Romania with kids

2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Things to do Self drive holidays Carpathian Mountains Transylvania Bear watching Painted churches Families Tips Responsible tourism

Travelling in Romania with kids

Kids will be enchanted by Romania's jaw-dropping landscape, iconic predators, ancient ways and weave of legend

Visiting Romania can seem like entering a rose-tinted magical past world – dark woods stalked by fearsome beasts, giant ice caves colonised by bats, medieval walled cities and ruined castles shrouded by eerie myth. Romania has an increasing, and protected, population of wild wolves. Though they are notoriously elusive, it is thrilling to glimpse early morning prints on the ground, or hear a tell tale cry as night begins to fall. Bears are also known to inhabit the wilds, although you're much more likely to spot one in the excellent Libearty Bear Sanctuary.

It's also a place where your family can engage with timeless rural activities no longer seen at home – scything hay by hand to pile into vast stacks, getting from A to B by horse-drawn cart, milking cows and making cheese, carving wooden utensils or musical instruments. Or just enjoy the novelty of being invited by a friendly local person into their home to share food and drink.

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Things to do in Romania with kids

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Kids will love getting stuck into Romania's rural lifestyle. Locals will gladly accept young helpers with tasks like hay-cutting or milking, while kids will love travelling round in horse-drawn carts – or sleighs in winter. And who wouldn't thrill to track wild bears or wolves in ancient woodland out of a Grimm fairytale?

The countryside of Transylvania, Bucovina and Maramures make amazing bases with horse drawn carts, fresh milk and cheese, and inspirational hillsides and woodlands, all adding up to an authentic experience that can be lacking from modern holidays.

Have an adventure

Getting out into the wilds of Romania on foot is one thing but exploring on two wheels or on the back of a horse is quite something else. The Carpathian Mountains, especially, offer active families a chance to try a wide range of adventurous activities with hikes into the Bucegi Mountains or cycling through Mount Tampa nature reserve just a couple of options that can be tailored into a tour.

Take a history lesson

If you're looking to expand on Saxon history or just learn about rural Romania in times gone by there's no better location than the open air exhibits in the national museum, just outside of Sibiu. If it's medieval history you're after then Sibiu itself will be right up your cobbled street with historic buildings and green parks showcasing traditional life in one of Romania's most charming cities.

Discover Dracula

Many 'Dracula' experiences in Romania are hokum, but kids will probably still lap them up! So dive into Bran Castle, enjoy the creepy vibe (especially at Halloween) and buy ghoulish gifts. Then take them to places linked to real-life scary dude Vlad Tepes - and ask locals to share some of Romania's enduring vampire beliefs.

Head to the coast

Romania boasts nearly 200km of Black Sea coastline offering distinctive seaside frolics. There are lovely beaches at Sfantu Gheorghe and Mamaia, plus a chance to try marvellous mud bathing with health-giving goo at Eforie Nord! Mamaia also offers party possibilities, while chic Constanta has striking sights from derelict casinos to Romania's largest carpet at the Great Mosque.

Best time to visit

The best time to go on a family holiday to Romania is May, June or early July – this is when Romania’s Black Sea resorts and shaded interior woodlands really sing. But there’s plenty to the country beyond the summer: consider Easter in Maramures, Christmas in Bucovnia or Halloween holidays in Transylvania. It's possible to go on a Romania family holiday throughout the year. Sleigh rides, snow shoe trails, ice caves and animal tracking (look for snowy footprints) will create a completely different impression on young travellers. Warm soups, log fires and plum brandy are certain to warm the cockles after a day spent outdoors.

Brett Smith, from our partner Green World Holidays, shares his best time to visit Romania for families: “I'd recommend May, June or July if you're hoping to hike or horse ride through fields of wild flowers. Animals tend to be easiest to see, or hear - it's still possible to hear wolf cries at night in some regions – any time from April to October so this ties in quite nicely with school summer holidays. October onwards can get really cold and we don't recommend families travel in the deep countryside due to bad roads and equally bad weather conditions.”

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Responsible Travel asks the experts

Mihai Olenici of our partner Eco Transylvania talks about some of the many pleasure about travelling in Romania for kids: “The meadows in the Apuseni Mountains are famous for their richness and diversity. The landscape is very accessible for children – they can do hiking, biking, alpine touring skiing and snow-shoeing no matter what their age or level of outdoor experience. They can do light wall climbing and caving too. And the landscape is a living outdoor laboratory where adults and children alike can learn about karstic systems – how they are formed, how they work. "You can still experience authentic rural life too. One family had a whole day hiking through forests - soooo beautiful – and we arrived at our local guest house in a remote hamlet to find the host family in a nearby glade collecting dry hay and making hay stacks. Here, when there is hay time, everybody participates – old, young, relatives, neighbours. So my visitors asked for tools and started to help with. It was great - everybody enjoyed it a lot!”

Brett Smith, Director of our partner, Green World Holidays, shares his recommendations for families: “Most of our families returning home from Romania are always touched by how kind and generous the local people have been towards themselves and their children. I've noticed it too, Romanians are always extremely welcoming.

“Brasov, in Transylvania, makes a beautiful base for hiking, mountain biking and kayaking in some seriously stunning scenery. Places like Sinaia, the Bucegi Mountains, Bolboci Lake, Viscri and the hillsides around Poiana Brasov are also ideal for families looking to experience life outdoors. In fact all of the countryside in Transylvania is gorgeous with loads of medieval villages and untouched landscapes highlighting the traditional lifestyles and natural beauty of central Romania.

“We think the best age for children visiting Romania is 10 – 18 as they get to have an adventure but also appreciate a bit more of the cultural/historical elements too.”

Real-life Romanian aristocrat Count Tibor Kalnoky, owner of antique-filled guesthouses reveals some of the pleasures of travelling in Romania for kids: "Romania is certainly good for families. Kids love to explore the bat-caves with torch lights, go for a swim in the volcano crater lake and drive out into the hills on horse-drawn carts. Or they can follow the tracks of wild animals in the winter snow - bear, wolf, lynx, boar and deer. Plus they can help milk cows in the village or help the blacksmith in his forge! It's like living in a fairy tale."

Tips from our travellers

“Transylvania completely exceeded our expectations as a holiday destination. The friendliness of the local people was unique, everywhere we went we were warmly welcomed and the enthusiasm to share their way of life was inspiring. It was a privilege to have an insight into the sustainable and organic way of life of these communities. With 3 children (ages 8, 10 and 12) it's often difficult to find something for everyone but this trip delivered for both adults and children alike.” – Yvonne Welsh

“This was far and away the best family holiday we've had in years. Transylvania is a fascinating corner of the world neither my husband or I had ever been to. We enjoyed learning about the area from our guides whilst having the pleasure of watching our children run wild in sunshine and fresh air!” – David Smith

“Be careful what train you get on. There is an express train from Bucharest to Brasov, but there is also a slow 'personal' train. The signs are not very clear at the train station and it is very easy to get the wrong train. This local train has a lot of character. The carriages are like something out of the Harry Potter films and it takes a very scenic route. The problem is that your train ride becomes 5 hours as opposed to 2.5 hours, and there is no food on the train.” – Somayeh Moballeghi