Touristic Guidance and Support Services for Leisure
Although is best known worldwide from the Gothic horror novel of Irish author Bram Stoker – Dracula, Transylvania has a lot more to offer in terms of:
Cultural and historical heritage – Western / Roman then Habsburg and Eastern / Byzantine then Ottoman influences – Castles, Historical Towns, Architecture, Cuisine.
Ethnical diversity and Multicultural Urban Atmosphere - Romanian, Hungarians, Szekelys, Saxons, Schwabs, Ukrainians, Jews – just to mention the main ethnical groups which has been living in Transylvania, all of them with their own mark on the present day society – a very welcoming, tolerant, easygoing, and open minded one.
Last but not least, maybe the most important characteristic – The Natural Beauties and Must-Sees.
The Carpathian Mountains displaying a unique variety of landscapes, vegetation and wildlife, protect some of the largest remaining areas of pristine forest in Europe. Grasslands, gorges, subterranean caves, volcanic lakes, and extensive river network add to the richness of the park system that also includes the Danube Delta, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Europe's largest wetland.
Villages and the countryside on lands dominated by ancestral castles, old fortresses and peaceful monasteries, life moves a little slower and follows ancient rhythms of tradition and culture.
Natural Beauty and Refreshment
We can split The Carpatians into several regions (Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern) all being unique in their own way as landscapes but also because of the people and country sides with different cultural, ethnical, and historical backgrounds.
Many of the best, most spectacular places are not even highlighted or yet to be found on different web platforms.
Multicultural Urban Atmospheres
You will find in most of the cities an interesting mix of historical centers and modernism. Beautiful city centers, nice people, plenty of bier gardens, terraces and restaurants with very good cuisine and beverages at decent prices.
These urban atmospheres mix well with the sights of Transylvania to form a diverse tour. I would recommend any time Bucharest, Cluj, Brasov, Iasi or Timisoara for a classical two day city break just to walk around the cities and have some fun.
Must Sees
The salt mine in Turda, nature - wooden churches - traditional villages of Maramures, the Castles (Bran, Peles, Corvinilor), the medieval citadel in Sighisoara and Alba Iulia are some of the better “marketed” places which you can easily find on any web platform.
There are still plenty of spectacular places almost in every county which deserves the attribute must-see, but are not that commercial. Once spotted the travelers can enjoy more authenticity, originality, peacefulness and true value of nature. Just a few examples:
The open air Village Museum of Sighetu Marmatiei, the Horses Watherfall in Borsa, and lots of isolated roads and villages with “windows XP desktop type” landscapes.
Putna Monastery and the North-Eastern Carpathians in the Historical Region of Bucovina;
Lake Oasa and Vidra with the Transalpina Road (between Sebes and Novaci);
The Berca Mud Volcanoes - Vulcanii Noroioși de la Pâclele Mici (Buzau county);
Székely Land and the central part of the Eastern Carpathians with lots of lakes (Ursu, Alunis, Verde, Rosu, Negru, St. Ana/volcanic), Castles (Arcus - former holiday house of Ceausescu; Szentkereszty, Miko, Lazar …), caves and untouched forests and mountain hills – one can even take a professional tour to spot some bears in the forests.
Red Lake (Lacu Rosu), Bicaz Canyon (Cheile Bicazului), Bicaz Dam and the artificial lake “Izvorul Muntelui”.
The area of Sovata and Praid – beautiful nature, salt lakes, and another spectacular salt mine like that one in Turda.
The Danube Gorge – Danube’s spectacular passing through the Carpathian Mountains with the Iron Gates and the Statue of Decebalus - the tallest rock relief in Europe.
Just to mention some of them which actually came to my mind right now.
Our suggestion is that it is worthwhile to choose one region and explore it in details.
Culture and Historical Legacies
And let’s not forget the migratory peoples which have criss crossed over our lands during the dark and middle ages - the Avars, Alans, Gepids, Slavs, Cumans, Huns, Mongols and Tatars.
As a natural result we have to offer beautiful castles, citadels, interesting architectures, diverse culture, and lots of interesting stories to tell.
A Little Bit of All
To cover, understand and see most of the interesting things of one region we think that at least 5-7 days are needed, and for a comprehensive tour of the whole country at least 12-14 days.