Travelling in Romania by train

As you are an environmental aware traveler and an avid tourist, you might want doing something for our planet and start thinking about traveling by train.

By the way, you can even reach Romania by train, in the most stylish way, with the legendary Orient Express leading from Paris to Istanbul. This real life for sure, and Agatha Christie is preparing to make the right flamboyant appearance. You need some time for it, at least a few days, up to two weeks, but it deserves every minute and every penny!  Daily life in the Orient Express is much more spectacular than a three hours flight from Paris to Bucharest with its fancy dinners, comfort suites, love stories and even crimes.

The first steam locomotive used 150 years  ago on the Romanian railways

The truth is that the railway is being there since a few centuries and traveling by train is one of the cleanest ways of transportation. The railway is more than any street a part of the landscape and environment and the railway tunnels or bridges are really spectacular. Some railway stations in Romania are really masterpiece of architecture, and I am going to name just a few of them: Baile Herculane, Oravita, Iasi, Suceava,Arad.

The iconic railway station from herculane is one of the oldest and nicest countrywide

Traveling by train in Romania has a long tradition, and you can explore the full country up to its most remote corners exclusively by train. I even thought on a circuit covering all the country's most iconic regions exclusively by train, and I am going to propose it to you bellow, with a few mentions and observations. If you want to travel in style, look for the first class and the comfy Inter city trains. A 500 km long journey will cost under this exclusive conditions 40 Euros. If you would like, on the contrary, travel on a tight budget, count with the half of the mentioned amount, putting on the balance the fact that traveling by train is in Romania much safer than traveling by car. Your taste, your choice, I only want to inform you correctly!

Not any longer in use, unfortunately!

Start your Romanian train journey from Bucharest, where you can visit the amazing Museum of the Romanian Railways, showing even the first steam locomotive used in the country 150 years ago! Travel then over Ploiesti-Buzau-Focsani to Iasi and take a break there! (You can actually take more breaks than I propose during your circuit, the administration is very flexible about). Travel then from Iasi to Timisoara, over Suceava-Cluj Napoca-Oradea-Arad. Discover not far from Timisoara one of the oldest railway, with its fancy fantastic stations in Buzias, Oravita and Herculane, but go further to Craiova. Have a break and a rest there in Craiova, you are brave and totally deserve it! Now travel from Craiova to Bucharest and Constanta over Ramnicu Valcea-Pitesti. It is a total joy of life in everything on this royal journey, you must be only  aware of it, and let it overwhelming you. Traveling by train in Romania is wonderful for families, solo, gay or whatsoever.

The today technique on the Romanian Railways will bring you safe to the destination

Best yoga retreats in Romania

If yoga is a philosophy or a way of life, or may be both, is still an opened question. But when it comes to be happy enjoying life, nothing compares to yoga! I agree with the yoga freaks, gurus or master, I do totally!

If you practice yoga, there is no reason breaking your lessons and sessions during your Romanian holidays, but on the contrary. Many Romanians are also practicing, you can join one of these groups (unfortunately the best Romanian guru, namely Gregorian Bivolaru, is not in the country anymore!). You can find these open groups in the big cities like Bucharest or Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta etc, mainly in the student quarters or high intellectual circles. Or you can keep practicing on your own, as usually, with the necessary mention that some places are much better than others for your exercises!

Even a fancy luxury hotel like Bucharest Radisson can offer good conditions for practicing yoga

First of all, the Romanian shore of the Black Sea offers excellent conditions for yoga. If you can get the wet stripe during sunrise all your chakras will enjoy. You can do it in the rustic Vama Veche or in the cosy Costinesti. Don't bother about the other people on the beach at that time. They might be drunk, tired or are doing the same thing (some of them might be even practicing tantra, don't bother them please). It is also possible to find a remote corner only for yourself, if you prefer being alone during these fantastic moments.

Another amazing place for yoga practicing is the Danube Delta. Make the right choice and stay in a remote pension, or camp in the middle of nowhere. The Danube Delta is still almost genuine and waking early in the morning means to hear some fantastic bird songs, or the fishermen living in their boats. There is a strange strong energy coming from anywhere, you need only let it flooding you.

You can even dare keep practicing your favorite yoga positions while staying in one of the country's leading hotels, but under these circumstances you should adopt the Tina Turner's method: take an extra room, only for your exercises, if the budget is not an issue! Ruling this healthy way of life should not exclude tasting and enjoying a glass of wine (my personal opinion and experience).

The spa retreat from Herculane is one of my secret tips for yoga freaks

Other great yoga destinations in Romania are the spa retreats from Felix and Herculane, no doubt. Their pools with thermal water and their surrounding hills covered with forest offer the most fantastic conditions for feeling the prana!

For the lonely type, my last tip: climbing mountains will help better understanding and enjoying God and life. The peaks of Moldoveanu or Ceahlaul are not an impossible task to achieve, offering royal rewards and compensations!

Epic Tours in The Fagaras Mountains, at the heart of Romania

Supposing you are a Millionaire, money don't matters and are last issue for you, and you must find the most eccentric way for visiting Romania. Under these circumstances, I would recommend doubtless and with no reserve starting your Romania journey through landing on Moldoveanu or Negoiu, Romania's highest peaks.

It is really a good idea, the best possible for visiting Romania in the most stylish possible way. But to be honest, I must confess: for such Romanian Eccentric Tours I had no demand, and that's why I must come back, addressing to the normal ordinary people like you and me. No matter, I have other checked  ideas for discovering Romania on a budget, but also in the Fagaras County ( also referred as Fagaras Country).

The Fagaras Fortress is fabulous, you can stay there and figure the daily medieval way of life

We have Fagaras Mountains, Fagaras fortress and town, Fagaras County and even Fagaras Country. This area stretches in the center of Romania, between Brasov and Sibiu, showing a long spectacular history, starting with the good old antique times, when the Romans conquered Dacia, forming the Romanian people (around 105 B.C.) and even before. Later, around year 1000 came the Hungarians, starting the interesting Medieval history of the Fagaras Country. Despite foreign occupations from Budapest and later on Vienna, Fagaras remained Romanian in the majority, having rich trade connections with the other Romanian countries, mainly Wallachia.

The small town of Victoria is a good base for conquering the  Fagaras Mountains

Start your discovery tour with the small town of Fagaras, whose life turns around the Medieval Fortress. It is certainly by far the town's most interesting sightseeing spot. Be sure to find there a few restaurants and a hotel. Please don't bother searching lodging anywhere else, stay here in this spectacular fortress and try to figure the medieval life. You can easily reach Fagaras by car and by train. At noon (normally is never too hot) you can take a walking tour of the town, observing the people, the churches, the remote mountains. Please keep in mind the direction, and start to explore them.

Conquering Moldoveanu requires training and a good shape

You can direct first to the town of Victoria, a typical industrial communist one. You are very close to the big Moldoveanu indeed! You can start climbing! Or you can go further to the village of Cartisoara, and drive on the breathtaking Transfagarasan road, reaching 2042 meters height. But there is no chance to conquer the Moldoveanu by car, it is 2500 meters and requires training and a good shape. About Transfagarasan Road there are a few legends. When Ceausescu build it in 1974 it has a strategic goal and the construction required its victims for sure ( probably much more than the officially recognized 40 deaths). In winter is always closed, as you can imagine, and crosses the longest tunnel in Romania, near Balea lac ( unfortunately not ventilated at all, and thus very dangerous). Another possibility to try conquering the big Moldoveanu, Romania's highest peak, is to stay here in the cabin Balea Lac, take the funicular to Balea Cascada and start climbing from there. Now it is not so difficult anymore, anyone can try it.

And once there you can really feel like a Millionaire! It really worth your time and efforts.

Most Romantic Destinations in Romania

Valentine's Day is gone, the local Dragobete (a local specific similar celebration) also, thank God. I started to hate all these artificial commercial celebration, as you can't celebrate love at a certain time, at a certain hour. Not at all, the people are complicated, and that's why love is so nice.

I think that the huge publicity made to Valentine's Day leads to a sensible increase of depressions among the singles. Too sad for them, this is not an article for singles, and totally not recommended to depressive singles, but I am preparing also one for them, wishing to help fighting their fears!

Well, supposing you are involved in a happy relationships, or you plan to start one, but must finally check your beloved one, I would totally recommend Romania. You can visit Romania in style, or on a budget, the money are not the most important issue at all!

Downtown Bucharest, with its many clubs, pubs and terraces, is totally in

If you are a very social couple, I can advice with a total heart to visit one big city, like Bucharest, Craiova or Timisoara. Bucharest in downtown is very in fashion these days, and you can find a lot of clubs or fancy restaurants in Area. Take also a park in the Cismigiu Garden, for warming up, book a room in Rembrandt Hotel and eat in style to the Restaurant Carul Cu Bere. At night visit for a while the clubs on Lipscani street (a good recommendation even for singles).

Craiova is very special. The locals are very proud, speak very much and loud, are expansive and extrovert. The clubs are very animated, and you may not ask the local about football, it is really taboo. Expect from the locals to give you all its belongings, even their shirt, when they are fond of you! You can see Craiova in style staying to the excellent hotel Casa cu Tei, in a wonderful noble house from the downtown with excellent service. If you are on a budget, you can still have a deep intimacy in hotel Parc.

The lovely Timisoara is a good target for lovers

Timisoara is completely different, and thus totally charming. They have manners, even on the street, are very polite, but reserved. They will judge and weight you a lot before speaking to you. There are Serbian, Hungarians, Germans in the area, and their influence is easy to observe. So easy to try in Timisoara a gastronomic tour! It is one of Romania's most beautiful cities, you are going to like it for sure. Discover your Timisoara in style staying to the prestige hotel Iosefin Residence from the downtown, or on a budget at the retired Hotel Doria.

The small town of Fagaras, and the Medieval fortress, the most important thing to see  there

If you are not the big city type, or if you are not in the mood for intensive socialization, you will prefer a smaller town. Romania has a lot of small towns, counting about 30 000 inhabitants, and having hidden legends you can discover. One of them totally off the beaten path, is Fagaras. Very close to Sibiu and Brasov, Fagaras lies very close to the spectacular Fagaras Mountains, Romanian highest ( also called the Romanian Alps). You can discover these magnificent mountains by car or bike from the Transfagarasan road, one of the world's most fantastic ones, or you may try to climb on that mountains. Climbing the Fagaras mountains is not impossible, but requires to be in a good shape. It is really cheap, yet beneficial to your health if you return in good conditions. Search in the Fagaras Mountains the Cabins Balea Lac and Balea Cascada, whose dormitories will seems to be very luxury!

Knowing  Romania in style

There are many possibilities for traveling in Romania with style (Btw: What is actually traveling in style? I understand hereby traveling in luxury, to be clear from the beginning! In order to refine this definition, what is luxury, we might have different approaches!).

Visiting The Medieval Fortress of Sighisoara is really stylish and chic

You won't find luxury exquisite hotels in every corner of Romania, but you can bet to find in the big cities. For Bucharest is even difficult to make the right selection from the wide offer. But I can still manage giving you the best advice with some insider tips, resulting from my long experience.

Traveling in style means for the men for sure wine tasting, while the women have a soft spot for spa.

1. A good solution for the both would be ***Hotel Continental Targu Mures, offering since short time a special wine tasting in a salt mine. The atmosphere while the wine tasting in that salt mine is special, yet really fabulous. It is actually one of The Europe's biggest salt mines, nowadays not working any more. Even if the hotel doesn't have a spa center, the ladies can enjoy a special package, known as Women Muz Capriccio, when they will be really spoiled.

2.Not far, in Sighisoara, at Binder Bubi ****, you can find a spa, and even a good one. Besides, Sighisoara is one of the best destination for traveling in style, with its amazing Medieval fortress, being the unique in all Europe still populated. Visiting the fortress is in my opinion really chic and stylish.Service and kitchen in Binder Bubi are convincing and alluring, enjoy them both! Wine tasting in restaurant or in the neighborhood, at Butoiul Sasului!

The exquisite hotel Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest has a long tradition behind, but also a glorious present!

3. Bucharest is a totally separate discussion, and I would like to recommend a traditional hotel, namely Ahenee Palace Hilton, located in the center of Bucharest, showing style in all details. Make your shopping in the exquisite boutiques from Calea Victoriei, which are anything else than cheap, and meet the Romanian Capital through long walking tours. Observe its stylish parks and fountains, visit Bucharest Museum. You can fill your time with most exciting activities and events, this city could draw your attention weeks and months.

4. In the Romanian mountains is totally in to ski in Poiana Brasov/Schulerau, as the renowned winter festival EYOWF is over. Consequently, you can find excellent offers. On Prahova Valley other exquisite targets would be in Predeal the hotels Orizont **** or Piemonte****

Hotel Malibu in Mamaia is one of the newest and best on the Romanian shore

5.For the coming summer there are a few luxury destinations on the Romanian Black See Coast, directly on the beach, but not far from the beloved clubs from Mamaia. The Hotels Malibu and Yaki are the best choices for that matter!