New Year’s Eve is widely celebrated throughout Romania. It is a time to bid goodbye to the year that has passed by and welcome the new one with open arms. While most people celebrate this special evening in hotels, ballrooms, bars, clubs, and friends’ houses, others prefer more unconventional places to ring in the New Year.
Sighisoara Citadel
Sighisoara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, is renowned for its medieval Citadel, which remains inhabited. The Citadel, built in 1280, saw the arrival of craftsmen in the 14th century, who formed guilds and constructed a 930-meter-long, 4-meter-high defensive wall around it.
Located within this Citadel is the "House Georgius Krauss" tourist resort, part of UNESCO’s patrimony and categorized as a boutique hotel due to its unique design. Named after Georgius Krauss, a notable historical figure who chronicled the history of Sighisoara and Transylvania, the resort has preserved its appearance since the late 20th century. Currently, the resort offers a special New Year’s package and can arrange Citadel tours with the Citadel’s drummer upon request.
Cantacuzino Castle
The Cantacuzino castle was built in 1911 upon Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino’s request. Cantacuzino, born into an aristocratic family, was a former mayor and Romania’s prime minister at the beginning of the last century. The castle was constructed on the site of the former hunting house of Cantacuzino Castle, covering an area of over 3,100 sqm in Busteni.
The castle stayed with Cantacuzino’s family until the 1940s when it was nationalized and later transformed into a sanatorium. The castle was later turned into a museum and is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Busteni. After renovation, the castle now hosts New Year’s Eve parties. This year’s party has an Italian theme, featuring exceptional Italian and French cuisine and one of the most popular cover bands, Special Guest Orchestra. Cocktails and fireworks will also be provided.
Sturdza Castle
Sturdza Castle, also known as the Sturdza Palace, is a neo-gothic castle in Miclauseni village, Romania. Gheorghe Sturdza and his wife Maria built it between 1880 and 1904. Gheorghe Sturdza was a descendant of the Moldovan lords of Romania. The castle is 20 km from Roman and 65 km from Iasi municipality. The palace is owned by the Moldova and Bucovina Cathedral and has been listed as a historical monument since 2015.
The New Year’s Eve celebration at Sturdza Castle includes a tour of the castle, followed by a gourmet menu featuring seven unique dishes. There is also a dance contest with prizes, live music, a DJ, and a traditional customs assembly from Timisesti. The evening culminates with fireworks and champagne.
Medieval locality Biertan
Biertan is a village located in the north of Sibiu County, Romania. It is recognized as one of Transylvania’s most significant villages with fortified churches and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. The Biertan fortified church served as the seat of the Lutheran Evangelical Bishop in Transylvania from 1572 to 1867. In 1397, Biertan was acknowledged as a Citadel. Like other ancient German settlements, it had a central market, and a church citadel was built above it. The present-day church, built in 1486-1526, is later Gothic.
Biertan is home to the Medieval Complex Unglerus, which comprises resorts rehabilitated in the local architectural stle. The Thomas and Michael resorts were built within two old German traditional houses and came with a medieval restaurant. Their placement near the walls of the fortified Citadel of Biertan provides a unique atmosphere for celebrating New Year’s Eve.
Hotel Castle Dracula
Romania is famous for the legend of Count Dracula, and as a result, some tourists choose to spend New Year’s Eve at the Dracula Hotel Castle. The hotel was built in 1983 in a medieval stle and is located on the border between Bistrita-Nasaud and Suceava, near the national road DN17. The Dracula Hotel Castle is situated at an altitude of 1,116 meters in Piatra Fantanele, offering a stunning view of the Bargau Mountains, and it is believed to be located in the same place as the fictional Count’s castle.
Viscri surroundings
The Viscri area, located in the heart of Transylvania, is famous for charming Prince Charles with its natural beauty. Situated less than 10 km away is the village of Crit, or Dutsch-Kreuz, as it was formerly known. Lush forested hills and meadows surround this ancient village, and its main road is listed as a historical monument.
If you plan to visit this charming village, check out the Home with Morning Glory Flowers. This accommodation offers a 3-4 night stay and a particular New Year’s Eve party. During this mini-holiday, guests can indulge in traditional Romanian food and beverages and enjoy a scenic drive by caravan.
Danube Delta
The Danube Delta, Europe's second-largest river delta, is renowned for its rich birdlife and was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1991. It provides winter shelter for various bird species, including the winter swan and polar geese.
For New Year’s Eve, the Green Village resort offers a special package accessible only by boat, with rentals available at an extra cost. Visitors arriving by car can park in Murighiol, 47 km away. The package includes three nights in a double room with all meals and beverages, a festive New Year’s Eve dinner with prizes and surprise guests, a piscatorial brunch, and a disco night on January 1st. Guests also have access to the entertainment centre, Lotus SPA, and a dry sauna, along with boat transfers from Murighiol to Sfantu Gheorghe and back.
