02/01/2025
Romania is among CNN's 25 places to visit in 2025.
"There aren’t many places left in Europe that still have that undiscovered vibe, but Romania comes close. That’s a gift in these days of overtourism — for here’s a country that has everything, from the beach resorts of the Black Sea to the drop-dead gorgeousness of the Carpathian Mountains, and is reputedly trying to grow visitor numbers sustainably.
Yes, there’s the Dracula thing at Bran Castle, but for other gothic medieval treats in wider Transylvania and beyond, try Timișoara, Cluj Napoca, Sibiu, Brasov and Sebes. Capital Bucharest has a charming Old Town, now a bit overloaded with tourist bars and restaurants, but the city’s recent history is still a major draw. The jaw-dropping excess of communist-era dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu’s luxurious former home and his vast Palace of the Parliament (the world’s heaviest building) are worth exploring.
They contrast with the extreme hardships he forced on the country’s people, charted in the diminutive but essential Museum of Communism. A more idyllic past can still be found in the Romanian countryside. There’s probably no better way to explore this than the recently launched Via Transilvanica, an 870-mile (1,400-kilometer) hiking trail through rural landscapes and villages seemingly frozen in time."
From Kaçkar to Kansai, via rugged mountains, luxurious railways, cool cities and ancient footpaths, CNN Travel’s editors and contributors are spotlighting 25 destinations and experiences for anyone seeking vacation inspiration for the year ahead.
