• In Bucharest, admire the colossal size and exceptional facilities of Ceausescu's Palace of Parliament, which rises out of the city like a giant wedding cake. It is the second largest building in the world, after the Pentagon.

• Beyond Bucharest, head for the palaces of Mogosoaia, Buftea and Heresti and old buildings and monasteries in Snagov (website: www.snagov.ro), Cernica, Pasarea, Caldarusani and Tiganesti.

• Visit the Greek/Byzantine port of Constanta, founded in the sixth century BC and veer inland to interesting archaeological sites including the ancient Greek city ruins of Histria, Tomis and Callatis (website: www.constanta.ro).

• Let imagination run wild at Bran Castle, the legendary abode of the medieval king known as Vlad the Impaler, who helped inspire Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula (website: www.draculascastle.com). 

• Visit Sibiu, the chief city of the Transylvanian Saxons. Much of the four walls and 40 towers remain, and among its pretty blue, red, apricot and green painted houses are some of Romania's best museums (websites: www.sibiu.ro or www.sibiu2007.ro). 

• See Transylvania's numerous Saxon fortified churches, including the Biertan Church, which stands on top of a hill overlooking the village of Biertan and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (website: www.medieval.romanianfolkart.ro).

• It's worth the trek to the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina (Voronet, Sucevita, Moldovita and Humor) in Moldavia. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites are painted with frescoes on the outside, and it's possible to see them in a day (website: www.romanianmonasteries.org).

• Catch some traditional folk music and dancing; shows can be seen in many hotels and restaurants.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.