5 Best Travel Guides about Romania (Must Read!) (2025)

If you’re planning to move to Romania or just planning to visit the country, you should check out one of my recommended books below.

From travel tips and cultural insights to local recipes, these books provide something for every kind of traveler. So, if you’re ready to explore Romania (on paper first), here are my top picks!

(Note: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this article)

1. The Rough Guide to Romania

Constantly updated, it’s probably the most comprehensive travel guide for Romania right now.

It helps you discover Romania and it is packed with practical information and honest recommendations by independent experts.

Whether you plan to go bear and wolf tracking in the Romanian wilderness, visit the opulent Peles Castle in Sinaia or go kayaking on the Black Sea,The Rough Guide to Romaniawill help you discover the best places to explore, eat, drink, shop and sleep along the way.

This comprehensive guide reviews all the top hotel and restaurant options for every taste and budget, and includes informed background on Romania’s history, wildlife, literature, music, and, of course, Dracula so it’s perfect for those looking to travel here.

Click here to check it out.

2. Romania: Transylvania

This is your ultimate guide to the legendary region in Romania. Co-authored by former British Ambassador Paul Brummell and travel expert Tim Burford, it covers everything from medieval towns and Saxon fortified churches to the wildlife-rich Carpathian Mountains.

Discover unique spots like the Turda Salt Mine’s underground amusement park, Sfânta Ana volcanic lake, or follow the Dracula trail. Hiking, history, festivals in cities like Sibiu and Cluj… everything that is related to Transylvania will be found in this guide. A must-have for exploring one of Europe’s most enchanting regions.

Click here to check it out.

3. Romania Explained to My Friends Abroad

A Romanian’s approach to describing Romania for people abroad, interested in either moving here or visiting.

See Romania from a Romanian’s point of view: the author has been working with National Geographic Romania for over a decade, so he’s somebody who’s seen a lot of our country and has some great stories to share.

As described by the author, “Romania explained to my friends abroad is not an exhaustive, academic paper on Romania; nor is it a travel guide.

I’m a simple journalist and this is just my own private Romania – a subjective puzzle of all the things I know from experience to be interesting for foreign tourists.”

This book was published in 2016, so it isn’t the most up to date one you can find, but due to the unique approach, the book is still fun to read and still accurate.

You can check it out here.

4. Taste of Romania

You can’t know everything about a country unless you know a lot about the country’s cuisine, and this book features 150 mouth watering Romanian recipes that you will surely fall in love with.

The advantage with this book is that you don’t really have to come all the way here to test the delicious food it shares with its readers!

Check it out here.

5. Michelin Romania Map

And a bonus title for you, the Michelin Romanian Map. A must have if you plan a trip to Romania, as this updated map gives travelers an overall picture of their route, with practical road and travel information; and city maps containing extensive street indexes orient them quickly so they can find their way to their destination.

In a world where Google Maps is on everybody’s phones (or an alternative to it, that is), old school physical maps seem to be pointless… until you run out of battery in a country whose language you don’t speak, with no idea where you actually are.

Better be safe than sorry, that’s what I always say!

Conclusion

These would be the best books available right now to teach you more about Romania and help you uncover its secrets, as well as well known facts or things to see/do in the country.

My personal recommendation? Start with The Rough Guide to Romania if you want a comprehensive travel companion. Pair it with Taste of Romania for a cultural and culinary experience, or Romania Explained to My Friends Abroad for a more personal touch.

And if you’re looking to go for a more do-it-yourself approach, don’t forget that this blog probably has everything you need to know, from the best things to do in Bucharest to Romanian traditions, a short history of Bucharest and everything in between.