Monica Suma

Blessed with a plethora of mountain peaks and bucolic pastures, fringed by the Black Sea and the lush Danube Delta, Romania’s borders pack a variety of backdrops to marvel at. While inducing fantasies of vampires for many, there are age-old customs to discover and ancient monasteries in the heart of the countryside as well as medieval Transylvanian castles to keep you busy.

Cinematic nature at its best - this is what Ireland promises. A jolly lineup of colorful villages, each seemingly equipped with its own haunting castle. Add some Irish music jamborees, whiskey jaunts and sea-born delights and you’re well set with a most rewarding menu.

With a vibrant cultural life and architectural richesse, a buzzing culinary scene and an ever-growing specialty coffee culture, Bucharest is a most dynamic destination.

Romania brims with rich folk culture, centuries-old monasteries and lively cities humming with art, restaurants and nightlife. Hop on this road trip and be rewarded with castles, fortresses, Saxon villages and fortified churches that give a deeper look into its rich history and culture.

You may have your eyes set on Germany’s ever popular capital, but look further northwest and you may just find everything you could wish for in Hamburg, the Hanseatic port city boasting North German good looks, scrumptious Fischbrötchen, and culture aplenty. Top it all off with a generous dose of parkland and waterways, and you’ll tick off more than you had expected.

With all eyes on the dazzling Expo 2020 and design credentials the envy of the world over, Dubai has evolved from metropolis of the future to global capital of art and driving force for the creative industries.

2-page Tear out guide for highlights of Bucharest, Romania, in the May 2020 issue of Lonely Planet magazine.

Mention Bucharest to most Americans and here comes the reply... "Did you mean: Budapest?" And a wonderful city Budapest is! But overlook the Romanian capital of Bucharest and you’ll miss easily one of the most interesting places in Europe right now -- a bohemian, Balkans-meets-Mediterranean city that wears its recent history on its sleeve as it redefines itself in real time.

In Romania, food isn't served merely to temper hunger and delight the palate but to teach visitors something about a culture they may not know well. In the past few years, a new generation of young chefs returning from stints abroad is redefining Romanian food.

This passionate group is introducing the new Romanian cuisine as an experience, through new techniques and a firm revival of not only the Romanian culture but an entire way of life.

Rotterdam wins all the plaudits for its innovative drinking and dining scene, but the adjacent city of Schiedam is in a league of its own when it comes to one particular tipple.
Jenever, the forefather of modern gin, has been distilled in Schiedam for hundreds of years, earning it the title of one of the Netherlands’ so-called ‘jenever cities.’

With perilous Dracula imagery and misty mountaintops in mind, Transylvania usually allures travelers darting straight to the better-known, southern towns of the region. But boasting Romania’s biggest music festivals and a burgeoning art scene like none other, Cluj-Napoca, the unofficial capital of Transylvania, more than deserves its spot in the limelight.

Featuring the best distilleries and bars in 33 countries – from gin, bourbon and whisky to vodka, cachaca, tequila and more. I wrote about Nollet Distillery in Schiedam, the Netherlands, and its centuries long tradition of distilling jenever (Dutch gin), known as the "father of all gins."

If you’re looking to discover the next ‘it’ wine region, it may be time to book that ticket to Romania. Gault&Millau launched the first guide dedicated to Romanian wines, covering 152 wines from 63 wineries. With some 180,000 hectares of vines and scenic backdrops blessed with auspicious land, Romania is fifth in terms of vineyard surface in the EU after Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, and sixth in terms of wine production.

Planning a trip to Bucharest but not sure when’s the best time to visit? From April to September, Bucharest becomes a stomping ground for the creative arts, contemporary design and street art, with speciality coffee and Romanian wine thrown in for good measure. Add to that a generous dose of music and the popular Night of Museums, and you’re all set for some fun times.

At first glance, Bucharest may be hard to define. The enormous Palace of Parliament gets the most attention as the second-largest administrative building in the world, but it’s far from what constitutes the everyday local life. Dig a little deeper in Bucharest’s walkable neighbourhoods, with their period architecture and pockets of hidden glory, and you’ll find an eclectic mix of old and new, arts initiatives aplenty and an ever-growing foodie scene.