Romania has all sorts of amazing places that you can visit and have a great rustic time! For example, there is even a Hobbit-themed village where you can stay overnight, so you don’t have to travel all the way to New Zealand!
You can also visit a haunted forest, ancient watermills, one of the most spectacular underground mines, or a village submerged underwater. Here are 5 unique and amazing places you should visit in Romania!
The Valley of Twelve (Valea Celor Doisprezece)
The Valley of Twelve, Valea Celor Doisprezece, in Romania is a beautiful rustic village designed similarly to the Hobbit village from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. You can visit the village from Tuesday to Sunday, or you can make a reservation and spend a couple of nights here.
The price per night varies from 300 lei to 500 lei depending on which house you choose. Here, you have facilities such as a sauna, various types of massage, chariot riding, domestic animals, a children’s playground, and more! You can also eat traditional foods at the restaurant.
The Valley of Twelve is situated in Piatra Neamț county, at Dobreni village. It is 12 km away from Piatra Neamț, while the closest airport is only 70 km away, located at Bacău City.
Turda Salt Mine (Salina Turda)
The Turda Salt Mine is located only 30 km away from Cluj County, Transylvania, and it runs 120 meters deep underground. The salt mine is among the world’s most spectacular underground sites, receiving 2 Michelin stars.
There is a theater, a natural museum, a sports field, a children’s playground, and a lake where you can rent boats in this underground paradise! The best part is that the longer you stay, the more you will benefit from the salty air and its wondrous healthy properties. Be sure to dress up accordingly, as the temperature is constantly at 10 degrees C. Recently, the mine opened its hotel with a SPA center.
Hoia-Baciu Forest (Padurea Hoia-Baciu)
Spanning for over 300 hectares, the Hoia-Baciu Forest near Cluj-Napoca County, Transylvania, is among the most haunted places in the world! Legends say that the forest was named after a Shepherd that disappeared with his 2,000 sheep into the woods. Locals call it the Bermuda Triangle of Romania. Strange and unexplained phenomena occur within the forest, and if you love adrenaline, this place will give you plenty!
The Water Mills of Rudaria (Morile de apă Rudaria)
The water mills situated on the river Rudaria, a tributary of River Nera, are a beautiful sight to see! Located in the county of Caraș-Severin, where the Bigar waterfall, Cheile Nerei, are located, the watermills can be found in the Eftimie Murgu commune.
Today only 22 watermills remain out of 48 that existed, and they spread across 3 kilometers on the river. The locals used these mills to grind cereals, and some continue to use them.
The Sunken Village Geamăna (Satul scufundat Geamăna)
Have you ever seen an underwater village? The Geamăna village in Alba Iulia County, Romania, is an ancient village that submerged underwater around 30 years ago due to mining operations that led to a natural disaster.
The village is 100 meters underwater, and on clear days, you might be able to see the houses, cemetery, and lands beneath it. One key feature of this site is the visible church tower that is only slightly above the water since the church was built on a big hill. Though it’s a bit of a scary sight to see, it is unique nonetheless and well worth a trip! Please stay away from the water, though, as it is toxic!
No matter where you go in Romania, there are plenty of beautiful and unique sites to see, and the food is more than amazing, just like its people! However, one thing to keep in mind is to get a VPN while traveling to make your stay safer. Connecting to a VPN server isn’t just good for reaching geo-blocked websites or your favorite shows. It could also prevent cybercriminals from getting into people’s devices while connected to public Wi-Fi.
