52 Travel Destinations That Are Perfect for People Who Hate Crowds

33. The Carpathian Mountains, Romania: Myth, Mist, and Untouched Trails

Step into a land of legends, where mist rolls over dense pine forests and ancient castles perch on dramatic cliffs. Romania’s Carpathian Mountains offer hikers and solitude seekers a wild, uncommercialized alternative to the Alps. Explore trails in Piatra Craiului or Retezat National Parks, visit Saxon villages like Viscri, and wander the real-life setting of Dracula’s lore—Bran Castle—without the tourist stampede. It’s where folklore meets fierce natural beauty.