The Rough Guide to Romania

by Tim Burford, Dan Richardson, Norm Longley

The updated fourth edition of the Rough Guide to Romania is the definitive guidebook to one of Europe’s most extraordinary nations. A brand-new full-colour section introduces the author''s highlights ''the things not to miss'' of the country. There are detailed accounts of all the attractions, from the Danube Delta to the bustling capital of Bucharest and the gothic castles of Dracula’s Transylvania. The guide reviews the best places to eat, sleep and drink, for every budget. There are practical tips on everything from tracking wolves in the Carpathian Mountains to making the most of the country''s many vibrant folk festivals. In the contexts section the authors delve deep into Romania’s history, culture and wildlife. This new edition boasts a bigger section on Bucharest and more detailed hiking information throughout the country.

Genres: Travel, Romania, Reference

512 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[David Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I read to research this post was Rough Guide to Romania which is a very good book which I bought from a local secondhand bookstore. Romania was part of the communist bloc and was the only communist country not to have soviet troops there to keep the peace. They had a dictator called Ceausceau who modelled himself on the communist country North Korea and had a big palace built for himself in Bucharest. Nowadays of course that is history & Romania is a democracy. If you are travelling there from Britain, British Airways do flights from London Gatwick & the Romanian National Carrier do flights from Heathrow. Most visitors either go skiing to the North of Bucharest in the mountains or go to the Black Sea Resorts. The main town on the Black Sea coast is Constanta. A while back I did do a post on the Bulgarian Black Sea Resorts which might be of interest. Some tourists visit Walloonnia & Transylvannia the home of the real Dracula. In this area the castles have a distinctive style of their own. Trannsylvannia was a separate kingdom to the rest of Romania until 1920. The name Dracula means son of Dracul & Vlad the Impaler's dad was called Vlad Dracul. The count is known as Dracula outside of Romania & Vlad the Impaler in Romania. The story Dracula took in many elements of Romanian folklore including a countess who murdered and drank the blood of virgins & also the Jack the Ripper murders in London. If you go skiiing there are plenty of english speaking coaches at the resorts and they are probably more suited to beginners than more experienced skiiers. If you go to Bucharest it isn't as lively as many European capitals but it does have a fair few museums and rather interestingly a fortified police headquarters which heralds from its communist days. Many people go on a cruise of the River Danube which is the second longest river in Europe and flows into the Black Sea.