Romania

Romania is the largest country in the Balkans, covering an area from the Black Sea in the south-east to the Hungarian and Ukrainian borders in the north. For many years under communist rule, since 2000 Romania has undergone considerable modernisation and economic growth and in 2007 joined the EU.

Home to more than 22 million people, Romania is also home to some of the most captivating visitor attractions in eastern Europe. From the spectacular Carpathian mountains to the painted monasteries of Bucovina, Romania has something for everyone. Romania's two main international airports are Bucharest Airport Otopeni and Timisoara Airport, which is situated in the far west of Romania. Both airports serve a wide range of destinations and direct flights are available from most countries.

The name Transylvania will be familiar to Dracula fans - it is also a large region to the north of Romania and the location of some of the best-preserved (yet lived in) medieval towns in Europe. Towns such as Brasov, Sibiu and Sighisoara (the birthplace of Dracula) are fascinating to explore and filled with interesting shops, streets and buildings.

Further south, the Romanian capital Bucharest offers a more cosmopolitan experience. The city's French appearance is largely due to the extensive remodelling carried out in the 19th century by French architects. Wide boulevards, grand buildings and elegant parks are the result - including the Soseaua Kiseleff - an avenue that is longer than Paris' famed Champs-Elysees.

Romania has too many attractions to list them all here, but other highlights of this fascinating country include the seaside resorts and spas of the Black Sea coast, which centre around the historic city of Constanta, which also has its own airport. To the east of Romania, the Carpathian Mountains provide excellent climbing, walking and skiing. The Prahova Valley in the Bucegi Mountains is the most popular of these with four growing resorts; Poiana Brasov, Busteni and Predeal.