Romania is regrettably, for one reason or the other - leaving Bucharest aside - not yet blessed with too many great hotels and accommodation venues. Finding a decent and satisfactory place for the night too often remains a lottery with only a few hits and far too many miss options. You will find plenty of Casas, Penisuneas or Hotels spread all over the country; but, unfortunately too often built only for the quick buck or without any knowledge or understanding of what the traveler needs and expects. Worse even if both are the case!

As Romania has recently celebrated its National Day (December 1st, that is), we've chosen Alba Iulia as the destination city of this week, for its historical meaning.

Sinaia is more than a mountain resort where travelers flock during winter time. It's a place filled with history and stories, a week-end destination all year round. Discover some of these stories below. You can read more in the recent Bucharest, Romania and Beyond Guide published by City Compass - how to get the guide, here.

'tis is the season to be outdoorsy! Choose one of the Bucharest ice skating rinks listed below. Most of them provide ice skates for rent. The cost of an entry ticket is usually RON 10, while renting the ice skates will cost an extra RON 10 or RON 15. Enjoy your winter holiday in Bucharest!

Street celebrations and street shops return to Bucharest during the winter season. This year, a couple of new Christmas markets have emerged – such as the one in the Old Town, an area of Bucharest which has flourished. See below the list of Christas markets and fairs in Bucharest. Drop us a line if you find a new one and we'll write about it.

If you want some extra inspiration for finding the right Christmas gifts for your friends and family back home, or for...

Romania is a rich country when it comes to traditions and superstitions. Modern Romanians only keep a few of them, but more of the local traditions can be discovered in the countryside, in remote areas of the country. Romania-Insider.com presents some of the winter traditions and customs in Romania that you are likely to witness during December, if you spend your holidays in the country. If you learned of a custom and you'd like to share, drop us an e-mail at editor@romania-insider.com.

This week's travel destination in Romania is Sighişoara, one of the most beautiful and well preserved inhabited citadels in Europe. The city is located in the historic region of Transylvania, on the Târnava Mare River in Mureş county.

With the winter holidays knocking on our doors, Romanian-Insider.com reviews some of the best places in Romania to spend the winter holidays. Plus, it adds a useful list of ski slopes in Romania, but before choosing a destination, check the weather forecast, as most of the slopes rely on natural snow. You can choose winter sports, spend some time in the nature, traditional holidays, uncovering less known areas of Romania or taking outdoors baths at low temperatures. Either way, let us know what your favourite places in the country are.

An area of 90,000 hectares in the protected natural site Nordul Gorjului, in Western Romania, will be protected through a project worth EUR 4.9 million, part of the European program Natura 2000. The area includes 45 natural reservations, among which best known are Cheile Sohodorului (in picture) and Cheile Tismanei.

Romania is regrettably, for one reason or the other - leaving Bucharest aside - not yet blessed with too many great hotels and accommodation venues. Finding a decent and satisfactory place for the night too often remains a lottery with only a few hits and far too many miss options. You will find plenty of Casas, Penisuneas or Hotels spread all over the country; but, unfortunately too often built only for the quick buck or without any knowledge or understanding of what the traveler needs and expects. Worse even if both are the case!

As Romania has recently celebrated its National Day (December 1st, that is), we've chosen Alba Iulia as the destination city of this week, for its historical meaning.

Sinaia is more than a mountain resort where travelers flock during winter time. It's a place filled with history and stories, a week-end destination all year round. Discover some of these stories below. You can read more in the recent Bucharest, Romania and Beyond Guide published by City Compass - how to get the guide, here.

'tis is the season to be outdoorsy! Choose one of the Bucharest ice skating rinks listed below. Most of them provide ice skates for rent. The cost of an entry ticket is usually RON 10, while renting the ice skates will cost an extra RON 10 or RON 15. Enjoy your winter holiday in Bucharest!

Street celebrations and street shops return to Bucharest during the winter season. This year, a couple of new Christmas markets have emerged – such as the one in the Old Town, an area of Bucharest which has flourished. See below the list of Christas markets and fairs in Bucharest. Drop us a line if you find a new one and we'll write about it.

If you want some extra inspiration for finding the right Christmas gifts for your friends and family back home, or for...

Romania is a rich country when it comes to traditions and superstitions. Modern Romanians only keep a few of them, but more of the local traditions can be discovered in the countryside, in remote areas of the country. Romania-Insider.com presents some of the winter traditions and customs in Romania that you are likely to witness during December, if you spend your holidays in the country. If you learned of a custom and you'd like to share, drop us an e-mail at editor@romania-insider.com.

This week's travel destination in Romania is Sighişoara, one of the most beautiful and well preserved inhabited citadels in Europe. The city is located in the historic region of Transylvania, on the Târnava Mare River in Mureş county.

With the winter holidays knocking on our doors, Romanian-Insider.com reviews some of the best places in Romania to spend the winter holidays. Plus, it adds a useful list of ski slopes in Romania, but before choosing a destination, check the weather forecast, as most of the slopes rely on natural snow. You can choose winter sports, spend some time in the nature, traditional holidays, uncovering less known areas of Romania or taking outdoors baths at low temperatures. Either way, let us know what your favourite places in the country are.

An area of 90,000 hectares in the protected natural site Nordul Gorjului, in Western Romania, will be protected through a project worth EUR 4.9 million, part of the European program Natura 2000. The area includes 45 natural reservations, among which best known are Cheile Sohodorului (in picture) and Cheile Tismanei.