The charming country of Romania is becoming one of the most sought-after travel destinations in Eastern Europe. A country of unparalleled beauty, it is cut by the Carpathian Mountains from the nation’s southwest corner stretching to its eastern border, laying the groundwork for astounding natural beauty in a land known for its Old World charm.
 Famous as the birthplace of Vlad Tepes (the inspiration for the ever-popular Dracula legends), Romania lures travellers intent on tracing this historical figure’s legacy across Transylvania. However, there’s immensely more to see and do here, and what begins as a proverbial vampire hunt often becomes a much broader exploration of this country’s unique history and architecture.
 Quaint and historic castles dot the countryside, while impressive fortified churches reside over many of Romania’s small, medieval towns. In fact, the unique insular nature of Romania’s countryside has kept living and breathing medieval traditions alive to this day, a fact that draws anthropologists here to study the last vestige of medieval society.
 That is not to say that Romania is only wrapped up in history and tradition. Modernity and recent ascension to the European Union have prompted metropolitan centres to charge heroically into the 21st century. The capital city, Bucharest, is on the forefront of this initiative, and this city, once known as ‘Little Paris’, is building skyscrapers and impressively modern financial districts alongside Ottoman arches and ancient, Orthodox churches.
 Outside of metropolitan centres, Romania boasts some of Europe’s most fascinating wildlife. Large carnivores like Eurasian brown bears and lynx lurk in national parks while wolves slink stealthily along the periphery. Avid nature lovers head to the Danube River Delta where hundreds of species of migratory birds roost in their seasons.
Accommodation is widely available throughout Romania. . Meanwhile, top-end hotels pamper guests in big cities like Bucharest.
From the mountains of Walachia to the Saxon lands of Transylvania, Romania offers a striking array of regional specialties. Local restaurants proudly serve Romanian wines and plum brandy as a complement to traditional cuisine. Special touches like this along with the sheer charm and hospitality of locals ensure that you’ll have a comfortable holiday that will leave you eager to plan your next return trip.
History
In antiquity, Romania was occupied by the Dacians, one of the many Thracian tribes. The Greek historian, Herodotus, mentions a war between Persia and the Dacians. The Greeks and the Dacians enjoyed amicable trade agreements, and the Dacian Kingdom continued to grow and prosper into the 1st century BC.
 In the 1st century AD, encroachments by the Roman Empire prompted skirmishes between their legions and Dacian armies. The Romans were ultimately victorious, and they formed the Roman Dacia province. The Romans lavished their resources on Roman Dacia and exploited regional deposits of gold, silver and ore. However, pressure from neighbouring tribes proved too great, and in the 3rd century this was the first major province to be abandoned by the faltering Roman Empire.
 Several tribal groups passed through Romania in the coming years and during the Middle Ages, the land was divided into three separate entities: Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania. Walachia’s prince, Vlad the Impaler (named for his preferred method of capital punishment), became a legendary figure who ultimately inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula story.
The Ottoman Empire occupied portions of modern-day Romania, and in the early 17th century the three Romanian kingdoms were briefly reunited by Michael the Brave. This lasted until 1687 when Transylvania fell to Habsburg forces. Moldavia and Wallachia remained united, and in the 19th century they formed the nation of Romania.
Romania’s quest to reassume control of Transylvania led the nation to side with the Triple Entente during WWI. The defeat of the Austro-Hungarians saw Transylvania become part of Romania though political pressures during WWII brought Transylvania back under Hungarian rule. Romania sided first with the Nazis before suddenly changing sides and capturing more than 50,000 German soldiers.
 After the war, the Soviets brought Transylvania back to Romania, and within a year the monarchy was deposed and the Romanian People’s Republic emerged. Romania’s infamous leader, Nicolae CeauĊ?escu, took the helm in 1965. In 1974 he ceremoniously declared himself president and implemented dozens of expensive and disorderly national projects that were destined to fail from the start. He razed portions of Bucharest and several rural villages, relocated farmers into drab, concrete-block apartment buildings and pushed the country into ever-deepening turmoil.
Public outcry increased and activist groups gained momentum. CeauĊ?escu was arrested in late 1989 and he was killed by a firing squad on Christmas Day that year. Romania’s recent history remains turbulent. Scandals and allegations of corruption plagued the nation’s bid for status in the European Union (finally achieved in 2007).
 Today, Romania continues to grow as a tourist destination due to its unique position at the crossroads of many historic empires. Romania harbours numerous architectural relics — some of which date back as far as Dacian times.
Weather
Romania’s climate is characterised by four distinct seasons. Due to its situation in the midst of a large landmass relatively removed from open water, weather patterns are more variable over the course of the year, drifting from temperate to continental. An average of 66 centimetres of rainfall occurs over the course of one year, and average temperatures drop to -3°C in January before rising to 22°C in July.
 Most tourists visit Romania between late spring and early autumn, roughly between the months of April and October (with a brief hiatus during the hottest month, July). However, Romania is just as attractive during the winter months when the countryside is blanketed in snow.
 Spring is a very comfortable time of year. Mornings and evenings are refreshingly cool, and daytime highs are very pleasant. Continuing into the summer, daytime temperatures can be quite warm. The low-lying regions in the southeast of Romania are the hottest; on particularly hot days the temperature may rise to as high as 40°C. Of course, areas of higher elevation remain much cooler.
 September and October see the return of cool temperatures reminiscent of springtime though the air is much drier and precipitation less common. The forests and fields break out in the gold and umber shades of autumn before temperatures drop below freezing. Snowfall is common across the country from January until March.
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