City: Transylvania
Top Things to do in Transylvania
10 Historic Walking Areas in Transylvania That You Shouldn't Miss
Transylvania is a historical region in today's central Romania. Bound on the east and south by its natural borders, the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended westward to the Apuseni Mountains. The term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical regions of Crișana and Maramureș, and occasionally the Romanian part of Banat.
Restaurants in Transylvania
1. Citadel of Alba Iulia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 647 reviews
*** Alba Iulia - Alba Carolina Citadel *** A town coated by the legendary halo of the great historical events that took place within its ancient walls, Alba Iulia has deeply got into the Romanian people's mind and soul. No other Transylvanian town has gathered so many crucial meanings and symbols. With thousands and thousands of years of human existence lying behind it, Alba Iulia represents the charming mirror in which all the ethnic groups of Transylvania can discover their vigor or their traditions of yore. The heart of Alba Iulia is Alba Carolina Citadel. Alba Carolina, the most representative bastion fortress in Romania and Southeast Europe, built upon the initiative of Emperor Charles the VIth of Habsburg, under the supervision of the French-born Austrian field marshal Eugene of Savoy, is wearing its royal robe. A royal citadel, residence of the bishopric, capital of autonomous principality, and a military garrison, Alba Iulia has been during all historical periods the main political, administrative, religious, cultural, and military centre of Transylvania. We invite you to visit The Other Capital of Romania.
Reviewed By nicolaem249 - Alba Iulia, Romania
Over 70,000 square meters of History. The place where we see all the fortifications made in this place for over 2000 years. On the site of an old Romanian fortress was built a medieval fortress and a church at the same time as Notre Dame in Paris. But it suffered much more and was burned twice, one of its towers being destroyed. However, the new Fortress was built during the Habsburg Empire, and in 1918 was the place where the first King of united Romania was crowned. In Alba Iulia, the Orthodox Cathedral is the only one in the country that has hosted any coronation of the Kings of Greater Romania!
2. Sighisoara Historic Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,577 reviews
Reviewed By carolas936 - Marietta, United States
Sighisoara is an outstanding example of a small fortified city in the border region between the Latin-oriented central Europe and the Byzantine-Orthodox culture of south-eastern Europe. Castle walls enclose a steep plateau hill overlooking a bend in the Tirnava river (traces of occupation trace back to the Paleolithic period). Sighisoara was built in the 12th century by German craftsmen and merchants who were ordered by Hungarian rulers to colonize Transylvania to protect the Carpathian border against the Mongols. These Saxon settlers occupied City Hill; the town grew as a regional trading center, defensive outpost and transportation hub. Following the Mongolian invasion of 1241, the fortified settlement was reinforced with stone walls and guard towers surrounding the entire plateau. The town, known in 1280 as Castrum Sex, developed commercial activities thanks to the powerful guilds of craftsmen. Each guild was responsible for the construction of a tower and its defense. The town obtained the title ‘Civitas’ in 1367 and became an important trading and defensive center in Transylvania. Sighisoara heightened its walls between 1421 and 1526 in response to threatened Turkish invasions. During the 17th century, the population was reduced by almost half from two plague epidemics. Fires damaged the lower town in 1676, 1736 and 1788, floods in 1771, and an earthquake in 1838. Despite this, the area within the castle walls has rebuilt and kept its original medieval architecture, with narrow cobbled streets lined with rows of houses. Three main streets run roughly north-south, crossed by passages and alleyways. Houses are mostly two or three stories, the simple homes of craftsmen, built from stone or brick, covered in colored stucco, roofed with tiles, with a narrow facade along the street and an L- or U-shaped layout. Wandering the cobbled streets between medieval houses gave me a sense of what it would be like to live in a fortified castle. Sighisoara Historic Center was listed in 1999 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is accessible at all times with no entry fee.
3. Museum Square (Piaka Muzeului)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 140 reviews
Reviewed By patriciaoprea - Kós, Greece
This section of Cluj feels so "ancient" with cobblestoned streets, yet so modern with its variety of places to sit and have a drink, especially in the summertime. I recommend Charlie's Pub... cocktails unlike any other.
4. Brasov Historical Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,315 reviews
Reviewed By Vladimiramirela - Mississauga, Canada
Brasov is one of the most beautiful cities in Romania, with plenty of historical monuments and natural attractions, many excellent restaurants and offering good accommodations as well. I recommend asking at a hotel reception for the simplified map of the Old Center and have a walk along the fortifications. The central City Square (or Piata Sfatului in Romanian) is an amazing large plaza from where one can see a bit of everything: the Tampa peak with its huge, white name of the city above, the Black Church and the historic layout of business surrounding the place.
5. Old Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 335 reviews
Reviewed By zafiriszafiropoulos - Athens, Greece
Very beautiful old city well preserved. We enjoyed our walk there with many medeval buildings. Many cafes and restaurants also, especially during summer season, on February, our last visit, many of them were closed.
6. Piaka Muzeulu
7. Strada Tamplarilor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By 92662 - Newington, United States
A charming medieval town over 600 years old. Birthplace of Vlad Dracul,, his house still standing. A must see.
8. Iuliu Maniu Street
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By davidtB2798QR
Iuliu Maniu Street is one of my favourite streets in Cluj. From each end of the street you can see the church at the other end: St Michael's Church or the Orthodox Cathedral depending on which end you are standing. There are some nice shops in the street, an excellent bookshop (which has a large collection of Hungarian books as well as Romanian books) and some eating places (Agape Hotel and Boema Restaurant and KFC). The end of the street nearest St Michael's Church are the two Roman Catholic Palaces known as the "Buildings in a mirror" as they are "reflections" of each other as if in a mirror although one side is undergoing extensive renovation.
9. Casa Calfelor
10. The Atonement Park of Arad
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