Romania: Europe’s hidden gem

Thanks to its brand new airport and easy train connections to Bucharest, Brasov is the best entry point into Transylvania's magical land. Spoiler alert: no vampires (left) here! Instead, the city will charm you with its cobbled streets, unique history and breathtaking viewpoints.

Romanians call Carpathians 'the lungs of the country' - so get ready to take in the crisp mountain air in Brasov while you delve into the stunning Bucegi and Piatra Craiului national parks, in the southern Carpathians, or make new furry friends at the Libearty Bear Sanctuary.

This one-of-a-kind place lying in the living museum of Romania, Maramures, turns the concept of death on its head through art and traditions. Instead of a grey mourning vibe, here you will encounter vibrantly painted oak crosses adorned with poetic (and often funny) epitaphs and scenes from the daily life of Romanian peasants.

For the locals, death offers an opportunity to celebrate the lives of those who have passed - and they do so with creativity and humour, offering a true mirror into our unique traditions and heritage.

Compared to other trails like El Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James, this is more than a long-distance trail - it's a journey through Romania's soul. Connecting our historical regions diagonally from Bucovina to Muntenia, it's a unique experience that can be explored by hiking, cycling or horse riding, following each km marked by carved andesite stones that form an open-air gallery.

The 'road that unites' is a social project reviving remote communities on the brink of extinction through travellers who immerse in the peaceful Romanian village life, where simple joys like local produce, nature's quietness and hospitality still thrive.