Romania is a diverse country. The southern Carpathians cut through it, creating sweeping hilly landscapes and a few mountains worth seeing. The Danube and its tributaries cut through the different levels. This results in three important regions: Wallachia, Bukovina and Transylvania.

Starting clockwise, larger cities and historical landscapes alternate with impressive nature. Special highlights in the first third are Cluj Napoca, the Maramures with the ride on the forest railway and the Bukovina with the picturesque Vltava monasteries. Also in the green north are the Bicaz Gorge and the Danube Delta.

A few more relaxed days on the Black Sea, then it's off to the capital Bucharest, which offers a potpourri of modern capitalism, socialist swank and confectionery style, French-influenced architecture and a few gems from Ottoman and medieval times. Transylvania, with thriving cities such as Brasov, Sighisoara and Sibiu, became an important trading centre as early as the Middle Ages due to colonization from Central Europe. We can still marvel at the historic town centres, picturesque towns and impressive fortified castles.

Romanian cuisine is a kind of "Eastern Europe meets Balkans", hearty and delicious. Leisure time in beer gardens, at small markets, in large cities or in nature complete the programme.