As the warmer weather is creeping in, many Britons are considering what their next holiday destination could be.
Home to no less than eight World Heritage Sites including Maramures and several Transylvanian villages, Romania has been described as an “under-the-radar gem” by a travel expert who believes the eastern European nation should be on everybody’s bucket list.
Outdoor adventure expert and professional travel photographer Sarah Murphy told Express.co.uk: “As I’ve explored outdoors across Europe, one under-the-radar gem I think British travellers would really appreciate is Romania.
“Romania possesses incredible natural beauty and cultural heritage yet remains surprisingly off most tourists’ radars.”
Indeed, Romania has something to offer to every type of tourist thanks to its natural beauty – including the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube Delta – its spectacular wildlife, hiking paths, rich history and mouth-watering delicacies.
Ms Murphy, explorer and creator of Explore More NC, went on to explain why Romania is the destination to get to before too many tourists reach it.
She said: “With fortified churches dotting medieval Transylvania and the Danube Delta reverting to wilderness, it offers a history and landscape all its own.
“When I first visited the painted monasteries of Bucovina, I was blown away by the ornate frescoes within structures sitting silently for centuries. Hiking the Bucegi Mountains, I encountered shepherds straight from another time. Their hospitality and traditional cuisine made me feel truly welcomed as an outsider.
“As a photographer, Romania consistently delivers awe-inspiring vistas and scenes few have captured. Its remoteness allows a sense of discovery. When I kayaked between drifting islets in the Danube Delta, the only manmade structures were stilted huts of fishermen who’ve lived the same way for generations.”
Besides its stunning architecture, marvellous landscapes and fascinating history, Romania has one major perk to offer its visitors, according to Ms Murphy: Romanians’ welcoming friendliness.
She said: “Most memorably, Romanians displayed genuine curiosity and friendliness towards foreigners – a quiet pride in sharing their culture without pressures of mass appeal or tourism. Accommodations like family-run guesthouses and organic farms let travellers integrate locally for a true feel of everyday Romanian life.”
The nation is a “refuge from overtourism”, the expert concluded, where families, couples and solo travellers alike can enjoy an unforgettable holiday on the cheaper side.
While the European Union member state is not yet overrun by tourists, it has grown in popularity among holidaymakers over the past decade.
According to data from the Eurostat and National Institute of Statistics, the number of arrivals in tourist accommodations in the country in 2012 was a little over seven million. In 2019, the number recorded was 13.37 million, while in 2022, as the country was still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic, the number of people arriving in the 4.8 thousand tourist accommodation establishments in the country was 11.3 million.
In 2023, Romania’s tourism sector accounted for 4.19 percent of the country’s GDP.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
