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25 Most beautiful villages in Romania for a countryside holiday

Most beautiful villages Romania

If you want to explore the most beautiful villages in Romania, you should know that there are several regions in the country. Each one has a different type of village. Some are known for their beautiful landscape, others for their traditional houses. It is not easy to decide where to stop, but you can always combine a trip to the large cities with a countryside holiday in Romania.

Transylvania is probably the best-known region of Romania, famous for its picturesque landscapes, historic cities, and charming villages. The villages in Transylvania are proud of their traditional architecture, rich cultural heritage, and stunning natural surroundings. Some of the most beautiful villages to visit in Transylvania are:

Richis

Richis is a small village located in the heart of Transylvania, surrounded by rolling hills and meadows. The village is known for its well-preserved Saxon architecture. This includes a fortified church, a row of traditional houses, and a central square. The houses in Richis are also noteworthy for their distinct style, which features gabled roofs, decorative facades, and wooden shutters. Richis is a peaceful and picturesque village that offers visitors a glimpse into Transylvania’s rich cultural heritage. It is not located on a main road, so if you want to visit it, you need to take a detour from Sibiu to Medias.

Alma Vii

Transylvania villages Alma Vii

Alma Vii is a secluded village located in the heart of Transylvania, surrounded by lush forests. The village is known for its well-preserved Saxon architecture. This includes a fortified church and traditional houses. Even though the church is not a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is one of the largest in Transylvania. Its Gothic-style nave and vaulted ceiling make it worth a visit. The houses in Alma Vii are also noteworthy for their distinct saxon style, known for steep gabled roofs and decorative facades.

Malancrav

Malancrav is another charming village, located in Sibiu County. Like the other Saxon villages in Transylvania, Malancrav has an impressive fortified church. It dates back to the 14th century and it features a Gothic-style nave, a Renaissance-style altar, and a wooden door decorated with ornate carvings. The village is also known for its well-preserved traditional houses. They are characterized by their white walls, red-tiled roofs, and wooden shutters. It is surrounded by verdant hills and is an ideal destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat in a scenic setting.

If you want to stay here, a charming old, but restored mansion can host you. Via Transilvanica, a famous path that crosses Transylvania, similar to El Camino in Spain, gets also to Malancrav.

Rasinari

Rasinari

Rasinari is a picturesque village, located just a short drive from the city of Sibiu. The village is known for its beautiful natural surroundings, which include verdant forests, rolling hills, and meandering streams. Rasinari is also famous for its rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in its well-preserved traditional architecture, colorful festivals, and lively music scene. It won the title of “the most beautiful village in Romania” in a top created by the World Tourism Organization.

Sibiel

Sibiel, another village in Sibiu County, is located in the Cibin Valley. It is a popular stop among tourists due to its impressive collection of icons. They are housed in the local museum and are considered to be among the most valuable collections in Romania. The museum also features a selection of traditional costumes, tools, and household items that provide visitors with a fascinating insight into rural life in Transylvania. Sometimes, you can attend here an icon painting workshop if you want to experience the traditions with your own hands.

Viscri

Viscri

Viscri is a small village situated in Brasov County, known for its rural charm that made King Charles fall in love with Transylvania. The village is home to a stunning fortified church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and to beautiful blue and white houses. Its main roads are not paved in order to keep the rural ambiance. Once you get here, you can visit the white church and Prince Charles’ house and for lunch, you can enjoy a delicious meal at one of the food stops inside the locals’ homes.

Cloasterf

Cloașterf is another small village in Transylvania, surrounded by meadows and high hills. The village is renowned for its impressive fortified church, which dates back to the 14th century, and has a Baroque-style altar, and a wooden door adorned with ornate carvings. Cloașterf will also impress you with its well-preserved traditional houses, with white walls, red-tiled roofs, and wooden shutters. The village is a charming and tranquil destination ideal for those looking for a countryside holiday in Transylvania, surrounded by nature.

Mesendorf

Mesendorf, another Saxon village located in Brasov County, is home to a stunning fortified church. Some of its beautiful traditional houses were restored and transformed into traditional B&Bs, with all the amenities you need for a comfortable holiday surrounded by nature. The village is a charming destination that offers visitors a glimpse into Transylvania’s rich cultural heritage.

Rimetea

Rimetea

Rimetea was considered for several years the most beautiful village in Romania due to its white houses with green windows and its nearby mountain. It is located in Alba County and it is known for its stunning natural surroundings and rich cultural heritage. The village is situated in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains and includes a row of colorful houses, a central square, and a charming church. Rimetea is also known for its lively festivals, which showcase the region’s music, dance, and traditional crafts.

Cisnadioara

Cisnadioara village

Cisnadioara, the small village located in Sibiu County, is known for its impressive fortified church built on a hill and dedicated to St. Michael. Many call it a castle or a fortress due to its stone walls. The church, which dates back to the 12th century, has a Romanesque-style nave and a collection of valuable religious artifacts. Once you get up to see visit it, you can see the whole village and even Sibiu, in the distance. Cisnadioara has plenty of traditional B&Bs to host you and their style will remind you of the ones in the Tyrol region in Austria.

Densus

Densus

Densus is a village located in Hunedoara County, known for its well-preserved Romanesque church. The church, which dates back to the 13th century, is the oldest stone church in Romania and it was built using materials from Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, the Roman capital of Dacia, a province that existed here 2000 years ago. If you want to stay in Densus, besides the church, you can go and visit the ruins of Ulpia Traiana and the Retezat mountains.

Biertan

Biertani

Biertan is another village located in Sibiu County, known for being the largest fortified church in Transylvania. The church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, dominates the village and you can see it from far-far away. The green hills surrounding the villages make it a perfect destination for those who want an active holiday trekking and exploring the natural landscape of Transylvania.

Check out our Road trip in Transylvania if you want to visit Biertan.

Valea Zalanului

Another secluded village in Transylvania that hosts King Charles of Great Britain when he comes to visit is Valea Zalanului. Located in Mures County, Valea Zalanului is not easy to reach because the roads to the village are very bad and kept like that in order to prevent the curious visitors to come here. It has only a few houses and some of them became guesthouses.

Jina

Jina

Jina is one of the largest villages in Sibiu County and the highest. Built on hills and surrounded by mountains, the houses of Jina keep the traditional style in Sibiu: large gates and closed facades. The villagers of Jina are known for preserving their traditions very well. On holidays, they dress in their local costumes in black and white, they attend the service in the church and after that, they meet to spend time together. It is impressive that even the young ones refuse to let go of these customs. Plus, they are known all over Romania for their delicious cheese and other dairy products.

Leaving Transylvania behind you can go to the north to explore the traditional villages in Maramures, with a different architecture:

Botiza

Botiza, a beautiful village in Maramures, is a charming place. Once you get here, besides its traditional architecture and peaceful ambiance, you will be amazed by the people. They wear their traditional clothes on Sundays when they go to church and they keep all their antique customs. Located in a beautiful natural setting, Botiza is a famous destination even among Romanian who come to Maramures from other regions in Romania.

Breb

Villages Maramures Breb

Breb is a small village located in Maramures County, known for its well-preserved traditional architecture and vibrant cultural scene. The village is home to a stunning wooden church, which features intricate carvings, vibrant frescoes, and a beautiful wooden tower. Breb is also famous for its traditional houses with large wooden gates. Some of the houses host people who want to experience the rural life of Maramures.

Once you cross the mountains, from Maramures you will arrive in Bucovina. The land of monasteries has a village known worldwide:

Ciocanesti

Ciocanesti is a small village located in Suceava County, known for its well-preserved traditional architecture. Ciocanesti is also famous for its colorful houses, which are decorated with elaborate geometric patterns and vibrant colors. The houses cannot be seen in other places in Bucovina and that is why Ciocanesti receives many visitors. Some of them just pass by to admire the colorful houses.

Many of these villages are surrounded by beautiful landscapes and high hills. But the villages in the Carpathian mountains have a different settling. Besides the mountains surrounding them, the houses are spread over the peaks and you have to walk a little to get from one house to another. Some of the famous villages in the Carpathian Mountains are:

Sirnea

Sirnea is a picturesque village located in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, in Brasov County. The village is known for its beautiful natural surroundings, which include dense forests, verdant meadows, and gurgling streams. Sirnea is also famous for its traditional architecture, with old wooden houses. It is a perfect destination to enjoy the fresh air and to do some hiking in the area.

Pestera

Pestera village

Pestera, another charming village located in Brasov County, became very popular a few years ago. The village is situated in a picturesque valley surrounded by the Bucegi Mountains. That is why today it is hard to find here traditional houses. many of them were restored or new villas were built to host the tourists. It is a great place to stay if you want to admire nature, but also have the comfort of the modern world.

Fundata

Located in the Rucar-Bran Pass, Fundata is an amazing village spread over the mountains. Located in the Bucegi Mountains, Fundata keeps its traditional houses but has also many modern B&Bs. The fresh air and the many hiking trails starting here are just some reasons to stop in Fundata.

Inelet

Inelet, an interesting village located in Gorj County, is very secluded. The village is situated in a beautiful valley, surrounded by the Retezat Mountains, and it is famous due to the hard access to it. If you want to go to the village you must climb some stairs on a tall rock and walk through the forest. There is no access by car and that is why the village doesn’t receive many visitors. You won’t find here any place to stay, so you can go there only on a day trip.

Dubova

Dubova, the village situated on the banks of the Danube River, is an ideal destination for those interested in river cruises, fishing, and outdoor activities. Dubova is also famous for its nearby natural attractions, including the Danube Gorges and the Iron Gates National Park. You can stay here for a few days in one of the many B&Bs in the village and explore the landmarks in the region. See the Decebal statue, the largest stone statue in Eastern Europe, go hiking to admire the Danube Gorge from above, and visit Baile Herculane, a spa resort.

Polovragi

Polovragi is a village in Valcea County, situated at the foot of Cozia Mountain. If you like hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities, this is a great destination for you!

One of the most popular attractions in Polovragi is the Polovragi Monastery. The monastery is also home to a museum that showcases traditional crafts, including weaving, pottery, and woodcarving. Other places you can visit here are the Polovragi Cave and the Oltetului Gorge.

The last region in Romania that will welcome you in its villages is the Danube Delta. Here, the traditional houses have a different aspect: many of them are white with blue windows and doors, reminding of the ones in Greece, and have thatched roofs. Some of the villages in Dobrogea that still have traditional houses are:

Jurilovca

Villages Danube delta Jurilovca

Jurilovca the village located on the shores of Lake Razim, in Tulcea County is known for its beautiful natural surroundings, which include lush wetlands, sandy beaches, and crystal-clear waters. Jurilovca is also famous for its rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in its well-preserved traditional architecture, colorful festivals, and lively music scene. If you are interested in birdwatching, fishing, and outdoor water activities, you can stay here and explore the area on day trips.

Letea

Letea is a secluded village located in the Danube Delta, in Tulcea County. The village is famous due to its vast forest of white poplar trees. The forest, which is a protected area, is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including wild horses and rare birds. You can only go here by boat because there is no car road. You can also visit Letea and its amazing submerged forest during a day trip from Tulcea.

These Romanian villages are just some of the places where you can experience the countryside in Romania. They offer their visitors a glimpse into the country’s rich cultural heritage and stunning natural surroundings. So, don’t hesitate to visit some of them on your next trip to Romania!

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