Tour guides Romania

5 ideas for guided tours in Romania

• Bucharest

  

  Crossed by the Dâmbovița River, Bucharest is divided into six districts, each showing a different face of the city. The liveliest is the old Lipscani district, with its narrow lanes, bustling terraces, and façades mixing historic traces with modern cafés.

  Highlights include:

  – The Village Museum: created in 1936, this open-air museum gathers over 300 traditional Romanian buildings, relocated and rebuilt. Wooden churches, mills, peasant houses — all evoke the rural life of the past. Exhibitions and folk performances bring it to life.

  – Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue): a grand thoroughfare linking University Square to the outskirts of the Snagov Fortress. Along the way are the National Museum of Art, the Patriarchal Cathedral, palaces, cafés, and boutiques that make for a lively stroll.

  – The Palace of the Parliament: a colossal structure of marble and granite built under Ceaușescu. Its vast halls, frescoes, and mosaics impress as much as its sheer size, dominating the city skyline.

  – Cismigiu Park: a public garden dating back to 1847, with tree-lined paths, a central lake where you can rent a rowboat, music kiosks, and quiet corners perfect for a pause.

• Bicaz Canyon

  

  On the border between Transylvania and Moldova, the Bicaz Gorge opens into a landscape of steep cliffs, winding roads, and dense forests. The gorge immediately impresses, its walls seeming to close in as you go deeper.

  The road climbs in tight switchbacks, flanked by limestone cliffs sometimes pierced with small caves. Stalls selling carved wood, painted icons, and the smell of grilled corn mix with the rugged scenery.

  Higher up, the Red Lake appears, formed centuries ago by a landslide. Its half-submerged tree trunks rise eerily from the water, creating a strange, still scene, their reflections mingling with the surrounding pines.

  From here, trails lead into the Ceahlău Mountains or deep into the Hășmaș forests. Bicaz Gorge stays in memory as a striking passage — both harsh and beautiful — that lingers long after you leave it behind.

• Brasov

  

  At the foot of Mount Tâmpa, Brașov unfolds its ramparts, pointed rooftops, and slow-paced alleys. The air carries the scent of warm stone, sometimes linden, and the old town holds that perfect balance of calm and bustle.

  On Piata Sfatului, pastel façades frame the square, benches filled, children running, distant bells ringing. Just nearby, the Black Church looms in dark stone, its cool interior and grand organ resonating when the light begins to fade.

  A narrow passage leads to Strada Sforii, a tight ribbon between two walls, almost like holding your breath. Farther on, bastions and towers recall the city’s old defenses, worn stones and faint inscriptions still visible.

• The bohemian city of Sibiu

  

  In the heart of Transylvania, Sibiu preserves the medieval imprint of its German builders, with cobbled streets, narrow-roof windows, and squares that suddenly open between tightly packed houses. The town is split into two parts, linked by the Bridge of Lies, a passage where locals still pause on their way.

  – Piata Mare: a vast square framed by colorful façades, cafés, museums, and the town hall. It’s where everything converges — markets, concerts, or casual meetings.
  – Brukenthal Museum: housed in an 18th-century palace, it displays paintings, sculptures, and precious objects in an elegant setting. The nearby gardens offer a quieter break.
  – Piata Mica: a more intimate square next to the main one, home to the 14th-century Evangelical Cathedral, with austere walls and narrow lanes winding around it.
  – Piata Huet: another notable square, dominated by the Council Tower and the Clock Tower, lined with closely built houses and exuding a quieter, almost village-like atmosphere.

• Maramures region

  

  Set off on a journey back in time through the charming, bucolic region of Maramureș, not far from the Ukrainian border. You’ll still see old wooden carts traveling along roads lined with green fields at the foot of the mountains, heading back to traditional villages where many houses and churches remain beautifully preserved.

  Few things are as magical as riding the Mocănița steam train. This narrow-gauge railway winds through the scenic countryside, following the Vaser River for 44 kilometers between the village of Vișeu de Sus and Izvorul Comanului.

  The journey lasts around three hours, with several stops to fully take in the surroundings. Hikers will enjoy the Rodna Mountains National Park, home to glacial lakes, rich flora and fauna, and plenty of mountain biking trails.