The 10 most beautiful cities in Romania

Romania not only inspires with unique natural landscapes, but also with its beautiful cities. We introduce you to the 10 most worth seeing!

From the exciting country capital Bucharest to medieval Brasov near Dracula’s Castle, Romania offers much more than great beaches and its impressive Carpathian landscapes. In our article we take a look at the 10 most beautiful cities in the country!

1. Bucharest, Great Wallachia

Let’s start with the largest city in Romania, the capital Bucharest. Bucharest is not only the country’s capitol, but also its cultural center and as such has plenty of exciting sights to offer. First and foremost is its impressive Parliament, which is one of the largest buildings in the world. The building occupies a full 65,000 square meters and rises a full 86 meters – while also having underground levels that reach a depth of 92 meters. In addition to the parliament building, you should definitely visit the beautiful Athenaeum in Bucharest, characterized by its many columns, as well as the Stavropoleos Monastery, which is wonderful to look at. Meanwhile, culture vultures can also drop by the National Art Museum of Romania, and for some green relaxation, head to the idyllic Cistigiu Gardens or King Michael I of Romania Park.

2. Hermannstadt (Sibiu), Transylvania

Continue to Sibiu or, in German, Hermannstadt, in the Transylvania region. Sibiu was European Capital of Culture in 2007 and inspires with its medieval architecture and interesting museums. The buildings around the Piața Mică such as the Sibiu Council Tower, the Trinity Cathedral, the Haller House or the Brukenthal Palace are particularly worth seeing. The latter is the main building of the Brukenthal Museum, a collection of exhibitions that showcases artworks and books from across Europe, spread across several sites in Sibiu. The Palais am Großer Ring contains around 1,200 paintings from the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods. A few kilometers southwest of Sibiu you will also find the Dumbrava Sibiului Nature Park, complete with a historical open-air museum and picturesque natural landscapes that invite you to go on excursions.

3. Brasov (Kronstadt), Transylvania

Surrounded by the mountains of the Carpathians and characterized by its imposing Gothic – and actually rather sandstone-colored – Black Church, the next Romanian city on our list is in Transylvania. For those who are ringing the bells now, Bran Castle is not far from Brasov – the very same noble house also known as Dracula’s Castle, despite its ties to Bram Stoker’s character and legend of Vlad the Impaler are loose at best. In Brasov itself, in addition to the aforementioned Black Church, you can also visit the remains of the medieval city wall, enjoy the atmosphere of the historic city center during a coffee break at Piaţa Sfatului, or take a trip to the magnificent Rosenau Castle (Râșnov Fortress) located a little southwest of Brasov ) from the 13th century.

4. Constanța (Constanza), Dobrogea

Next we go to the coast of Romania, to Constanta on the Black Sea, which can fascinate with its rich history as well as with its dreamlike beaches. Those who primarily want to immerse themselves in the approximately 2,000-year-old history of the region should first of all visit the old town of Constanta and in particular visit the National History and Archeology Museum and the Roman mosaics. In the immediate vicinity you will also find the imposing Carol I Mosque, the Ion Jalea Sculpture Museum and the Genoese Lighthouse, right on the coast. However, all bathing and sea lovers should take a look at the district north of the old town, because here you will find the great beaches of Constanta, above all the beach of Mamaia with its idyllic promenade.

5. Klausenburg (Cluj-Napoca), Transylvania

Back in Transylvania, it’s now off to the unofficial capital of the region, Cluj-Napoca or Cluj-Napoca, which is known for its beautiful historical sights but also for its lively nightlife, which is mainly animated by the city’s students. During the day you can visit such impressive buildings as the Theotokos Cathedral, Bánffy Castle or the Cluj Church of St. Michael, before partying in the evening. You can relax the next day with a walk through the picturesque Cetățuia Park, in the Central Park on the Someşul Mic River or in the city’s botanical gardens, and those who are not afraid of excursions beyond the city limits should take a trip to the nearby Hoia Forest do and enjoy the heavenly peace there.

6. Iași, West Moldova

In the northeast of Romania, on the border with Moldova, lies the next place in the country that we would like to introduce to you: Iași. The city is, like Klausenburg, a university city and also impresses with magnificent buildings and picturesque local recreation areas. The main attraction here is the beautiful Palace of Culture and Clock Tower, which served as the Palace of Justice until the mid-20th century, but is now primarily used as a museum. In it you will find four museums that deal with the topics of art, history, ethnography and science. Other must-see attractions in Iași include the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Trei Ierarhi Monastery and the Roznovanu Palace, while Copou Park and the Iași Botanical Gardens invite you to take a walk in the green.

7. Craiova, Little Wallachia

If you are primarily looking for relaxation between culture and nature and away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, you have come to the right place in the small but beautiful Craiova in southwestern Romania. For example, you can forget everyday life on walks in the wonderful Nicolae Romanescu Park with its lake, water fountain, pretty bridges and pavilion, or you can be enchanted by the biodiversity there with a visit to the botanical gardens of Craiova. Meanwhile, those who prefer to go to the museum will also find what they are looking for in Craiova, and can spend their days visiting the local art museum, the Museum of Oltenia or the Jean Mihail Palace, for example.

8. Timişoara, Banat

Architecture lovers or anyone who would like to visit sights that look like they’ve jumped straight out of a fantasy film are in the right place in Timişoara or Timisoara. The most beautiful sight in the city is indisputably the Cathedral of the Three Holy Hierarchs, which at first glance almost looks like a real fairytale castle. While the castle shines with Byzantine elements on the outside, the inside is full of magnificent chandeliers and fantastic mosaics. The Piața Unirii with its Ascension Cathedral, the Casa Brück and its Holy Trinity statue is also enchanting, and if you want to combine walks with even more architecture and excursions into history, you can end up with a look at the Banat open-air village museum Timisoara over.

9. New Market (Targu Mures), Transylvania

One last time we take you to Transylvania, this time to Targu Mures or Neumarkt. The pretty city takes you straight to the Middle Ages and impresses with a well-preserved medieval fortress and the associated fortress church, which you should definitely visit during your stay here. The local culture palace in Neumarkt is also particularly worth seeing, which not only boasts beautiful ceiling paintings and stained glass windows, but also houses the city library, a regional museum and the state philharmonic hall. A few kilometers southwest of Neumarkt you will also find a wonderful region for hikes and walks in the countryside, the Transylvanian Plateau.

10. Suceava, Bukovina

Finally, you can also take a journey into history on our last stop through the most beautiful cities in Romania, in Suceava in the Bukovina region in the north-east of the country. An absolute must-see here are the remains of the Suceava Fortress, which was originally built in the 14th century but was largely destroyed in the 17th century. You should also check out the city’s museums, particularly the Bukovina Village Museum and the Bukovina Regional Museum, both of which will teach you more about the region, its culture and history. Finally, a trip to the beautiful Church of St. George and the Suceava Monastery is recommended during a holiday in the city.

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