Bucharest isn’t really discovered as a tourist destination, so there are a lot of things that don’t make the few guidebooks that are even out there. For instance, amazingly, even the brand new Lonely Planet Guide book didn’t mention the fountains and the water show every weekend night at Piata Unirii. It’s hardly a secret, but if it’s not in the guidebooks, it’s worth a mention here!

One of our favorite things we found is Therme. It’s the largest spa in Europe, and is a marvelous way to spend the day. You can take a free bus there from Piata Romano or Piata Victoria. You’ll be pampered with indoor and outdoor heated pools, saunas, hot tubs, massages, steam rooms, incredible water slides in the family section, and a very excellent food bar with a huge amount of options. It’s near the airport, and liked it so much we scheduled our last day to spend there before an early morning flight back to the States. So make sure you pack your bathing suits!

When you’re travelling through Transylvania – and you will – in the little town of Avrig, near the north end of the Transfargarasan highway, there’s a palace once owned by Brukenthal, the prince who was so influential in building Sibiu. You can stay there overnight. Even if you don’t, it’s worth stopping for some of the best trout ever in their restaurant. Contact Brukenthal Palace for very reasonable room rates.

It’s easy to find painted eggs, embroidered blouses or table linens in the souvenir shops, but one of the most beautiful crafts in Romania are available for sale at the churches. Unique to Romania are glass icons – religious pictures hand-painted on the back of glass. They have a beautiful luminous quality and are quite inexpensive for something that’s handmade and so lovely. I bought this one at the Patriarchal Diocese which was right behind our apartment.