Guide to Romania · Carpathians · Eastern Europe
Romania. In full.
Carpathians, painted monasteries and Europe's youngest delta
The most complete guide to travelling Romania independently. Bucharest, the whole of Transylvania, the wooden villages of Maramureș, the painted monasteries of Bucovina and the Danube Delta. Interactive maps & itineraries. Always the latest published version. One year of content updates included. No agencies, no pre-built itineraries.
Far Guides · By Alex Tomboix The guide
The Romania guide The Europe that looks like no one else.
Romania is not the Balkans, not Central Europe, not Russia. It is a plateau ringed by the Carpathians, with its own Latin language.
This Romania guide explains why the Saxon citadels of Transylvania were built the way they were, what the painted monasteries of Bucovina mean, how rural life works in Maramureș, and how to move through a country of 19 million people where brown bears still roam the forests.
9
Full destinations
From Bucharest to the Delta
4
Day-by-day itineraries
From 8 to 16 days
10
History chapters
From the Dacians to today
43
Points on the map
Interactive, filterable
Destinations included
Nine destinations,
one vertical country.
From Saxon citadels to painted monasteries. Each place with its own chapter.
01 · Capital
Bucharest
The Paris of the East behind the People's Palace
Read the chapter →
02
Brașov
The Saxon square at the foot of the Carpathians
03
Sighișoara
The inhabited medieval citadel
04
Sibiu
The cultural capital of Transylvania
05
Alba Iulia
The Vauban citadel and the 1918 union
06
Cluj
University capital and tech hub
07
Maramureș
Wooden churches and peasant life
08
Bucovina
UNESCO painted monasteries
09
Danube Delta
Europe's youngest and wildest delta
Sample
A fragment,
Voroneț, the impossible blue.
Chapter · Bucovina
The painted monasteries
The blue of Voroneț: nobody knows how it was made. That is the first mystery. The second is why the frescoes were painted on the outside.
The painted monasteries of Bucovina date from the 16th century, built by Stephen the Great and his successors. Their exterior frescoes are unique in Orthodoxy: the entire church turned into a visual catechism for the illiterate.
The guide explains in which order to visit them (Voroneț, Humor, Moldovița, Sucevița, Arbore), why the Voroneț blue has never been replicated, and how to combine the route with Maramureș in one trip.
Traveler tip
Sleep in Vatra Moldoviței or Gura Humorului. The monasteries are 30 min apart but open and close early (9-17h). In one day you can do four if you start at 9 sharp.
The method
A different kind of guide
Built for the real traveller, not the tourist
Interactive maps & itineraries
Explore points of interest by category and plan your route day by day.
Latest online, downloadable for your trip
Use the guide online and download its essential content, with images, for when you travel without a connection. Maps still need internet.
1 year of updates included
Prices, opening hours and recommendations updated for 1 year. You're not buying a static PDF.
Signed by a historian
Alex Tomboix brings together research, fieldwork and professional experience so you understand the place and know how to move through it.
Plans
Choose your plan
No surprise subscriptions. No fine print. One payment, permanent access.
Romania Guide
€14.99
one-time payment
What you unlock today
- ✓ Full Romania guide
- ✓ Indefinite access to your purchased edition
- ✓ Complete download without maps
- ✓ Interactive maps & itineraries
- ✓ 1-year updates
- ✓ ES + EN
Full access
€30
one-time purchase
- · All current guides
- · New destinations included
- · Permanent access, no subscriptions
- · Interactive maps & itineraries
- · Complete download without maps
- · One year of content updates
Secure payment with Stripe · Instant access
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Romania? +
No. Romania is a member of the EU. Citizens of the EU, UK, US and many others can enter visa-free. Since March 2024 it is part of Schengen for air and sea entries.
Can I combine Romania with Bulgaria, Moldova or Hungary? +
Yes. Bucharest is 3h by train from Sofia, Cluj connects to Hungary via Oradea, and the north links with Moldova.
How many days do I need? +
Minimum 8-10 days for Transylvania and Bucharest. 14-16 days if you add Maramureș, Bucovina and the Danube Delta.
Is Romania safe? +
Yes. The guide covers practical specifics: driving in the Carpathians, bears in Transylvania (real, not a cliché), and how to handle Bucharest taxis without getting scammed.
Does the guide stay up to date? +
Yes. The online edition reflects the latest published version. Content updates are included for 1 year from the date of purchase.
How long do I have access? +
Access to your purchased edition is indefinite. Content updates are included for 1 year from the date of purchase.
Can I use it offline? +
Yes. From inside the guide, you can download a complete copy with its images for offline use. Interactive maps require a connection. When you are back online, you can update the downloaded copy if a new edition is available.
How do I access from a new device? +
No passwords needed. Go to /en/access, enter the email you used to purchase and we'll send you an instant access link. Works on any device.
Is there a Spanish version? +
Yes. The guide is available in both Spanish and English. You can switch languages at any time from the navigation menu.
Does it work on mobile? +
It's designed mobile-first. You can install it as an app (PWA) on iOS and Android without going through any app store.
What format is the guide? +
It's not a PDF. It's an interactive website, organised by destination and attraction — not by day. Read it in any order and jump directly to whatever interests you.
Ready for
Romania?
Join the travelers who have already discovered it with the guide
Instant access · Always the latest published version · 1 year of updates
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