Things to Do in Oman

Balea Lake is a glacial lake in Romania's Fagaras Mountains. Sitting at more than 2,000 meters high, it is one of the most popular lakes in Romania. Most visitors are drawn to the lake for the landscape and superb views on the drive there; the water is typically too cold for swimming. Two chalets are open near the lake all year round, but it is most easily accessed in the summer months. In the winter, visitors must ride the cable car from the chalet near the Balea waterfall to get there. In 2006, the first ice hotel in eastern Europe was built nearby using blocks of ice pulled from the frozen lake.

Rarely does a mineral mine top the list of national attractions, but thanks to well-preserved machinery and spa-like features, the Turda Salt Mine has become a major destination for travelers to Romania. Visitors can venture into the mine’s depths and learn about the rich history of extraction that has kept a community afloat, then travel to Durgau Lakes, which formed mineralized salt on old mining sites. This picturesque spot offers visitors the perfect place to sunbathe, unwind and enjoy scenic Romanian landscapes. 

Turda Salt Mine is also home to an impressive (and unexpected) spa complete with fitness center, Jacuzzi and saunas. The didactical swimming pool provides an alternative to the Durgau Lakes for visitors who prefer to log laps indoors. Travelers can also catch one of the popular shows at the amphitheater located on site, ride the massive Big Wheel Ferris wheel for spectacular views, or hop aboard one of the Turda Salt Mine boats for a memorable underground lake tour. 

The Schei district lies outside the fortified medieval walls of Braşov and was originally the area where Romanian nationals lived; up until the mid-17th century, they had to pay a toll to enter the Saxon inner city. It was here that the church of St Nicholas was first built of wood in 1392, making it the oldest Romanian Orthodox church in the country; a stone replacement was completed in 1594, and the church was again much extended in the 18th century. Today it stands a glorious mix of Gothic, Byzantine and Baroque architecture, with a slender central tower and shorter spires. As it was the center of Romanian culture in Braşov, many wealthy patrons donated to the embellishment of the ornate church interior, which is liberally decorated with icons and frescoes, including several by the 19th-century artist Misu Popp.

Inside the walled gardens of the church lies a small cemetery, which is the burial place of Nicolae Titulescu (1882-1941), one of Romania’s most controversial diplomatic figures who featured large on the world stage and helped create the League of Nations in 1921. Also in the grounds is the First Romanian School, originally built in 1495 to educate young Romanians, rebuilt in 1760 and now housing a museum showcasing the backstory of Romanian life in Braşov’s Schei district.

Taking centerstage in Bucharest’s Old Town, Revolution Square (Piata Revolutiei) is located along the central boulevard of Victoriei Street and has long been at the forefront of the city’s historic events. Originally named Palace Square (Piața Palatului), Revolution Square earned its current moniker after the Romanian Revolution in 1989, and remains one of the city’s principal landmarks and navigational hubs.

For first-time visitors, the grand square is undeniably impressive, framed by ornate buildings and crowned by the towering Memorial of Rebirth – a 25-meter-high marble pillar erected in the center of the square, in memory of the victims of the Revolution. Other important monuments on the square include the neoclassical Royal Palace, now home to the National Museum of Art; the Romanian Atheneum, a domed concert hall dating back to the 19th century; and the former headquarters of the Romanian Communist Party, where Nicolae Ceausescu famously addressed the crowds for the final time, before fleeing by helicopter. Also around Revolution Square are the University library, the sprawling Palace of Parliament and statues of Iuliu Maniu and Carol I of Romania.

Arguably the most beautiful building in Bucharest, the Romanian Athenaeum is the city’s foremost concert hall and a source of national pride, with an elegant Doric-colonnaded façade topped with a pediment and cupola. It was designed in Neo-classical style by French architect Albert Galleron and opened in 1888 to great acclaim; the great Romanian conductor George Enescu debuted his ‘Romanian Poem’ here in 1898. The lobby of the concert hall is an opulent, almost Art Nouveau triumph of ornamental gilding supported by arched, pink marble columns that lead off to a series of twisting marble staircases leading up to the concert hall. The circular auditorium seats 652 under a fabulous domed ceiling richly ornamented in scarlet and gold and fringed by frescoes by Costin Petrescu depicting important events in Romanian history; it is world-famous for the clarity of it acoustics and is home to the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, who offer a full program of classical and chamber concerts as well as performing in the celebrated George Enescu Classical Festival, one of the biggest cultural events in eastern Europe.

The cute little Stavropoleos Church started life in 1724 as an Orthodox monastery and inn, commissioned by the Greek monk Ioanichie Stratonikeas. It has an ornate exterior adorned with patterned frescoes, a colonnaded portal, elaborate carved wooden entrance doors and several small towers topped with tiled domes. Inside the church, every inch is liberally smothered with frescoes depicting biblical scenes and the golden altar screen is adorned with jewel-like images of Mary, Jesus and a clutch of saints.

Today the inn, which was used to finance the building of the monastery, is long gone, but the pretty church has survived several earthquakes and was restored in the early 1910s. Crammed among Bucharest’s plentiful Art Nouveau townhouses on the edges of the party-loving Old Town, it is a pleasant respite from the excesses of the city, with a delightful cloister filled with 18th-century tombs. A small community of nuns and monks still live there, and there are several sung services held daily along with regular concerts of Byzantine music; the church also has Romania’s largest collection of rare Byzantine musical scores in its library of more than 10,000 books. Other highlights of a visit include icons brought together from across Romania and fragments of original frescoes that were replaced during renovation.

Founded in the late 14th century, Snagov Monastery sits on an islet in Lake Snagov, just a couple kilometers north of the village by the same name.  The monastery is best known as the burial place of Vlad the Impaler, who provided the inspiration for the fictional Dracula. However, the island also once housed the coin minting facility of the medieval principality Wallachia and was considered one of the most important printing houses in southeastern Europe in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. 

Whether or not he ultimately came to rest at the monastery, Vlad the Impaler was strongly connected to it, building fortifications around the monastery in the 15th century, as well as a bell tower, new church, a bridge to the mainland and a prison and torture chamber. The remains of the prison can still be seen behind the present day church and frescoes from that era are visible inside the church. Vlad’s alleged grave can be found inside the church toward the back.

Eastern Europe’s foremost open-air museum was opened in 1936 and presents a collection of more than 60 historic rural buildings from across Romania and of different eras, all carefully reassembled in 15 hectares of parkland on the shores of Lake Herăstrău in Bucharest. Featuring farms, churches, windmills, wooden cottages, cow sheds and farm machinery from remote districts such as Moldavia, Hunedoara and Transylvania, each building is painstakingly labeled with its exact geographical and cultural provenance and accompanied by a multi-lingual commentary on its original use, building up an accurate picture of rustic village life in a Romania before the advent of Communism. Highlights include earth houses from Straja and cheerily painted, shuttered houses from Tulcea, as well as the 35-meter (115-foot) belfry of the wooden church from Maramureş, embellished with faded icons on its interior. Making a wonderfully family-friendly day out, the museum has a souvenir store, a range of eating options from stalls selling candy to a restaurant in a 19th-century inn, and regular displays of traditional crafts such as weaving and winemaking.

Founded in 1864 by Prince Alexander John Cuza, who ruled over the Romanian United Principalities of Walachia and Moldova, the University of Bucharest is located on Piata Universitatii, a buzzing square snarled with traffic and popular with Bucharest locals as a meeting place. The University Palace’s imposing Neo-classical façade stands on the northwestern corner of the square; it was designed by architect Alexandru Orascu and completed in 1859. 

Today the university has five faculties and is one of the biggest and most prestigious in Romania. Past alumni include playwright Eugène Ionesco, biologist George E Palade and philosopher Emil Cioran.

Outside the University Palace stand four monumental statues of pivotal figures in Romanian history as well as numerous stalls selling secondhand books. Piata Universitatii itself is surrounded by a jumble of architecturally diverse buildings, including the National Theater of Bucharest, the School of Architecture, the modernist Hotel InterContinental and the ornate Neo-classical beauty of the Coltea Hospital, the oldest in the city. A memorial of ten stone crosses stands in the middle of the square in tribute to the rebels who died in the 1989 revolution, which saw the downfall of the despotic President Ceaușescu and brought about the end of Soviet domination in Romania.

Reputedly the narrowest street in Europe and certainly the narrowest in Romania, Rope Street (Strada Sforii) connects Cerbului with Poarta Schei in Braşov’s Old Town. It is 262.5 feet (80 meters) long and just 3.5 to 4.5 feet (1.10–1.35 meters) wide, making it almost impossible for two people to pass each other. It has its origins somewhere around the beginnings of the 17th century and may have been built for access by firefighters into the Old Town. Renovated in 2003, Strada Sforii is signposted from both ends and bears a plaque declaring its dimensions; it’s a favorite photo spot for travelers to the city.

Running for almost 3km through the heart of central Bucharest, Victoriei Street (Calea Victoriei, or ‘Victory’ street) is the capital’s main thoroughfare and the obvious starting point for a walking tour. First laid out in the 16th century, the historic boulevard is one of the oldest in the city, and it’s lined with architectural landmarks, palaces, museums and upmarket hotels.

Start from the commercial hub of Piata Victoriei, with its modern office towers, and head south down Victoriei Street, passing notable buildings like the Cantacuzino Palace, home to the George Enescu National Museum; the Athenaeum concert hall; the CEC Palace and the Palace of the National Military Circle. Be sure to stop by the famous Revolution Square, hemmed in by impressive monuments, and the National History Museum, before arriving banks of the Dambovita River. As well as being a prime spot for photographers, the street is crammed with shops, restaurants and cafés, offering ample opportunities for a sightseeing break.

Alternatively, north of Piata Victoriei, Victoriei Street becomes Șoseaua Kiseleff and leads the way through Kiseleff Park to the Arcul de Triumf and the enormous Herăstrău Park (around 2 km from Piata Victoriei). 

Known in Romania as the Urlatoarea Cascada, the Wailing Waterfall is one of the most spectacular waterfalls, and one of the most impressive tourist sights, in the country. Located in the Bucegi Mountains at an altitude of about 1,100 meters, it stands nearly 15 meters high and gets its name from the sound of the water flowing down. Two smaller falls are nearby as well: Urlatoarea Mare and Urlatoarea Mica. One of the paths leading to the waterfall from the town of Poiana Tapului was built by King Carol I to connect the fall with Peles Castle.

The Wailing Waterfall can be combined with the fortified church at Prejmer and the fortified church Harman to make a good day trip from Brasov with a tour group or your own car.

The Royal Court of Targoviste is an architectural complex built in Romania between the 15th and 17th centuries. The town of Targoviste itself was the capital of Wallachia for three centuries and occupied an important location on the main trade route connecting Wallachia to Transylvania and the Balkan Peninsula. The Royal Court consists of a southern gate, royal palace, bell tower, royal gardens, fortifications, the Chindia Tower, Lady Balasa’s home and several churches. 

Today, only ruins remain of the royal palace and its gardens. Numerous frescoes remain in the Great Royal Church, including portraits of Wallachian rulers, and visitors can see examples of old pottery work in the Small Royal Church. The Chindia Tower, which dates back to the 15th century, features a viewing platform that can be reached by climbing a flight of more than 100 stairs. The tower also hosts an exhibition about the reign of Vlad the Impaler, who was the inspiration for the fictional Dracula.

Once marking the entrance to the fortified city and home to the Town Council, Sighisoara's grand Clock Tower dates back to the 14th century and remains one of the city's most memorable landmarks. Looming 64 meters over Piața Muzeului, the tower's most distinctive feature is its 17th-century clock, complete with mechanical figurines that symbolize Peace, Justice, Law, Day and Night. 

Today, the Clock Tower is home to a fascinating local history museum, with exhibitions spread over the tower's three floors and reached by the original narrow stairwell. Artifacts on display include Romanian furniture, medieval tools, medical equipment, old clocks and traditional handicrafts. Visitors can also take a peek at into the clock's mechanism and climb to the top-floor observation platform for a view over the city.

Famous enough to feature on the UK motor show Top Gear but remote enough that traffic jams won’t be a problem, Transfagarasan Highway might just be “the best road in the world” as Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson claimed. Despite hairpin bends, and sheer drops off rocky cliffs, this route rewards tourists with spectacular scenery.

Driving the Transfagarasan Highway is a real Romanian experience that pairs road course navigation with spectacular views, twisting and turning its way through the Carpathian mountain range in central Romania. Multi-day tours between Bucharest and Brasov (home of Dracula’s Castle) often include a spin on this legendary road. It’s also possible to visit on a day trip, stopping at sights such as Balea Lake, Poienari Castle, and Vidraru Dam along the way.

The highway—known to locals as road 7C—runs for 56 miles (90 kilometers). It starts near Bascov, outside the city of Pitesti, to Sibiu in Transylvania. It ends near the intersection of D1 and Sibiu.

Because of its high altitude, heavy snowfall renders this road unsafe and it is usually closed from late October until late June. Closures are also possible during the summer months, depending on weather conditions, and it’s not possible to drive the road at night.

Built as a military road in the 1970s, the Transfagarasan Highway is Romania’s second-highest mountain pass, reaching a height of 6,699 feet (2,042 meters). It has more tunnels and viaducts than any other Romanian road, and boasts the longest tunnel—the 2,900-foot (884-meter) Bâlea Tunnel. Because of the many s-curves, hairpin bends, and steep descents, the average speed along the road is around 25 mph (40 kph).