DraculaLand Entertainment Destination Envisioned for Romania

(eap) An ambitious tourism development near Bucharest is set to create what is described as Europe’s largest entertainment, retail, and technology destination, positioning Romania as a new global entertainment hub: DraculaLand. More than one billion euros are expected to be invested in the project, initiated by Romanian real estate entrepreneur Dragoș Dobrescu. According to current estimates, the development is projected to generate more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, an overall economic impact of approximately five billion euros over the next decade, and around three million visitors annually during its initial phase.

“DraculaLand brings together everything I’ve learned in real estate: discipline, rigor, vision, and the ability to keep complex teams with very different specializations together. But more importantly, it adds a story that gives meaning to every square meter built. For me, DraculaLand is a national project – a symbol that Romania can and must build landmarks, not just buildings or simple real estate projects”, says Dobrescu.

Covering a total area of 160 hectares, the complex is planned to comprise several major components:

• a theme park (DraculaLand Theme Park) of over 780,000 square metres featuring six themed zones and more than 40 attractions (including the tallest and longest roller coaster themed after Dracula as well as a fully customized replica of “Dracula’s Castle”)
• a multi-purpose arena (approx. 80,000 square meters) with 22,500 seats for events and concerts
• a luxury outlet for fashion and home décor, offering approx. 9,000 square metres of retail space and more than 70 brands
• a four-star hotel (Dracula Grand Hotel), a three-star-plus hotel (Dracula Family Hotel) and a three-star hotel (Dracula Inn) with 1,200 rooms, conference spaces and premium facilities
• a waterpark and thermal spa complex with more than 30 water attractions and one of Europe’s largest wave pools
• a Racing Track & Motor Park including a 4.5-kilometre racing circuit, paddocks, garages and VIP areas
• a Business Accelerator & Tech Hub with approx. 15,000 square metres of space and more than 1,000 workstations for AI and digital creative industry start-ups

For this large-scale project, several investors have been brought on board, while an international expert team covering architecture, engineering, finance, and innovation has been assembled for the concept and design phase. Contributors include, among others, Dutch consultancy TDAC, Berlin-based creative studio CSB, and Italian architecture and urban planning firm Piuarch Milano. In addition, a “DraculaLand Metaverse” – a digital twin of the project – has already been created, which is intended to enable millions of users to experience DraculaLand virtually from anywhere in the world. ■