The most beautiful natural sites to discover Romania

In the east of the valley of the Olt, this mountain range with easy access gives you a variety of different rock or forest landscapes. There are many opportunities for hiking.

A beautiful park located south of the city centre, extending along Iza. There will be many old trees and poplars with impressive height.

The town has its own nature park, administered by a special body.

Oradea is the capital of the Bihor județ. The city is prosperous, with a population of around 183,105 in 2021. Oradea is located at an altitude of 142 meters, in the Alföld, to the east of the Great Plain of Pannonia, close to the Hungarian border. It is crossed by the Crișul Repede and Peța rivers. The city is built on the alluvial terraces of the river and backs onto the first hills of the Apuseni Mountains in the southern Carpathians. Oradea is also surrounded by neighboring communes such as Borș, Biharia, Paleu, Sântandrei, Oșorhei, Sânmartin and Nojorid. The city enjoys a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Oradea is an attractive tourist destination with its historic architecture, museums and parks.

This small, densely forested mountain dominates the old town at an altitude of 960 metres. A cable car at the foot of the ramparts climbs to the top every 15 minutes. You can also climb to the top via a footpath from the same point (approx. 1h walk). The view from the top is exceptional: the city is at your feet and you can see the different stages of its construction (medieval city, Șchei, modern city), with the majestic Carpathian Mountains as a backdrop. Until the ^15th century, the hilltop was home to the citadel.

Located to the west of Tulcea, these are the oldest mountains in Romania, and even among the oldest in Europe, dating back several hundred million years. Their altitude does not exceed 500 m. Their arid climate and highly specific soil composition make them Europe's last refuge for steppe flora and fauna. They are home to exceptional biodiversity. The Măcin Mountains also offer superb landscapes, dotted with curious rock formations such as those around the Pricopan ridge (Culmea Pricopanului). A number of short and medium-distance hikes are possible. You can also go cycling or horse-riding. The localities around the Măcin mountains are also rich in historical heritage. Last but not least, the region is famous for its vineyards, which stretch along the foothills.

Măcin mountains. You can stop here to admire the old mosque and the ruins of the wall surrounding the ancient Roman city of Arrubium.

Turcoaia. In this village south of Măcin, you'll see the ruins of the Troesmis fortress. Dating from the ^3rd century BC.

Isaccea. Named Noviodunum by the Romans, this pleasant little town on the Danube played an important strategic and commercial role in the region at the time. Remains of its former grandeur are still visible. Not far away, in the village of Tichilești, is Europe's last leprosarium.

Niculițel. In this wine-growing village, you can visit the ruins of an early Christian basilica. The church and crypt were founded by Emperor Valens in the year 370. Discovered in the 1970s, the basilica has been partially rebuilt. Four martyrs' skeletons lie in a collective coffin on the upper level of the crypt.

Cocoș Monastery. The "Rooster" monastery was erected in 1835 in an oriental Turkish style. It houses a museum of medieval and modern art featuring a collection of old books, icons and documents relating to the Ottoman period. The path leading to the museum crosses hills planted with vines.

Celic-Dere Monastery. South of Telița, this monastery today run by nuns was founded between 1841 and 1844 by Romanian and Russian monks. It owes its name to its proximity to a stream, the Celik Dere (Turkish for "stream of steel").

Dinogetia fortress. First mentioned by Ptolemy, this was originally a Dacian site, before the Romans took it over. What remains is the result of numerous destructions and reconstructions over the centuries.

Located along the Cerna River, it covers an area of 61,121 ha. There are 1,051 plant species, including the endemic Turkish hazel and Banat black pine. there are 1,500 species of butterfly, as well as animal species such as the horned viper, wildcat, wolf and bear. Three types of habitat are represented: aquatic, terrestrial and underground. There are many caves and caverns, and a wealth of cave-dwelling fauna. It's a magnificent park, yet rarely visited. A variety of activities can be enjoyed here, including canyoning and rafting in the sublime Cerna valley. There's also plenty of scope for hiking, in a hilly landscape culminating at 1,105 m. There are a dozen signposted trails for all levels. You'll find a detailed map at the visitor center at the southern exit of Băile Herculane (strada Uzinei 9), which also features an exhibition on the park's natural riches. Below are the hikes we recommend.

Băile Herculane-Izvorul Munk-Foișorul Roșu-Băile Herculane (blue triangles): a 4 km walk accessible to all, offering beautiful views over the city.

Băile Herculane-Crucea Alba-Vârful Domogled Mare-Cheile Feregari-Băile Herculane (yellow markers): a beautiful 5-6h hike that takes you into the heart of the national park, with an ascent of 890 m. The path goes deep into the forest and offers superb views.

To the south, the town is bordered by a marshy area that can be explored by boat or canoe. This is the Balta Mică Nature Park, a small protected area with some 200 species of birds, a sort of miniature delta. Nearby, 7 km south of the town, Lac Salé (lacul Sărat), surrounded by a park, offers a relaxing stopover. There's a beach, bars, campsites and hotels. Take tramway 24 to reach the site.

The highest point in the Banat mountain range, with the Piatra Goznei peak at 1,447 m, the Semenic Mountains are perfect for hikes accessible to all. The Semenic-Caraș Gorges National Park covers an area of 36,624 ha. It is characterized by vast beech and fir forests distributed between modest river valleys and peaks over 1,200 m in altitude, peaks, dolines, gorges, plateaus, but also orchards and pastures. The altitude is therefore quite low, and Mediterranean influences are evident. There are 1,086 species of Mediterranean and Balkan plants living side by side. Invertebrates include 56 endemic species and 45 rare species. Vertebrate species include the horned viper, Europe's most venomous species, and birds of prey such as the short-toed eagle and the spotted eagle. Ten mammal species have been counted, including wolf, Carpathian deer and lynx. The park also boasts numerous caves, home to many endemic species. Interesting sites include the beautiful beech forest of the Izvoarele Nerei reserve and the Comarnic cave. The latter is located to the north of the Anina Mountains, on the left side of the Comarnic Valley, at 440 m altitude. It is the longest cave in the region (4,040 m). Its galleries are large and rich in stalagmites, the spectacle of which never fails to delight visitors.

This gigantic mine is well worth a visit. At a depth of over 200 metres, you'll discover fourteen impressively large chambers created by salt mining. The polished rock is criss-crossed with colorful veins. There's also a bar, sports fields (soccer, handball, volleyball, etc.), children's games and a go-kart track. You can also relax and breathe in the mine air, which is good for the respiratory tract. Remember to bundle up before plunging into the bowels of the earth: it's around 12 degrees!

This is one of the longest caves in the country (over 4 km), formed in the karst of the Apuseni Mountains. Traces of Palaeolithic and Neolithic occupation have been found here, as well as the skeleton of a cave bear. Today, it's renowned for its rich cave fauna, including a large colony of bats, butterflies and spiders. It is a protected nature reserve. It also features some particularly impressive concretions. Visits are made in the presence of a guide.

The Vadu Cave Crișului, arranged for tourists, is crossed by a stream which, at the exit, falls in cascade. It can be reached by a nice 30-minute walk from the village of Vadu Crișului, following a forest path (marked with a red circle) that runs along the river. Not far, in the village of Șuncuiuș, the wind cave (peștera vântului) is the longest in the country (almost 52 km of galleries!). Crossed by an underground river, it undergoes permanent erosion. It lends itself to caving (e.g. with Aventura Trekking).

If you have to visit only one, this is it! The Bear Cave(peștera Urșilor), of rare beauty and speleological richness, stretches for over 1 km in length. It houses, on two levels, three vast galleries of evocatively shaped stalactites and stalagmites, as well as traces of fossils belonging to species that became extinct over 15,000 years ago! The cave owes its name to the remains of cave bears discovered here in 1975. It lies just outside the village of Chișcău, 23 km from Beiuș.