An analysis of the preferences of tourists from Romania and abroad
In the heart of Romania lie two legendary mountain roads that attract many tourists year after year. The Transalpina and the Transfăgărășan cross the Carpathian Mountains, offering travelers unique experiences and unforgettable scenery.
In this article, we will explore the preferences of tourists from both Romania and abroad and analyze the two mountain routes using tools such as Semrush1 (a tool for analyzing the search volume of specific keywords) and Google Trends2 (a tool for analyzing search trends). Through this research, we will find out which of the two routes (the Transalpina or the Transfăgărășan) tourists prefer and what reasons lie behind their choices.
Preferences of foreign tourists
The number of Google searches (as estimated by Semrush) for the keywords “transfăgărășan” and “transalpina” in different countries can reveal the preferences of foreign tourists regarding these two tourist attractions in Romania.
Country | Search volume “transfagarasan” | Search volume “transalpina” |
|---|---|---|
Germany | 5,400 | 1,900 |
Italy | 4,400 | 1,000 |
Moldova | 3,600 | 880 |
United Kingdom | 3,600 | 1,000 |
Spain | 2,900 | 590 |
Poland | 1,300 | 5,400 |
Hungary | 720 | 2,400 |
Portugal | 320 | 1,900 |
Czech Republic | 1,900 | 1,000 |
Next, we will analyze the comparative trends for each country listed in the search volume tables for the period April 2023 – April 2024 and compare them with the results provided by Semrush, in order to draw conclusions about the preferences of foreign tourists from each country.
Germany
Data from both Semrush and Google Trends show greater interest in “transfăgărășan” than in “transalpina” among tourists from Germany. Still, quite a few tourists from this country are also expected on the Transalpina
Italy
Although Semrush shows a search volume for “transfăgărășan” more than four times higher than for “transalpina,” Google Trends shows a much smaller difference. However, both sources point to greater interest in “transfăgărășan” among tourists from Italy.
Moldova
For tourists from the Republic of Moldova, the preferences are clear and emerge from both sources: the Transfăgărășan is much more popular than the Transalpina.
United Kingdom
Tourists from the United Kingdom definitely prefer the Transfăgărășan. King Charles, who owns a house in the village of Viscri (about 80 km from Cârțișoara, the northern end of the Transfăgărășan), has helped promote Transylvania in the United Kingdom, while Jeremy Clarkson made the road famous through the show Top Gear.
Spain
We will definitely find more Spanish tourists on the Transfăgărășan than on the Transalpina; both Google Trends and Semrush confirm this.
Poland
Although they are also interested in the Transfăgărășan, tourists from Poland prefer the Transalpina. According to Semrush, the largest number of searches for the term “transalpina” outside Romania comes from Poland.
Hungary
Both Semrush and Google Trends show greater interest among tourists from Hungary in the Transalpina than in the Transfăgărășan.
Portugal
For tourists from Portugal, Semrush indicates a preference for the Transalpina, while Google Trends shows a near tie, but with slightly greater interest in the Transfăgărășan. We cannot predict with certainty on which of the two routes we will meet more tourists from Portugal.
Czech Republic
As with Portugal, the sources give contradictory results for tourists from the Czech Republic, and we cannot draw any conclusions about their preferences.
Preferences of tourists from Romania
Semrush does not provide a detailed search volume for each county. However, it does report the following search volume:
National search volume for “transfăgărășan” and “transalpina” according to Semrush
The table above shows an almost identical distribution of monthly search volume; “transfăgărășan” gets on average 9,000 (22%) more searches per month.
Google Trends provides a much more detailed picture, with monthly search trends.
The images above show that western Romania prefers the Transalpina, while the eastern part prefers the Transfăgărășan.
Counties with the highest interest in the Transalpina
County | “transalpina” | “transfăgărășan” |
|---|---|---|
Gorj | 81% | 19% |
Hunedoara | 79% | 21% |
Vâlcea | 78% | 22% |
Alba | 77% | 23% |
Dolj | 64% | 36% |
Olt | 63% | 37% |
Mehedinți | 63% | 37% |
Caraș-Severin | 63% | 37% |
Arad | 62% | 38% |
Cluj | 61% | 39% |
Counties with the highest interest in the Transfăgărășan
County | “transfăgărășan” | “transalpina” |
|---|---|---|
Călărași | 65% | 35% |
Argeș | 64% | 36% |
Brașov | 63% | 37% |
Bacău | 62% | 38% |
Suceava | 62% | 38% |
Ialomița | 61% | 39% |
Botoșani | 61% | 39% |
Vaslui | 60% | 40% |
Giurgiu | 59% | 41% |
Iași | 57% | 43% |
The information above shows a relatively balanced distribution of interest in the two tourist attractions. The exception to this rule is tourists from Gorj, Hunedoara, Vâlcea, and Alba counties, who clearly prefer a trip on the Transalpina to one on the Transfăgărășan.
Transalpina or Transfăgărășan?
Below, we present a comparison of the two routes and a few factors that can influence tourists' interest.
Transfăgărășan | Transalpina | |
|---|---|---|
Scenery and nature | – Dramatic, spectacular scenery | – Varied, less crowded scenery |
Road conditions | – Paved along its entire length | – Almost entirely paved (in 2024, a short unpaved section remained near Oașa Lake), with the high section closed in winter (Rânca – Curpăt) |
Attractions and activities | – Poenari Fortress, Bâlea Lake, and Bâlea Waterfall | – Traditional villages and local cultural experiences |
Recommendations and reviews | – Positive reviews from tourists | – Positive reviews of tourists' experiences |
Strengths | – Spectacular scenery and dramatic hairpin bends | – Varied, less crowded scenery |
Drawbacks | – Crowds in summer, especially in areas with major tourist attractions, and the high section closed in winter | – The narrow sections and the short unpaved stretch near Oașa Lake can be challenging for some drivers; here, too, the high section closes in winter |
The Transfăgărășan after the 2009 Top Gear episode?
Top Gear, a popular British motoring show, featured the Transfăgărășan in an episode of season 14, aired in 2009. In this episode, presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May went looking for the best driving road and ended up on the Transfăgărășan, in an Aston Martin DBS Volante, a Ferrari California, and a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.
The road, built between 1970 and 1974 on Nicolae Ceaușescu's orders as a fast military route across the Făgăraș Mountains after the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, was presented as an extremely spectacular and challenging road. The presenters admired the stunning scenery and the road's unique features, including the famous section of hairpin bends that crosses the rocky mountain slopes.
Jeremy Clarkson, the show's main presenter, described the Transfăgărășan as “the best road in the world”, comparing it with the most famous mountain routes in the world. They tested and compared the cars on this extremely demanding road, highlighting the difficulties of driving in extreme conditions.
Clearly, the Top Gear episode helped raise the profile of the Transfăgărășan internationally, drawing attention to the beauty and challenges of this unique Romanian road.
Conclusions
For those looking for a spectacular, adrenaline-filled mountain adventure, the Transfăgărășan offers dramatic scenery and notable tourist attractions.
For tourists who appreciate authentic experiences, varied scenery, and a quieter atmosphere, the Transalpina is a good choice.
We recommend that travelers consider their personal preferences, comfort level, and driving experience before choosing one of these routes.
Whatever you choose, both the Transfăgărășan and the Transalpina offer unique opportunities to discover the beauty and wild nature of Romania's mountains.
Semrush is a premium tool that offers, among other things, a keyword research tool. It can be used to see an estimate of the number of searches for a keyword in various search engines, in a given region ↩︎
Google Trends is a tool from Google that offers insight into public interest in different topics across various locations and languages, making it possible to track search trends over time. ↩︎
