Traveling in Romania with children

It is not easy to travel with your child, or children , somewhere in the world, and Romania is not excepted. A child can spoil and harm your vacations, but he/she is after all the most important achievement in your life, and consequently you may not neglect him/her!

Romania is for sure one of children friendliest countries on Earth, and this fact has some simple explanations. One generation before, during the Ceausescu communist era, it was the dictator stimulating the birth rate. Abortion were forbidden, contraception tabu, Ceausescu should reign over more and more people. In the factories who used mainly women, from time to time have been organized controls for detecting from the beginning a pregnancy and preventing abortion. Unfortunately, due to the abortions made under improper conditions many women died. Anyway, it was a pride having more children, and the families with children have been intensively supported.

The Pension Confort is very close to Suceava, but very quiet and peaceful, and for sure children friendly

Any bigger or smaller hotel in Romania has a playing ground, where qualified personnel care about you children, if you wanna let them there. Observe also among the all staff a special love and care for children. Even if they have no children, which is uncommon here btw, they are able to find the right behavior for any much or less spoiled children. It is simply amazing, you will see!

I found the best places for traveling with children in Suceava district, and this happened with a little help of the hazard. I thought anyway searching children friendly hotels and pensions in Suceava, because this district has one of the highest birth rate in Romania. It is for sure a tradition here, and Ceausescu came to power in 1965 with a baby boom. It applies also for districts Iasi and Botosani, but I did not find there such  children friendly hotels and pensions yet, I am still searching and will keep you informed.

The pension Casa Vicu from Gura Humorului is in a wonderful neighborhood

The pensions I am going to recommend are not in downtown Suceava, they have own farm, garden and playing grounds. It will be a huge relief for you and your family! Another tip: there are a lot of cows in the area, and the milk products are natural and organic! Also interesting for the adults, not only for children!

Discover at 4 km away from Suceava, in Scheia, the pension Confort, which is rather small (40 places, 20 rooms), familiar and surely children friendly, with sauna, spa and even conference room. You have a bbq where you can even grill yourself, if free and available (pls remember the right pairing of food and wines!). The cooker is good, even excellent in the local meat rolls! From there you can make short trips in Suceava, Radauti and the amazing painted monasteries.

In Gura Humorului I discovered another children friendly pension, namely Casa Vicu. It is even smaller ( 8 rooms) and consequently more familiar, but lacks some amenities comparing to a good hotel or or even with the pension Confort; for your budget is even friendlier  for sure! The neighborhood is amazing peaceful, which made me so enthusiastic about it!

Most important things to do in Suceava

If you plan to visit the painted monasteries from Bucovina, Suceava is the right place for lodging. The town has good connections to the Capital Bucharest, or Iasi, or even Transilvania. It is an excellent base for short trips to Voronet, Putna, Dragomirna, Moldovita and Sucevita, to name only the peaks.

The fortress of Suceava, the landmark of the city

But besides, Suceava has its own monuments and charming places, which you may not miss. The town is tighten to Stefan Cel Mare/Stephen the Great, and to the most glorious times of Moldavian history.

Suceava has an excellent position, to the intersection of trading ways from Russia to Transilvania, or from Poland to the Black Sea. Starting from the XIIIth century it became the Capital of Moldova for 200 years. Right here, in the lofty fortified citadel on the top of a hill, Stefan cel Mare welcomed many Turkish or Polish sudden attacks or sieges. The fortress last until 1675 when it was set on fire, according the orders of the Turks, which could not been disobeyed.

It is easy to reach the fortress, one of the city's main boulevard simply passes by. The outside walls are still good preserved and really look amazingly strong and reliable. Also,  from the inside separating walls has been kept arches and vaults. You can follow the defending system,, which is brilliant through its simplicity. In the good old times the fortress had one hanging bridge, as many narrow places, where the host could easily trap the unwelcomed guests. Walking through the ruins, simply to observe how little were all the rooms there.

Further, visit the old Mirauti church, which was the residence of the Moldavian archbishop, as also the very place where Stefan cel Mare was appointed and confirmed as the ruling prince of Moldavia. Very close to it the St. Dimitri church, build in the XVIth century, and still proudly carying a scuplture with the aurochs head, the coat of arms of the Medieval Moldavia.

The Mirauti Church from Suceava, very old and full of glory

If you are going to visit Suceava at about 15th August, search the Armenian Monastery Hagigadar, also called as the place where the dreams come true. You can be the witness of a very odd scene: hundreds of pilgrims climb on the knees the hill of the monastery, with a burning candle in their hands. After that, still on the knees, they go three times around the church. Thus, their hottest wish will come true. The origin of this behavior is losing in the old times. After the divine service, all the participants are invited to a ritual lunch ( or hurban, from Armenian), where they get beef rice, but also the delicoius, but strange, dumplings soup. These damplings are very specific to the Armenians, and are filled with meat.

If you wanna eat better, go to one of the city's many restaurants! I would mention first Bucovina and Casa Arcasului (excellent kitchen, good prices)

Best Family trip in Romania

I am sure you are very fond of your profession ,you have to, and took part to teambuildings in some places with you mates. I am also very sure that you have neglected your family. They can understand that, but with some limits and you must act before this issue becomes a problem.

The charming city of Bucharest is for sure your first target on a family tip to Romania. But not longer than one day,please

So, I propose you a family (re)building in Romania based on a concept  which I did not discovered, but I must remember you. First of all, never forget to enjoy the rare relaxing moments with your beloved one and the children. Please realize that these moments never come back and they are number one for you, much more important than the job. And from time to time, please go in a vacation with your family, I propose you Romania and a special selection for it.

The town of Suceava is interesting like its picturesque railway station

You can make this trip only on your own, with your family, or with a guide (not absolutely necessary, but funnier and more interesting!).  Arrive in Bucharest for the first day and stay there for a night in a good small hotel (avoid the exquisite business hotel, you really need something more private). On the next day do a Tour of Bucharest, visiting one of its museum (there is a wide choice, and depends only on your family's specific interests). After that, leave the big city in the afternoon by train or car, heading for Suceava, a charming town, and discover the painted monasteries. Stay there 4 days, and visit the town, the fortress, discover the hills and mountains in the neighborhood with their magnificent landscapes. Discover the monasteries, by bike eventually if you land there in summer and enjoy every minute.

A wine tasting with your family is a good occasion for rebuilding status and relationship

That region of Romania is the best for these family travels. Quiet, peaceful, clean with special people which are very happy welcoming you there. Really an event for your family life, you are going to feel it. If your children are boys, teenagers maybe, take them to a wine tasting, whether in a good Suceava restaurant, or even better in Cotnari, which is a famous vineyard only 100 km away. Your son(s) and wife will be surely enthusiastic about that.

If your children are girls don't miss the markets from entrances in every monastery, they have some special handmade works. And even if you, or them are not Orthodoxe, you can find interesting things in the  shops officially opened in every monastery. Observe the unique exterior painting and try to recognize the Bible histories about and the persons. You have a lot to do for your family, but you will get major compensations. Or you can allow them to attend Romanian gastronomy courses!

Suceava, the gate to the painted monasteries

Bucovina, the upper northern part of the Romanian Moldavia, is a wonderful hill land,scattered with many painted monasteries build in the middle age, mainly by the well known legendary ruler Stephen the Great (1457-1504).

Suceava Fortress, residence of Stephen the Great and capital of Moldavia

Stephen the Great is still living today, being subject to many jokes, proving his strong influence in all Romanian history. The history fact is that he was an exponent of a new ascending country, namely Moldavia, and he managed to keep a certain independence of Moldavia, despite its many enemies ( Turks, Polish, Hungarians etc). His capital was in Suceava, look anyway for the fortress of Suceava (Cetate).

City Hall from Suceava is a good example of Secession style

The fortress of Suceava is very strong, and from here Moldavia has been ruled for centuries. On unknown reasons, in the XVII th the fortress of Suceava was left and deserted, but even nowadays, after successful restaurations, is very impressive. The walls are 20 meters high and 2 meters thick, and you can try climbing then during your visit (there is a small fee to be paid). From the fortress you have a good sight to the all city, and decide what else to do here.

The interesting railway station from Suceava, in my opinion one of the nicest in Romania

Suceava has today 100000 inhabitants, among them a few Rusians, Ukrainians, Lipovans and Polish (more than 90 % are Romanians). Suceava was a century ruled by the Habsburgic empire, and you can still find some things to remember, e.g. the Catholic Church. Orthodoxes Curches are much more, but you may not miss the Miclauti Church, where for centuries the Moldavia's ruler have been appointed and crowned. Observe there the ingenious positioning of the bell, which is not in a separate tower, but included in the front wall.

The orthodox church of Miclauti, Suceava where for centuries the  Moldavian Rulers have been appointed and crowned

You also can't miss the horse statue of Stephen the Great, dominating the city, and the railway station with its 100 years old architecture, one of the most beautiful in Romania.

Suceava is maybe the only city in Bucovina, and has an important tourist circulation. The offer on hotels and restaurants is wide and generous. I would suggest you Hotel and Restaurant Bucovina, and the restaurant Casa Arcasului, for the good balance quality and price (the both are high end category).

From Suceava you can make daily trips to the painted monasteries, one of the most important things to see in all Romania. But you need nevertheless at least another day to visit Suceava Museums: Ethnography Museum, History Museum, Art Museum. Men, you are going to like and love Suceava for sure.