British journalists at The Standard have ranked the Ice Hotel at Bâlea Lake in Romania’s Făgăraș Mountains as one of the most memorable winter tourist attractions. The glacier lake is the highlight of a package that includes a tour of Romania’s medieval cities, a visit to Dracula’s Castle in Bran, participation in husky-drawn sled races in the Harghita Mountains, and a visit to the capital. The ranking includes stays in isolated mountainous areas in central Iceland, Finnish adventures with reindeer-drawn sleighs, accommodation in treehouses, Norwegian cruises, and trips to Argentina, offering opportunities to observe penguins, albatrosses, whales, or dolphins in their natural environment, and visiting the southernmost city on the planet, Ushuaia.
The Ice Hotel at Bâlea Lake is built in the glacial cirque of Bâlea Lake during winter seasons, using ice bricks cut from the lake’s surface and snow, reinforced due to water and low temperatures. Representatives of the Ice Hotel have started preparations for the 2023-2024 season of the project, confident that when weather conditions are suitable and the layers of snow and ice at Bâlea Lake are thick enough, they will be able to start building the seventeenth Ice Hotel. Although there are still organisational issues and uncertainties, they have managed to create a strategy to bring as many foreign tourists to Romania as possible, creating a new joy for those arriving this winter at Bâlea Lake.
Romania’s tourism industry is still in a growing phase, with more and more Western Europeans discovering the beauty of the country. Romania is very diverse and characterized by rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and historical landmarks.
The Carpathian Mountains offer picturesque landscapes, attracting nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Transylvania, with its medieval castles and fortified churches, is a major draw. The capital, Bucharest, combines historical charm with modern attractions, while the Black Sea coastline adds a coastal dimension to tourism.
Romania’s lively festivals, traditional crafts, and warm hospitality contribute to its appeal, making tourism a significant economic sector.
