Drink
Ciorba is as Ciorba Does
A recent episode of Milk Street TV takes viewers on a culinary journey through Romania, dismantling the clichés to uncover a cuisine defined by…
The film plays from YouTube once you allow videos.
Welcome to the Real Romania — a space where we set aside clichés and tourist traps to show you what this country is really about. Romania is not just Dracula, and certainly not just the shadow of Communism. It’s a place where the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly are all part of the same story: vast stretches of untouched wilderness, castles that look like they were dreamed up by painters, medieval towns still alive with charm — alongside reminders of war, dictatorship, and concrete-era experiments gone wrong. To travel here is to experience both awe and reckoning, and that honesty is what makes Romania unforgettable.
So instead of Bran Castle, we’ll send you to Poenari, the real fortress of Vlad Țepeș. And 1,400 steps later, you’ll forget about Stoker and whatever else. From there, it’s a country that unfolds in every direction: the painted monasteries of Bucovina, the cobblestoned heart of Sibiu and Sighișoara, the wild Danube Delta, and mountain roads that rival anything in Europe. Romania isn’t just another stop in the EU — it’s one of the most authentic, surprising, and rewarding travel destinations in Europe, waiting for those curious enough to look past the myths.
Tell us what you want to explore in Romania
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Straight answers
Is Romania just Dracula and communism?
No. Dracula is a 19th-century Irish novel and communism ended in 1989. Romania is vast wild nature, castles, painted monasteries, Saxon towns, a living folk culture and serious food and wine — alongside honest reminders of war, dictatorship and concrete-era experiments. We call it the good, the bad and the ugly. Read the guide
Is Bran Castle worth visiting?
Bran is often a tourist trap built on the Dracula legend; it is photogenic if you go off-peak. For the real Vlad Țepeș, climb the roughly 1,400 steps to Poenari Fortress, and spend the time you save in the Saxon fortified villages such as Prejmer, Hărman or Viscri. Read the guide
When is the best time to visit Romania?
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) are the sweet spot. July and August bring peak heat and crowds; winter is for skiing, Christmas markets and the masked New Year rituals of Moldavia and Maramureș. Orthodox Easter moves every year, so check the date. Read the guide
How many days do I need in Romania?
Two or three days cover Brașov, a Saxon fortified church and Peleș Castle. Four or five days add Bucharest, Sighișoara, Viscri and Sibiu. Seven to ten days reach Cluj-Napoca and Maramureș. Fifteen days add Dobrogea, the Danube Delta, the Republic of Moldova and the painted monasteries of Bucovina. Read the guide
What should I eat in Romania?
Start with sarmale (cabbage rolls), mici (grilled skinless sausages), a sour ciorbă soup, mămăligă (polenta) with cheese and sour cream, and papanași for dessert. Romanian food is seasonal: lamb and wild garlic at Easter, grills on 1 May, pork and cozonac at Christmas. Read the guide
What should I drink in Romania?
Țuică (plum brandy) or the stronger pălincă as an aperitif, wines from native grapes such as Fetească Neagră, Fetească Albă and Tămâioasă from Dealu Mare, Drăgășani or Cotnari, local craft beer in summer and vin fiert (mulled wine) at winter markets. Read the guide
Can I drive a rental car from Romania to the Republic of Moldova?
Most rental companies forbid or restrict it. Plan to return the car in Galați or Tulcea and pick up another in Iași after you are back in Romania, or choose a company with an explicit Moldova option. Allow one to three hours at the border. Read the guide
Is Romania safe for tourists?
Romania is generally safe for tourists and reasonably supportive of equal rights, but differences remain: LGBTQ+ rights lag behind most EU peers and prejudice against the Roma community is still an unresolved issue. Read the guide
A photographic journey
All photos © 2024–2025 by:
- Cristian Iohan Ștefănescu
- Cristina Stîngu
- Alina Verban
We thank them for their generosity in donating these pictures essentially to public domain. Want to contribute photos? Write to us here.