Top 10 fairytale destinations in Romania. Theme parks that should not be missed this summer PHOTO VIDEO

Beyond the natural tourist potential of Romania, its attractions compared not infrequently with those of much better-known destinations in the world, more and more places have appeared in our country that attract an audience aimed at entertainment.

From the Valley of the Twelve, to the Valley of Stories, from the overturned houses, to the Clay Castle of the Fairies, from Mini Transilvania Park, to the Fairy Tale Tower, we propose a list of places that you should not miss this summer, some of which are included in the “Destination of the Year 2024”.

As in other countries, tourists, whether Romanian or foreign, want to combine nature escapes with other types of tourism, such as amusement, theme, adventure parks, which can be both adults and children can enjoy it, in the family or in groups, in places where relaxation and good will combine with the educational part, knowledge, but also courage.

And the vloggers from “Dreamy Travels” posted a video with six such unique parks. However, we propose a top 10 fairytale destinations, which we have grouped according to the area where they are located, which you could take into account if you plan to enjoy unusual places in our country.

Mini Transilvania Park, in Harghita

We start the ranking with Mini Transilvania Parc – winner of the category “Fun and Adventure” TO “Destination of the Year 2024”. The objective is located at Băile Seiche, near the town of Odorheiu Secuiesc, in Harghita county. It is proud to be the only multicultural theme park in our country, which has 130 models representing historical buildings and localities, monasteries, castles, medieval fortresses and fortified churches from Transylvania, among which some are emblematic such as: Bran Castle, Peleș Castle, Monastery Brâncoveanu, Corvinilor Castle, Deva Citadel and others included in the UNESCO World Heritage. A mini-mocanica walks tourists among the models, and for the little ones there is a special exhibition with medieval weapons and coats of arms in the mini-fortress in this amusement park.

Details of the models, some of which are interactive and others are hydro-powered, can be accessed directly from the phone. In the hope that we have made you curious, we leave you to discover the rest of the surprises yourself.

The overturned house from Praid

Also in Harghita there is an “Overturned House” located right in the center of the Praid resort. From the moment you enter the facility, everything is upside down, from the box where you buy your tickets, to the display announcing the opening hours or access fees. As for the cottage itself, the front door leads directly to the roof. Also here you can see another children’s playhouse, a giant table and chair set, and a garage where a car and a bicycle are parked upside down. Even the toilet in the back yard is turned upside down and has a surprise inside.

There are also overturned houses in Romania in Avrig – Sibiu, within the Brambura Park tourist complex and in the Bumbești-Pițic commune in Gorj – the first construction of this kind in our country.

And if you still arrived in the area, on June 15, 2024, Salina Praid also reopened, after its visit was suspended for a month due to being flooded by the Corund stream.

Alpine Coaster from Toplița

We stay in Harghita to enjoy the longest bobsleigh track in Romania, inaugurated in 2021. The track in Toplița, located near the Bradul ski slope, is approximately two kilometers long, currently not only the longest in the country but , probably, and the most modern. The maximum speed that can be reached here with the summer sled is 46 km/h. The complete circuit takes about 9 minutes. The track has a downhill section, most of which is through the forest and a slow uphill section, and during the race you can enjoy the thrills and the scenery.

You can come to Toplița both in summer and in winter, both the bobsleigh and ski slopes being functional. Be careful, however, not to confuse it with the Alpine Coaster installation at Cheile Grădiștei – Fundata, in Brașov county.

In the area, in addition to excursions and hikes in nature, you can also enjoy the mesothermal waterfall from Toplița, other pools with thermal water or horse-drawn sleigh rides or, if it is winter, husky dogs.

The valley of stories from Brașov

A fairytale land also hides in the Bran – Brașov area, winner of second place this year at “Destination of the Year”also in the category “Fun and Adventure”. Here you can discover all the places from the children’s stories: from the Curly’s Lair, the Witch’s House, the Princess’s Castle, the Dragon’s Tower, Santa’s House, Snow White’s House, the Fairy’s Tower, in the Arctic Zone.

And if you still arrived in the area, we invite you not to miss another spectacular place: Dino Parc Râșnov, which also climbed the podium from “Destination of the Year 2024”.

Dino Park Rasnov

It is about the largest dinosaur park in South-Eastern Europe. One of the most popular attractions in our country, awarded last year with the award “Tripadvisor Travelers Choice Award” is an open-air museum spread over an area of ​​more than four hectares that houses more than 120 scientifically certified life-size dinosaurs, some of which make terrifying sounds. Among them, you will also find the reproduction of the largest flying animal in the world, a real meteorite, as well as a huge Sauropod 45 meters long.

The park also features playgrounds, treehouses with science exhibits, a movie theater, a laser maze room, unique exhibits, and other interactive areas such as the volcano that simulates an eruption or the platform that exemplifies three types of earthquakes.

The park is located in the vicinity of Râșnov Citadel, being quite close to both the city of Brașov and the attractions of Bran.

The story of the Calendar from Porumbacu – Sibiu

In the neighboring county, Sibiu, you can discover two other magical worlds: The Story of the Calendar and the Clay Castle from Valea Zânelor. There are two different theme parks, set up in the same locality, Porumbacu de Sus, at the foot of the Făgăraș Mountains.

The Story of the Calendar represents a portal to the magical world of childhood where the little ones have the opportunity to know the months of the year in a different form, where they can find out their story, origins, significance, old name and others. Each building in the park has a certain theme: from Brother Gerar’s Gingerbread House (January), to Brother Făurar’s Dragobete House (February), or Brother Mărțișor’s Mushroom House with Goodies (March) and so on until Santa’s Fir – brother Undrea’s cottage (December).

All of them hide unexpected surprises for both children and adults. For the bravest there is also an Inn of the Undead with scary stories.

Clay Castle on Valea Zânelor

The magic continues in Valea Zânelor with a castle like no other in Romania, as if taken directly from fairy tales. Only here, since the end of April 2024, access has been limited, as a result of mass tourism, being conditional on the purchase of a consumption voucher of 70 lei/person which obliges you to stay longer and enjoy the gastronomy as well of the place, on the terrace of the Magic Garden of the Fairies.

It is planned that the Fairy Castle will be turned into a hotel in the future. Until then, however, legend has it that the land it is on was inhabited in the past by magical creatures who still protect the place that was once their home.

The out-of-the-ordinary construction, made only of natural materials, cannot be visited inside either, but the picturesque landscapes of the place outline the frame broken from Romanian fairy tales.

Both the Lut Castle in Valea Zânelor and Povestea Calendarului are very easy to reach from DN1 / Porumbacu – Sibiu. In the area, there are also many trout farms, Transfăgărășan and Lake Bâlea – a stone’s throw away, as well as other attractions on the Avrigului Valley.

Dinosaur World Transylvania, from Hunedoara

And in Hunedoara there is a dinosaur park, at the foot of the Retezat Mountains, between the village of Sânpetru (Comune Sântămaria Orlea) and the village of Sibișel (Comune Râu de Mori). In fact, the first dinosaur fossils in Romania were discovered in the Valley of the Dinosaurs in Șara Hațegului.

Park “Dinosaur World Transylvania” it offers fun, adventure and relaxation in the open air, being suitable for children, but also for grandparents, for natural history enthusiasts, and for all those looking for thrills.

In addition to interacting with animals in type games “Survivor”, here there are also inflatable slides, rodeo bulls, or special areas with sand and games. The place also has a livestock farm with American bison, donkeys, ponies, horses, alpacas, fallow deer, fallow deer; the possibility of horseback riding, ziplines and trails in the trees, a colorful train, a relaxation island with swings, hammocks, benches and gazebos in the forest.

You can also visit the Dacian Fortresses in Orăștiei Mountains – another one “Destination of the Year 2024”: Sarmizegetusa Regia, Luncani – Piatra Roșie, Costești-Blidaru, Costești-Cetățuie, Căpâlna and Bănita – part of the UNESCO world heritage, as well as Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana, Mălăiesti Citadel, Motilor Pantheon, Bolii Cave, Prislop Monastery, Avram Iancu Museum House, Museum Dacian and Roman civilizations from Deva, or Arsenal & Aqua Park from Orăștie.

The Valley of the Twelve from Neamt

Among the almost 130 tourist attractions in Romania that competed in the 13 categories “Destination of the Year 2024”in the final there was also a tourist attraction from Neamț County.

“Valley of the 12 / XII”, from Dobreni, the holiday village on the road between Piatra Neamț and Târgu Neamț, competed in the category “Epic Accommodations – Boutique”. The place, like a return in time, to the times when happiness came from simple things, has houses made of earth, wood and stone, where the lighting is done with candles or lamps, inside there are no sockets or light bulbs and, in the winter, the heat is made on the stove. The products offered by the hosts are traditionally prepared over a wood fire.

The complex is laid out on an area of ​​5,000 square meters, being built to recreate the joy of vacations at grandparents, as a place of inspiration for body and soul, but also for those who want to break away from everyday life.

Legend has it that in ancient times, a seven-headed dragon lived on the surrounding hills and defended the valley from dangers, being helped by 12 warriors who had their village here – hence the name of the place.

The tower of Făt-Frumos from Botoșani

And at the edge of the woods in Ipotești – Botoşani, a fairyland was created, 12 kilometers away from the county seat. Secret paths and magical clearings lead to a stone tower like in fairy tales, which rises next to a clay vault and a house like that of Good Friday.

In the Tower of Făt-Frumos, the internal spiral staircase leads to an observation point of the wonderful surrounding landscape, including the village of Cătămărești. The construction was inspired by the fairy tale itself “Prince Charming” written by Mihai Eminescu.

The building next to the tower is called “The House of Longing”, which has on the facade a solar motif present in the Cucuteni Culture, and the belt that surrounds it represents the motif of rebirth. Two huge angel wings were drawn on the back of the house as a photo spot for unforgettable memories. Inside, you can find the complete work of Mihai Eminescu, and all those who cross its threshold are conditioned to recite at least one stanza out loud. The other building represents “The Nest of Artists” – a house similar to that of the hobbits – where reading, painting, literary creation and music workshops are held.