Romania Road Trip — Country 140 in Europe

Romania

Romania became country number 140 on my journey to visit every country in Europe. It felt like a milestone, but also a slightly uncomfortable one. Most of the nearby and easy countries were now done.

Romania itself turned out to be one of the more relaxed and enjoyable stops along the way. Small towns with quiet squares, cafés that made it easy to stay longer than planned, local restaurants serving generous and very heavy dishes, historic castles, and churches in almost every village created a landscape that felt both familiar and different at the same time.

Much of the country is relatively flat, but the Carpathian Mountains change the rhythm of travelling completely. Some of the drives there became highlights of the trip, especially the road across the Transfăgărășan.

We were also told to expect bears along the way. They never appeared.

Bucharest was another surprise. Wide boulevards, lively neighbourhoods and strong reminders of the communist period give the city a very distinct character. The Parliament building alone leaves a lasting impression as one of the largest and heaviest administrative buildings in the world.

Romania looked like an easy stop on the map, but it stayed longer in memory than expected.