Romania vacations often begin with the flight into Bucharest, the country’s capital. And there’s very good reason beyond the existence of the international airport here. Once known as ‘Little Paris’ for the number of stylish Belle Epoque structures which line its wide central boulevards, Bucharest is a city which deserves much more time than is sometimes gifted it. Noteworthy attractions include the charming Calea Victoriei, Bucharest’s oldest street. However, it’s difficult to ignore the Palace of the Parliament building, whose construction was overseen by Cold War dictator Ceausescu as a demonstration of Romania’s might. Visitors are welcome to explore what remains one of the largest buildings in the world to take in the money-can’t-buy interiors.

Head east of Bucharest and you’ll arrive into one of Europe’s most important natural areas, the Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hinting at what much of Romania must have looked like hundreds of years ago, its waterways provide beautiful panoramas and habitats for a wealth of animal and bird species. The human presence is marked by buildings such as the old windmill at Letea.

The River Danube flows into the Black Sea. Its main city of Constanta provides a fine mix of wineries, ancient monuments, and miles of uninterrupted sandy beaches. Known as a resort town since the time of the ancient Greeks, there’s still plenty of reason to visit the region today.

North of Bucharest, and including the popular destinations of Brasov, Sibiu, and Cluj lies Transylvania, a region of mountainous scenery, historic castles, and a rich cultural history. The country’s second-largest city, Cluj has a cultural scene spanning the arts to contemporary nightlife. Sibiu’s allure lies in its diverse forms of architecture and its tasty local cuisine, while Brasov has a stunningly well-preserved Old City and aerial tramways into the mountains, allowing a range of hiking opportunities in summer and ski runs in the winter months.

But for many, the names of Transylvania and Romania are intricately linked with just one name, that of Dracula. Though a fictional character created by author Bram Stoker, Romania’s Dracula Castle is one of its most popular attractions. Otherwise known as Bran Castle, after the town in which it’s located, Dracula’s Castle dates back to 1377 and once protected the road into Transylvania from Wallachia from its hilltop location. Today, the castle’s interiors display furniture collected by a former queen of Romania. A small nearby open-air museum protects traditional structures from the region’s less well-off inhabitants of old.