We sure love countries with a steady 20 degree weather all year long. But we can’t imagine life without seasons. And we can’t imagine Christmas without the magic of snow falling and mulled wine smelling of vanilla and cinnamon.  Romania is the perfect destination for a traditional winter experience!

Winter in the cities

Romania’s autumns are usually rainy and cloudy so once the first snow hits every corner of the city turns into a playground. Every summer green patch now turns into a canvas for snow angels and people once again enjoying the outdoors, regardless of the low temperatures.

If you want to take it one step further, a lot of household items can be readily made into a sleigh. And many parks in big cities often have a hill or two that provide the necessary gravity pull 😊.

Winter in nature

Escape the city scape and run to the hills! Put your snowshoes on and head out to Sinaia or Busteni or Brasov (closest to Bucharest). Once out of the confines of the streets and concrete you can enjoy the snow in virtually any way imaginable – there is hiking, there are ski resorts, snowmobiles, horse riding and even those magical one-horse-open-sleighs that we’ve been singing about since childhood.

*Pro tip: for thrill seekers, Romania is still the absolute cheapest heliski option in Europe.

But it’s not only about nature. The further you get from the big cities, the higher the chance you’ll stumble upon villages or smaller communities. Watching or even taking party in their celebration of beliefs and tradition will give you more insight into who Romanians are than any museum tour. 

The Christmas Markets

Main squares in all major cities turn into magical wonderlands starting December. Little huts selling tea and sweets and presents, all neatly radiating from the main point of attraction: the 10 to 12 meter high Christmas tree.

Every beginning of December, all over the country, Christmas lights flood every avenue and Christmas carols echo from every little shop – it is really hard not to let the joy in 😊.

For years the Christmas Market in Sibiu has been hailed as one of the most beautiful in Romania and even Europe. The one in Brasov is also worth a mention, the backdrop of the mighty Postavaru Mountain gives it a special kind of charm.  

Try winter in Romania! Whatever you choose to do, you’re guaranteed to find a lot of spirit and great fun.