quite budget-friendly, it looks like a gift from the country for visiting.
There have been problems with communication from time to time, but the service staff is mostly knowledgeable English language. Or maybe it's just my luck. The locals did not understand me so well, but gestures and Google translator did the trick. It’s worth living in this country for a maximum of 5 days, and then you can plunge into melancholy.
On the last day of the trip I really got into the spirit of Romania, but perhaps this is not the most the best place for life. Romanian cities look as if modernization has not taken place here, and time stands still.
One of the main reasons to come here is its uniqueness, because in the future this country may disappear from the tourist map. Yes, such a trip is for the brave, lovers of vampires, delicious food without frills and everything in the style of decadence.

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Romania is like Europe, but somehow it’s not at all familiar to us. Perhaps this is not the case for the residents of Ukraine due to their territorial proximity, but here hiking trails Russians - they usually go either to the west, or then to Bulgaria, in order to enjoy the Black Sea in a plus or minus proven environment. From my own experience I can say: even though Romania is small country, but it is fabulously interesting, and you can spend more than a week or two here, visiting a variety of sights.

Road and hit

You can enter Romania with a Schengen visa, if you have more than a single-entry visa. There are quite a few direct flights to Bucharest directly from Moscow. I, in the best traditions of the genre, went here to own car. It’s quite comfortable – the roads are good, normal asphalt throughout the country. You just need to buy a vignette, for example, at a gas station - this is a permit sticker, the price of which includes the right to use state roads. It costs only a few euros, if you count in common European currency, and will save you time communicating with the traffic police. After all, you were warned about the need to buy a vignette by an information board at the entrance to the country, but you probably just didn’t notice))))

Language and people

Personally, it seemed to me that Russians and Romanians have a lot in common. Yes, and they look like Bulgarians. It’s like some kind of border nation: there is a lot of Slavic in them, something reckless in a good way, but there is something European and even Eastern. Many people associate Romania with gypsies, there are indeed a lot of them here, but calling them a “titular nation” is somehow hard to come by. These are completely different nationalities, you can even offend the locals if, out of ignorance, you call them gypsies. Yes, there are plenty of beggars, but there are plenty of them in neighboring Serbia, and in Bulgaria, and in Hungary, and in general throughout the region. Romanians are cheerful and sympathetic, they know how to celebrate widely, and they are hospitable. Of course, they don’t speak Russian (although someone studied in the Union and will probably remember a couple of phrases especially for you). The general standard of living outside of big cities and very popular tourist regions like Transylvania cannot be called high; unemployment, alcoholism - all this, unfortunately, is present. But Romanians are adherents of traditional values, they love family and children very much. For myself, I was surprised to discover that the main religion here is Orthodoxy. And for some reason I used to think it was Catholicism. What is true is true, the people are religious, and there are a lot of churches in the country.

As for the language, it is a bizarre cross between Latin and Slavic roots. It sounds quite complicated, although the grammar is said to be simple. But there shouldn’t be any special problems with English, especially, again, in major cities, and especially when talking to young people.

You need to start, of course, from the capital, Bucharest, especially since, most likely, this is where you will end up first. The city is large, beautiful and modern, with a distinct historical part. There are many ancient temples, there are princely ruins, a lot of beautiful green parks with a variety of entertainment, including for children. The Danube River lies at some distance from the capital, but within Bucharest itself there are many picturesque lakes and canals with beautifully designed embankments.
From the very, very tourist places First of all, of course, Transylvania comes to mind. Vampire themes are the main local feature in the design of restaurants, hotels, and in organizing various events such as costumed witch trials. The landscape has: castles, wooded mountains, fogs, dilapidated fortresses. Here, by the way, is the anomalous forest of Hoya Baciu, in which, they say, people disappear, and strange lights are visible, and mysterious voices are heard, and trees somehow grow incorrectly.

In short, this is a paranormal forest, and something began to happen to it, well, maybe a century ago - they used to calmly hunt here, collect mushrooms and berries, and this did not bother anyone. Nearby is also the legendary Dracula Castle, also known as Bran Castle from the 14th century - the most popular attraction in Romania.
Although there are plenty of strange places in other parts of this country. In the north, for example, near the village of Sepyntsa, there is the so-called Merry Cemetery. The tombstones are more reminiscent of comic books, and all the epitaphs are composed in a humorous manner. This is the attitude towards death - simply as a transition to the next level of life. And therefore you can see off the deceased with jokes and jokes.

For lovers active rest Romania has excellent ski resorts to offer. In my opinion, the level of service is no different from what is offered on famous European slopes, but the price tag is much lower. And what gorgeous views there, wow! Among the most famous are Sinaia, Predeal, Poiana, Brasov.

Kitchen

To be honest, I didn’t highlight anything specific for myself in Romanian cuisine. Full of international establishments. Typical dishes - a little of everything. There is something from Mediterranean cuisine, and from Turkish, and from Balkan. The cheeses here are excellent, and some varieties I have never seen or tried anywhere before, for example, sweet cheese, unfortunately, I don’t remember its name - they also put it in baked goods. Of course, they make excellent cheese, as well as many other young pickled cheeses. But quite often on the menu you will find lard, jellied meat, and even some kind of cabbage rolls! They eat a lot of meat everywhere, and fish only where they are closer to the Danube or to the sea coast. Still, she is expensive everywhere. And so the main dish is often pork with potatoes and other vegetables. They make very decent wine here, especially white. In Russia, they haven’t even heard of Romanian wine, have they? Well, traditional Balkan moonshine from apples, plums and pears is produced here in large quantities. In Serbia it is called rakija, but here it is called tsuika.

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