Romania is a country located in between Central Eastern Europe and Southeastern Europe. Bordering the Black Sea on the southeastern part and Bulgaria to the south with Ukraine flanking the north and Hungary on the west side, while Serbia locates on its southwest and Moldova on the east, the country possesses a temperate and continental climate. Romania is the 12th largest country in Europe and 7th most populated state in the European Union with almost 20 million people as its residents. The largest city which is also its capital city is Bucharest and also serves as Romania’s most visited city.

The country consists of 88.9% Romanians, 6.1% Hungarians, 3% Romas, 0.2% Ukrainians while the rest of 0.2% are Germans and the state’s official language is Romanian. The country gained its independence from the rule of the Ottoman Empire in 1877 and had become a democratic country through various incidents during World War I and II and practised a market economy. Romania is still considered as a developing country and ranks 52nd in the HDI and 47th place as the largest economy in the GDP with an annual economic growth rate of 7% in 2017, the highest rank in EU. Romania is predominantly based on the service sector and a producer of machines and electric energy. It is also a member of the United Nations since 1955 and a part of NATO since 2004 and a member of the EU since 2007.

Due to its location near the open sea and is positioned on the southeastern part of the European continent, Romania possesses a climate that is temperate and continental with four different seasons. The average annual temperature in the south is 11 °C (52 °F) and 8 °C (46 °F) in the north. The distribution of rainfall is average. In the western part of the country, the climate is milder and has some Mediterranean influences while on the eastern part has a more prominent continental climate.

Romanian, a Romance language, is the country’s official language and is the most widely spoken language of the Eastern Romance branch, in which it is very similar to Aromanian, Megleno-Romanian and Istro-Romanian. The Romanian language also shares many similar features with the rest of the western Romance language specifically Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan. The Romanian alphabets consist of the same 26 letters of the standard Latin alphabets with five additional letters, which totalled 31 letters. Romanian is the native language to about 90% of the population in Romania, followed by Hungarian, Vlax Romani, Ukrainian, German and Turkish. Minority languages are also given the rights by the Constitution of Romania to be used in the public administration, justice system as well as the education system so foreign citizens that live in Romania are given the access to use the country’s justice and education in their respective language. English and French are the two foreign languages mainly taught in schools, followed by Italian and German.

The main religion in Romania is Christianity. Almost 81% of the population identifies themselves as Orthodox Christians while the rest are Protestants, Roman Catholics and Greek Catholics. Other religions that are present in Romania are also Islam and Jewish while the rest of the population are atheists.

In Romania, one of the country’s main contributors to the economy is tourism in which it generates around 5% of the country’s GDP. It is also the fourth fastest growing travel and tourism in the world with an estimated potential growth of 8% per year from 2007 to 2016, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. The number of tourists has increased steadily over the past years reaching to almost 9.33 million tourists in 2016 alone, according to the World Bank, and the country attracted almost 400 million Euro in investments in 2005. The main tourist attractions in Romania are Suceava, the Seat Fortress in Bukoniva, Downtown Sighisoara, the Black Church in Brasov and the Traditional Romanian wooden church in Surdesti, Maramures. Other popular tourist activities that can be done in the country also involve skiing, and the popular sites are the Valea Prahovei Resort and Poiana Brasov Resort. In summer, locations such as Mamaia and other Black Sea Resorts are also popular. Romania is also popular and well-known for its sites and places of medieval castles, fortifications and fortresses in which they are all well preserved. There are also medieval Transylvanian cities that offer tourists splendid views such as Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, Brasov, Bistrita, Medias and Sighisoara. The Bran Castle near Brasov is considered as the most famous tourist attraction in Romania as it is known famously as the Dracula’s castle. Rural and urban tourism that centres around folklore and traditions have also become a significant role in Romania’s tourism. The painted churches in Northern Moldavia and the wooden churches of Maramures or the villages with fortified churches in Transylvania are considered famous attractions, and not to mention the Danube Delta or the Sculptural Ensemble of Constantine Brancusi at Targu Jiu.

In Romania, pork, chicken and beef are the preferred types of meat alongside lamb and fish. The cuisines have heavy influences from Austria and Germany and also share some similarities with other cuisines in the Balkan regions like the Greek, Bulgarian and Serbian cuisine. Traditional recipes are made relative to the holidays such as chiftele, Toba and tochitura on Christmas. Tunica is a strong plum brandy with 70% alcohol content and is also the country’s traditional alcoholic beverage. Because of this, Romania has the largest plum plantation in the world and is the world’s biggest producer. Other beverages also include wine, rachis, palinca and visinata as well as beer.

How to Get There

By Flight

To get to Romania from Singapore requires you to take an approximately 14 hours 23 minutes flight using the fastest route with one transit stop flight. Prices can range from SGD 959 to SGD 2,533 for economy class depending on which airlines you are opting for. It is recommended for tourists to take a flight to Bucharest as the city is the centre of Romania and can get anywhere from there as most tourists attractions centres in the city. However, if you want to explore the western side of Romania where it is known for its baroque buildings and metropolitan Orthodox Cathedrals, you should take a flight to Timisoara. The cheapest flight would be around SGD 1,120, and the fastest flight would cost you around SGD 7,923, and most of them have two transit stops.

If you are heading to the southeastern part of Romania, you can take a flight to Constanta, which is a city of Romania that faces the Black Sea, famous for its centuries-old history dating back to 2,000 years’ worth of artefacts and monuments. The cheapest flight there would be around SGD 1,054 which can take up about 20 hours on board the plane, while the fastest flight of 18 hours on board will cost you around SGD 3,484. All of these flights will have one transit stop.

On the other hand, if you want to head to Cluj-Napoca, the most populous city in Romania situated in the northwestern part of the country, taking a flight there is also an option for you. It is also the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region and possesses landmarks that dated back to the Saxon and Hungarian rule. Taking a flight there for the cheapest option would require you to spend about 29 hours on the flight but costs you only SGD 1,035. The fastest route which takes up around 17 hours would cost you SGD 2,567. All of these airports mentioned are situated very near the city centres, so you do not have to worry on how to hail a taxi to get to your designated hotels.

What to Do There?

Cluj-Napoca

A city in the northwestern part of Romania is also home to the country’s universities as well as its vibrant nightlife and popular historical landmarks dating back to the Saxon and Hungarian ruling age. The central square, Piata Unirii, is surrounded by the gothic-styled St. Michael’s Church as well as the statue of Matthias Corvinus, a king in the 15th century. Situated in the west side of the city is the famously haunted forest called the Hoia Forest. It is used as a common recreation destination. According to legends as well, the forest is the location of paranormal activities as many ghost stories, and urban legends have sprung up from this area. The forest was also featured in the paranormal documentary show, Ghost Adventures. Aside from that, the St. Michael’s Church in the city is also an attraction for tourists to feast their eyes on the unique architectural design dating back to 1487. Very near from that is the city centre Piata Unirii where the famous Unirii Square stands. It is also the largest and most important squares in the Romanian city with a dimension of 220 meters by 160 meters. The central district of the city spreads out around this square. Built in 1774, the Palace of Cluj-Napoca Banffy is now a famous baroque building designed by the German architect Johann Eberhard Blaumann and it is considered as the most representative of the baroque style architecture in Transylvania.

Sibiu

Sibiu is a city located in Transylvania, central Romania, and it is known for its Germanic architectures in its old town dating back to 12th century built by Saxon settlers. Surrounding the city are the remnants of medieval walls, churches, old buildings and towers, including 13th century Council Tower that is positioned in the city centre. You can reach this city from Bucharest, just northwest 275km away from the capital. To start the tour is best from Sibiu’s Upper Town and make your way to the open-air Big Square or Piata Mare which has been Sibiu’s centre since the 15th century. Today, you can find restaurants and even take parts in cultural events that often take place surrounding this square. If you are interested in learning more about Romanian art and architectures, you can visit the Brukenthal Museum, located very near the Piata Mare. It is an art museum that displays works by Romanian and European artists. Sibiu also possesses many religious landmarks, but the three most famous are Catholic Basilica which is located near the Piata Mare, the Orthodox Cathedral as well as Sibiu’s Gothic Lutheran Cathedral which is located in the Huet Square. The Bridge of Lies, built in 1859 is a famous spot in Piata Mica in which many legends have sprung up from this small pedestrian bridge. It is said that anyone who stands on this bridge and tell a lie, the bridge will make a creaking noise and sounds to scare the liars off. It is a must-visit spot as the area surrounding it also situates many historical landmarks and buildings.

Where to Stay?

Ibis Hotel, Sibiu Centre

Situated strategically in the centre of Sibiu and very close to the Piata Mare, or the Main Square, is the Ibis Hotel. It offers you 20 different kinds of rooms to meet the suitability of your trip. From the hotel, you can reach the Piata Mare or any other historical monuments and tourist attractions easily by walking or taking a cab that will cost you no more than 3 Euro. The hotel offers a free parking space that is secured if you are travelling with your transportation and not to mention; it also provides the visitors dining services as it has its restaurant and bar. Breakfast is available via a surcharge before the stay. Other services offered by the hotel also include laundry services, luggage storage, a WiFi connection as well as a well-equipped business centre. Also, the staffs of Ibis Hotel are all multilingual, so you do not have to worry when asking for information. The front desk is also available for you 24 hours.

Ramada Hotel, Sibiu

Another hotel to choose from is the Ramada Hotel that is also situated in the centre of Sibiu city. If you are looking for a hotel that offers you a transfer to and from the airport, this is it, but the service comes with a surcharge. This large hotel is also equipped with a fitness centre so you can have that workout as you travel. A restaurant is also available, and breakfast services are offered free to all who stays there. Not to mention, the hotel also has an express check-in and check-out, so you do not have to queue at the reception desk. A laundry service is also available to fit for your usage if you ever need it and to get around in that hotel will not be a problem as the staffs are all multilingual and can assist you at will. If you find yourself wanting to relax at Ramada, the sauna service is also offered and can be accessed at any time. To fit the purpose of your travel, whether it is leisure or for business, the hotel also offers you its business centre alongside a good WiFi connection. Parking is also available but with a surcharge billed to you. Getting to the nearest attractions will not be a problem as the hotel is situated in the centre of Sibiu, close to the Piata Mare so that tourists can visit at ease.