Sighisoara

The Best Experiences in Bucharest Rumania & Sighisoara 2023

The Best Experiences in Bucharest Rumania & Sighisoara 2023

Romania Travel bucharest rumania

Table of Contents

Romania Map

romania map

Informations

After enjoying some wonderful days in the city of Brasov and its surroundings(read our travel guide here) , we decided to head to the wonderful nature of Romania and Bucharest Rumania.

Temperature: Considering the weather conditions, the best time to do a tour of Romania would be from March to October as the weather is not very cold and the roads are clean and practicable.

Language: The official language is Romanian.

Currency: Romanian Leu (RON) 1$ = 4 RON 1€= 4,9 RON

Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=6 EUR, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=24 EUR

You can find more information about the visa here.

Our first destination was Lake Saint Anne, that is the only crater lake in Romania located in the volcanic crater of the volcano named Ciomatu Mare of the Eastern Carpathians, near Tușnad in the Natural Reserve of Mohoș, Harghita County, Romania.

The history of Lake Saint Anne began about 9,800-8,800 years ago, at the stage of peat bog and shallow lake.

In winter, the lake is covered with a layer of ice of up to 1 m.

Things to do

Lake Saint Anne

Lake Saint Anne is located in the Ciomatu massif in Harghita county, on the left side of the Olt river, near the Tușnad resort. The lake is located on the crater floor of an extinct volcano, called Ciomatu Mare from the Puciosu volcanic massif, the site of the most recent volcanic eruption in the Carpathians and Eastern Europe, which took place several tens of thousands of years ago .

The lake replenishes its waters only from precipitation, having no springs. The purity of the water is close to that of distilled water, with only 0.0029 ml of minerals. The reduced trophic capacity of the lake water is also due to mophetic emanations through the bottom of the lake and through the crater walls.

Saint Anne Lake

After this wonderful experience, we headed to the Bicaz Gorges.

The Bicaz Gorge is a gorge in Romania, located in the north-east part of the country, in Neamt and Harghita counties.

It is a noted location to see the wallcreeper, an uncommon cliff-dwelling bird.

The road along the 8 kilometers of ravines, often in serpentines with rock on one side and a sheer drop on the other, is one of the most spectacular drives in the country. Also within the gorge is the Red Lake, with its traditional cabins, hotels, and its famous lake (situated at 980m altitude) caused by a landslide in the 19th century.

Cheile Bicazului is one of the main rock climbing in Romania.

Bicaz Gorge

Bicaz Romania

Red Lake

Red Lake is a natural dam lake formed following the collapse of a slope due to the earthquake of January 23,at the foot of Hasmasul Mare Mountain, near the Bicaz Gorge. The lake was formed at an altitude of 983 m, in a depression with a predominant subalpine climate.

After we returned home, to Fagaras, we decided to make another getaway before our vacation ended, namely we set off for the wonderful city of Sighisoara.

Sighișoara is a popular tourist destination for its well-preserved walled old town, which is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site:

Sighisoara

Sighișoara is one of the more important cities in Mureș County in the Transylvania region of Romania. It is located on the Great Kokel (Romanian Târnava Mare). Its unique historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Sighisoara

Bucharest Things to do

Bucharest is the capital of Romania. With just over 1.8 million inhabitants and an urban agglomeration of 2.2 million inhabitants, it is the seventh largest city in the European Union. After Bucharest finally replaced Târgoviște as the state capital of the Principality of Wallachia in 1659, it became the political, economic and cultural center of Wallachia and later Romania.

 The city has several universities, various other colleges and numerous theatres, museums and other cultural institutions. The city’s cosmopolitan high culture and the dominant French influence of neo-baroque architecture earned it the nickname Micul Paris (“Little Paris”, also “Paris of the East”). During the tenure of the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, large areas of the historic district were destroyed to make way for the head of state’s monumental confectionery style.

Parliament Palace

The Parliament Palace is the seat of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies and is located in the Romanian capital Bucharest. It was formerly known as the “House of the People”. The centrally located palace is located at the western end of Bulevardul Unirii, which is about three kilometers long.

 
Parliament Palace

Bucharest Athenaeum

The Bucharest Athenaeum is located in the Romanian capital Bucharest. The building was built between 1885 and 1888 according to plans by the French architect Albert Galleron. Several architects subsequently gave the listed Athenaeum its current appearance.

Bucharest Athenaeum

Muzeul Național al Satului

The Muzeul Național al Satului “Dimitrie Gusti” is an open-air museum in Bucharest. The museum shows rural life as it has been in the rural areas of Romania for centuries. Founded in 1936 by Dimitrie Gusti, Victor Ion Popa and Henri H. Stahl, the museum on Kiseleff-Chaussée covers an area of ​​more than 100,000 m².

Muzeul Național al Satului

Triumphal Arch

Arcul de Triumf is a triumphal arch in the Romanian capital Bucharest. The structure was built in honor of the triumph in the First World War. A first forerunner was erected provisionally from wood in 1878, after the country had achieved independence. This structure was replaced in 1922 by a larger, still provisional one made of wood and stucco – prompting the famous Romanian musician and composer George Enescu to write a taunting letter to the mayor asking when the capital would get a real triumphal arch.

Triumphal Arch

Parcul Regele Mihai

The Parcul Regele Mihai I al României, until 2017 Parcul Herăstrău, is the largest park in Bucharest in Romania. It is located in the north of the city, around the Herăstrău Lake.

Parcul Regele Mihai

Cișmigiu Park

Cișmigiu Park is the largest and oldest public park in central Bucharest, Romania. The park has an area of ​​17 ha.

Cișmigiu Park

Mogoșoaia Castle

Mogoșoaia Castle is located in Romania. It is located around 15 kilometers northwest of the state capital Bucharest in a park on the shore of Lake Mogoșoaia in the municipality of Mogoșoaia in Ilfov County. Mogoșoaia Castle is one of the most famous cultural monuments in Romania. The Wallachian prince Constantin Brâncoveanu had the castle built between 1698 and 1702 on the estate of a widow Mogoş in the Brâncoveanu style named after him.

Mogoșoaia Castle

Piața Unirii

Piața Unirii is one of the largest squares in the center of Bucharest city and is located at the point where districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 meet. It is crossed by Bulevardul Unirii, originally named Boulevard of the Victory of Socialism during the socialist era, and only given its current name after the 1989 Romanian Revolution.

Piața Unirii

More attractions in Bucharest to visit if you have enough time : Carol Park, Circus Park, Children’s Town Bucharest, Muzeul Național de Istorie a României, Botanical Garden, Tineretului Park, Alexandru Ioan Cuza Park, University Square, Revolution Square.

Where to stay

A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Romania offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.

Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Romania’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.

We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.comTrip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation .

Top hotels we recommend near Red Lake and Bicaz: Complex Adora , Casa Lucia , Pensiunea Bucur.

Top hotels we recommend in Sighisoara: Taschler HausFronius Boutique ResidenceCasa Savri.

Traditional food

Sarmale (Cabbage Rolls) – Considered to be Romania’s national dish. A balanced mixture of rice and minced meat (usually pork or pork combined with beef) and other vegetables and local herbs is rolled in cabbage leaves or young grape leaves for a delicate flavor.

Mămăligă (Polenta) Usually a side dish for sarmale or served plain with sour cream and Romanian cheese, mămăligă is made from corn flour boiled in water with a pinch of salt and a few drops of sunflower oil.

Ciorbă de perişoare – Meatball Soup

Ciorba de Burta (Traditional Tripe Soup)

Salata Boeuf (Boeuf salad)

Sarmale (Cabbage Rolls) Mămăligă (Polenta) Ciorbă de perişoare – Meatball Soup Ciorba de Burta (Traditional Tripe Soup) Salata Boeuf (Boeuf salad) traditional food Romania

Zacuscă – Vegetable Dip – Red peppers and eggplant should be roasted on a BBQ. The charred skins are removed and then blended with other vegetables, like carrots, perhaps mushrooms.

Ciorba de fasole cu afumatura (Beans soup with somoked pork)

Tochitura (roasted pork stew) – A roasted pork stew, bacon, and sausage, cooked slowly in lard. It is accompanied by polenta, fried eggs, cheese, and pickles.

Mici/Mititei (Grilled Minced Meat Rolls) – A mixture of grilled minced meat, mostly pork, in various combinations with sheep or veal.

Zacuscă – Vegetable Dip Ciorba de fasole cu afumatura (Beans soup with somoked pork) Tochitura (roasted pork stew) MiciMititei (Grilled Minced Meat Rolls) traditional food Romania

Papanasi (Fried or boiled cheese doughnuts)

Cornulete (Crescent Pastries)

Cozonac (Sweet Bread) – a rich, sweet bread, is another Romanian food prepared for holidays and special occasions.

Mucenici (Sweet Dough Rolls)

Papanasi (Fried or boiled cheese doughnuts) Cornulete (Crescent Pastries) Cozonac (Sweet Bread) Mucenici (Sweet Dough Rolls) traditional food Romania

Saving Tips

  • If you want to save money on food, have your lunch at restaurants that serve ‘Meniul Zilei’ – the Daily Menu.
  • In Romania, most major cities offer a Free Guided Tour of 1-2 hours
  • The trains in Romania are slow, but they are the cheapest way to get around.
saving tips in Romania
  • Bring a water bottle
  • If you’re flexible in your schedule, use the ridesharing service BlaBlaCar
  • You can also chose to eat at self service restaurants, is cheaper
  • Book your hotels and flights in advance
  • when you visit Bran Castle or Peles Castle just buy the normal ticket – the extra price for taking videos is not worth it

If you do not go by car and need to know more informations about the tours, things to see and do, we recommend this two companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!

Viator and Get Your Guide : the best activities in town!

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Orbitz

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Shopping

Shooping, Fashion and Gifts stores in Sighisoara: House on the Rock, Gifty Shop, Art and Crafts

Shooping around Red Lake is easy because there are just a couple of small stores with ice cream, food and souvenirs.

shopping in Romania

The same is around Saint Anne Lake : Just near the lake is a small family business: they have food and drinks for the tourists. After you get back from the lake to the parking lot there is a small gift shop where you can buy souvenirs.

Shopping in Bicaz : On the both sides of the main street, just before to see the amazing Bicaz you can stop to buy souvenirs from the small stores.

Getting Around

Public transport infrastructure in Romania is not as developed or easy to navigate for non-locals as in other Western European countries: though trains criss-cross the country, they’re slow and sometimes break down there are few highways and most roads are one-lane which makes them very crowded and slow and don’t expect too much English in train or bus stations, especially in smaller towns.

Getting Around Romania

The 450 km between Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca will take about 7h by car or 10h by train takes only 45 minutes by plane – and for a very affordable price (starting from 30 Euro) – That’s why flying is the best way to travel longer distances in Romania.

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Getting Here

There are three main ways to reach Romania: by train, by bus, by car and by plane.

Flying is the easiest way to reach Romania, with several airlines now operating direct from the UK. Flying from North America, Australasia or South Africa will entail one or more changes. Travelling to Romania from the UK by train is a long haul, though with a rail pass you can take in the country as part of a wider trip.

Fortunately, there are many flights which land at Bucharest airport, from the most important cities in Europe. TAROM, Romanian national company as well as many other companies offers direct flights to Romania from all major European cities.

After Bucharest, which is the largest airport in the country with the highest number of external flights, there are also some other cities that operate international flights : Cluj Napoca, Sibiu, Iasi, Oradea or Timisoara.

Getting to Romania

Traveling by train from other European countries to Romania takes from 4 hours (Budapest to Oradea or Arad) to about 46 hours (London to Bucharest). Most train tickets allow several stopovers en route so train travel can be an affordable and relaxing way to include Romania in a European trip. Romanian National Railways (SNCFR) operate service from Bucharest to many European cities. First and second-class sleepers are available for journeys longer than 10 hours and for overnight trains.

Documents required by Romanian Customs are the vehicle’s registration, proof of insurance, the road toll badge (Rovigneta) and a valid driver’s license from the driver’s home country. There are many bus routes that connect Bucharest and Romania’s main cities with Athens, Berlin, Budapest, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Milan, Munich, Paris, Rome, and Vienna.

Companies like Eurolines, Flixbus, AtlasSib, Double T, CDI Transport or Comati link the most important cities of Romania with the rest of Europe.

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