If you click on the links in this post, we may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post, at no extra cost to you. You can read the full disclaimer here.
Romania is a wonderful place to visit. It has wonderful natural beauty. The Carpathian Mountains are great for skiing and hiking. The gorgeous beaches of the Black Sea Coast are wonderful in the summertime.
Additionally, Romania is a wonderful place to visit for its history and culture. There a number of wonderful travel destinations with lots of historic significance.
And if you want to visit somewhere in Romania with importance, then it makes sense to visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Romania. So we came up with a list of ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites you won’t want to leave Romania without seeing.
1. Historic Centre of Sighișoara
The historic center of the city of Sighișoara, Romania, was built in a small fortified medieval town. You can see the influence of cultures from Byzantine-Orthodox Southeastern Europe and Central Europe.
This town also has the distinction, by the way, of being known as the birthplace of Dracula. You can learn more about the truth and fiction behind the legend of Dracula in this Dracula Romania Tour.
But as far as seeing Sighisoara, consider taking this 2-Hour Sighisoara Tour to see more of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Transylvania Villages with Fortified Churches
Did you know that Transylvania’s southeastern region has one of the highest numbers of existing fortified churches from the 13th to 16th centuries? There are over 150 well-preserved fortified churches, and their architectural styles vary.
Seven villages are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Biertan, Câlnic, Dârjiu, Prejmer, Saschiz, Valea Viilor, and Viscri. These villages were founded by the Transylvania Saxons. You can get a better appreciation of this region in this Transylvania Fortified Churches Tour.
3. Monastery of Horezu
The Monastery of Horezu was founded by Constantin Brâncoveanu, Prince of Wallachia, back in 1690. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is known as a masterpiece of the Brâncovenesc style of architecture. Its architectural purity and balance, votive paintings, and rich sculpted details are all reasons why the Monastery of Horezu is so famous – and why you’re going to want to check it out for yourself.
4. Wooden Churches of Maramureş
Maramureș in northern Transylvania is one of Romania’s better-known regions. Its well-preserved wooden villages and churches, its traditional lifestyle dating back to the Middle Ages, and the local colorful dresses make it as close to a living museum as you can find in Europe.
The wooden churches of Maramureş were built starting in the 17th century and kept being built all the way into the 19th century. They were built in response to the prohibition against the erection of stone Orthodox churches by the Catholic Austro-Hungarian authorities. These famous churches are made of thick logs and usually have tall, slim clock towers tower and huge roofs.
Eight of these churches were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- The Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple in Bârsana
- The Church of Saint Nicholas in Budești
- The Saint Parascheva Church in Desești
- The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Ieud Deal
- The Church of the Holy Archangels in Plopiș
- The Saint Parascheva Church in Poienile Izei
- The Church of the Holy Archangels in Rogoz
- The Church of the Holy Archangels in Șurdești
You can see a few of these churches in this Maramures day tour.
5. Danube Delta
You can find the delta where the Danube River enters the Black Sea mostly in Romania. The delta I am referring to is Danube Delta, and it is Europe’s second-largest river delta and Europe’s largest wetland. It is a great place to go see some amazing animals as it is home to three hundred bird and forty-five freshwater fish species. You can see some endangered sturgeons and mammals like the European wildcat, European mink, Eurasian otter, and the monk seal.
If you are vacationing in Bucharest, then consider visiting the Danube Delta by taking this day trip from Bucharest to the Danube Delta.
6. Sculptural Ensemble of Constantin Brâncuși at Târgu Jiu
Famed Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși designed a group of monuments at Târgu Jiu in 1937. This was to honor Romanian soldiers who died in World War I.
The ensemble is composed of three sculptures:
- The Endless Column (Coloana fără sfârșit)
- The Table of Silence (Masa tăcerii)
- The Gate of the Kiss (Poarta sărutului)
These sculptures are widely considered to be one of the great outdoor sculpture works of the twentieth century.
You can see these sculptures and learn more about Constantin Brâncuși in the On the Footsteps of the Sculptor Constantin Brancusi Tour.
7. Rosia Montana
Rosia Montana was added to the UNESCO heritage list in 2021. It is significant because the area is rich in precious metals and was a center of gold mining starting back in the Bronze Age. Before Europeans went to America, this area was the main source of gold for Europe.
A great way to see this area is to take this Rosia Montana hiking one-day excursion from Cluj. You’ll hike to the top of the mountain and see the beauty and natural reserves of an ancient mining cultural landscape.
Other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Romania
Other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Romania worth checking out include:
- Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains
- Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire
- Churches of Moldavia
Tours to See All the Romania UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Want to make sure you spot all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites during your time in Romania?
You can do that in a private, intimate way in this private 7-day Romania World Heritage Sites Tour or this private 12-day Romania’s World Heritage Sites Tour.