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Romania Travel | Top Travel Guide

🇷🇴 Romania

Romania is a country located in southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. It is bordered by Ukraine, Moldova, and Hungary to the north, Serbia to the west, Bulgaria to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. Its capital and largest city is Bucharest, and the official language is Romanian. The country has a population of about 19 million people and its currency is the Romanian leu.

Romania has a long and rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Neolithic era. The region was settled by various ancient peoples, including the Dacians and the Romans. It was later ruled by various empires, including the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.

In the 19th century, the Romanian Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia united to form the modern state of Romania. The country gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, but its independence was not internationally recognized until the Congress of Berlin in 1881.

During World War II, Romania initially aligned itself with the Axis powers, but later switched sides and joined the Allies. Following the war, Romania became a communist state under Soviet influence. The communist government was overthrown in 1989 and Romania transitioned to a multiparty democracy and market economy.

Today, Romania is a member of the European Union, NATO and the G-20 major economies. It has a rich culture, history, and heritage, with many beautiful medieval cities, castles and fortresses, traditional villages and monasteries, and a vibrant folk culture. The country is also known for its diverse landscapes, including the Carpathian Mountains, the Danube Delta, and the Black Sea coast. Some of the famous landmarks include the Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle, the painted monasteries of Bucovina and the ancient Dacian fortresses of the Orastie Mountains.

Romania is also known for its rich culinary tradition, including traditional dishes like sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls), mici (grilled minced meat rolls) and ciorba de burta (tripe soup). It is also home to the Dacia, a Romanian car manufacturer.

Romania Popular Food

#Sarmale #Mici #Ciorba De Burta #Tochitura #Papanasi #Cozonac #Mititei #Cabbage Rolls #Cheese Pastries

Sarmale
Sarmale

A traditional dish made of minced meat and rice wrapped in pickled cabbage or grape leaves, often served with a sour cream or polenta.

Mici
Mici

A grilled minced meat roll made from a mixture of pork, beef, and spices, it is a traditional Romanian street food and a popular dish.

Ciorba De Burta
Ciorba De Burta

A hearty soup made with tripe, vegetables and spices, it is typically garnished with sour cream, vinegar, and chopped fresh parsley.

Romania Travel Taboo

Romania is a friendly and welcoming country, and visitors should have a pleasant experience while visiting. However, as with any other country, there are certain customs and taboos that visitors should be aware of when traveling to Romania. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Dress Code: Romania is a conservative country, it's best to dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites such as churches and monasteries. Avoid revealing clothing and shorts or flip-flops.
  • Greeting: A common greeting is "Buna ziua" (Good day), it's also common for people to greet each other with a kiss on both cheeks.
  • Gift Giving: Giving flowers as gifts is common, but avoid giving even number of flowers as it's usually done at funerals.
  • Tipping: Tipping is expected in restaurants and cafes, usually rounding up to the nearest leu or leaving small change is sufficient.
  • Meals: Romanians take meal times seriously, lunch is considered the main meal of the day and it's usually taken between 1 pm and 3 pm, it's considered impolite to rush through a meal.
  • Respect for local customs and traditions: Visitors should be mindful of the customs and traditions of any religious or cultural sites they visit, such as churches, museums, and festivals, dress modestly and keep noise to a minimum.
  • Respect for Laws: Romania has strict laws and regulations, visitors should be aware of these laws and follow them.
  • Language: Although many people in tourist areas speak English, it's considered polite to make an effort to speak Romanian, even if it's only a few basic phrases.
  • Personal space: Romanians tend to be warm and friendly people, but it's considered impolite to intrude on someone's personal space, avoid standing too close when talking to someone and avoid touching or patting someone on the back.
  • Religion: Romania is a predominantly Orthodox Christian country and it's important to be aware of the customs and traditions related to religion, dress modestly when entering religious sites, and avoid taking photos during services.
  • Politics: Romania has a complex and evolving political situation, visitors should be aware of the recent political developments and avoid discussing sensitive political topics with locals.
  • By showing respect and understanding of these customs and taboos, visitors can ensure that their trip to Romania is an enjoyable and memorable one. Visitors should also bear in mind that some of the customs and rules may be affected by COVID-19 restrictions, it's best to check before planning a trip and following all the guidelines provided by local authorities.

Romania Local Food

Romania is known for its rich and diverse cuisine, which is heavily influenced by its location at the crossroads of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The country's culinary tradition is a mix of various cultures, such as Turkish, Greek, and Hungarian, as well as its own unique regional specialties. Here are a few examples of popular traditional Romanian dishes:

  • Sarmale: A traditional dish made of minced meat and rice wrapped in pickled cabbage or grape leaves, often served with a sour cream or polenta.
  • Mici: A grilled minced meat roll made from a mixture of pork, beef, and spices, it is a traditional Romanian street food and a popular dish.
  • Ciorba De Burta: A hearty soup made with tripe, vegetables and spices, it is typically garnished with sour cream, vinegar, and chopped fresh parsley.
  • Tochitura: A traditional pork stew, made with onions, peppers, tomatoes, and various spices, often served with polenta or mamaliga (cornmeal mush).
  • Papanasi: a popular sweet dish, it is a fried dough ball, filled with cottage cheese or sour cream, it's often drizzled with a sweet sour cream or a dark fruit jam and served with a shot of È›uică, a traditional Romanian spirit.
  • Cozonac: a traditional sweet bread, it's made from a mixture of eggs, sugar, butter and nuts, and sometimes chocolate, it's traditionally served on festive occasions such as Easter, Christmas, and New Year's.
  • Mititei: Small grilled rolls made from a mixture of minced beef, pork, and spices, it is typically served with mustard and bread.
  • Cabbage Rolls: A traditional dish made of cooked cabbage leaves filled with a mixture of minced meat, rice, and vegetables, it is often served with a tomato sauce.
  • Cheese Pastries: such as urdă and urdă cu brânză, it's a popular pastry, made from cottage cheese and sour cream, it's sweet and savory in taste and it's a popular breakfast food.

Romania Festiaval

Romania is a country with a rich culture and a long history, and as such, it has many traditional festivals and events that take place throughout the year. Here are a few examples of popular festivals and events in Romania:

  • Martisor: A traditional festival celebrated in the beginning of March, it marks the arrival of spring and is associated with a small trinket, usually a small pin or brooch, given as a gift to friends or family as a symbol of good luck.
  • MărÈ›iÈ™or: A festival celebrated on the first day of March, it is associated with the coming of spring, it is the time when people exchange Martisor, which is a small charm that has a red and white string attached to it, and it's given as a symbol of good luck.
  • The Day of Saint George: It is celebrated on April 23rd, it is known for its traditional folk costumes, and for the custom of decorating eggs in bright colors.
  • The Day of Saint Andrew: Celebrated on November 30th, it is one of the most important festivals of the year, it is celebrated mainly in the countryside, where it's marked by traditional customs and rituals, such as the burning of a large fire.
  • Christmas and New Year: Christmas is a major holiday in Romania, it is celebrated with traditional foods, carol singing, and religious observances. New Year's Eve is also an important holiday, celebrated with fireworks and family gatherings.
  • Traditional festivals and cultural events: Romania has many traditional festivals and cultural events that take place throughout the year, such as the Transylvania International Film Festival, the George Enescu Festival, the Sighisoara Medieval Festival, the Bran Castle Medieval Festival, and many more.
  • The National Day of Romania: The National Day of Romania is celebrated on December 1st, it marks the anniversary of the unification of Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia in 1859, to form the modern state of Romania. It's a national holiday and there are usually parades, speeches and other celebrations held throughout the country.

Romania History

Romania is a country in Southeast Europe with a rich history that spans thousands of years. The region has been inhabited since ancient times by the Dacians, a Thracian tribe, and later by the Romans, who conquered Dacia in the 2nd century AD and established a province there. During the Middle Ages, Romania was the site of several powerful states, including the First Bulgarian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. In the 14th century, the principality of Wallachia was established, followed by the principality of Moldavia in the 15th century. In the 19th century, both of these states came under the control of the Ottoman Empire.

  • In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Romania began to modernize and industrialize rapidly, and the country became more politically stable. In 1859, the two principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia united to form the modern state of Romania. In World War I, Romania fought on the side of the Allies and was rewarded with territory at the end of the war. During World War II, Romania was initially an ally of Nazi Germany, but switched sides to the Allies in 1944. After the war, Romania became a communist state under Soviet influence, and remained so until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989.
  • Today, Romania is a parliamentary republic with a developed economy and is part of the European Union, since 2007.