The Atlas Obscura Guide To Romania

59 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Romania

Updated October 27, 2022

Cities

Unusual Attractions in Romania

Hunedoara, Romania

Corvin Castle

This fairy-tale castle would make Dracula (who is said to have been imprisoned there) jealous.

Caraș-Severin, Romania

Bigar Waterfall

Moss and stone turn this waterfall into an otherworldly liquid veil.

Turda, Romania

Salina Turda

This massive underground salt mine now holds a sci-fi theme park in its depths.

Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Hoia-Baciu Forest

Some call this eerie forest of crooked trees the "Bermuda Triangle of Romania."

Bran, Romania

Bran Castle

The possible imprisonment of Vlad the Impaler here earned the medieval castle its nickname, "Dracula's Castle."

Sinaia, Romania

Peleș Castle

This elaborately decorated, fairytale-like Romanian royal palace is one of the most striking castles in Europe.

Săpânța, Romania

The Merry Cemetery

A small town Romanian cemetery filled with darkly humorous gravestones.

Snagov Island, Romania

Snagov Monastery

This solitary monastery may hold the remains of Vlad the Impaler (but probably not).

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Guided Tours of Romania

Atlas Obscura Trips

Romania: Castles, Ruins, and Medieval Villages

Take in towering gothic churches, stunning palaces and monasteries, and a former salt mine that's been turned into an underground wonderland.

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

18 Mini Golf Courses You Should Go Out of Your Way to Play

Adventures filled with oversized characters, obstacles, and castles await—all you need to join is a putter and a ball. Yes, we're talking about miniature golf, the Lilliputian game with a big imagination. Since 2012, we—Tom Loftus and Robin Schwartzman—have been documenting the world of mini golf on our website A Couple of Putts. After putting our way through more than 300 courses, we’ve stumbled into becoming experts who design, build, and consult on all things miniature golf. With our keen eye for elements that make courses distinctive and magical destinations, we’ve created this world tour to showcase some of our personal favorites, as well as a few courses on our “must play” list. In keeping with the theme, here are 18 unique courses that span the globe. This wild assortment of putting places offer unique ways to interact with the past and present. Putt when ready!

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