26 best Romania photography spots: a complete guide

Find out the best Romania photography spots, and explore one of the last wild countries in Europe with this complete guide!

Romania is not a common tourist destination in Europe. It’s a bit far away from the common European first-time visitor cities, and it’s not usually listed as a must-visit country in Europe. However, if you are reading this, it means you are considering Romania as a possible destination. If that’s the case, congrats! You are about to discover a hidden gem, way before other people do.

In this Romania photography spots guide, you will find a mix of nature, cities, and religious buildings. From wild mountain ranges to beautiful cities, all of it surrounded by tradition and history. Before deep-diving into the best Romania photography spots, though, let’s talk about the country from a photography point of view.

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Romania photography guide: FAQs

When travelling and photographing a new country, I usually have the same questions, which I answer in most of my photography guides. Below you can find answers to the most common questions photographers have about Romania.

Is it worth photographing Romania?

Yes, it is. Romania is a fantastic country to visit. Unlike other destinations in Europe, where everything looks the same, Romania has so much to offer. If you are into nature, you have amazing mountains and the Danube Delta, a place from another world. If you prefer a cultural trip, the monasteries and castles of Romania are immensely diverse and different from anything else you’ve seen. And of course, if you are into cities, you have the beautiful Bucharest (and some other interesting options).

As a photographer, Romania felt like a hidden gem. Not full of tourists, cheap (I’ll talk more about this below), and moderately easy to travel around. All you need for a fantastic photography trip.

How many days do I need to photograph Romania?

This is a difficult question. You can’t visit a country in 2 weeks. Or in a month. Or in 2 months. Romania is quite big, and it takes time to explore all its beauty. You could spend one full week hiking the country, and still miss many nice hikes.

However, if you want to venture outside of Bucharest, you’ll need at least one week. This is if you want to do Bucharest and Brasov, probably the most common itinerary in Romania.

Instead, if you feel attracted by the north and the east of the country, two weeks would be the minimum to see the main spots. This is mostly due to the time it will take to move around Romania. I’ll talk more about it below, but it’s not as easy as getting on a highway and driving 300km.

If you have more time, 3 weeks will give you time to explore most of the main tourist areas of the country, allowing for some more chill days.

How safe is Romania to visit and photograph?

Where I am from, Romania has a dubious reputation. However, what I’ve experienced in the country has nothing to do with the ideas I had in my mind. Romania is not the safest country in Europe, but it’s not unsafe.

If we define safety as not getting your phone stolen, if you are careful enough, it should be okay. It’s true that you’ll see quite some poverty, especially if you leave Bucharest, but this doesn’t mean that it is unsafe per se.

In terms of driving, that’s where Romania does not excel. It’s a country with high rates of deaths on the road. If you rent a car (as I recommend on the next point), be careful, stick to the recommended speeds, and you should be safe.

When it comes to photography, I didn’t have any big problems in terms of safety. The only thing I observed was someone who didn’t pay attention when they were having dinner on a terrace, and their purse was stolen.

How to move around in Romania?

This is the main drawback of Romania, in my opinion. However, this is what makes it a hidden gem. Romania has only a few highways, and they are still under construction. Trains are slow and not very frequent. The main cities have airports, but flying takes almost as long as driving.

Thus, my main recommendation is to rent a car, but to check the Google Maps estimates between cities. A 100km drive could be 2 hours, or more if it’s in a mountainous area. Roads are not in the best condition; some have potholes, and combined with the reckless driving of some Romanians, it can be a challenge if you’re not used to driving in cities or mountain areas.

Nonetheless, renting a car and driving around Romania is part of the experience. In fact, one of the Romania photography spots I recommend below is literally driving a road. Take your time, and make driving part of the trip, instead of a way of going from A to B.

Where to stay in Romania?

In this section, I usually recommend areas that are best for photographers, closer to the main photo spots,… It’s what you will find in the Bucharest photography spots guide.

However, here, we are speaking about a whole country. To be consistent with what I mentioned above, find accommodations that are easy to access by car. Old towns can be cute, but not that drivable (or without parking spots). Mountain huts might involve off-road driving.

There’s no shortage of accommodation options in Romania: from 5-star hotels to hostels. In my experience, apartments were mostly new, clean and very practical for the type of trip I recommend in Romania.

How expensive is Romania for photographers?

Good news! Romania is not expensive. In fact, among the European countries, it ranks on the lower end. Cheaper than Spain, Greece, and even Hungary.

As a photographer, this doesn’t change that much, as long as you rent a car. If you decide to go without a car, many of the Romania photography spots listed here will be very difficult to access. Uber exists in Romania, but this will rapidly increase your travel costs.

Food, accommodation, and entry fees are not at the same level as those of other European countries, at least as of 2025. However, Romania is rapidly developing its tourist industry, so this can quickly change in the near future.

Got any extra questions? Schedule an ad-hoc call with me and build your dream travel photography trip!

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Romania photography spots: nature

The second of the three categories into which this Romania photography spots guide is divided is nature. Romania is a country full of natural areas. While the most well-known are the Carpathian Mountains, there’s way more to explore in Romania when it comes to nature. Oh, and Romania is a country with some amazing wildlife. Let’s get started!

Transfăgărășan road

First things first. This is THE spot. If you search for “most beautiful roads in the world”, one of the first names that will pop up is the Transfăgărășan road. I’ll have to synthesise a lot on this guide, as there’s a ton of interesting things about the Transfăgărășan. It’s a short (2-3 hour) drive crossing some of the most beautiful landscapes in Romania.

From dense forests (full of bears, see below), to the mist at the highest point of the road, passing by some amazing waterfalls. The main struggle of this trip is not to stop every 5 minutes. The whole road is full of photo opportunities. I recommend driving very slowly, admiring the landscape and checking all the viewpoints that you feel like.

The “bad” part of this road is that it’s highly likely that at some point you’ll find fog. If that’s the case, forget about the beautiful views. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean that there are no good photos to be taken. The Transfăgărășan road is one of Romania best photography spots. Rent a car, and don’t miss it!

Bears

If you are driving the Transfăgărășan road, chances are you’ll find bears. If you are coming from the US, you might think that it’s not a big deal. In Europe, bears are not that common. In fact, Romania is the second European country (after Russia) with the highest population of bears.

You will find them on the side of the road, as some tourists throw food. DO NOT DO IT. Instead, from inside the car, grab your camera, and take some bear photos.

Of course, do not get out of the car if you see bears around. The bears are mostly in the forested areas of the road. The moment you are above the treeline, the chances of finding bears will be almost none.

However, bears are not only on the Transfăgărășan road. All the area near Brasov, and in fact, all the area of the Carpathian Mountains, is bear habitat. Thus, if you go hiking, be very careful, always bring bear spray, and make some noise.

Salina Turda

Another of the epic Romania photography spots is Salina Turda. I remember the first time I heard about Salina Turda. It was with a YouTube Short, and I immediately knew that I wanted ot visit and photograph it someday.

Salina Turda is an old salt mine that has now become a tourist attraction. While there are multiple things to visit, from a photography point of view, there are two chambers that have more relevance.

One is the main chamber, the largest, where there’s a Ferris wheel, ping pong tables, an auditorium,… It’s a really big space, and you can almost forget you’re inside the Earth. While it’s impressive, it can be a bit difficult to photograph, given the size of the room.

Instead, the second photography-worthy chamber is the one of the lake. In this one, there are many more photo opportunities. The small boats that can be rented, the structures that have been added in the old mine chamber, and the light create a nice ambience. It’s one of my favourite Romania photography spots, but it’s not an easy one to photograph, if you want to go beyond the main photos.

Cock’s comb

Many of the Romania photography spots listed here can be found in the north of the country. While isolated and a bit difficult to reach, it’s full of interesting sites, one of them, Cock’s Comb.

Cock’s comb is a rocky mountain with a very characteristic shape, and that can be climbed with a relatively short hike. Although the final part is a bit steep, if you’re a fit person, it’s an easy half-day hike. This is just one of the many hikes you can do in the area, but the one I liked the most. It’s quite a popular day trip for locals, who carry food and eat it at the top.

From the top, the views over the Romanian countryside are breathtaking. Moreover, while going up, the views over Cock’s comb are also amazing. Don’t rush your way up, and make sure to check different views and angles for your photos.

Ialomiței Cave

This is one of the places that surprised me the most when in Romania. The Ialomitei cave is a very special place, and I haven’t seen it listed in other Romania photography spots lists.

In the heart of the Bucegi natural park, there’s a tiny church standing in front of a crack in a mountain. Per se, this is already a really cool place. However, what I did not expect to find was a set of caves, some of them enormous, and others really tiny. Moreover, the space is prepared for tourism. Some of the stairs are steep, and you need to bend down at some points, but overall, the cave is well-lit and with many informative panels.

Talking about photography, as you can imagine, light conditions are challenging inside the cave. Also, in some rooms, there’s water constantly flowing (and falling from the ceiling), so be prepared for this. Nonetheless, the photos you can take in the cave are unique and show how unique Romania is.

Bucegi Natural Park

I already mentioned the Bucegi natural park on the previous spot. However, the whole natural park is photography-worthy. There are many photography spots within the Bucegi Natural Park, with the Bucegi Sphinx being the most well-known one. However, what I want to mention and illustrate in this section are the views from some of the roads in the park.

While it can be challenging to drive for those not used to windy mountain roads, the views at the top are well worth it. As with the Transfăgărășan road, fog is common, and it could be that in a few minutes, a beautiful view is no longer there because of it.

It’s one of the Romania photography spots that surprised me the most, so make sure to visit it, and when you’re there, check the Ialomitei cave, as it’s within the park area.

Danube Delta

I left my personal favourite of the nature Romania photography spots for last. The Danube Delta is something that, if it were in another country, millions of people would travel there to see it. The Danube is one of the most famous rivers in Europe. Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava,… but did you know it ends in the Black Sea in Romania? Actually, the river is the border between Romania and Ukraine.

The Danube Delta is an amazing place for photography. If you are into birding and wildlife, it’s your place. However, if, like me, you’re not an expert, it’s still a great place to visit.

The delta can only be visited with specific boats and companies. All the ones you find online will have the right permit, but there will be different routes you can choose from. My personal recommendation is to take the full-day trips. They usually include a visit to Letea (which is not that interesting), but the first part of the trip, crossing the beautiful swamps and lakes of the delta, is well worth it.

If you have questions related to visiting the Danube Delta or any of the nature Romania photography spots, you can schedule a call with me using the link below.

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Romania photography spots: religious buildings

The final of the categories of this Romania photography spots guide is religious buildings. But listing it last doesn’t mean that they are less important or less beautiful than the spots included in the previous categories. I’d say this is what first attracted me to Romania. This list contains only some of the many monasteries and churches of this amazing country. Don’t stick to them only. Check the other ones, those not included here.

Rohia Monastery

This is one of the many monasteries that are listed in this Romania photography spots guide. Monasteries are everywhere in Romania, and some of them date back many centuries, although most of them are restored, as wars and fires have prevented them from making it to our days.

The Rohia Monastery is not that old. In fact, part of it is still being built. Thus, why am I listing it in this guide? Because of the natural area where it is located. It’s in a quite remote area of the country, and to get there you’ll need to drive a windy road.

Most monasteries are composed of multiple buildings, some of them made of wood (as you’ll see in other spots). In this case, there are two churches I liked from a photography point of view: the wooden church and the main church.

Oh, and the whole complex is free to visit.

Curtea de Arges

This is one of my favourite churches in Romania. Unfortunately, when I was there, the exterior was being restored, which did not allow me to capture the very characteristic twisted towers of this church. Nonetheless, the whole area is worth the trip. The interior of the church, its gardens, and the nearby New Royal Archbishop’s Cathedral are amazing for photos.

One of the least popular or well-known Romania photography spots, but a place with a ton of history. If your route passes near it, don’t hesitate to stop.

The Merry Cemetery

This is one of the most Instagrammed places in the North of the country, and one listed in all Romania photography spots guides. I doubt everyone who lists it has actually been there, as it’s a long drive from Bucharest and the main cities. Yet, it’s a very unique spot.

This is a cemetery like none you’ve seen before. Each grave contains an illustration of the defunct person either doing their job or something they liked. Also, the inscriptions include quite sarcastic messages, but unless you speak Romanian, it will be difficult to grasp. They are colourful, and very singular, as all graves are different.

From a photography point of view, it’s not an easy place to photograph. Although there’s plenty of space, capturing the right angle can be difficult. The workaround I found was capturing details.

The cemetery is on the grounds of the Biserica Nașterea Maicii Domnului, a modern church with very nice interior paintings. Visiting the cemetery is not free, but the ticket is quite cheap, so it’s worth it. If you are in the area, don’t miss the next spot on the list.

Peri-Săpânţa Monastery

Very close to the Merry Cemetery (5′ drive), there’s the Peri-Sapanta Monastery. This is one of the most impressive wooden constructions I’ve seen in Romania. The monastery has multiple buildings, the most important one being the church, which has amazing frescoes inside, but it was closed at the moment of our visit (they were doing restoration works).

Yet, even if the interior is not accessible, it’s worth admiring the structure of the main church, as it’s the tallest wooden church in the world. This is why it had to be in this Romania photography spots guide.

Speaking about photography, again, it’s not an easy spot. The size of the church makes it complex to show the size of the building while not distorting it. The best way to capture it is to take some distance or, instead, to focus on the details. A wide-angle lens will help, but keep in mind the distortion that it adds to the photos.

Bârsana Monastery

Another monastery? Yes! Only 2 more in this list. Barsana’s is probably the most visited monastery in Romania. However, it barely made it to the Romania photography spots list. You might be surprised, seeing the photo below.

It’s true, the place is amazing. However, it felt staged. I mentioned before that many of the monasteries had been burnt and reconstructed. Unfortunately, this is the case of Barsana Monastery, and to me it felt like a theme park.

Nonetheless, when it comes to photography, the buildings are close enough and are short enough to take great photos. There are plenty of buildings and natural elements to use to frame photos, and although there are plenty of people there, it’s quite easy to get photos without many people in them.

If you manage your expectations and visit it without expecting an ancient monastery, it’s an amazing spot for photography.

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin (The wooden church in Ieud Hill)

This is my favourite church in this Romania photography spots list. I already said that Curtea de Arges was one of my favourite ones, and that’s because of this little church in the middle of the Romanian countryside (the Maramures area).

What makes it special? First, its location. It’s at the top of a hill in the middle of the Romanian countryside. Second, the area. Surrounded by a very nice cemetery, if you get a good golden hour light, the place is perfect for photography.

Finally, the interior of the church is worth visiting. However, it’s not always open. There’s a phone number on the door that you need to call, and then someone comes and allows you to go in. This procedure is quite common in the area, as we found it in other churches that did not make it into this Romania photography spots guide.

The frescoes on the interior walls are really nice, and although it says no photography, I asked for permission, and I was allowed to shoot without flash.

Biertan Fortified church

This is the first of the two fortified churches in this Romania photography spots guide. Fortified churches are something quite unique and that are not that common where I am from. As the name indicates, it’s a church surrounded by a fortification. There are many, but I highlight two of them.

Biertan’s fortified church is the worst of the two. It’s really beautiful, but most of the structures, besides the church, are not open to the public. If you have a drone, bring it. I did not bring mine, and I regret it. There’s no way to get a great photo of the whole structure, unless it’s from the air.

This church, and the whole region, has a strong German influence, and this can be seen both in the informative panels and in the tourists who make it there. However, it’s not that popular, and you’ll get plenty of space to take photos.

Viscri Fortified church

If you can only visit one fortified church in Romania, go to Viscri. Even more if you like photography. This church is similar to the one in Biertan, but it’s way more prepared for tourists, and most of its buildings can be visited.

The highlight of the visit has to be the bell tower. It’s a bit sketchy to get up there, but the views from the top are amazing. You get a fantastic panorama over the countryside, but also great views over the whole fortification, something that I could not find on the Biertan fortified church.

It’s not free to access, but the fee is really low and worth paying.

Mănăstirea Rupestră Șinca Veche

The last of the religious Romania photography spots is the Sinca Veche rupestrian monastery. I wasn’t sure to include it here, for one main reason: no photography cameras are allowed in the monastery grounds. However, they have no problem with smartphones.

Despite this, which made my visit way less exciting, I think even with a smartphone, there’s a good photo to take. Also, it’s a really unique place, and I wanted to mention it.

It’s called a monastery, but the monastery itself is quite new. What is interesting about this place is the carved cave, used for religious purposes back in the days. There’s not much information on the origins of the cave (neither there nor online), but it feels ancient, and although it’s not the most well-preserved place, it’s worth stopping by if you’re in the area.

Romania photography spots: cities and castles

Let’s start this Romania photography spots guide with cities and castles. Romania is well known for its castles, one in particular, but it is not listed here. I do not include Bran’s castle because it’s a bit of a scam. Beautiful, but sold as a “Dracula castle”, when it doesn’t have anything to do with it.

However, you can find some alternatives, besides multiple cities and villages. Romania has had multiple influences during its history, and this can be reflected in the different architectural styles of its cities. Let’s see them!

Bucharest

Of course, the country’s capital, Bucharest, had to make it in the Romania photography spots guide. I have written a specific photography guide on Bucharest, so I will not list all the photo-worthy spots here.

Bucharest is a nice city, with lots of untouched potential, and a great mix of old town, more decadent and authentic areas, and some modern boroughs.

It might not be the most beautiful European capital, but if you visit Romania, you must visit it. Some people say that it doesn’t have that much to do, but this might be because it’s not such a big tourist hub. The most common sight is the Parliament, the heaviest building in the world, and a really unique place to visit.

Other relevant sights are the Pantheon, the Old Town, and some of its churches. Don’t miss my Bucharest photography spots guide!

Poenari Citadel

This citadel is included here because it resembles a castle. However, it’s not a full castle, but the ruins of what once was a remarkable citadel. Located at the beginning of the Transfagarasan road (see more in the natural spots), it offers great views over the valley where it is.

After parking your car next to the road, paying the small entry fee, and climbing around 200mts uphill, you’ll make it to the Poenari citadel. The whole way up is surrounded by fences and with music, as it’s in a bear area (see more about bears in the natural spots part).

Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with great views, if there’s no fog or mist. Even on rainy or cloudy days, it’s worth climbing up, as the ruins match really well with this sort of weather. From a photography point of view, most of the photos you can take from there are of the landscape, while including the citadel in the shots.

Sibiu

This might be the most photogenic city in this section of the Romania photography spots guide. Sibiu is a city with a clear German influence, but with a twist. Its old town is small but beautiful, and has a really unique feature. The roof windows of some buildings are built in a way that resembles eyes. They work really well in photos, and you can take some fun shots.

Overall, there’s a lot to see and photograph in the old town. If you are planning a photography trip to Romania and want to get a personalised overview, feel free to schedule a call with me using the links available on this page.

Some photography-worthy spots in the city are the market and the church tower, from where you can get a great view over the old town.

Peles Castle

Instead of visiting Bran’s castle, visit Peles Castle. I’ve been lucky to visit many castles in my life: the ones in the Loire valley, Versailles, Austrian, Spanish… but to date this is one of the most curious I’ve visited.

The differences between each room are amazing. You can go from a room with a thousand swords hanging on the walls to an Arabian-inspired salon, and then to a cute library.

The bad thing about this castle is that it’s being overrun with tourists. Although they only sell a specific number of tickets per hour, they are clearly selling too many tickets or allowing too many big groups. If you can handle this, go at your own pace and discover this amazing castle.

Very important: book your tickets in advance (1 or 2 days). Especially during the high season, chances are that at 10 am, they are sold out for the day.

Corvin’s Castle

The other big castle of this section of the Romania photography spots guide is Corvin’s Castle. Also known as Castelul Huniazilor, I have mixed feelings about this castle.

It’s objectively beautiful. A massive wooden bridge, a well-preserved (and under restoration) interior, and quite a few interesting rooms. However, it felt quite chaotic to visit. Some rooms had no explanation, others included people dressed like in the medieval ages, but they were just standing there,… the supposed itinerary is marked, but at some points you randomly skip numbers.

Nonetheless, it’s an impressive castle, and if you manage to visit it when they are not restoring its façade (as when I was there), it offers some great photos.

Baia Mare

If you make it to Baia Mare, it means you are going to the Maramures region. Well done! It’s (imo), the most underrated part of Romania. Baia Mare is a small city (almost a town), which at first sight is nothing but a base to explore the area.

However, if you explore its old town and some of the nearby streets, it has more photography opportunities than I expected. As you can see below, the city has lots of contrasts, and despite being in a not very rich area of the country, especially during the summer months, it’s very lively.

Besides the old town, there’s the Queen Maria Municipal Park, a great place for a break, or to go for a run, something not that easy in some Romanian cities.

Sighisoara

Sibiu was my favourite city, but Sighisoara is the one I enjoyed photographing the most. I’d say it’s the most photogenic of the cities listed in my Romania photography spots guide. The reason is very simple. An old pedestrian town, with cobblestone streets, built on an elevated position, and quite well restored.

Although it can feel a bit like an amusement park in some areas, the photo opportunities are there. It’s one of these places that really glow after rain and early in the morning. Being quite small, this is also the best time to photograph Sighisoara, as it’s when fewer people are on the streets.

Sighisoara is not a large city, and in a few hours you can see its main sights, but it’s a city worth visiting, especially if you are also visiting the next spot in this guide, one of the most famous cities in Romania.

Brasov

Brasov is listed in all the Romania photography spots guides I’ve found. However, I don’t think it’s a great place for photography. It’s true that it has some really nice spots: the view over the city from the Brasov sign is breathtaking, and from the white tower, you can also get a great view of the old town.

However, I didn’t find much more to capture. This is mostly due to the fact that Brasov is the most touristy city I visited in Romania. Way more than the capital, Bucharest, and than any of the other cities listed. Even more than Constanta, that felt like the summer destination of everyone in Romania.

I spent a few days in Brasov, exploring it after sunset and early in the morning, and I enjoyed it the most when I took some distance from it. Thus, I recommend photographing it from its viewpoints, but if you are expecting a great city for street photography, it might not be the right place.

Constanta

This is another of the places I wasn’t sure if I wanted to include in the Romania photography spots guide. It’s quite a common tourist destination, especially among Romanians. Sitting next to the Black Sea, it’s a seaside town that has evolved into a popular summer city.

When it comes to photography, there are two places worth mentioning. The most well-known is the Constanta Casino. This is a restored old casino sitting next (almost over) the sea, and that is the main tourist attraction of the city (besides its beaches).

The second photography-worthy area is the old town, mostly its main square. With an interesting mosque in the area, and the beautiful façace of the Museum of National History and Archaeology, these were the things that I liked the most about Constanta.

Of course, there are also the beaches, but if you are looking for a place to enjoy the black sea and discover the area, the Danube Delta (and Tulcea) might be better places. Find out more about the Danube Delta, one of the best Romania photography spots, earlier in this guide.

The Enisala Fortress

The last of the cities and castles of the Romania photography spots guide is another fortress. Like the Poenari citadel, which was once an impressive structure, it is nowadays in ruins.

However, I think it’s a worthy photography spot if you are in the area. It reminded me of some of the Game of Thrones castles, like the Zafra castle we have in Spain. Overlooking the sea, on the top of a rocky hill, and surrounded by nothing, the view from the parking and when going up is what I liked the most about the Enisala fortress.

You will be asked to pay a small fee, and you can also access a small museum with tons of information about the area. In this case, worth reading as it’s a place with a lot of history, and that dates back many centuries.

Although the best time to visit the Enisala fortress has to be sunrise and sunset, if you have to visit in the middle of the day, as I did, don’t skip it. Even with average lighting, it’s worth photographing.

This concludes my Romania photography spots guide. This is just a glimpse of what Romania can offer to photographers. There are many spots that could not make it to this guide, and lots of information that would have made this too long (it’s over 5.500 words already!). If you want to learn more about Romania, how to travel the country and how to photograph it, you can schedule a call with me using the link below. For more travel inspiration, follow me on Instagram! (@aniolvisuals)

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