New Year’s Eve in Romania

Parties are organized in the squares of big cities at the turn of the year

Daniel Onea, 28.12.2023, 14:00

In Romania, there is a tradition of organizing parties in the squares of big cities at the turn of the year. The big stages, on which well-known artists perform, the merry atmosphere and the spectacular fireworks have been the ingredients in the New Year’s Eve recipe for success for quite a while. Moreover, hotels organize various raffle and costume parties, while rural guesthouses organize folklore shows.

The town halls of the big cities, Brașov, Sibiu, Timișoara, have already prepared a very busy program for the night between years. Traian Bădulescu, a travel consultant and spokesperson for the National Association of Travel Agencies is at the microphone with details: “Tourists have developed this tradition of going into the streets at midnight and then go back to their hotel or where they’re spending their holidays. There are shows, fireworks and there is also a special atmosphere, as there are hundreds or thousands of people in the streets, who are really partying and feeling happy on the New Year’s Eve. We have long traditions about the New Year’s Eve party.

Baile Herculane or Herculane Spa, a resort recognized for its waters with curative powers and for its air quality, can be a perfect destination for the New Year’s Eve. Thus, a four-night stay, in a double room, at a four-star hotel, costs around 1,300 euros. The price includes breakfast, a festive dinner on the New Year’s Eve and a late brunch on January 1st. There are also budget offers in Herculane. You can rent, for example, a room in a two-star holiday house for only 150 lei (50 euros) per night, without meals included.

By choosing a spa resort, you can spend the night between years and equally relax in the first days of 2024, says Traian Bădulescu: There is a big increase in demand for spa resorts. The rates are more affordable than those of the top hotels in the mountain resorts. And its worth noting that spa resorts are also located in picturesque, hilly and mountainous areas. The degree of occupancy is currently 90% to 100% for many hotels. There is great demand for resorts such as Băile Herculane, Băile Felix, Balvanyos, Sovata, Călimănesti-Căciulata. Most tourists do not necessarily go for spa treatment during this period, they go for the quality of the services and the picturesque landscapes of the regions. But there are many who choose relaxation, wellness and spa services as there are many such offers at hotels in spa resorts.

The world of the Romanian village is fascinating during Christmas, and the atmosphere of celebration continues until the New Year’s Eve. Packages for New Year’s Eve in Bucovina, for example, include up to five nights of accommodation, between December 28 and January 4, with meals included, festive dinner and various shows. A double room, at a 3-daisy guesthouse, costs 1,245 lei (250 euros). The festive dinner is paid for separately and costs 450 lei (90 euros) for adults and 150 lei (30 euros) for children. Guests will admire a beautiful firework show and will listen to the carols from Bucovina.

Traian Bădulescu: There are many tourists who choose rural tourism for the New Year’s Eve and go to such localities as Bran-Moieciu and Fundata. The famous English journalist Charlie Ottley has already settled in Șirnea, Fundata, Șirnea being the oldest tourist village in Romania. There are tourists who choose Mărginimea Sibiului, Bucovina, Maramureș, Neamț area, Apuseni Mountains, Oltenia under the mountain and Vrancea. There are many rural tourism destinations in Romania and prices are also quite affordable. Some tourists choose to rent a room, but there are also groups of families and friends who rent an entire guesthouse to spend their holidays. People started making reservations for rural guesthouses with 5 up to 15 rooms as early as this spring, more precisely in April and May. In the last 10-15 years, in many rural localities, events for tourists have been created, leaving aside the accommodation and festive dinner. Among the events and activities on offer are: small handicraft fairs with local artisans on the first and second of January, sleigh rides, or horse-drawn carriage rides. I’m glad that Romanian tourists have returned to Romanian traditions in the recent years.

People also choose to spend the New Year’s Eve at the Black Sea. They can watch the sea in winter, sometimes troubled, sometimes calm and frozen. The offer of a five-star hotel on the Romanian Black Sea Coast is 966 euros for a three-night stay, for two adults. At a three-star hotel, a double twin room costs about 510 euros for a two-night stay, for two people.

Traian Bădulescu: The Black Sea Coast is also an option for the winter holidays. More and more people are booking hotels at the seaside. There are dozens of hotels permanently open on the coast. The rates are lower, of course, than in the mountains, because in the mountains its the peak of the season. There are quality hotels that offer wellness and spa centers, as well as New Year’s Eve parties and festive dinners with well-known guest artists.

The offer for the New Year’s party in Romania is very diverse and for all budgets, and the common denominator, regardless of the option chosen, is joy and hope for a better year. Happy Holidays and A Happy New Year! (LS)