You can follow Ayesha’s adventures on Instagram at @ajtravel.
“I recall many late nights as a child reading fairy tales of a land where the Vikings once roamed, where trolls and giants climbed jagged edged mountains and drank from the eternal waters off of a long and winding river. Little did I know that all these tales stemmed their inspiration from the beautiful landscapes that make up Norway.
As a landscape photographer, I am always in search for a new challenge and I wasn’t sure what my journey through the Norwegian landscapes would bring. Three trips later I could not get enough of the endless mountains, the majestic fjords and the glaciers that remarkably are distinct from any part of the world. Here are some reasons why I think you should visit Norway:
1. Land of the Midnight Sun: The thought of an endless summer where the sun never sets sounds something out of a Tolkien series, but in actuality this phenomena exists up in the northern parts of Norway known as “Midnight Sun”. During the summer months the sun never sets above the Arctic Circle, which means you can enjoy watching the sun set on the horizon and rise back up right in front of your eyes. The Norwegians take advantage of the long days and enjoy various activities including midnight kayaking or midnight whale watching. If your journey could not take you up to the Arctic Circle you can still enjoy late night sunsets like this shot I took at 11:45PM at the outskirts of Oslo.
2. Mystical winters: After the long summers, autumn and winter brings about long nights, but nights filled with stars and mystical green and pink lights that dance throughout the night. It comes as no surprise with the ample amount of Auroras shots flooding our Instagram feeds as many people have placed this beautiful phenomenon on their bucket list. From my various experiences in chasing Auroras, there is nowhere as beautiful as Norway to experience it. Starting September all the way through to April people flock to the island of Lofoten or the northern parts of Norway to enjoy some of the most beautiful backdrop with the Auroras.
For the wanderlusters who would like to tick the Auroras off their bucket list it would be best to watch the Auroras from northern parts of Norway. A connecting flight from Oslo could take you to Tromso, Navrik or the Lofoten Islands, all places that have ample amount of tours available for you to book during the Aurora season.
3. Endless Roadtrips: There are many places to explore around Norway so be prepared for the long journeys and do not be misled by what Google Maps defines as your route. Expect detours that will extend your trip from a typical 4 hour trip to perhaps 6 but it will all be worth it. So prepare your GoPro & camera and be ready to jump out at any point for an epic shot.
4. Natural Adrenaline Rush: Other than photographers, Norway’s Arctic Circle is a haven for adrenaline junkies. The Islands of Lofoten has now become an popular location for surfers, boulder climbers and divers. Can you blame them though? Some of the world’s wildest landscapes and toughest terrains can put the adrenaline junkie’s skills to test.
5. Waterfalls: If there is one thing Norway is not in shortage of it has to be waterfalls. Just to paint you a picture, according to the Norwegian tourism board, 10 out of the 30 tallest waterfalls in the world flow through Norway. Whether you like to enjoy a picnic by one during the summer time or climb frozen ones during the winter, both time of the years have so many different choices for you to enjoy. Ensure you put together your wishlist and sometimes you will still find some waterfalls which were never part of the list to begin with during your roadtrip.
6. The Friluftsliv Life: While people dream about staying in white stoned villas in Santorini or over water bungalows in the Maldives, you cannot leave Norway without staying in one of the many iconic Fishermen cottages, also known as a Rorbu during your trip. These are ideal places to disconnect from the outside world and focus on what the Norwegians call the “Friluftsliv” Life – which translated to returning back to nature. One of the most iconic fishing villages in Norway is Reine, part of the Lofoten Islands.
7. Wildlife: With wild landscapes and seas comes a variety of wildlife. Norway gives you an opportunity to be adventurous and have a close encounter with humpback whales and Orcas. Some travel far north to spot a polar bear during a boat right up in Svalbard. But for those who would like to venture in the central parts of Norway, keep your eyes peeled for reindeer, wolves. and moose.
8. Food: When it comes to Norwegian cuisine, it is no surprise to many to find their restaurants filled with a wide variety seafood and one of their biggest exports that we find in every supermarket we roam is their salmons but they have a wide variety to enjoy. However, it wasn’t just seafood that these mighty Vikings lived on. So be prepared to try some elk and reindeer meat! One of the greatest finds (perhaps why I have returned often) is the soft and smooth Brunost cheese which can only be found in Norway. This cheese is made with both whey and milk which I must admit, I have had more than one should have in a normal serving!
My Suggested Summer Itinerary:
Day one and two: Dubai to Oslo
— Enjoy the beautiful capital on your own slow pace. Enjoy the quirky spots and coffee shops that make this city unique before you are set for the long road trip ahead.
Day three and four: Oslo – Eidfjord
— Let the road trip begin! As mentioned before, expect many stops along the way and one particular one is to Vorginfossen, one of the most famous waterfalls in Norway. This waterfall is a must before you make your way to your place at Eidfjord.
— The next day, strap on your hiking boots and get ready to venture out to Troltunga, one of the locations that is on many bucket lists of the visitors of Norway.
Day four and five: Eidforjd – Bergen
— Although the trip may not take long but there are worthy stops along including Modabal Canyon, a waterfall you can walk through! However I do recommend leaving some time to explore Bergen.
— Take the next day to explore the surroundings of Bergen such as Voss known to be a great spot for some water adventures and waterfall spotting.
Day six and seven: Bergen to Balestrand
— Leave the city behind to enjoy life back in the fjords of Balestrand, perhaps rent out one of the many fishermen cabins by the fjord take the next two days to switch off and enjoy some of the wild landscapes of Norway.
Day eight and nine: Balestrand to Geiranger
— Today your set for a long drive to Geiranger however the scenic route is filled with so much beautiful spots you are bound to make many pit stops including to the Jostedal Glacier, the biggest glacier in all of Europe.
— Take the day off from driving and get active and enjoy a bit of hiking or kayaking around the fjords. There are many opportunities around Geiranger to be active .
Day 10: Geiranger to Oslo
— While you have the option to travel to the city of Vodal (a two hour drive from Geiranger) and take an hour flight to Oslo to return home, make another stop in the small town of Lillehammer (making your trip 5 hours rather than 8) before you head back out to Oslo.
All these destinations are served by Flydubai in direct or almost direct flights (meaning a short taxi/bus ride after your flight to get to the destination).
You can also follow my travels on Instagram (@gmr83).
1. Kolsai Lake, Kazakhstan: Looking at the picture below, one would think that this is Canada or Austria, but apparently this is how pretty Kolsai Lake is! The lake is an excellent place for camping and hiking although it is dwarfed by its neighbor, Issyk Lake. More Kazakh camping sites can be found in this guide. Flydubai flies to Almaty Airport, the closest airport to the lakes. Flight time: 4:05 hours
2. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: According to Wikitravel, Ashgabat “has been designed, at the cost of billions of dollars, to show the world about the glories and accomplishments of the Turkmen. The city looks like none other on Earth – a thoroughly artificial collection of white marble buildings across a long, dry valley. At sunrise or sunset, there’s a beauty to this uniform, outsized ambition, as if the set of a science-fiction film suddenly became an actual human settlement.” Sign me up! Flight time: 2:30 hours
3. Odessa, Ukraine: Also called the “Pearl of the Black Sea” and known for its beaches and beautiful 19th-century architecture, including the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater. Flight time: 5:30 hours (but you make it up on the way back due to time difference ☺)
4. Wadi Mujeeb, Jordan: Sure Petra and Wadi Rum are astonishing but why not venture a bit further and see this! Flydubai flies to Amman Airport. Flight time: 3:35 hours
5. Krasnodar, Russia: This is as off the beaten path as it can get! But Krasnodar is one the most important historical and cultural centers of Southern Russian and the Northern Caucasus region, which means lots of museums and beautiful architecture, which complements the beautiful nature. Flight time: 4:20 hours
6. Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti: One of the world’s prime spots for scuba diving and whale shark watching (and swimming – perfectly safe as they have a knack for seafood, not humans). It is also home to the world’s second lowest point – Lake Assal. Check out this CNN article so you can enjoy the whale shark experience responsibly. Flight time: 4:05 hours
7. Matara, Sri Lanka: One of my favorite places in Sri Lanka, which remains off the tourist radar of many people who visit the country! Read my Sri Lanka guide for more things to do in Sri Lanka if you have the time. Flight time: 4:30 hours (Note: Flydubai also flies to Mattala Airport which is closer to Matara than Colombo but flight time will be longer).
8. Kazbegi, Georgia: My favorite place in Georgia, located up high in the mountains but with a relatively mild weather. Read my Georgia guide on what else you should see if you have more than a few days. Flight time: 3:30 hours
Bonus Destinations
9. Salalah, Oman: A magical place located to the south of Oman. In fact, it is so magical that you would be in disbelief that this place actually exists within such close proximity of the scorching desert dunes of the UAE. Read my guide here on things to do and see in Salalah. Flight time: 2:00 hours
10. Beirut, Lebanon: Doesn’t really need an introduction but for the uninitiated, Beirut was once known as the Paris of the Middle East, and while its Paris days are behind it, the city maintains a lot of charm, nature, nightlife, and FOOD! Flight time: 4:30 hours
11. Maldives: Needs no introduction really. A place like no other, and only a couple of hours from the UAE. Flight time: 4:30 hours
You can follow me on Instagram (@gmr83) for more pictures of my travels.
Here are the Instagrammers I think are worth checking out:
1. @gmr83: One of the coolest people I know! Did I also mention it’s me? I know, I know, roll your eyes Although I do not live in Lebanon but I do post pictures from there every now and then.
2. @karliseverywhere: Karl is one of the first people I followed on Instagram and for good reason. His pictures are not only well composed, but his editing style is consistently unique to the extent that you won’t believe some of the pictures were taken in Beirut.
3. @justzhm: Zari is one of Lebanon’s most talented artists and one of the very few people from Lebanon to be featured by Instagram itself! How cool is that?! The characters she adds to mundane pictures transform these shots into brilliant masterpieces.
4. @riseabovelebanon: One of the most unique accounts in Lebanon, capturing bird view pictures of places that we have all been to.
5. @melissahashem and @pamhachem: Two sisters capturing stunning street shots from their daily life in Beirut. Also check out their great feature account @imjustpassing.
6. @lebanonbyalocal: An account that would immediately make you nostalgic to the good old times in Lebanon especially if you are not living in Lebanon. The shots are well chosen and curated and cover everything from food and architecture to landscape and street photography.
7. @georges__chamoun: George has a sharp eye for street photography and architecture, and his shots are well timed and so well edited.
8. @dany_111: Dany posts sea or seaside pictures that will make you want to leave everything and head over to Batroun immediately!
9. @elias.ac: A mountaineering expert so you guess where most of his pictures are taken
Who are your favorite Lebanese Instagrammers? Mention them in the comment section below!
I don’t think I ever felt so close to nature as much as I did there. The energizing feeling you get from the fresh smell of pine trees, the beautiful vistas, the roaring waterfalls, and the sense of solitude are difficult to describe. Nature has a special way of showing you how small you are in the scheme of things.
All this would not have been possible without my Serbian guide, Grada, who is not only a passionate nature conservationist, but is also very knowledgeable about history and preservation. You can reach him at [email protected] to book a custom made tour.
Now that I visited the country, I think there are many reasons to visit but here are some that I think stand out.
Have you been to Serbia? What are your favorite things?
Believe it or not, I recently started using Instagram almost exclusively when planning for trips and it has proven to be an excellent verification tool in making sure that hotels and travel websites don’t lie to us about how big that pool is or about how pretty a certain village is.
Long story short, the trip – which was my first in Asia, not counting the short trip to the Maldives years before — was a success and I fell in love with Sri Lanka. Things that normally bother me in other destinations seemed fine here. Despite the turbulent history, everything seems to be in peace and harmony here. I even saw people moving out of the way when they walk to avoid stepping on insects. For the first time in a very long time, I really felt that this would be a place I can sit back and retire.
As I said in my previous post on my favourite city, Berlin, it is almost impossible to describe the feeling you get when you’re in a place you really like. It’s a combination of how the city/country feels and how being there makes you feel.
Without further ado, here are some of the things that I really liked about Sri Lanka.
You can also follow me on Instagram (@gmr83) for more pictures of Sri Lanka and other places around the world.
1. People: Get ready to meet some of the friendliest people in the world. I don’t think I saw people smiling as much as Sri Lankans when they hear you say hello or goodbye in their language. If you really want to warm their hearts (and yours), bring a Polaroid camera with you and give people the pictures you take of them. Many Sri Lankans are poor and cannot afford a camera and they, most probably, don’t even have a picture of themselves.
2. Whale watching: Sri Lanka’s south, west, and east coasts are some of the best locations in the world to watch whales, particularly the humpback and the blue whales. According to the Sri Lankan Tourism Authority, the ideal locations for whale watching would be Dondra Point and Trincomalee, while the sea off Kalpitiya teems with an abundance of dolphins.
3. Beaches: Sri Lanka is home to gorgeous, unspoiled beaches, and many guesthouses are located either right on the beach or a few meters away. Insight Guides has an excellent list of the best beaches in Sri Lanka so check it out when you’re planning. I wholeheartedly recommend Mirissa.
4. Food: Sri Lankan food is influenced by various cuisines, most notably Indian, Arab, and African. The hoppers and sour fish curry are delicious but here are 10 more dishes!
5. Nature: I don’t think I was ever fascinated by any nature as much I was by the one in Sri Lanka. It just felt so raw and vibrantly majestic. Whether you’re after jungles, birds, waterfalls or anything else in between, Sri Lanka has it… in abundance.
6. Tea: Let’s face it – no one makes tea the way Sri Lankans do it! Tea is an integral part of Sri Lankan life and history, not to mention that it pours $1.5 billion in the country’s economy. In addition, tea plantations are a remarkable thing to see when in bloom and during picking season. CNN has a great list of tea experiences.
7. Trains: The trip we took from Ella to Kandy on what is possibly the oldest train I have ever seen is one of the most scenic and beautiful in the world. You will pass by countless small villages and tea plantations that will make you want to jump off the train just to see them.
8. Temples: Sri Lanka is home to Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, and Muslims among other religions, which is why you will see many beautiful temples scattered around the country. My favorites were the Dambulla cave temple, the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.
9. Safari: Despite its small size Sri Lanka boasts of one of the highest rates of biological endemism in the world and is included among the top five biodiversity hotspots in the world. Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park has one of the highest leopard densities in the world with 25 individual leopards.
Have you been to Sri Lanka? What was your favorite experience?
Flydubai has regular flights to Salalah which is about 2 hours away from Dubai. We stayed at the Rotana Salalah Resort which was great.
For some background, Salalah is the second largest city in the Sultanate of Oman, the largest city in the Dhofar Province, and is the birthplace of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. If you’ve heard about Salalah before, it is probably because of its unique Khareef (autumn) season – from July to September — during which temperatures drop compared to other cities in the Gulf and the desert is completely transformed to lush greenery.
Think of Salalah as Mars meets Sri Lanka. For that reason, the short travel distance, and several other reasons which I will list below, Salalah makes an excellent and unique weekend trip from Dubai or any other GCC city really.
As usual, you can follow me on Instagram (@gmr83) for more pictures of Salalah and other places.
1. Breathtaking cliffs: A few minutes away from Salalah is Taqah — a coastal town that has a small castle and beautiful cliffs overlooking the ocean below. The drive is quite easy although a bit offroad.
2. Marneef cave and blowholes: These are the next best thing to geysers!
3. Mountains: Salalah is surrounded by beautiful mountains that turn into blinding green color in the Khareef season so take your pick and head up to one of the mountains!
4. Job’s Tomb: Job is a prophet in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and his tomb is believed to be located in Salalah. You can read more about him in the picture caption below. The drive up to the tomb is scenic, and make sure to stop for a cup of delicious karak at the small cafeteria near the tomb.
5. Camel meat barbecue: Yup, you heard me! Salalah has a ton of small eateries on the side of roads serving camel barbecue which is cooked live in front of you on… wait for it… hot gravel! It is super delicious and you might down 5 skewers before it hits you that you are actually eating camel meat!
6. People: Omanis in general are known to be the friendliest people in the GCC – sorry Emiratis, Qataris, Kuwaitis, Saudis, and Bahrainis, but you know it’s true!
7. Waterfalls: Salalah’s unique nature and climate has allowed for beautiful waterfalls to form. This one below is called Ayn Athum (17.134315, 54.364312).
Last but not least, here is a video on Salalah’s unique Khareef season so you’d know what to expect:
You can also follow me on Instagram (@gmr83) for more shots from this gorgeous resort.
The Anantara Veli Maldives Resort is a 35-minute speedboat ride away from the airport. We arrived in the afternoon to be welcomed by a small band playing traditional music which was lovely. We proceeded to check in which was a breeze (literally) especially after being served cold, scented towels and refreshing juices.
The Anantara Veli Maldives Resort is also part of the Discovery Loyalty program, which includes 34 independent luxury hotel brands in 76 countries.
I am particularly a fan of this program because it offers authentic local experiences (around 2,200 of them) at all its properties, which distinguishes it from most of the other hotel loyalty programs out there.
The Anantara Veli Maldives Resort is an adults-only resort, which makes it a perfect romantic getaway for couples. The resort features 25 over water bungalows, 11 superior over water bungalows, 14 deluxe over water bungalows, 7 ocean pool bungalows, and 10 deluxe over water pool bungalows. We stayed at the superior over water bungalow which had amazing views of the ocean, a private pool, and a beautiful bathtub with floor to ceiling windows so you could soak in peace. For a short video of our room, check out this Facebook video which I recorded live at that time:
The resort offers several dining options: 73 Degrees (excellent buffet variety at breakfast), Baan Huraa (one of the best Thai restaurants in the world), and Origami (for Japanese cuisine). In addition, you will have the chance to try various water sports and activities such as diving, surfing, deep sea and hand line fishing, in addition to non-water sports like tennis, volleyball, and badminton, petangue. Yoga and meditation aficionados will love The Pavilion with its strategic location over the ocean and seclusion from the rest of the island/resort.
The staff at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort are very multinational which I think helps a lot in catering to the tastes of guests who come from virtually every corner in the world, and I would like to thank them for making our stay unforgettable in every sense of the word. Special thanks to Juliane, Kathryn, Munzir, Mikayel, and Aiman for pulling all the stops and even anticipating our needs to make our stay as wonderful as it was.
Without further ado, here is the promised list of 6 things that made our experience at the Anantara Veli Maldives Resort special:
And if all this is not enough, here is a bonus reason:
Thanks again for all the staff at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort for the unforgettable stay. To find out more about the resort you can visit their website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Special thanks also to flydubai for getting us there safe and sound!
PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi is part of the Global Hotel Alliance’s Discovery loyalty program, which includes 34 independent luxury hotel brands in 76 countries.
I am a fan of this particular program even before staying at PER AQUUM because it offers authentic local experiences (around 2,200 of them) at all its properties, which distinguishes it from most of the other hotel loyalty programs out there.
At the end of this review, you will find a list of five reasons why I think this hotel should be anyone’s destination of choice should you find yourself in the Maldives. Heads up, I will be preparing a similar list for the other hotel I stayed in.
So, we arrived in Male, the Maldivian capital, shortly before midnight after a quick flight with flydubai which operates daily flights from Dubai to the Maldives. We were received at the airport by a smiling representative of PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi who escorted us to the boat which would take us to the hotel island.
After a 30-minute drive in what is possibly the fastest wifi-equipped boat in the world (that thing was literally flying on the water!) and an endless supply of deliciously refreshing coconut water onboard, we arrived on the island and were taken to our room which featured a backyard with a pool, an outdoor bathtub, a private semi-outdoor shower, a rainfall shower, and another smaller pool in the front of the house, but most importantly, we were a few meters away from the beach.
As you would imagine at any luxury hotel, the room had all the amenities from a large plasma TV, a Bose surround sound system and iPod music library, personal espresso machine, a bar, and luxury bath gels and shampoos.
In the morning we woke up to discover the island and what the hotel has to offer. The island on which PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi is located is gorgeous and cozy at the same time and is walkable in less than half a day even for slow walkers. There are two types of “rooms” with varying sizes and room numbers – the ones that are on the main island and villas that are located right above the water. For the ultimate exclusive experience, you can always stay on the hotel’s luxury one bedroom dhoni (traditional Maldivian ship).
The hotel offers a full range of activities includes yoga, fishing, dolphin cruises, traditional dhoni boat trips, sandbank snorkeling, and diving. And there is no shortage of dining options at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi with four restaurants and two bars for cocktails and sundowners.
Oh and believe it or not, Per Aquum Huvafen Fushi has its own time zone that is different from Male and is designed to help guests make the most out of the day. Talk about feeling special!
Maldives may have many options of luxury and beautiful hotels but it is the small things and the personalized experience that make all the difference when choosing hotels. The genuine smile and helpfulness of the staff at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi were a great complement to the beauty of the island and the resort, whose name (Huvafen Fushi) literally translates to Dream Island – a perfect description in my opinion. During our stay, we were made to feel that we are the only guests on the island and that alone is a testament to the kind of treatment guests receive at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi.
There are many, many reasons to choose to stay at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi, but I have prepared a list of the 5 things that we personally experienced and that I believe made PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi a special place. Please feel free to comment below with your experiences!
1. The world’s first underwater spa: Yes you heard me! In case being on a beautiful island is not enough relaxation for you, let your PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi masseuse take you 6 or 8 meters under the lagoon in the middle of a coral garden and surrounded by colorful fish swimming around the 180 degree windows!
2. Coral reef snorkeling: PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi is one of the best places in the Maldives and the world for snorkeling. Regardless if you are a first timer or an expert snorkeler, PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi has you covered with its house reef and lagoon. Prepare yourself for an awesome display by Mother Nature for some of the world’s most colorful fish, (harmless) reef sharks, and beautiful corals.
3. Feeding the stingrays: As a person who dreads the animals of the water generally, I was somewhat reluctant to take part in this activity. HOWEVER, it turned out to be one of the best experiences I have ever had! At around sunset, PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi’s delightful resident marine biologist Beth gave guests a quick briefing on stingrays and how to feed them. Beth has also made up names for each stingray that shows up at the beach along with her professional notes on each stingray’s behavior. Beth then gives you a bucket of fish parts which the stingrays siphon right off your hand! Check out a video below of this exhilarating experience!
4. RAW restaurant: This is a small restaurant set over water. What makes it so special? It serves the most delicious 100% raw food and healthy drinks you have ever had. Have you ever had a raw pizza? No? Prepare to be mind blown by the delicious raw pizza the chef at RAW makes. We also had the Buddha salad and the raw wagyu beef tartar both of which were delicious as well.
5. Complimentary island-made ice cream and smoothies by the pool: What’s the best thing to have after napping by the infinity pool in the middle of the Indian Ocean surrounded by some of the bluest waters in the world? Hello complimentary delicious island made ice cream and sorbet! Or you could go for a signature smoothie to freshen your body and soul.
6. Lonu Veyo Saltwater Flotation Pool: The only pool of its kind in the Maldives is located a few steps away from the infinity pool. This flotation pool allows you to effortlessly float and soak while being surrounded by the crystal waters of the lagoon.
In conclusion, if you look at other online pictures of PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi you will immediately get a sense of how we felt while we were there. Add to that, the wonderful staff – especially Jodi, Nine Two, and Jay – who work day and night to ensure you have the ultimate relaxing experience.
To learn more about PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi, check their website, Facebook, or Instagram.
You can also follow me on Instagram (@gmr83) for more shots from Per Aquum.
I spent a week in Romania, most of which was in Bucharest with a day trip to Brasov. I am by no means an expert on the country but here are some of the reasons I think you should plan your next trip there. You can visit the website of Romania’s Tourism Department for more information, and you can follow me on Instagram (@gmr83) for more pictures from Romania and around the world.
1. Herăstrău Park: Bucharest, the Romanian capital, is one of the greenest cities in the world with many parks spread around the city. The largest one is Herăstrău Park which spreads on an area of 1.1 sq km, most of which is actually a lake.
2. Palace of the Parliament: A massive structure in Bucharest and the second largest administrative building in the world, after The Pentagon in the United States. The palace however is a symbol of the dictatorship under the rule of Ceausescu who ordered the construction of the palace at high human and economic costs.
3. Brasov: One of Romania’s best kept medieval cities, boasting a sign similar to the one in Hollywood on top a surrounding mountain.
4. Cluj Napoca: the largest town in Transylvania, is a major economic center and a youthful city, housing one of the largest universities in Europe.
5. Libearty Bear Sanctuary: This is the biggest brown bear sanctuary from Europe. Here, 75 bears found a nice home in this 5 star welfare facility after being rescued from abuse in circuses and captivity. Tours are possible and are guided by trained animal welfare experts.
6. Bran Castle: Commonly known as “Dracula’s Castle”. This place is closely associated with the legend of Dracula although the actual history is debatable. Enough said!
7. Arcul de Triumf: No, this is not Paris! Bucharest had several arcs over its history — the first, wooden, triumphal arch was built hurriedly, after Romania gained its independence (1878), so that the victorious troops could march under it. Another temporary arch was built on the same site, in 1922, after World War I, which was demolished in 1935 to make way for the current 25-meter triumphal arch, which was inaugurated in September 1936.
8. Constanta: It is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Romania, and is also the country’s warmest city. It is located on the Black Sea and is perfect for summer vacations.
9. Coffeeshop scene: Bucharest is one of my favorite cities for coffee. Hipster and casual coffee shops are spread around the city and you would be tempted to make several stops during the day.
10. Timisoara: it is one of the most prosperous and modernized cities in Romania, and the place in which the 1989 Romanian anti-communist revolution began.
11. Sibiu: One of the most beautiful cities in Transylvania, it has the best preserved historical sites in the country, many museums and exhibitions, proximity to the stunning Făgăraş mountains.
12. Sighisoara: The city’s downtown area, the Sighisoara Citadel, is the last inhabited medieval citadel in Europe and one of the best historical monuments preserved nowdays.