Europe · Southeast EuropeOutline guideCountry in Southeastern and Central Europe
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/people/klmircea/ KLmircea, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Romania (Romanian: România) is a country of great natural beauty and diversity and a rich cultural heritage, including a variety of ethnic, linguistic, and confessional groups. Romania enchants visitors with its scenic mountain landscapes and unspoilt rural areas, but also with its historic cities and busy capital. There has been significant development, especially since it joined the European Union in 2007. Still, it may surprise some of its visitors who are used to western Europe. It has one natural and six cultural UNESCO world heritage sites.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Romania.
Cards and cash
It is not recommended to exchange money in the airport either — they tend to overcharge on transactions and have very disadvantageous rates — you should use a card and the ATM for immediate needs (taxi/bus) and exchange more money later while in the city.
Tipping
A tip is usually 5-10% of the bill and is expected in restaurants, coffee shops, taxi, hair dressers.
Romanian
The official language of Romania is Romanian. Romanian is not a Slavic language, but a distinct member of the Romance language family; thus, it is closely related to Spanish, Italian, French, Catalan, and Portuguese.
On prepaid SIMs you can activate extra options ("extraopțiune") starting from €5 (+ 24% VAT) in total = 27-32 lei, with a validity period of 30 days, containing thousands (200 -3000) of minutes and SMSs within the same network and up to 100 minutes outside…
Mobile networks
Tap water is generally potable, but most people choose to drink bottled water instead.
Tap water is generally potable, but most people choose to drink bottled water instead.
Covered in the guide
Romanians are quite hospitable. In the countryside and small towns, they welcome foreign tourists and, occasionally, they might even invite you for a lunch.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
the capital of Romania, in which megalomanic monuments, including "House of the People", built during Ceaușescu's reign, overlook medieval neighbourhoods
in south-eastern Transylvania, its main attractions are the well kept medieval downtown, the nearby luxury resort of Poiana Brașov and the proximity to the Râșnov fortress and the Bran Castle.
the largest town in Transylvania and the second largest Romanian city, a major economic centre and also a very youthful city, as it has one of the largest universities in Europe.
Romania's main Black Sea port and one of the major commercial hubs in the region. The northernmost district, Mamaia, is one of the best Black Sea resorts.
the 3rd largest Romanian city, it was the capital of the Moldavian principality until 1861 and then briefly capital of Romania. Today it remains one of the major economic and cultural centres in the country.
one of the most beautiful cities in the region, it has the best preserved historical sites in the country, numerous museums and exhibitions, proximity to the stunning Făgăraș mountains, for which reasons it became the 2007 European Capital of Culture.
the city's downtown area, the Sighișoara Citadel, is the last inhabited medieval citadel in Europe and one of the best preserved.
the main city in Bukovina and the medieval capital of Moldavia; it can be used as starting point for visiting the Painted Monasteries of the region.
Gothic-Renaissance castle sometimes considered (wrongly) a source of inspiration for Dracula's Castle
Sinaia is one of Romania's finest holiday resorts, deep into the Carpathian Mountains. In the late 19th century, King Charles I of Romania chose Sinaia as his summer residence and built the fabulous Peles Castle, which is today the city's best known landmark.
Transylvania (German : Siebenbürgen) is the largest region of Romania and probably the best known one. When you visit Transylvania you dive into a mix of cultures, nature and history.
Places in Romania on the World Heritage List.
Danube Delta
Listed 1991
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Listed 2007
Horezu monastery
Listed 1993
wooden churches of Maramureș
Listed 1999
Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania
Listed 1993
churches of Moldavia
Listed 1993
Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains
Listed 1999
Historic Centre of Sighișoara
Listed 1999
Sculptural Ensemble of Constantin Brâncuși at Târgu Jiu
Listed 2024
Roșia Montană Mining Landscape
Listed 2021
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
It is the most famous region of Romania, with a very marked Hungarian (Szekely) and German (Saxon) heritage. A land of medieval castles and towns, dark forests, snowy peaks (especially those in Transylvanian Alps), but also vibrant cities.
This western-most province is probably the most economically developed in Romania. It has beautiful baroque cities and traditional German villages in the western plains and huge mountain forests in the eastern parts.
The south-western region, with impressive monasteries, caves and health resorts along the mountains in its northern part and a bizarre desert-like area in the south.
This north-eastern region is famous for its world heritage listed Painted Monasteries, tucked away between picturesque rolling hills.
The northern-most region, it's best known for its timeless villages, traditional wooden churches and beautiful mountain landscape.
Located along the border with Hungary, this western region is the entry point for most travelers into Romania, who often neglect its Central-European style cities, numerous medieval sites and resorts on the western side of the Apuseni mountains.
A seaside province dotted by ruins of ancient Greek and Roman cities, with various summer resorts along the Black Sea coast and the unspoiled natural landscape of the Danube Delta in the region's north. It is the most ethnically diverse region with many small minority groups.
Certainly one of the most extraordinary regions in Romania, it offers a pleasant blend of historical cities, medieval fortresses, churches, wine and friendly locals.
The capital, Bucharest, is in this southern region, as well as the early residences of the Wallachian princes and the mountain resorts on the Prahova Valley. It is also the name of the old kingdom of leaders such as the notorious Vlad țepeș (The Impaler).
Public transport and paid services in Romania.
By train
Romania has a very dense rail network that reaches practically every town and a sizable number of villages.
By bus
Bus can be the least expensive method to travel between towns. In the Romanian towns and cities, you can usually find one or several bus terminals (autogara).
By car
Travelling by car or coach is the easiest way and a vast majority, over 60% of foreign tourists, use this way of transportation.
By taxi
Taxis are relatively inexpensive in Romania.4-2 lei/kilometre or slightly more, with that amount again as flagfall.
By plane
Air travel as a means for domestic transport is becoming more and more popular as increased competition resulted in lower prices (sometimes less than the cheapest train or bus ticket).
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Romania.
Finding apps for Romania…
Other ways to travel:By thumbOn foot and navigation
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Otopeni · International · OTP
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Bucharest
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 2° | 6° | 12° | 18° | 24° | 29° | 32° | 32° | 26° | 18° | 11° | 4° |
| Avg. low | -5° | -4° | 1° | 6° | 12° | 16° | 19° | 18° | 13° | 7° | 2° | -3° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 44 | 34 | 39 | 43 | 65 | 79 | 67 | 46 | 52 | 56 | 42 | 48 |
| Humidity | 88% | 84% | 75% | 69% | 66% | 62% | 56% | 53% | 59% | 72% | 83% | 88% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$50
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$145
Per person, per day
Luxury
$365
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $25 | $80 | $215 |
| Food and drink | $10 | $30 | $70 |
| Local transport | $5 | $15 | $30 |
| Activities | $10 | $20 | $50 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Romania. Exercise normal precautions in Romania. Romania has moderate seismic activity and a history of strong earthquakes. Bucharest faces the highest risk.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Romania.
Culture & historyThe Roman Empire was the greatest ancient empire of Europe. At the height of its power in 117 AD, it ruled over considerable parts of Europe, as well as much of North Africa and the Middle East.
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Culture & historyFrom the end of World War II in 1945 until the Eastern European revolutions of 1989, Europe was divided between two political blocs: east and west. The border was figuratively called the Iron Curtain.
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Travel tipsThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик (СССР)), or Soviet Union, emerged as the successor state to the Russian Empire in 1917, and was dissolved in 1991.
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ItinerariesThe Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, with a length of 2,850 km (1,770 mi). It begins in the Black Forest in Germany and flows east to the Black Sea, forming the Danube Delta on its western coast.
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ItinerariesThe Transylvania Triangle Train Tour is a 12-day "self-guided" train tour of the main attractions of Transylvania, Romania.
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Travel tipsEurope is a continent that is relatively small but with many independent countries. Under normal circumstances, travelling through multiple countries would mean having to go through visa applications and passport…
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