Tourism

Few places in the world are blessed with the perfect blend of beauty and the picturesque that makes a country a tourist attraction. The adversities of this century - world wars, the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1945, the country's isolation during the last years of Ceausescu's regime, and the painful difficulties of the transition - have placed Romania at the bottom of the list in regard to the number of foreign tourists. However, preparations have been made to be ready to receive guests. Three thousand lodging units, of which 900 hotels and motels can accommodate 450,000 guests. The country's location at the crossroads of many European roads provides easy access to any region by plane, car, train, or ship.

Any part of the country can meet visitation demands year-round. One can spend the summer holiday in the resorts strewn on the Black Sea coast, or in the mountain hotels or chalets. To improve one's health, one can choose one of 135 spas with mineral and thermal springs. What can be more exciting than blending the best cure with satisfying an interest in history? Baile Herculane spa, in the southwest, and Geoagiu, in Southern Transylvania, for example, date from the time of Roman Dacia. From Calimanesti, famous for the springs with curative effects, bottles of water used to be sent to emperor Napoleon III. In 1893, the samples of mineral water from Calimanesti-Caciulata won the gold medal at the International Foods and Water Exhibition in Brussels.

Travellers who love the mysterious atmosphere of ancient or medieval times can find numerous places that bespeak the greatness of the greatness of the past. Rock climbing or hiking in the swift rivers in the mountains or in the maze of channels in the Danube Delta provide many opportunities for a wonderful vacation in Romania.

Last but least, one should not forget the hospitality of the people, the delicious dishes, which are a novelty for a foreign tourist, as well as the fine Romania wines and the well-known tuica (plum-brandy). From the smallest villages in the mountainous areas to the more affluent homes in different cities, guests are always welcomed.