Europe’s fairytale destination is a beautiful and cheap country without many tourists

Looking for a new and budget-friendly holiday destination in 2024? Romania could be the answer.

The eastern European country is one of the continent’s least crowded destinations with just 0.1 tourists per resident according to UNWTO statistics.

In Greece, the number is almost three tourists to every resident while Austria has 3.5 tourists to each resident.

While Romania still has tourists, it’s much less crowded than Spain or France in summer and ‘The Land of Dracula’ has plenty of hidden gems.

It’s also a fantastic choice for travellers looking to save money with return flights for under £100 in July, top-rated hotel rooms for under £40 per person and meals for under £10. So where are Romania’s best destinations?

Bucharest

Romania’s capital has been described as Europe’s ‘Little Paris’ and it does bear a little resemblance to the famed ‘City of Lights’ but it’s much cheaper. Stroll along Victory Avenue to admire the capital’s striking architecture and head to Revolution Square to learn about the city’s Communist past.

Bucharest’s Old Town opens late and tourists will find a great range of bars and restaurants tucked away down the cobblestone streets. If you’re looking for something more relaxing, don’t miss Therme București, an indoor spa with a botanical garden, mineral pools and waterslides on offer at a much lower price than in the UK.

Find reviews of Therme Bucuresti and book tickets from just £34 on Tripadvisor.

Express.co.uk found return flights to Bucharest for under £100 from London, Birmingham and Leeds in July. Browse more options on Skyscanner.

Booking.com has a range of accommodation suitable for all budgets in Bucharest with three-star hotels on offer for just £25 per person per night in July.

Timișoara

Romania’s third largest city, Timișoara is a fairytale-style destination with buildings that look straight out of a storybook. The elegant city also has an interesting history as it was the centre of the country’s rebellion against Communism.

Start your visit in Victory Square or visit the Museum of the Revolution. Timisoara is known as the ‘City of Flowers’ so make sure to go for a wander in one of its many parks.

If you want to get out of the city, head to the Bigar Waterfall natural preserve to see one of the country’s prettiest natural beauty spots.

Check out Timisoara’s best-rated activities on Tripadvisor or browse accommodation options on Booking.com with rooms at four-star hotels under £40 per person in July. Express.co.uk found return flights for under £75 from London in July on Skyscanner.

Brasov

The heart of Romania’s Transylvania region, Brasov is a beautiful city in the middle of the country’s Carpathian Mountains. Wander the streets of the cobbled old town or catch the cable car up into the mountains.

Bran Castle, rumoured to be the inspiration for Dracula’s Castle is a must-visit and just a half an hour drive outside the city.

Romania has Europe’s largest bear population outside of Russia and tourists can pay a visit to Libearty Bear Sanctuary to see formerly captive bears in an ethical environment. If you’d like to see bears in the wild, it’s possible to book a tour. See reviews of the sanctuary or browse different tour options on Tripadvisor.

Find a range of accommodation options including four-star hotels for under £60 per person in July on Booking.com.