Romania widely known as the country of Dracula is so much more than that. It’s a land of some exceptional but still less-known places like the one I will share with you in this blog post.
Staying in Bucharest will allow you to feel the life of a developed European metropolis with a French influence offering a great selection of dining options, pretty architecture and plenty of activities. On contrary, by hitting the road direction ‘’countryside’’ you will find peace and a special rural charm, a great escape from the big city.
I’ve been to Bucharest already, but this time I decided to go back for a weekend getaway and take a day to explore Romania’s off the beaten track, so instead of following the normal tourist itinerary and going to Transylvania to see Dracula’s Castle (Bran Castle), Brașov, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Sinaia etc., we rented a car and drove to Vulcanii Noroiosi for diving into another world and jaw-dropping sceneries. I have zero regrets, but we will come back for sure because the places I’ve mentioned above are also super interesting and must-visit if you have the time which unfortunately we didn’t have…
GENERAL INFO ABOUT ROMANIA
Location: Romania is a southeastern European country. This Balkan country borders Bulgaria to the south, Hungary to the west, Ukraine to the north, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east and the Black Sea to the southeast.
Size: 238,397 km2
Capital: Bucharest
Population: currently 19’052’105
Language: Romanian
Currency: Romanian leu. For reference: 1 RON = 0,20 EUR; 1 RON = 0,23 USD
Best time to visit: During late spring (mid-May) to late summer (mid-September). This period is the best if you want to enjoy a lot of sunshine and warm temperatures with less chance of rain.
BUCHAREST
Bucharest often called the ‘’Little Paris’’ is a beautiful city carrying the French architectural spirit but in a more affordable version.
Reminding of Paris, this city has numerous great restaurants and interesting bar locations.
FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN BUCHAREST
A place, I would recommend you to try is KAIAMO with their interesting concept of an Experimental Romanian Cuisine. You can have a 20-course meal prepared in front of you from their famous chef Radu Ionescu or choose à la carte. The names of their dishes are remarkable and each dish tells a story that your waiter will explain to you. Don’t forget to book in advance.
WHERE TO STAY
The Marmorosch
The Marmorosch has a history of more than 100-years developed in La Belle Epoque. The Art-Deco architecture linked to progressive ideas and historical meaning, beautiful classic rooms and suites, wonderful dining and spa areas, and the most extraordinary bar in town - The Vault are making this place a true gem and a must-visit once you are in Bucharest.
Located at a former bank, The Marmorosch hotel repurposed the bank safe while preserving the history of the place. They kept the safety deposit boxes including the 1920s original keys and turned the place into a unique speakeasy bar. Instagram: @the.marmorosch
Book here: www.marmorosch.com
ARCUL DE TRIUMF
This iconic historical landmark of Bucharest was rebuilt several times throughout the years starting in 1878 when Romania first gained its independence. The first construction was built by wood under which the troops used to march on their way into the city. The structure was rebuilt after World War I in 1922, but it didn’t last long before they decide to knock it down to the ground. The current Arcul de Triumf was unveiled in 1936. Designed by Petre Antonescu, its architecture and majesty remind a lot of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Note that in “normal times” it is possible to climb to the top of this 27-metres high edifice and enjoy the beautiful view from there. Unfortunately, at the time of our arrival, it was closed to visitors. Located in the northern part of Bucharest (on the Kiseleff Road) near the south entrance to Herastrau Park and Village Museum. Coordinates: 44°28′1.99″N 26°4′41.06″E
VISIT ALSO: Palace of the Parliament, The Old Town of Bucharest incl. visiting Curtea Veche and the National Museum of Romanian History, Romanian Athenaeum, Stavropoleos Church, Carturesti Carusel, Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, Revolution Square.
VULCANII NOROIOSI
Vulcanii Noroisi is a natural botanical and geological reservation located in Bužau County approximately 145 km from Bucharest.
Muddy volcanoes, extraterrestrial shapes and lack of vegetation. Here I am channelling the space and calling UFO to pick me up for an explanation. It felt like walking on another planet, or maybe the Moon?! Neither of the two… Those beautiful Martian sceneries and the crater-shaped muddy volcanoes are often called “Gates of Hell” by the locals. They are the biggest active mud volcanoes in Europe and their formation is based on natural gasses eruptions in the area. Those gasses are coming from inside the Earth’s continental crust layers 3000 meters below the ground, passing through a clay sector and getting through the underground water. The way they reach the surface is by pushing the clay and the saltwater up which merges them and they become the small bubbling mud craters we see. Entrance fee: 4 RON (about 1 EUR)
I hope my short blog post was helpful and inspired you to visit this less known Romanian gem – Vulcanii Noroiosi. Bucharest is always a great choice for those of you who like a city or food trips, but I believe that if you want to really understand what the country is really like and if you want to get the true feeling of Romania you should do at least a day out and about. I can’t wait to be back for more and this time I will go also to some of those mass tourism places and hopefully will discover and add more unknown beautiful sights to your bucket list.