Oradea, Craiova and More Come Forward for Unforgettable Travel Experiences as Underrated Cities of Romania

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Oradea, Craiova and more underrated cities of Romania are coming forward with unforgettable travel experiences for curious global travellers. From Oradea’s elegant architecture to Craiova’s cultural charm, these underrated cities reveal a different Romania. Moreover, each city brings distinctive travel experiences, historic attractions, local flavours and memorable journeys. As Romania continues attracting travellers, these cities offer compelling reasons to explore beyond familiar routes. Travel And Tour World urges readers to discover how Oradea, Craiova and more cities are reshaping unforgettable travel experiences across Romania. Therefore, travellers seeking underrated cities, authentic experiences and remarkable Romanian destinations should continue reading this detailed guide before planning their next journey.

Romania Tourism 2026: Six Underrated Cities and Detailed Traveller Guide

Romania’s tourism story is becoming more interesting for travellers who want to move beyond Bucharest, Brașov, Sibiu and the country’s best-known Transylvanian attractions. The latest figures show why.

Romania recorded 14.26 million tourist arrivals in accommodation establishments during 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics. That was below the 14.57 million recorded in 2024, but still well above the 10.21 million recorded in 2021. Overnight stays reached about 29.69 million in 2025.

Foreign visitors accounted for 18.6% of Romania’s accommodation arrivals in 2025. Romanian travellers remained the dominant market, but international tourism continues to provide an important opportunity for destinations outside the country’s traditional tourism circuit.

For global travellers, this creates an attractive opportunity. Romania has historic cities, thermal destinations, mountain landscapes, museums, traditional cuisine and UNESCO-listed heritage.

Six cities deserve particular attention from travellers searching for less obvious Romanian experiences.

Romania Tourism Statistics Show a Broad Recovery Since 2021

The national five-year picture provides useful context before exploring the six destinations.

The figures are from INS tourism accommodation statistics. The methodology also includes apartments and rooms for rent from 2021 onward, so comparisons with earlier years should be made carefully.

The pattern is important for travellers. Romania’s tourism sector did not simply rebound after 2021. It reached a new high in 2024 before moderating in 2025.

The country’s largest tourism concentrations remained Bucharest, Constanța and Brașov. In 2025, Bucharest recorded about 2.05 million accommodation arrivals, Constanța approximately 1.8 million and Brașov around 1.3 million.

Yet these figures do not mean travellers should restrict their itinerary to those destinations.

Six Underrated Romanian Cities Worth Adding to a Longer Trip

The following destinations offer a different interpretation of Romania. They can work particularly well for repeat visitors, slow travellers, culture seekers, food travellers and tourists looking for fewer crowds.

1. Oradea: Romania’s Art Nouveau and Thermal-Wellness Alternative

Oradea is one of the strongest choices for travellers wanting architecture and wellness without the intensity of Romania’s most famous tourist cities.

The city sits close to the Hungarian border and works particularly well as a western Romania gateway.

Its tourism statistics demonstrate how strongly it has recovered. Municipal tourism data based on INS figures show 160,335 arrivals in 2021, 215,904 in 2022, 225,328 in 2023 and 235,429 in 2024. The city’s 2024 total was around 4% above 2023. A later municipal report using revised INS data gives 228,526 arrivals for 2025.

*Later municipal reporting based on INS TEMPO data. Differences from other published 2024 totals can result from statistical revisions and reporting definitions.

Travellers should spend at least two days here.

The first day can focus on the historic centre, Art Nouveau buildings, churches, pedestrian areas and Oradea Fortress.

The second day can combine the city with nearby thermal attractions around Băile Felix.

For food, travellers should look for regional Transylvanian and Crișana dishes. Try ciorbă, papanași, local pastries, grilled meats and Hungarian-influenced dishes.

For accommodation, the historic centre is the most practical base. It places restaurants, architecture and evening walks within easy reach.

For dining, choose independent restaurants serving Romanian and Hungarian-influenced regional food rather than relying entirely on international chains.

2. Craiova: An Oltenian Cultural City Break

Craiova is an excellent choice for travellers heading into southern Romania.

It provides a different atmosphere from Transylvania, with strong cultural institutions, parks, historic architecture and Oltenian culinary traditions.

Tourist arrivals reached 64,971 in 2021 and increased to 94,931 in 2022. The city then recorded a remarkable 163,678 arrivals in 2023, according to INS-based reporting. Arrivals reached 165,565 in 2024 and approximately 170,000 in 2025 according to later municipal reporting.

The recovery between 2021 and 2023 is particularly notable.

Travellers should devote two days to the city.

Start with the historic centre and continue toward major cultural institutions and the city’s extensive green spaces.

The city’s cultural scene is also substantial. Municipal figures cited in recent reporting show more than 409,000 museum visits in 2025, although museum visits should not be confused with overnight tourist arrivals because they can include local residents and day visitors.

Food travellers should explore Oltenian cuisine, including sarmale, mămăligă, soups, grilled meat and regional vegetable dishes.

A central hotel makes the best base for first-time visitors.

Restaurants around the historic centre are convenient for evening dining, while traditional Romanian restaurants are preferable for experiencing local cuisine.

3. Târgu Mureș: A Multicultural Transylvanian Stop

Târgu Mureș is particularly interesting for travellers who want Transylvania without staying exclusively in the better-known destinations.

The city combines Romanian, Hungarian and Transylvanian influences.

Municipal tourism figures show 189,617 arrivals in 2025, an increase of 12.2% over 2024. Overnight stays reached 277,317, up 11.2%. The average stay remained short at approximately 1.46 nights, suggesting significant room for longer leisure visits.

The county figures show a strong upward trajectory. In 2024, foreign tourists numbered approximately 70,000, around 17% more than in 2023. Sighișoara and Sovata were especially popular with international visitors.

Travellers should spend two nights in Târgu Mureș.

Visit the Palace of Culture, historic centre and medieval fortress area. Families can dedicate substantial time to the zoo and recreational facilities.

The city is also a good base for combining urban sightseeing with surrounding Transylvanian villages.

Food travellers should look for goulash-style dishes, Hungarian-influenced pastries, soups, grilled meats and Romanian staples.

Stay near the centre for walkability.

For eating, choose restaurants serving both Romanian and Hungarian-influenced cuisine. This provides a more authentic introduction to the area’s multicultural character.

4. Alba Iulia: A Fortress City With Roman and Transylvanian Layers

Alba Iulia is ideal for travellers interested in military history, Roman heritage and monumental architecture.

The city’s greatest attraction is the Alba Carolina Citadel.

The historic core also has connections to the Roman settlement of Apulum. UNESCO’s documentation identifies Alba Iulia as part of the wider archaeological landscape associated with the Roman frontier of Dacia.

Accommodation statistics show that Alba Iulia remains smaller than Romania’s leading city destinations.

The Visit Oradea tourism report, using INS data, listed 85,180 tourist arrivals for Alba Iulia in 2024.

County-level data demonstrate the wider market surrounding the city. Alba County recorded 454,594 overnight stays in 2023, compared with 416,155 in 2022 and 280,864 in 2021.

For travellers, two days are enough for the core city experience.

Spend the first day exploring the citadel and its monumental gates.

Use the second day for museums, churches and nearby wine-country experiences.

Alba County is part of an important wine-producing region, making local wines a natural addition to a food-focused itinerary.

Traditional Romanian soups, pork dishes, cheeses, breads and Transylvanian desserts are worth seeking out.

The citadel area is the most convenient place to stay because it makes early morning and evening exploration easy.

5. Suceava: A Gateway to Bucovina’s Painted Monasteries

Suceava is a particularly useful destination for travellers interested in Romania’s northeastern heritage.

The city works best as a base rather than an isolated city break.

Its strategic advantage is access to Bucovina, where Romania’s famous painted monasteries form one of the country’s most important cultural landscapes.

UNESCO includes the Churches of Moldavia among Romania’s World Heritage properties. Romania has 11 properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, including the Danube Delta, Historic Centre of Sighişoara, Wooden Churches of Maramureş and the Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania.

A 2024 INS-based ranking placed Suceava among Romania’s ten important urban tourism destinations, with 135,524 arrivals.

Travellers should allocate three days.

Day one can cover Suceava’s historic attractions.

Day two should be dedicated to the Bucovina monastery route.

Day three can explore local villages, crafts and regional food.

Bucovinian cuisine is a major part of the experience. Look for ciorbă, trout, mushrooms, polenta, smoked meats, cheeses and traditional pastries.

Stay in central Suceava for the first night and consider a rural guesthouse for the following nights.

That combination gives travellers both urban convenience and a closer connection to Bucovina’s countryside.

6. Târgu Jiu: The Brâncuși Route for Art and Architecture Travellers

Târgu Jiu is perhaps the most distinctive destination on this list for art travellers.

Its defining attraction is the monumental ensemble created by Constantin Brâncuși.

UNESCO added the Brâncuși Monumental Ensemble of Târgu Jiu to the World Heritage List in 2024. Romania’s UNESCO portfolio now contains 11 properties.

The ensemble provides a compelling reason for international visitors to travel into Oltenia.

Rather than treating Târgu Jiu as a quick stop, art-focused travellers should spend one or two nights.

Explore the monumental ensemble carefully, then use the city as a starting point for the wider Gorj region.

The surrounding area offers access to mountain landscapes and rural experiences.

For food, seek out Oltenian dishes rather than international menus. Mămăligă, cheeses, grilled meats, soups and seasonal vegetables work particularly well for a regional food itinerary.

A central hotel is the easiest option for first-time visitors.

Travellers with more time can combine Târgu Jiu with mountain and countryside excursions.

Five-Year Tourism Comparison for the Six Destinations

Because municipal tourism series are not uniformly released in the same public format for all six destinations, the following table separates verified municipality figures from wider regional indicators.

The absence of a figure in this table should not be interpreted as zero tourism. It means a comparable municipality-level annual number was not found in the authoritative material reviewed.

This distinction is essential because Romania’s statistical system can publish data by municipality, county, tourist area and accommodation methodology. Mixing those categories can create misleading comparisons.

A Detailed 10-Day Romania Underrated-Destinations Travel Plan

Travellers can build these six cities into a longer Romanian journey.

Travellers with limited time should not attempt all six destinations.

A three-to-four-day trip could combine Oradea and Alba Iulia.

A five-to-seven-day cultural journey could add Târgu Mureș and Suceava.

Art travellers should prioritise Târgu Jiu.

Families should consider Târgu Mureș.

Wellness travellers should combine Oradea with Băile Felix.

How to Build a More Authentic Romanian Food Journey

Food can connect these destinations.

In Oradea and Târgu Mureș, travellers can explore the meeting point between Romanian and Hungarian culinary traditions.

In Alba Iulia, regional Transylvanian dishes and local wines add depth to the itinerary.

Suceava introduces visitors to Bucovinian cuisine, with trout, mushrooms, smoked meats, cheeses and traditional baked dishes.

Craiova and Târgu Jiu provide a different Oltenian culinary identity.

Across the country, travellers should look for ciorbă, sarmale, mămăligă, local cheeses, seasonal vegetables and papanăși.

The strongest strategy is to choose restaurants that identify dishes by region and use local ingredients.

Why These Six Cities Matter for Romania Tourism 2026

Romania’s tourism numbers show a country that has rebuilt a large part of its visitor economy since 2021.

National arrivals increased from 10.21 million in 2021 to 14.57 million in 2024 before easing to 14.26 million in 2025.

International travellers are also becoming increasingly important. Foreign visitors accounted for 18.6% of accommodation arrivals in 2025.

That creates an opportunity for destinations beyond Romania’s established tourism giants.

Oradea offers architecture and thermal tourism.

Craiova delivers culture and Oltenian character.

Târgu Mureș provides multicultural Transylvanian experiences.

Alba Iulia combines Roman history with a spectacular fortress.

Suceava opens the door to Bucovina’s painted monasteries.

Târgu Jiu provides an internationally recognised Brâncuși experience.

Together, they reveal a more varied Romania.

The country has 11 UNESCO World Heritage properties, covering cultural landscapes, historic centres, religious architecture, archaeological heritage and major natural environments.

For international travellers, that variety is perhaps Romania’s greatest advantage.

Instead of treating Romania as a short stop between better-known European destinations, visitors can now build a complete journey around its lesser-known cities.

The best strategy is to travel slowly, stay locally, eat regionally and connect cities with nearby cultural and natural attractions.

That approach turns Romania’s latest tourism statistics into something more meaningful for travellers: an invitation to discover a side of the country that many international visitors still overlook.

Conclusion

Romania offers far more than its famous castles and major tourist cities. Oradea, Craiova, Târgu Mureș, Alba Iulia, Suceava and Târgu Jiu reveal a quieter, richer side of the country. Each destination brings distinctive architecture, heritage, food, culture and memorable experiences for international travellers. Moreover, their growing tourism appeal gives visitors more opportunities to explore beyond conventional routes. From Oradea’s Art Nouveau streets and Craiova’s cultural attractions to Suceava’s Bucovinian heritage and Târgu Jiu’s remarkable Brâncuși legacy, these cities deserve a place on modern Romania itineraries. For travellers seeking authentic experiences and lesser-known European destinations, Romania’s underrated cities are increasingly difficult to overlook.