Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
1 comment 
Discover Romania, An European Country With a Devalued Currency, Stunning Landscapes, and Ancient Culture — A Cheap and Fascinating Option for Traveling in 2025.
Romania — a cheap European country to travel to, carries in its name the heritage of the Roman Empire. The word “Romanian” derives from the Latin romanus — a citizen of Rome. The current territory was once part of Dacia, a Roman province with deep roots that span empires, revolutions, and wars. More recently, after Soviet domination and the socialist regime, Romania has risen again, and today it is part of the European Union — but with an advantage for tourists: it still does not adopt the euro as its official currency.
The local currency is the Romanian Leu (RON), and the current exchange rate is around R$ 1.28. For comparison: 1 euro costs over R$ 6.40. In other words, with the same money you’d spend on a simple coffee in France, you can pay for a complete and traditional lunch in Romania.
This detail places the country among the favorites for those seeking cheap travel in Europe in 2025, especially backpackers, couples, and explorers looking to escape the traditional routes.
-
A perfect 6 km ring in the far east of Russia intrigues NASA satellites as it appears to be a meteor crater or an extinct volcano, but the agency has already confirmed that it is neither and harbors a much stranger origin beneath the Earth.
-
From a simple approach at the gate to more than R$ 45,000 in donations, the story of a gardener offering volunteer work shows how a well-tended garden can pave the way for food, hope, and an almost finished home for a Brazilian family.
-
3.09-carat white diamond found by woman in a United States park after losing her father and son, and the rare stone valued at up to R$ 240,000 becomes a symbol of unexpected joy during a period of mourning
-
It seems like something out of a movie, but it’s real: how technology uses invisible sound waves to extinguish small fires without water, without chemicals, and without destroying household furniture.
Gothic Castles and Living Legends Present in the Cheap European Country to Travel
No trip to Romania would be complete without visiting the country’s ultimate tourism symbol: the Bran Castle, also known as “Dracula’s Castle”. Located in the heart of Transylvania, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, the castle blends real history with fiction — inspired by the figure of Vlad the Impaler, a prince of Wallachia who is said to have been imprisoned in its dungeons during the Ottoman occupation.
With pointed towers, secret passages, and an atmosphere that combines Gothic and mystical elements, the site is now one of the most visited museums in Central Europe. And the best part: the entrance costs only 60 RON, less than R$ 80. A price significantly lower than the average charged at similar attractions in other European countries.
But Bran Castle is just the beginning. Romania is full of fortresses, citadels, and medieval churches, especially in the historic cities of Sibiu, Brașov, and Sighișoara — the latter considered one of the best-preserved medieval towns on the continent.
Untamed and Pristine Nature
For those seeking nature tourism, Romania is a treasure trove — still underexplored. The country is home to:
- The Carpathian Mountains, featuring ski resorts, hiking trails, and breathtaking landscapes;
- The Bicaz Gorge, a mountain road between rock walls, perfect for road trips;
- The Danube Delta, an ecological paradise where the second-largest river in Europe flows into the Black Sea, forming channels, isolated villages, and biodiversity reserves.
You can stay in small communities accessible only by boat, such as Sfântu Gheorghe, and experience an authentic, quietly magical rural Romania.
Another natural highlight is the Transfăgărășan Highway, a long-distance trail aimed at hiking and cycling tourism. It crosses ancient villages, fortified churches, and open fields, always with the mountains as a backdrop. It’s the type of journey that offers a real connection with history and with people, outside of traditional tourist circuits.
Cheap Transportation and Vintage Atmosphere
Another charm of Romania lies in its steam trains, which still operate in some regions like Banat, in the west of the country. They traverse pastoral landscapes, connect remote villages, and offer a nostalgic — and cheap — travel experience. A train ticket can cost under R$ 10, depending on the route.
The rail network connects the main cities well, and public transportation in urban areas is functional and affordable. It’s also easy to rent cars to explore the region at your leisure, especially if the goal is to discover the more mountainous and isolated areas.
Culture, Gastronomy, and Identity
Romania is, above all, a country with a strong identity. Even having been invaded, dominated, and transformed over the centuries, it preserves its roots in every detail — from architecture to folk songs, through hearty cuisine and traditional festivals.
Romanian food blends Slavic, Turkish, and Hungarian influences, with dishes such as:
- Sarmale (cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice);
- Mămăligă (a type of polenta served with cheese and sour cream);
- Ciorbă (sour soups with vegetables and meats).
All served in generous portions at incredibly affordable prices.
Moreover, the Romanian people are known for their hospitality — especially in rural areas, where many residents open their homes to tourists through family lodging systems.
A Real Alternative for Those Wanting to Escape the Obvious
Every year, destinations like Paris, Venice, and Barcelona receive millions of tourists — and, along with them, bring queues, outrageous prices, and an increasingly standardized experience. Romania, on the other hand, offers the opposite of that.
It is a country where you can still explore the unknown, live the culture up close, and spend much less. A trip to Romania in 2025 could cost up to 40% less than visiting the most popular countries in Europe — and provide a much richer and more authentic experience.
If you’re planning your next trip to Europe and want to escape the traditional route, consider Romania. With devalued currency, ancient culture, breathtaking landscapes, and castles that seem straight out of books, the country reveals itself as one of the most promising and accessible destinations for those seeking alternative and cheap tourism in 2025.
Romania is not just an economical option — it is a deep dive into history, nature, and authenticity, in a part of Europe that time (thankfully) has not yet swallowed.
Gastei