When the heat is on, it’s time to relax. We round up some of the best ways to get your chill on in Romania this summer.
1. Spot the bear!
Romania is said to have the biggest population of brown bears in Europe, and summer is just the time to head into the wild to see these majestic beasts in their natural habitat. A bit of history: in 2007 when Romania joined the EU, zoos in the country had to comply with new animal welfare laws which lead to the relocation of many mistreated bears to the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in the Carpathian Mountains. Here the beasts roam free in vast natural enclosures. You can volunteer at Libearty, and get involved with rehabilitation of these ursine giants, and help the bears and the local rural communities in the process. There are also an estimated 6 000 wild bears in the Carpathians and bear tracking with an expert guide makes for an unforgettable experience.
2. A twitcher’s dream
Birdwatchers are in for a treat when they visit the Danube Delta, which is Europe’s best preserved river delta, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the summer months more that 300 species of birds make their way here, and you’ll be sure to spot colonies of black and white pelicans, herons, swans, ospreys, cranes, spoonbills and scores more. Doing so from the water as part of a birdwatching boat tour is a special treat.
3. Camping in nature
The Carpathian Mountains are criss-crossed by literally hundreds of hiking trails along more than 900kms of the mountain range, and there are over 400 nature reserves and parks where lovers of the great outdoors can breathe in the wilderness. Many of the mountainside villages have camping facilities, or you can rough it in a spot of your choice.
And if you like sleeping under the stars, but roughing it not so much, why not try one of the new glamping resorts? At the Ursa Mica Glamping Resort in Nucșoara you can book one of 10 luxury tents, and have access to a sauna, outdoor tubs and a restaurant for delicious meals that don’t involve you trying to make a fire to boil the water.
4. Celebrate music (and get some retail therapy!)
What is a summer without a music festival? You’ve missed the Neversea festival which happened early in July, but very soon the Electric Castle festival takes place in Bánfly Castle in Bontida, a village less than 50 minutes from Cluj-Napoca. It runs from 13 to 17 July, and the lineup includes Gorillaz, Editors, Twenty One Pilots and many more.
Best of all, Iulius Mall in Cluj is your hub for all things Electric Castle – you can pre-swap your ticket for your festival wristband on the 1st floor of the mall, and avoid the queues at the entrance to the festival. From Iulius Mall you can catch one of the non-stop buses to the Castle, using the dedicated and discounted parking lots, and you can even stand a chance to win prizes by simply shopping at the mall and showing your Castle wristband.
Cluj-Napoca is also where Romania’s iconic Untold electronic music festival takes place from 4 –7 August, featuring, among other great acts David Guetta, Vini Vici, Paul Kalkbrenner and Alok (did you know he has the second biggest Instagram following of any electronic artist globally – last count 27.7 million!).
5. Hit the beach!
When Romanians go to the seaside, they head for Constanta, which has a beautiful beach of its own (this is where the Neversea festival was held recently), but you can also catch the bus to a range of other popular Black Sea plajas (beaches) where the sand is white and the water is great for swimming. Whether you want a popular party beach like Plaja Costinesti, one that is more remote and undeveloped like Plaja Vadu or a family-friendly beach like Plaja Neptun-Olimp, there are many options on the Black Sea where you can snorkel in the turquoise waters and enjoy the summer sun.
And if you are in Bucharest and can’t get to the coast, you can still have a beach experience on the banks of the Danube – Plaja Gostinu is uncrowded and chilled out, and ideal for nature lovers who can do a bit of birdwatching at the same time.
