Romania lies in southeastern Europe, where the Carpathian Mountains curve through the middle of the country. The Danube forms most of its southern border with Bulgaria and reaches the Black Sea in the Danube Delta. Bucharest, the capital, sits on the plain in the south, about two hours from the mountains.
Bucharest
Our Romania archive comes from one trip in April 2013. Cheap flights to Bucharest started it, and the Palace of the Parliament was the reason. The camera was a Canon EOS 500D with a 10-22mm wide-angle lens. Most frames are three-exposure brackets, merged afterwards.
The EXIF data tells the story better than memory does. On 19 April, I photographed the city from morning until the last light. The next day, we went north into the mountains to Sinaia.
The full Bucharest guide covers each location in the city in depth. Here, instead, the focus is the country: two days, seven frames and the story behind each one.
Palace of the Parliament
Nicolae Ceaușescu began the building in 1984, and it is among the largest administrative buildings in the world. It stands at the end of Unirii Boulevard and refuses to fit into a single frame. In the morning, under a cloudless sky, I made the main facade at 10mm. Even then, the wings touch the edges.
Forty-seven minutes later, the guided tour reached the Ballroom under its glass ceiling. Above all, it is big: 972 square metres. Behind me lay a rolled-up carpet for the whole floor. It was knotted inside the room, since it was too heavy to carry in.
Visits are guided only, and the guide reminded me constantly to stay with the group. So I worked fast, handheld at ISO 400. A figure in the frame would have shown the scale. Without one, the room reads smaller than it is.
Revolution Square
In the early afternoon, we reached Revolution Square on Calea Victoriei. In December 1989, the uprising against the Ceaușescu regime played out here. The Memorial of Rebirth later rose here to honour its dead.
I photographed the marble pillar on Revolution Square at 1/1500s, with heavy clouds moving behind it. Near the top, the 25-metre column carries a dark crown, so it reads from far away. Bucharest has never fully agreed on the design, and nicknames such as “Olive on a Toothpick” followed.
Bucharest Old Town
Before the trip, I had heard Bucharest called a city of contrasts. In the Old Town, I understood it. I drank an expensive beer in front of a ruined building. Meanwhile, a five-star hotel went up a few streets away.
That evening, the last sun hit a ruined facade in the Old Town. Concert posters cover its shutters, and café umbrellas fill the street below. That frame is now our most visited Romania page, with 168 clicks from Google in the last 90 days.
Nearby stands the Old Princely Court Church at sunset, also known as St. Anthony’s Church. Prince Mircea Ciobanul built it in the 16th century, and Wallachian princes were crowned there. It is the oldest church in Bucharest that keeps its original form. In this frame, however, the people on the benches matter as much as the brick and stone.
Sinaia
On 20 April, we went north into the Prahova Valley. Sinaia takes its name from its monastery, rather than from the mountains. The boyar Mihail Cantacuzino founded it in 1695 after a pilgrimage to Mount Sinai. Later, the railway turned the town into a royal mountain resort.
We rode the cable car up into the Bucegi Mountains and spent the day hiking. The menu at the top offered bear steak. On the way down on foot, we heard wolves howling in the forest. Clouds covered the sky all day, and the sun came through only now and then.
Peleș Castle
Then, right as we reached Peleș Castle, the sky cleared. Carol I, the first King of Romania, laid its foundation in 1873. The castle was inaugurated in 1883 and finished in 1914. Johannes Schultz led the works first, and Karel Liman completed them.
The style is Neo-Renaissance, with half-timbered upper floors that recall a German hunting lodge. It served as the royal summer residence until the monarchy ended in 1947. Today it is a museum, Muzeul Național Peleș, with about 160 rooms.
In that light, I made the tighter 30mm frame from the lawn below the terraces. Four minutes later, I stepped back for the wide frame with the Bucegi peaks. Snow still covers the summits on the left, while a bare tree frames the right. Both views come from public ground, so no ticket is needed.
Photographing Romania
That evening produced 358 frames in Sinaia. I edited the wide view first, in 2014. The tighter frame waited almost ten years, until I opened the hard drive again in January 2023.
The comparison is the lesson. Same castle, same evening, four minutes apart. Yet the newer edit earns three times the clicks of the older one. In the newer frame, the castle fills the image, so it reads clearly even as a small thumbnail. In search, that decides the click.
Likewise, the Old Town frame outperforms every monument in our Bucharest set. A clear subject and real life in the street beat a postcard view. Romania also borders five countries. To the south, our Bulgaria guide continues along the Danube. To the west, the Hungary guide leads on to Budapest.
When to Visit Romania
April gave us both sides of spring. In Bucharest, the sky was pure blue at midday and turned to rain when a sunset would have helped. In the mountains, snow still lay on the peaks while the lawns below were already green.
Summer is hot on the southern plain, so the Carpathians are the place to be. Later in the year, autumn brings colour to the beech forests of the Prahova Valley. In winter, Sinaia becomes a ski resort, and the castle often stands in snow.
Getting Around Romania
Most visitors arrive at Henri Coandă International Airport, north of Bucharest. From Bucharest Nord, trains to Sinaia take about 1.5 to 2 hours. From Sinaia, the same line then continues to Brașov and Transylvania.
Romania joined the European Union in 2007 and has been a full Schengen member since January 2025. However, it uses the Romanian leu, not the euro. Cards work almost everywhere in Bucharest, but keep some cash for the mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit Romania?
Late spring and early autumn bring mild weather and good light in both Bucharest and the Carpathians. Summer is hot on the southern plain but pleasant in the mountains. Winter, by contrast, suits skiing in the Prahova Valley. In April, expect snow on the high peaks while the valleys are already green.
How many days do you need in Romania?
Two days cover Bucharest and a day trip to Sinaia, as on our trip. A week adds Transylvania: Brașov, Sibiu and the fortified churches. Two weeks allow the painted monasteries of Bucovina or the Danube Delta. Distances are long, so plan one region at a time.
Can you visit Peleș Castle as a day trip from Bucharest?
Yes. Trains from Bucharest Nord reach Sinaia in about 1.5 to 2 hours. From the station, the castle is an uphill walk. Check the museum’s opening days before you go: it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. However, the grounds and the exterior views are free.
Can you take photos inside Peleș Castle?
Yes, for personal use. The museum allows amateur photography inside without flash. Selfie sticks and extra lighting are not permitted. Professional shoots pay a separate hourly fee. Tours move steadily through the rooms, so plan to work quickly rather than set up.
Is Peleș Castle in Transylvania?
No. Sinaia lies in Prahova County, in the historic region of Wallachia, just south of the old border with Transylvania. Brașov, the gateway to Transylvania, is about an hour further north by train. Many visitors combine both in one trip through the Prahova Valley.
What currency does Romania use?
Romania uses the Romanian leu (RON), although it is a member of the European Union. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Bucharest and in larger towns. Smaller cafés, mountain huts and kiosks may prefer cash. Withdraw lei from bank ATMs rather than independent machines.
