Complete list of 13 national parks in Romania

Buila-Vânturariţa

Călimani

Ceahlău

Cheile Bicazului-Hășmaș

Cheile Nerei-Beușnița

Cozia

Defileul Jiului

Domogled-Valea Cernei

Măcin Mountains

Piatra Craiului

Retezat

Rodna

Semenic-Cheile Carașului

Romania National Parks

Buila-Vânturariţa is one of Romania's smallest national parks, featuring a dramatic limestone ridge in the Southern Carpathians. The park contains numerous caves, steep cliffs, and diverse flora including rare orchid species. Its landscape is characterized by karst formations and deep gorges, providing habitat for chamois, bears, and various bird species.

Călimani National Park encompasses the largest volcanic mountain range in Romania. The park features the remnants of an extinct volcano, with its most prominent peak being Pietrosul Călimani. The area is known for its unique geological formations, alpine meadows, and extensive spruce forests that provide habitat for brown bears, wolves, and lynx.

Ceahlău National Park is centered around the Ceahlău Massif, one of the most famous mountains in Romania. The park is known for its distinctive rock formations, rich biodiversity, and cultural significance in Romanian folklore. It features unique geological monuments, alpine meadows, and ancient forest ecosystems.

This national park is famous for the spectacular Bicaz Gorge, a dramatic limestone canyon carved by the Bicaz River. The park features towering cliff walls reaching heights of 300 meters, diverse flora including endemic plant species, and remarkable geological formations. The area is popular for rock climbing and hiking.

This park is renowned for its karst formations and the spectacular Nera Gorges. It features numerous waterfalls, including the famous Beușnița Falls, caves, and pristine forests. The park contains some of the most beautiful karst landscapes in Romania and hosts a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Cozia National Park is centered around the Cozia Massif, featuring steep slopes and dramatic rock formations. The park is known for its diverse flora, including numerous endemic plant species and ancient forests. It provides important habitat for large carnivores and numerous bird species while offering spectacular views of the Olt River valley.

Defileul Jiului National Park protects one of Romania's most spectacular river gorges. The park features steep canyon walls, diverse forest ecosystems, and numerous caves and rock formations. It serves as an important ecological corridor between the Southern and Western Carpathians.

This is Romania's largest national park, known for its thermal springs and unique Mediterranean-type ecosystems. The park contains the Cerna Valley, dramatic limestone cliffs, and the highest concentration of endemic plant species in Romania. It features diverse landscapes from deep gorges to alpine meadows and pristine forests.

The Măcin Mountains National Park protects some of the oldest mountains in Romania, featuring unique steppe ecosystems and forest habitats. These ancient mountains, though low in elevation, harbor remarkable biodiversity including rare plant and bird species. The park is known for its distinctive rocky landscapes and Mediterranean-type vegetation.

Piatra Craiului National Park is famous for its dramatic limestone ridge extending over 25 kilometers. The park features some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Romania, with steep cliffs, deep gorges, and extensive cave systems. It is home to numerous endemic plant species and provides important habitat for large carnivores including bears and wolves.

Retezat National Park is one of the highest and most beautiful mountain ranges in the Romanian Carpathians. The park features more than 60 peaks above 2,300 meters and over 100 glacial lakes, including the largest glacial lake in Romania, Bucura Lake. The area is known for its rich biodiversity with over 1,190 plant species, numerous endemic species, and large populations of chamois, red deer, and brown bears.

Rodna National Park encompasses the Rodna Mountains, the highest mountains in the Eastern Carpathians. The park features dramatic alpine landscapes, glacial lakes, and extensive biodiversity including rare plant species and large carnivores. It contains the second-highest peak in the Eastern Carpathians, Pietrosul Rodnei, reaching 2,303 meters in height.

Semenic-Cheile Carașului National Park is known for its pristine beech forests and dramatic limestone gorges. The park contains some of the oldest virgin beech forests in Europe and features spectacular karst formations including caves and canyons. The Caraș Gorges, stretching for about 19 kilometers, are among the most impressive natural attractions in the park.