Romania

Tourism contributes significantly to the Romanian economy, accounting for about 5% of GDP. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, Romania is expected to have the world’s fourth fastest increasing travel and tourism overall demand, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 8% from 2007 to 2016. Tourist numbers have been continuously increasing, hitting 3.5 million in the first half of 2014. In 2005, tourism in Romania received €400 million in investment.

In 2007, other EU nations accounted for more than 60% of all international tourists. In 2009, 1.3 million visitors visited Mamaia and other Black Sea resorts throughout the summer. The most prominent ski resorts are located along the Valea Prahovei and near Poiana Brașov. Castles in Transylvanian towns like as Sibiu, Brașov, and Sighişoara are also popular tourist destinations. Bran Castle, in Brașov, is one of Romania’s most renowned tourist sites, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year because it is often marketed as Dracula’s Castle.

Rural tourism, concentrating on folklore and customs, has emerged as a significant alternative, with the goal of promoting places like as Bran and Dracula’s Castle, the Painted churches of Northern Moldavia, and the Wooden churches of Maramureş. Other attractions include the Danube Delta and Constantin Brâncuși’s Sculptural Ensemble in Târgu Jiu.

In 2014, Romania had 32,500 hotel and restaurant businesses with a total sales of EUR 2.6 billion. More than 1.9 million international visitors visited Romania in 2014, a 12% increase over 2013. According to the country’s National Statistics Institute, about 77% came from Europe (especially Germany, Italy, and France), 13% from Asia, and fewer than 7% from North America.

Romania is the biggest nation in Southeastern Europe and the twelfth-largest in Europe, with an area of 238,391 square kilometers (92,043 square miles). It is located between the latitudes of 43° and 49° N, and the longitudes of 20° and 30° E.

The landscape is approximately evenly divided between mountains, hills, and plains.

The Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of Romania, with 14 mountain ranges rising over 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) and the highest peak at Moldoveanu Peak (2,544 m or 8,346 ft, pictured right). The Moldavian and Transylvanian plateaus, as well as the Carpathian Basin and Wallachian lowlands, surround them.

Natural and semi-natural habitats cover 47 percent of the country’s geographical area. In Romania, protected areas span about 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi) (approximately 5% of the total area), including 13 national parks and three biosphere reserves.

The Danube river runs into the Black Sea, creating the Danube Delta, Europe’s second-largest and best-preserved delta, as well as a biosphere reserve and a biodiversity World Heritage Site. The Danube Delta is Europe’s biggest continuous wetland, covering 5,800 km2 (2,200 sq mi), and home to 1,688 distinct plant species.

Romania has one of the biggest expanses of untouched forest in Europe, accounting for almost 27 percent of the country’s total land area. There are about 3,700 plant species known in the nation, of which 23 have been designated as natural monuments, 74 are missing, 39 are endangered, 171 are vulnerable, and 1,253 are uncommon.

The fauna includes 33,792 animal species, 33,085 invertebrate and 707 vertebrate, with over 400 distinct species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, including approximately 50% of Europe’s (excluding Russia) brown bears and 20% of its wolves.

Romania has a moderate and continental climate, with four distinct seasons, due to its distance from the open sea and location on the southeastern part of the European continent. The average yearly temperature in the south is 11 °C (52 °F) and 8 °C (46 °F) in the north. In the summer, typical maximum temperatures in Bucharest reach 28 °C (82 °F), with temperatures exceeding 35 °C (95 °F) quite frequent in the country’s lower-lying regions.

The average maximum temperature in winter is less than 2 °C (36 °F). Precipitation is typical, with above 750 mm (30 in) per year only in the highest western highlands, while it decreases to about 600 mm near Bucharest (24 in). There are minor geographical differences: the climate in the western sections of the nation (such as Banat) is warmer and has some Mediterranean influences, while the climate in the eastern half of the country is more pronounced continental. The Black Sea has an impact on the climate of Dobruja as well.

Romania has a population of 20,121,641 people, according to the 2011 census. Its population, like that of other nations in the area, is projected to progressively decrease in the future years as a consequence of sub-replacement fertility rates and a negative net migration rate. Romanians made up 88.9 percent of the population in October 2011. The biggest ethnic minorities are Hungarians, who make up 6.5 percent of the population, and Roma, who make up 3.3 percent of the population. In the counties of Harghita and Covasna, Hungarians are the majority. Ukrainians, Germans, Turks, Lipovans, Aromanians, Tatars, and Serbs are among the other minorities. There were 745,421 Germans in Romania in 1930, but just around 36,000 remain now. In 2009, there were about 133,000 immigrants in Romania, the majority of them were from Moldova and China.

In 2015, the total fertility rate (TFR) was projected to be 1.33 children born per woman, which is lower than the replacement rate of 2.1 and among the lowest in the world. Unmarried women accounted for 31.2 percent of births in 2014. The birth rate (9.49, 2012) is much lower than the death rate (11.84, 2012), resulting in a decreasing (0.26% per year, 2012) and aging population (median age: 39.1, 2012), with about 14.9 percent of the total population aged 65 and above. In 2015, the average life expectancy was projected to be 74.92 years (71.46 years male, 78.59 years female).

The number of Romanians and people with Romanian ancestry living abroad is believed to be about 12 million. Following the 1989 Romanian Revolution, a large number of Romanians moved to other European nations, North America, or Australia. In 1990, for example, there were 96,919 Romanians who had permanently relocated overseas.

Romania is a secular state with no official religion. The vast majority of the people considers themselves to be Christians. According to the 2011 census, 81.0 percent of respondents identified as Orthodox Christians affiliated with the Romanian Orthodox Church. Other denominations include Protestantism (4.8%), Roman Catholicism (4.3%), and Greek Catholicism (4.3%). (0.8 percent ). Other Christian groups or religions account for 195,569 of the total population, which includes 64,337 Muslims (primarily of Turkish and Tatar origin) and 3,519 Jews. Furthermore, 39,660 individuals have no religion or are atheists, while the religion of the remaining population is unknown.

The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church in full communion with the other Orthodox churches, led by a Patriarch. It is the only Orthodox church that uses a Romance language and the second-largest after the Russian Orthodox Church in terms of size. Its authority extends beyond Romania’s borders, with dioceses serving Romanians in neighboring Moldova, Serbia, and Hungary, as well as diaspora populations in Central and Western Europe, North America, and Oceania.

Romanian, limba română, is the country’s official language. It is a Romance language related to Latin and Italian. It was formalized in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Slavic words account for 10% of Romanian vocabulary, whereas Turkish, Hungarian, and German words account for less than 5%.

Romanian minorities speak Hungarian, German, Turkish, and Romany (the language of the Roma, or Gypsies). Russian and Ukrainian may also be heard in the Danube Delta. French used to be the second most widely spoken language in Romania, since it was required in all schools; however, it has been mostly supplanted by English. A highly-educated Romanian with a university degree can typically speak English as well as another European language, such as French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Russian. However, once you go off the beaten path, Romanian is the only language you’ll be able to use to get information. That won’t be an issue if you teach them some simple terms and have them write the responses.

Transylvania has a sizable Hungarian minority (6.5 percent of the population according to the 2011 census), and many individuals speak Hungarian on a daily basis. Harghita, Covasna, and Mures are counties where Hungarian is widely spoken and ethnic Hungarians make up the bulk of the population. There are villages or towns with a Hungarian majority or plurality in Cluj, Bihor, Satu Mare, Brasov, Sibiu, and other Transylvanian counties.

Although some may speak Russian as a result of Romania’s history as a member of the Eastern Bloc, you should not rely on it. Only around 7% of Romanians comprehend Russian, and only about 4% are proficient. The chances of this happening are extremely slim, since the Ceauşescu government and succeeding leaders made studying the language voluntary rather than mandatory, and English has largely replaced Russian as the second language of choice among younger people.

Most educated Romanians may be able to understand other Romance languages spoken in the country, such as French, Spanish, and Italian. Other Romanians may comprehend some Spanish and Italian as a result of popular Italian and Latin American TV soap operas.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones are widely used in Romania. There are five networks: four GSM/3G (Orange Romania, Vodafone, Telekom, and DigiMobil) and one CDMA (Orange Romania, Vodafone, Telekom, and DigiMobil) (Zapp). Orange and Vodafone have almost complete nationwide coverage (98-99 percent of the country’s surface), while German Telekom is rapidly growing.

Tariffs are in line with the rest of the European Union (€0.08-0.30/min, €0.04 per SMS). Prepaid cards and subscriptions are also available, and certain price plans provide unique choices for cheap international calls. Roaming is accessible, although it is very costly, as it is across the rest of the EU. Pre-paid cards or recharge codes are available in virtually every store, whether rural and urban.

On prepaid SIM cards, you can activate extra options (“extraopţiune”) for €5 (+ 24 percent VAT) in total = 27-32 lei, with a validity period of 30 days and thousands (200-3000) of minutes and SMSs within the same network and up to 100 minutes outside the network, including most European Union fixed land-line networks and two or three mobile networks.

Internet access

Internet connection is fast, widespread in metropolitan areas, and expanding in rural areas. Broadband internet access is commonly accessible in cities and villages through cable, DSL, or home-grown small or medium-sized ISPs via UTP connections. Speeds are generally comparable to Western Europe or the United States, with 1-4 Mbit/s downstream for non-metropolitan access being the average – with costs ranging between €9 and €25 for 1-4Mbit/s, with local access considerably faster (10-50 or even 100Mbit/s). The speeds are rising, with 4Mbit/s residential connection available for about €10 per month.

Internet cafes may be found in most towns, cities, and villages, although their popularity is dwindling in major cities due to the low cost of home connection. Public Internet connection is now accessible in 150 isolated communities in rural regions (in so-called “telecenters”). Access to these “telecenters” is sponsored by the state and therefore restricted. In most libraries and public venues, such as railway stations, computers are not accessible.

Wireless connectivity is becoming more prevalent, particularly in Bucharest, Braşov, Sibiu, Bistriţa, Timişoara, and Cluj-Napoca, where Wi-Fi is commonly accessible in university districts, airports, public squares, parks, cafés, hotels, and restaurants. Pay-as-you-go Wi-Fi is also accessible in a number of locations. If you’re unsure, search for plazas near the Town Hall, big parks, or other significant structures. Wi-Fi is available at most (if not all) McDonald’s restaurants in Romania, as well as in most 3-star (and above) hotels.

All mobile phone providers offer low-cost mobile internet access (using Romanian simcards). The combined 3G/GPRS/EDGE connection costs 40-80 lei per month, with a data limit of 5-10GB.

Romania had a GDP (PPP) of approximately $414 billion in 2015, with a GDP per capita (PPP) of $20,787. According to the CIA’s The World Factbook, Romania’s economy is upper-middle income. According to Eurostat, Romania’s GDP per capita (PPS) in 2015 was 57 percent of the EU average, up from 41 percent in 2007 (the year Romania joined the EU), making Romania one of the EU’s fastest growing economies.

Following 1989, the nation suffered a decade of economic insecurity and decline, owing in part to an outdated industrial base and a lack of structural change. However, beginning in 2000, the Romanian economy was converted into one of relative macroeconomic stability, with strong growth, low unemployment, and decreasing inflation. According to the Romanian Statistics Office, real GDP growth in 2006 was 7.7 percent, one of the highest rates in Europe. However, the recession that followed the global financial crisis of 2008–2009 compelled the government to borrow from other sources, including an IMF rescue package of €20 billion. Since then, GDP has increased by more than 2% each year. According to the International Monetary Fund, GDP per capita purchasing power parity increased from $14,875 in 2007 to an estimated $19,397 in 2014. Romania still has one of the lowest net average monthly wages in the EU, at €540 in 2012, and 3.7 percent inflation in 2013. In 2012, Romania’s unemployment rate was 7%, which is extremely low when compared to other EU nations.

In February 2013, industrial production increased by 6.5 percent year on year, the highest rate in the EU-27. Automobile Dacia is the biggest local company, followed by Petrom, Rompetrol, Ford Romania, Electrica, Romgaz, RCS & RDS, and Banca Transilvania. Exports have grown significantly in recent years, with a 13 percent annual growth in exports in 2010. Cars, software, clothes and textiles, industrial machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, metallurgic goods, raw materials, military equipment, medicines, fine chemicals, and agricultural products are Romania’s major exports (fruits, vegetables, and flowers). Trade is mostly focused on European Union member nations, with Germany and Italy being the country’s two biggest trade partners. In 2012, the account balance was projected to be 4.52 percent of GDP.

Following a series of privatizations and reforms in the late 1990s and early 2000s, government involvement in the Romanian economy has been reduced relative to other European countries. In 2005, the government replaced Romania’s progressive tax system with a flat tax of 16% on both personal income and business profits, which is one of the lowest rates in the European Union. The economy is mostly centered on services, which account for 51 percent of GDP, but industry and agriculture also play important roles, accounting for 36 percent and 13 percent of GDP, respectively. Furthermore, agriculture and primary production employed 30% of the Romanian population in 2006, one of the highest percentages in Europe.

Romania has drawn growing quantities of foreign investment since 2000, being the single biggest investment destination in Southeastern and Central Europe. In 2006, foreign direct investment was worth €8.3 billion. According to a 2011 World Bank study, Romania now ranks 72nd out of 175 economies in terms of ease of doing business, behind other nations in the area such as the Czech Republic. Furthermore, according to a 2006 research, it is the world’s second-fastest economic reformer (after Georgia).

Since 1867, the national currency has been the Romanian leu (“lion”), which has been pegged at €0.2–0.3 since a denomination in 2005. Romania, which joined the EU in 2007, is projected to adopt the euro around 2020.

Romania’s foreign debt was at €90.59 billion as of July 1, 2015.

Concerns regarding stability arose after the departure of the administration of Victor Ponta on November 4, 2015. The consequences of the present political instability on the economy, however, would depend on how soon a new Cabinet is established and the actions it takes, according to central bank governor Mugur Isarescu on November 5, 2015; the nation is macroeconomically stable, he said. According to the European Commission’s (EC) November 5, 2015 projection, Romania’s economic growth for the current year is expected to be 3.5 percent.

Due to its location and the fact that it is serviced by a variety of transportation kinds and businesses, Romania is accessible from almost every corner of the globe.

Romania is dedicated to adopting the Schengen Agreement, despite the fact that it has yet to do so. An officially authorized ID card (or a passport) is sufficient for admission for citizens of the European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Area (EFTA) (i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). Other nationalities will almost always need a passport to enter.

Travel to/from any other nation (Schengen or non-Schengen) from/to Romania will (for the time being) be subject to standard immigration inspections, but customs checks will be waived when traveling to/from another EU country.

Consult your travel agency or the Romanian embassy or consulate in your area.

For the duration of their 90-day visa-free stay, citizens of Canada, Japan, and the United States are allowed to work in Romania without the requirement for a visa or any other authorization. However, this capacity to work without a visa does not always apply to other nations.

If you need to get a visa from someplace other than your home country, try somewhere other than Budapest, where it may take 3 to 4 days. Because Ljubljana is not as crowded, the procedure may occasionally be completed in a single day.

Romania has 17 civilian airports, with 12 of them presently serving scheduled international flights. The major international airports are as follows:

Other minor international airports may be found in the following cities:

Romania has been more appealing to low-cost airlines in recent years. Blue Air, a Romanian low-cost carrier, operates flights from Bucharest (Aurel Vlaicu Airport), Arad, Targu Mures, and Bacau to different European locations. In January 2007, WizzAir, a Hungarian discount airline, launched direct flights from London Luton to Bucharest. Wind Jet, AlpiEagles, RyanAir, GermanWings, and AirBerlin are among the other airlines that fly to Romania. EasyJet and SmartWings fly from London, Milan, and Madrid, while EasyJet and SmartWings fly from Prague.

Romania has a good rail network that connects it to the rest of Europe. Munich, Prague, Venice, Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Belgrade, Sofia, Istanbul, Chişinău, Kiev, and Moscow are all served by daily international trains. However, train travel over large distances takes a lengthy time owing to the region’s inadequate rail infrastructure.

Trains, on the other hand, are the best method to go from Central Europe to cities in western and central Romania, such as Brasov, Sighisoara, Oradea, or Cluj-Napoca.

The (quite high-standard) EuroCity trains and night trains are among the international trains that go to Romania. Romania is included in the Eurail pass.

The Balkan Flexipass may be a cost-effective method to travel to or from Romania.

Despite Romania’s reputation as a “bus nation,” buses are becoming an increasingly popular method to travel to the country from outside, particularly from the Balkans and the former Soviet Union, but also from Western Europe, such as Germany and Switzerland. Despite the fact that trains are still the most popular mode of transport to Romania from Central Europe, due to excellent service, train services to the Balkans and the former Soviet Union are of significantly lower quality and frequency (due to the fact that railway infrastructure in these countries is far inferior to Romania’s). As a result, a plethora of private bus companies are now offering coach services to and from places like Chişinău, Kiev, Odessa, Sofia, and Istanbul that are undoubtedly faster and more pleasant.

When deciding whether to take the bus or the train, a common rule of thumb is to take the train if it is available about as often, for about the same price, and takes about the same length of time. Consider the buses if you don’t have a car.

Use www.Autogari.ro for all bus information in Romania, as well as online bookings and tickets (timetables and pricing) (“Autogari” is the Romanian word for bus-stations). They also take credit card payments.

Danube cruises are available, although they are extremely costly, and they depart from Passau or Vienna with an ultimate destination in the Danube Delta. These cruises will make stops in Austria, Hungary, Serbia, and Romania, as well as other important ports along the way. Once in the Delta, you may cruise on countless canals in fast boats or fisherman’s boats to see large colonies of pelicans, cranes, and tiny migratory birds. You may try a local delicacy called fishermen’s borsch, which is made with various types of fish, but be aware that it is made using Danube river water!

It’s the only route to go around the Danube Delta, and it’s also the only way to get to Sulina.

Several ports on the Danube provide ferries to and from Bulgaria: Bechet to Oryahovo (daily) and Zimnicea to Svishtov (only on weekends). There is currently a traffic bridge between Calafat and Vidin that is readily accessible by vehicle.

There are rumored (but unconfirmed) ferry links between Varna, Bulgaria, and Constanţa, Romania, across the Black Sea. The ferry service between Odessa and Constanţa is now unavailable.

Arriving from the west, you may simply drive into Romania; but, coming from the east, you will have to pass via Moldova, where you may encounter difficulties. There is no direct border crossing between Ukraine and Romania in Romanian Moldavia’s south-eastern portion (Reni/Galati); you must travel via Moldova’s Giurgiulesti (a small stretch of about 500m). Moldovan border guards will ask for money many times (environmental fee, road tax, etc., up to €20 in July 2007). Coming from the north (Ukraine) may be time-consuming, with travel durations ranging from one to five hours.

If you intend to travel to Romania, keep in mind that the road infrastructure is lacking in comparison to Western and Central Europe. Only in the south of the nation are there any motorways. On the plus side, most European highways are well-maintained and designated with an E followed by a number (e.g. E63), and they pass through some beautiful scenery of mountains, valleys, and woods. The roads of Transylvania, in particular, are constructed on top of ancient medieval pathways, and there is usually something to see and do along the way. Roundabouts abound in both cities and rural areas, posing a significant challenge to drivers. For them, the rule is simple: vehicles currently within the roundabout get precedence, while those outside must wait.

Take extra caution on the highways connecting Romania to its western borders, since traffic is heavy, most roads have one (or at most two) lanes each way, and some sections are dark.

Due to the vast distances that must be traversed in Romania, getting around is difficult and inefficient (this is after all, the second-largest country in Central Europe, after Poland). Even while roads remain a weakness, the transportation infrastructure has lately improved considerably. There are three operating roads connecting Bucharest to the seashore and the towns of Pitești and Ploiești, respectively, as well as many more in the works. Train transport, on the other hand, has vastly improved. Several railway track improvement projects are now ongoing, causing train travel on certain lines to be a little sluggish for the time being.

Romania has a well-developed rail network that connects almost every town and a significant number of villages. Despite significant modernisation efforts, this network remains in poor shape, with low speeds and limited train frequency on several lines. Trains, however, are still the greatest choice for long-distance travel.

Căile Ferate Române, abbreviated as (SN)CFR, runs the majority of the trains. Regiotrans, Regional, Transferoviar, and Servtrans are just a few of the private firms that run secondary lines.

Except on routes where there are maintenance operations or during unusual weather, trains usually operate without significant delays (heavy snow storms in winter, heat waves or floods in summer).

Train types

Regio, InterRegio, and Intercity trains are the three main kinds of trains offered. The latter two kinds offer adequate conditions, but Regio trains should be avoided at all costs.

Regio (R)

These are slow trains that stop at almost every station (including some in the middle of nowhere). Although the prices are very low, the service is quite basic and may be unpleasant at times (no seat reservation, no ventilation to speak of, sometimes crowded, no working toilets in some trains, poor lighting).

They typically travel on single-suburban or double-decker vehicles from the 1970s, with four rows of seats. Most will not provide 1st class (although if they do, it is strongly suggested that you get a 1st class ticket since it will be less crowded and less unpleasant than 2nd class).

On certain routes, like as Suceava-Cacica, Craiova-Sibiu, Sibiu-Braşov, Cluj-Teiuş-Braşov, Cluj-Bistriţa, Braşov-Sfântu Gheorghe, Western Desiro and French Z-type DMUs have been implemented. Z-type vehicles provide a more comfortable seating arrangement but a bouncy ride, which is the polar opposite of Desiro’s advancement. Because these modern trains are intended for short-distance travel, long-distance travel will be unpleasant.

The majority of trains run by private firms are likewise classified as Regio. They’re generally cleaner than CFR Regio trains, although they don’t always travel the same routes.

InterRegio (IR)

Semi-slow trains that travel across medium and long distances and only stop in towns. They are inexpensive (albeit almost twice as much as Regio) and provide a variety of situations.

On many routes, notably Bucharest-Târgu Jiu and Bucharest-Brasov, newly refurbished vehicles have been launched. However, many people believe that new vehicles are equally as uncomfortable as previous cars, if not more so, and that the only difference is the appearance. In comparison to 1980s carriages, there is limited luggage space and legroom.

Some InterRegio trains include connecting carriages to destinations on subsidiary lines, which operate as RegioExpress once they split from the InterRegio train (RE).

InterCity (IC)

The most talented members in CFR’s network. They’re almost as pleasant as Western European trains, yet they’re still inexpensive by Western standards. Air conditioning, individual reading lamps, dining carriages, and power outlets are available on all IC trains (both in first and second class). In certain dining cars and business class, Wi-Fi is accessible (where available). They’re a little quicker than InterRegio and, for the most part, extremely clean.

Business Class (Standard and Exclusive) carriages are available on certain Intercity trains, which are more spacious than normal 1st class. Standard has soft armchairs, while Exclusive features leather armchairs with built-in LCD displays for each seat, as well as Wi-Fi.

Travelers with heavy bags should be aware that intercity train luggage storage racks are tiny, making intercity trains less convenient than Rapid or Accelerat. However, experiences seem to differ depending on the train, since certain lines only have non-compartmented cars, thus it may be worth attempting to secure a seat in a compartment.

When choosing between Intercity trains (classic cars or “Săgeata Albastră” – Blue Arrow DMUs), vintage cars are preferred since they are quicker and more pleasant. Săgeata Albastră are three-car diesel trains that run at a reduced pace (120 km/h vs. 160 km/h).

Night trains

Couchette carriages (with six or four beds) and sleeping cars are available on most InterRegio trains traveling at night (with three, two or one bed). The situation is favorable.

Getting tickets

Tickets for CFR trains are available at railway stations and CFR booking agents (agentie de voiaj CFR), which can be found in every large city (usually located in the central area). Tickets for any domestic route and international trains traveling through Romania may be purchased up to six months in advance at these booking companies and a few major stations.

Domestic tickets may also be purchased online, up to one month in advance, via CFR’s rather complex booking site.

Except for Regio and RegioExpress, all trains need seat reservations (not to be confused with advanced ticket booking).

There are many discounts available:

People who board CFR trains without purchasing a ticket from a ticket vendor may be penalized and forced to purchase more costly tickets directly from the train crew.

Tickets are typically given on the train on lines run by private operators.

Tourist railways

In hilly regions, there are many beautiful narrow gauge railroads, although they are mostly accessible for small groups and not for solo visitors. The Valea Vaserului railway in Maramureş is one noteworthy exception, with tourist trains running daily in mid-summer and on weekends in early summer and fall.

Groups may also hire the personal train of the former Romanian monarch or Ceauşescu’s private train, although these excursions are very costly.

The bus is often the most cost-effective mode of transportation between cities. One or more bus terminals may typically be found in Romanian towns and cities (autogara). Buses and minibuses leave from there for neighboring towns and villages, as well as major cities throughout the nation.

Minibuses are often cramped, and some buses are outdated and sluggish. Schedules are rarely strictly adhered to, and delays of more than an hour are frequent, particularly on intercity buses. Romanian roads are in poor condition, with the majority of the trunk network consisting of one-lane each way roads (similar to rural roads in the United Kingdom) and just approximately 250 kilometers of expressway. The majority of minibuses used are tiny, packed 14-seat vans (some converted from freight vans), with 20-seat minibuses used on longer trips. Expect an overloaded van with little air conditioning that stops multiple times in each town on commuter and suburban routes (25 people riding a 14 seat van is normal, with 40 person loads not unheard of). Intercity bus travel is only somewhat better; the majority of vehicles are converted vans or, at best, purpose-built minibuses, with just a few having air conditioning. The seating is usually cramped, and there is seldom a separate compartment for baggage. Most do not have bathrooms on board, necessitating 30-minute breaks every 2-3 hours. Overall, traveling by minibus is quite similar to riding in a Russian or Ukrainian marshrutka.

However, for a number of routes that the railway network does not service well, such as Bucharest – Piteşti – Râmnicu Vâlcea, Bucharest – Alexandria, Bucharest – Giurgiu, and Piteşti – Slatina, buses are the best option.

Vehicle comfort is gradually increasing, at least along the longer roads servicing major cities in Transylvania. Buses from reputable firms (such as Normandia, FANY, or Dacos) are available, and they provide timely and affordable, if not always pristine, service, with a baggage compartment always accessible. Toilet breaks are still necessary, although they are typically found at establishments that also provide food or beverages. However, be warned that on Fridays, Sundays, and around national holidays, such buses are likely to be packed, necessitating a phone reservation.

Buses inside cities are often overcrowded. Pickpockets have a lot of chances as a result of this. Pickpocketing seems to be no worse in this metropolis than in any other European city.

In Romania, taxis are quite cheap. It costs about 1.4-2 lei (€0.40) per kilometer or little more, with the same beginning price. Taxis are a popular mode of transportation for both residents and visitors (it may be cheaper than driving your own vehicle) – therefore it may be difficult to get a cab during peak hours (despite Bucharest having almost 10,000 cabs).

The Fly Taxi business, which operates out of the Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport, is a noteworthy exception. A taxi from the airport to the city center may cost about 70 lei (€18). To get into the city, either hire a cab to pick you up near the airport or take the 783 bus route. You may also travel to the departure terminal to avoid paying for costly airport cabs. To do so, immediately turn right after exiting baggage claim. Hundreds of taxi drivers will approach you and ask if you need a ride after identifying you as a foreigner (it’s their business, after all). Maintain a courteous demeanor, shake your head no, and continue going. You’ll travel through approximately 200 meters of retail and service facilities in a small mini-mall that connects the two terminals before arriving on the departures terminal’s second level.

When you go out the door, you’ll see a slew of cabs waiting to pick up customers. If you flag one down, make sure the price is less than 2 lei per kilometer. Technically, they aren’t allowed to pick up there, but you’re not doing anything illegal if you attempt, and few drivers can refuse 30 lei for a journey back to the city center that they were already going to make. Just make sure the meter is turned on. Be aware that some nefarious taxi drivers have lately started carrying remote controllers in their pockets that increase the tariff price in tiny increments that would otherwise go unnoticed until the fee is over. It may be more convenient to negotiate a tariff price depending on your destination in advance and pay that amount at the end.

Inside the arrivals terminal, there are now specific designated kiosks for fairly priced taxis, and the authorities are always on the lookout for pirate taxi drivers. Kiosks are a secure and dependable way to get a 10 euro taxi ride into Bucharest’s central area.

Be sure you check the price on the exterior of the cab and then the meter to make sure you’re getting charged the same fee. In Bucharest, be particularly cautious since some cabs display 7.4 instead of 1.4, although the 7 appears identical to a 1. If you’re unsure, ask; they’re required to display and clearly explain the tariff up front. All taxis must carry a license, which is a big, oval metal sign with city insignia and a serial number engraved, typically in great numbers, attached to the sides of the vehicle. Use any cab that does not have such marks. Also, avoid using a cab with a license from a different city (for example, never use an Ilfov taxi in Bucharest or a Turda taxi in Cluj-Napoca).

If the driver notices you are a foreigner, he may attempt to defraud you. Insist on using the meter, or hire a Romanian guide to accompany you. Don’t negotiate the ride price ahead of time since it may be 2-4 times (or even more) than the actual amount (even if it would seem cheap to you). Check to see whether it’s heading in the correct direction and, if you have one, track the route on a map. DO NOT take taxis from railway station cab stands unless they are from a recognized business, and DO NOT use the services of individuals offering you a cab ride at the train station. They may become astronomically costly (up to €50 for a taxi trip that would usually cost about €3). If you require a taxi from the railway station (or airport), call a respectable firm (see the city pages for the places you wish to visit) and order one over the phone; most dispatchers and taxi drivers understand some English.

The most convenient mode of transportation is by automobile or bus, which is used by the overwhelming majority of international visitors (over 60%). The driving wheel is on the left, and police recognize European driver’s licenses. A passport and a valid US driver’s license are required for vehicle rental in the United States. You must buy a road tax sticker (the “Rovinieta”) either at the border or at the next petrol station if you drive your own vehicle. A hefty punishment will be imposed if you drive without one.

Avoid big multinational rental businesses as well as “friendly” locals that are ready to lend you their own vehicle. Rentals in Bucharest and across Romania start from €20-30 per day (without gasoline) for a tiny hatchback, run up to €170-200 for a luxury sedan or luxury SUV, and start at €65-90 for an ordinary vehicle or lame SUV. It’s possible that you won’t be able to rent until you’re 25 or older.

While Romanians are known for their friendliness and politeness, this does not necessarily extend to their driving habits. Speeding is prevalent in cities, as are young (inexperienced) drivers driving high-performance cars, furious drivers are the norm in the capital, and accident rates are among the highest in the European Union.

City roadways, especially in Bucharest, are notoriously congested. Double-parked vehicles, pedestrians, abrupt braking to avoid a pothole, or stray animals joining the road are all potential dangers (in rural areas). The majority of intercity routes are two-lane highways, with anything from communist-era trucks to contemporary sports automobiles using them. As a result, expect lengthier travel times than in other parts of Europe.

Bucharest’s city center is congested and busy, with small, winding lanes designed with minimal traffic in mind, mostly in the 19th century. Every day, nearly one million vehicles choke the roads; it may take two hours to drive a distance that could be walked in 20-25 minutes. A GPS or local guide is required. The easiest method to get about Bucharest is via taxi or public transportation (which is both inexpensive and dependable).

If you own a nice vehicle and like speeding, you should be aware that Romanian cops now use high-tech radars to capture speeding drivers. Outside of cities, speed restrictions are often 100 km/h, with 50 km/h or 70 km/h in urban areas. Some police units are outfitted with high-performance vehicles, while others use Dacia Logans. BMW motorcycles are used by certain highway patrols, but they are uncommon. On major highways, cars traveling in the other direction may sometimes flash their headlights to alert you that a radar trap may be just ahead of you. Many national highways and motorways are also under the watchful eye of Police Puma helicopters. Since December 2006, even minor traffic violations have resulted in hefty penalties from the traffic police (Poliţia Rutieră), who have the authority to suspend a driver’s license for an irregular passing. On major roads and highways, both hidden and apparent speed cameras are becoming more prevalent. Local police officers seem to be more tolerant with locals than with foreigners at times; nevertheless, locals face harsher penalties than foreigners (for locals, as few as two or three minor offences will get their license suspended for six months). Bribery is not suggested for a foreigner since most police vehicles have recording technology, and bribing is becoming less and less acceptable as of 2008, therefore it is not recommended for a foreigner to use this get-away method – it may easily put you in prison.

Drunk driving is a zero-tolerance policy in Romania, with regular checks. Basically, any quantity of alcohol in your blood qualifies as drunk driving.

If you are driving and someone is injured in a vehicle accident, you must stop and wait for the traffic police. The act of fleeing the scene is known as hit-and-run. Accidents that result in no injuries may be resolved by you and all persons involved going to a police station and making a statement, but if in doubt, call 112 (Emergency Services) and ask for instructions. In most instances, a blood test is required after an accident to determine if the drivers had drank alcohol. If you refuse to take this test, you will almost certainly face prison time, which is typically more severe than the penalty for drunk driving.

Numerous major highways used to be medieval trade routes that cut right through the heart of many communities. Slow moving vehicles, horse-drawn carts, and non-moving herds of cows often frequent village main roadways, making passing while driving the rule rather than the exception.

Types of roads

In the last several years, a lot of road infrastructure has been built, and things are changing quickly. Since a result, before you travel, check up on current internet sources, as material may rapidly become obsolete.

Motorways (autostrada)

On highways, the speed limit is 130 km/h.

Expressways (drum expres)

The dual carriageway is mostly non-grade separated/semi-grade separated. The 60-kilometer Bucharest- Giurgiu (DN 5) route, the Ploiesti Bypass (DN 1), the Cluj East bypass, and the DN 1 Bucharest-Henri Coanda International Airport section are the only expressways that have been built (which is grade-separated). On expressways, the speed limit is 100 km/h.

National roads (drum național)

European Roads, for example (drum european). National highways, which link Romania’s major cities in the absence of motorways, are the most significant component of the country’s road infrastructure. The majority of them are in acceptable condition thanks to recent improvements, with the trunk network being repaired lately. Many have four non-separate lanes near cities, three or four non-separate lanes throughout (such as Bucharest-Comarnic and a large portion of E85), but many have only two lanes – one for each traffic direction (a notable example is DN1 Câmpina-Braşov, which can take 3-5 hours to cross on weekends and holidays). On national highways, the speed limit is 100 km/h.

Other roads – county (drum judetean) and rural (drum comunal)

Roads are either owned and maintained by regional or municipal governments. These roads are mostly used to connect trunk highways with relatively tiny towns or villages, and only a handful of them stretch for more than 30-40 kilometers. The state of county roads varies greatly depending on the counties involved; although they are of decent-to-high grade in Ilfov or Constanta, they are in poor to extremely bad shape in other areas as compared to national highways. Rural roads are even shorter (around 10 kilometers), with some having just one lane of traffic and others being gravel-only. On these routes, the speed limit is 90 km/h.

When driving in a city, town, or hamlet, keep in mind that the speed limit is 50 km/h on ALL roadways (unless clearly otherwise posted). As a result, driving on a National Road becomes a continuous accelerate-and-brake adventure, requiring regular spotting of speed limit signs, city limit markers, and other drivers’ behavior.

Increased competition has resulted in reduced costs, making air travel a more popular mode of domestic transportation (sometimes less than the cheapest train or bus ticket). In comparison to previous decades, this, along with better airport infrastructure, has resulted in a rise in the number of passengers.

Currently, two airlines operate domestic flights in Romania: Tarom, which has a hub in Bucharest, and Blue Air, which has a domestic hub in Bucharest.

Bucharest and Timisoara are currently connected by up to 12 daily flights (operated by Blue Air and Tarom – Tarom operates some of the flights on the routes with A310 wide-body aircraft), Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca by up to 10 daily flights (operated by Tarom and Blue Air), Bucharest and Iasi by up to 4 daily flights (operated by Tarom), Bucharest and Oradea, Bucharest and Sibiu, and Bucuresti and Satu Mare are currently connected by up to 12 daily flights (opera (operated by Tarom). Bucharest and Arad are also linked by Blue Air’s daily flights. Because of their close proximity to Bucharest, flights to Constanta and Bacau are only available a few times each week. It’s worth noting that Saturday frequencies may be decreased, particularly in smaller cities.

If you book in advance with Blue Air or take a Tarom ‘Superspecial’ price, you may get a one-way ticket for as little as 40 lei (about €10). With a little searching 2-3 days before the trip, it is not unusual to get seats for around €35-€50. Note that, while Tarom bills itself as a full-service airline, Blue Air considers itself a low-cost carrier and, as a result, has adopted the Ryanair, Easyjet, or Southwest model of not allowing price aggregation through reservation systems. As a result, tickets for their flights will not be available through booking engines like Orbitz or Kayak, but only directly through Blue Air.

Some airports are located rather far from city centers, and although some bigger ones (Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Oradea) offer sufficient public transportation, others (like as Craiova or Iasi) must depend on taxis. Even so, outside of Bucharest, a cab ride from any airport to the city center should cost no more than 5-10 Euros.

Hitchhiking is extremely popular in Romania, and some experienced hitchhikers claim that it is the easiest nation in Eastern Europe to hitchhike in. You shouldn’t have to wait more than 5 minutes if you’re in the correct location. Weekends may need a little more patience due to the fact that the roads are less congested. Locals, particularly for shorter distances, utilize this technique on a frequent basis (up to 50km). It is popular for individuals (particularly students) to hitchhike between cities (Bucharest-Sibiu, Timisoara-Arad and Bucharest-Ploiesti are particularity common hitchhiking destinations). Use a paper with the city you want to go to to increase your chances of being picked up – it may save you time, particularly if you’re traveling intercity.

A bus stop, a road split, or a location near the city boundaries are all excellent options. Nonetheless, many, if not most, people will stop (assuming they are driving alone) – you might wind up receiving a ride in a rusted old Dacia from the 1970s or a brand new Mercedes, a semi-articulated truck, or a corporate vehicle from a large firm. Hitchhiking is usually not hazardous (although Romanians’ extremely aggressive, rapid, and chaotic driving style may pose a greater risk), but adopt the normal precautions while utilizing this mode of transportation. Inside city boundaries, hitchhiking with the conventional thumbs-up hand signal is not recommended, since many vehicles may mistake you for a taxi or a route-taxi (minibus) and refuse to stop. Instead, use a destination paper.

It is usual to leave some money for the ride (known as ‘gas money,’ about 1-2 lei/10km), but if you are a foreigner, you will not be required to do so, and no one will be offended. It’s worth noting that the majority of truck drivers and corporate vehicle drivers will refuse to accept money. In addition, if you tell the driver where you want to go in a city, he or she will take a detour simply to drop you off where it is most convenient for you. At the conclusion, say “Mulţumesc” (|Mooltsoomesck|) (thank you).

Note that most Romanians are very chatty, and even if their English, French, German, or whatever language they speak is extremely rusty, many will give you their whole life story, discuss the entire football season, and/or debate politics (usually starting from discussing the poor state of roads even while on a freshly repaired road). In the end, hitchhiking is a generally pleasant experience, and you may even be asked for lunch or dinner, given a hotel for the night, or just meet some really fascinating people along the route if you’re fortunate.

• Transylvania
  It is Romania’s most well-known area, with strong Hungarian (Szekely) and German (Saxon) influences. A country with historic castles and villages, gloomy woods, snowy peaks (particularly in the Transylvanian Alps), as well as lively cities.
• Banat
  Romania’s westernmost province is perhaps the most economically developed. The western plains have magnificent baroque towns and typical German villages, whereas the eastern plains have massive mountain forests.
• Oltenia
  The south-western region, which includes a strange desert-like terrain in the south and magnificent monasteries, caverns, and health resorts along the mountains in the north.
• Southern Bukovina
  The Painted Monasteries, hidden away amid beautiful rolling hills in this north-eastern area, are world heritage listed.
• Maramureș
  It is most renowned for its timeless towns, ancient wooden churches, and magnificent mountain scenery in the far north.
• Crișana
  This western area, which borders Hungary, is the main entrance point into Romania for most visitors, who overlook its Central-European style towns, many medieval monuments, and resorts on the western side of the Apuseni mountains.
• Northern Dobruja
  A coastal province studded with the remains of ancient Greek and Roman towns, with numerous summer resorts along the Black Sea coast and the Danube Delta’s unspoilt natural environment to the north. the most ethnically diverse area in the country, having a large number of tiny minority groups
• Moldavia
  It is without a doubt one of Romania’s most unique areas, with a delightful mix of ancient cities, medieval castles, churches, wine, and friendly people.
• Muntenia
  Wallachia is another name for the region. The capital, Bucharest, as well as the early palaces of the Wallachian rulers and mountain resorts in the Prahova Valley, are all located in this southern area. It’s also the name of an ancient kingdom ruled by leaders like the infamous Vlad epeş (The Impaler).

• Bucharest, Romania’s capital, is home to megalomanic structures such as Ceauşescu’s “House of the People,” which overlook ancient neighborhoods.
• Brașov — The well-kept medieval center, the adjacent luxury resort of Poiana Braşov, and the closeness to the Râşnov stronghold and the Bran Castle are among the major attractions of Brașov, which is situated in south-eastern Transylvania.
• Cluj-Napoca — is Transylvania’s biggest city, a significant economic hub, and a highly young city, with one of Europe’s largest universities.
• Constanța is Romania’s principal Black Sea port and one of the region’s most important commercial centers. Mamaia, in the far north, is one of the finest Black Sea resorts.
• Iași — Romania’s second-largest city, which served as the capital of the Moldavian principality until 1861 and then briefly as Romania’s capital. It is still one of the country’s key economic and cultural centers today.
• Sibiu — It is one of the most attractive cities in the area, with the finest maintained historical buildings in the country, many museums and exhibits, and close to the magnificent Făgăraş mountains, all of which contributed to its designation as the European Capital of Culture in 2007.
• Sighișoara — The Sighișoara Fortress, located in the city’s downtown area, is Europe’s last inhabited medieval citadel and one of the finest maintained.
• Suceava — The major city in Bukovina and Moldavia’s medieval capital; it may be utilized as a base for touring the region’s Painted Monasteries.
• Timișoara — The capital of the Banat region and one of Romania’s most affluent and developed towns; it was here that Romania’s anti-communist revolution started in 1989.

• Corvin Castle – A Gothic-Renaissance castle is often mistakenly credited as being the inspiration for Dracula’s Castle.
• Sinaia, Predeal, Poiana Braşov, Băile Herculane, Vatra Dornei, and other ski resorts;
• Transylvanian Alps within the Carpathian Mountains
• Painted Monasteries
• Saxon villages with fortified churches in Transylvania: Biertan, Câlnic, Dârjiu, Prejmer, Saschiz, Viscri
• Danube Delta, Hărman, Axente Sever
• The Black Sea resorts

Finding a place to stay in Romania is simple at any price. As soon as you arrive at the railway station in any tourist destination, many individuals will approach you and ask whether you need accommodation or if you can book it in advance. The individuals that greet you at the station are usually fluent in English, French, and Italian. Furthermore, you will often see cazare inscribed on homes when strolling down the street, indicating that they will rent you a room in their own home. You should reserve an accommodation in the major cities (Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, and Iasi) since it will be difficult to find a somewhere to sleep if you don’t, but you won’t have any problems anyplace else.

In most countries, reserving directly with the hotel (either in person or in advance through the internet) is typically less expensive than using a booking agency. Even tiny hotels are now accepting bookings via the internet. Find the official tourist guide website for your area, which will include a list of hotels and/or bed-and-breakfasts, and ask there: most offer English-language information, and many have formal reservation webpages. Prices for four star hotels are similar to those in the rest of Europe, including Bucharest, while three star and lower hotels may be a bit less expensive. Many bed & breakfast businesses (without any hotel star classification) are actually as costly as or even more expensive than two or three star hotels in Romania. The majority seem to be newer than rated hotels.

Romania has a reasonably established rural tourist industry. ANTREC, a national organization of rural guesthouse operators, provides lodging in over 900 communities throughout the country.

Whether you’re searching for breathtaking scenery, old cultural traditions, busy city life, or exquisite historic legacy, there’s much to see in Romania. This nation has a variety of great sites, particularly if you want to acquire a sense of ancient Europe, the period of monasteries and castles.

The bustling capital of Romania, Bucharest, may not be on the top of the typical traveller’s wish list, but if you’re willing to look, this city’s contentious mix of architectural types may just astound you. Visit the world’s biggest parliament building, the 1935 Romanian replica of the Arc de Triomphe, or one of the numerous museums. The magnificent Bran Castle, perched on a Transylvanian hilltop, is closely linked with Count Dracula’s legendary stories and is one of the country’s major tourist attractions. While there is no convincing proof that this castle was the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s tales, it certainly matches the descriptions in the book and has a fascinating documented history of its own.

Other noteworthy examples are the Neo-Renaissance Peleș castle in Sinaia and the Corvin castle near Hunedoara. The still-inhabited fortress of Sighişoara is unquestionably one of the most magnificent of its type. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site and has many of the characteristics of a medieval walled town. It is a beautiful place to visit. Other ancient cities worth visiting are Timișoara, the country’s second largest city, the famous mountain resort of Brașov, and Sibiu.

For a more natural experience, visit the Danube Delta, Europe’s biggest river delta and one of the best-preserved. While it is mainly made up of vast marshes, it really has 23 distinct eco-systems. It is on a number of major migratory routes, and more than 320 bird species may be seen here in the summer. Aside from water systems, Romania is home to the biggest European populations of bears and wolves, who live in the country’s vast unspoiled woods. Rodna National Park and Biosphere Reserve, as well as Retezat National Park, are great locations to explore the country’s rough terrain, old-growth forests, and magnificent mountainous vistas, or walk to lovely water falls in Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park.

Include one of the numerous magnificent monasteries and cathedrals, like as the one in Horezu, a World Heritage Site renowned for its Brâncovenesc style architecture, in your itinerary. Alternatively, go to Southern Bukovina to visit some of the beautiful and well-known Painted Monasteries. Maramureş is another interesting area, designated by Unesco and popular with tourists for its wooden churches and Merry Cemetery. A visit to some of these more distant sites of worship comes with the added benefit of easy exploration of Romania’s beautiful countryside, where ancient traditions and craftsmanship are still alive despite fast growth.

Visit a church – Romania is one of Europe’s most devout nations, and the Orthodox church is everywhere. You will undoubtedly want to see several cathedrals and monasteries for their beauty and history, but why not take the opportunity to attend an Orthodox mass? The crowd is typically standing, therefore it is quite acceptable to show up just momentarily throughout the service so you may come and go as you want. On a Sunday morning, go to any church and stand quietly in the back. Dress appropriately, as described in the section “Respect.”

Hiking paths vary in difficulty from simple to very difficult. The country’s national parks provide good starting places and wonderful vistas, ranging from flat delta regions to mountainous terrains.

Winter sports – The Romanian highlands are home to a variety of famous winter sports destinations, including Poiana Brasov (near Bran Castle), Sinaia, and Predeal. While becoming more popular among locals, these locations remain somewhat off the beaten path for most international winter sports enthusiasts and are still reasonably priced.

Romanian cuisine is different but recognizable to most people, combining Balkan and Central European flavors, but it also has certain distinctive features. The delicious sarmale, ardei umpluţi (stuffed peppers), mămăligă (pr. muhmuhliguh, polenta), bulz (traditional roasted polenta, filled with at least two kinds of cheeses, bacon, and sour cream), friptură (steak), salată de boeuf (finely chopped cooked veggies and meat salad, usually topped with mayo and decorated with tomatoes and parsley) (the h is loud).

Other dishes include a burger bun with a slice of ham, a slice of cheese, and a layer of French fries, ciorbă de burtă (white sour tripe soup), ciorbă rădăuțeană (quite similar to ciorbă de burtă, but with chicken instead of tripe), ciorbă țărănească (a red sour soup similar to borş but with the be Cow tongue, sheep brain (Easter), caviar, chicken and pig liver, pickled green tomatoes, and pickled watermelon are among the unusual local delicacies.

Pască (a chocolate or cheese pie made exclusively after Easter), sărățele (salty sticks), pandișpan (literally meaning Spanish bread; a cake filled with sour cherries), and cozonac are traditional sweets (a special cake bread baked for Christmas or Easter). Bread (without butter) is served with nearly every meal, and dill is often used as a seasoning. Garlic is ubiquitous, both raw and in specific sauces (the typical sauce is mujdei, which is composed of garlic, olive oil, and spices), as do onions.

There is generally good street food, such as covrigi (hot pretzels), langoşi (hot dough filled with cheese and various other optional seasonings like garlic), gogoşi (donut-like dough coated with fine sugar), mici (spicy meat patties in the shape of sausages), and excellent pastries (many with names like merdenele, dobrogene, poale-n brâu, ardelenești), thin pancakes filled with anything fr Kebab and shawarma (șaorma) are popular dishes offered in a variety of small businesses.

Popular Romanian snacks that are widely accessible in stores include pufulești (cheap and tasty corn-based snacks) and sunflower seeds, although traditional snacks like as potato chips and different nuts are also popular. Halva, halviță, rahat (Turkish Lokum – note that “rahat” is also commonly used as a euphemism for feces, so you may hear Romanians refer to rahat a lot when they are angry, but they do not actually refer to anything commonly considered edible), and colivă, a boiled wheat dish commonly used in religious mourning rituals, are common sweets.

Even while Romanian cuisine is comparable to that of Western Europe, most restaurants in Romania, particularly in more rural regions, exclusively offer Romanian cuisine. There is a large range of foreign food available, particularly in Bucharest, with a focus on Mediterranean, Chinese, and French cuisine. There are also a plethora of foreign fast food restaurants. The intriguing thing about them is that they are only nominally cheaper than restaurants, with the cuisine being of world level but considerably lower in quality than that provided in restaurants. As a result, if possible, go for eateries, which provide a far more genuine and high-quality experience at comparable costs.

If they ask for mâncare de post, vegetarians and vegans may easily discover a delicious meal that is appropriate for them (food suitable for religious fasting). Because the majority of Romanians are Eastern Orthodox Christians, fasting entails eliminating all animal products from their diet (meat, dairy products or eggs). Despite the fact that Lent only lasts a few months out of the year, fasting food is available all year. Yet, most Romanians are unfamiliar with vegetarianism or veganism; however, such “mâncare de post” may be seen all year; some Romanians fast outside of Lent, on most Wednesdays and Fridays, as part of their orthodox religion.

Wine

Romania has a lengthy wine-making history (more than 2000 years are documented); in fact, Romania was the 12th largest wine producer in the world in 2005, with the finest wineries being Murfatlar, Cotnari, Dragasani, Bohotin, and others. Its quality is excellent, and the price is reasonable: a bottle of Romanian wine should cost between 10 and 30 lei. Many individuals in tourist regions produce their own wine and sell it straight to tourists. It is typically offered in glass bottles of approximately 75 ml wherever you wish to purchase it. Many monasteries make and sell their own wine. Most winemakers, even monks, will let you to sample it beforehand, but others may not.

Beer

Romania, like other nations with a significant Latin heritage, has a long and dispersed history of making beer, although today beer is extremely ubiquitous (even more so than wine) and very inexpensive in comparison to other countries. Avoid beers in PET plastic containers and instead go for beers in glass bottles or cans. Most multinational brands are brewed under license in Romania, thus they taste very different than in Western Europe. Some licensed beers are still excellent, such as Heineken, Pilsner Urquell, and Peroni. Simply by glancing at the pricing, you can tell if a beer was produced in Romania or elsewhere and subsequently imported: foreign beers are considerably more costly than Romanian beers (a Corona, for example, may be 12 lei, while a Timisoreana, Ursus, or Bergenbier of a full 1/2 litre capacity would be 2-4 lei). Some of the ordinary lagers available are very unpleasant, but there are some excellent brewers. Ursus makes two tasty beers: its lager and Ursus Black, a black beer (bere neagră) that is robust, fruity, and sweet, comparable to a dark Czech beer. Silva brews harsh beers, with both its Silva original pils and Silva dark leaving a bitter sensation in your tongue. Bergenbier and Timisoreana are both excellent. All other lager beers, such as Gambrinus, Bucegi, and Postavaru, are insipid (in the opinion of certain customers). Ciuc is a very good and reasonably priced pilsner that is currently owned by Heineken. A bottle of beer will cost about 2-3 lei in a store and twice that in a bar.

Spirits

Palinca is the strongest alcohol and is traditional to Transylvania, followed by ţuica (a type of brandy made from plums – for the better quality, traditional version – but alternatively from apricots, wine-making leftovers, or basically anything else – an urban legend even claims you can brew a certain type of winter jacket (pufoaică) to ţuică, but this is ra The strength of ţuica is between 40 and 50 percent. Pitești produces the finest ţuica, which is prepared from plums. Strong alcohol is reasonably priced, with a bottle of vodka costing between 10 and 50 lei. The 75 percent blueberry and sour cherry palinca (palincă întoarsă de cireşe negre), commonly known as vişinată, is a Transylvanian specialty, although it is typically preserved by locals for festivities and may be difficult to obtain.

Romania’s national currency is the leu (plural lei), which literally translates as “lion” in Romanian. There are 100 bani in a leu (singular ban). The new leu (code RON) replaced the old leu (code ROL) on July 1, 2005, at a rate of 10,000 old lei for one new leu. Old ROL banknotes and coins are no longer legal tender as of the beginning of 2007, although they may still be exchanged at the National Bank and its associated locations.

Coins are minted in quantities of 1 (gold), 5 (copper), 10 (silver), and 50 (gold), however 1 ban coins are uncommon, despite shop pricing often ending with 99 bani. Store clerks will not give you precise change until your entire expenditure is divided by 5 bani. When clerks are very short on change, they may provide tiny coffee bags, oranges, or anything like as a replacement, although they may not take it back as tender. Banknotes exist in denominations of 1 (green), 5 (purple), 10 (red), 50 (yellow), 100 (blue), 200 (brown), and 500 (blue and purple) lei, are composed of polymer plastic, and, with the exception of the 200 lei, are the same size as a euro banknote. However, banknotes of 200 and 500 lei are uncommon.

Romania is quite inexpensive by Western standards; you can purchase more in Romania than in Western Europe or North America, particularly locally produced goods. However, although food and transportation are cheap in Romania, purchasing imported goods such as a French perfume, an American pair of athletic shoes, or a Japanese computer is as costly as in other areas of the EU. Clothing, wool suits made in Romanian, shirts, cotton socks, white and red wine bottles, chocolates, salami, a variety of local cheese, cheap leather jackets or costly and fancy fur coats are all potential excellent buys for foreigners.

It is strongly advised to utilize exchange bureaus or cash machines while exchanging money (which will provide ready access to most foreign bank accounts). Avoid black market transactions with strangers at all costs: in the best-case situation, you may come out ahead by a few percentage points, but this is uncommon. Most obvious black marketers are con men of one kind or another, who will either leave you with a bankroll full of worthless Polish zlotys or simply engage you in conversation for a few minutes while waiting for their partners, who will pretend to be police and try to con you into handing over your wallet and papers. (This is referred to as a maradonist con game.) Exchanging money on the street is also prohibited, and in the worst-case situation, you may wind yourself spending the night in prison. It is also not advised to convert money at the airport, since they tend to overpay for transactions and have extremely poor exchange rates; instead, use a card and an ATM for urgent requirements (taxi/bus) and exchange additional money later in the city.

You should browse around for the best exchange rates. Some exchange offices in prominent locations (such as the airport) may attempt to take advantage of the typical tourist’s lack of knowledge when establishing the conversion rate, and it is not recommended to use them since the exchange rates may be very ridiculous. Before departing for Romania, visit the National Bank of Romania’s website to get an idea of what currency rates to anticipate. Typical exchange offices should not advertise discrepancies from the official exchange rate that are more than 2-3%. Also, when choosing an exchange office, make sure it has a visible sign that says “COMISION 0 percent”; Romanian exchange offices typically do not charge an extra commission aside from the difference between the buy and sell rates, and they are also required by law to display a large visible sign stating their commission, so if you don’t see such a sign or if they charge something extra, keep going. Choosing a fair exchange office, which is not difficult with the information in this paragraph, can save you up to 10%, so keep this in mind. It’s also a good idea to exchange money at a bank’s exchange office.

With Romania, most transactions are conducted in cash. Although some establishments take Euro or USD, it is not recommended since you will be charged an extra 20% if you pay by this way, but this is changing. The best way is to pay in lei, the native currency (RON). Most Romanians own either a charge card or a credit card; nevertheless, they are mostly utilized at ATM machines; online payments are still relatively new, and some businesses still view them with mistrust – so much so that they need payment upon delivery. However, card payments are accepted at many stores and supermarkets. MasterCard, Visa, American Express (at certain establishments – but this is quickly increasing due to a strong push by American Express) and Diners Club are the credit/debit cards accepted (usually only in hotels, and even then expect stares and incredulity that such a card even exists). Almost all POS transactions (supermarkets, stores, etc.) will need you to input your card’s PIN as well.

Most small communities have one or two ATMs and a bank, while big cities have hundreds of ATMs and bank buildings. (It is not unusual to find three bank branches adjacent to each other in Bucharest’s residential districts.) ATMs may also be found in many communities (generally at the post-office or the local bank-office). Bancomat is the Romanian word for ATM. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, hypermarkets, and shopping centers in major cities. Expect to be unable to use a credit card at any train station or on public transportation (the subway and RATB of Bucharest, for example, are cash-only because they consider that card transactions would slow down the queues at the ticket booths). Gas stations and a wide range of other businesses accept Visa and MasterCard. Even in big cities, it’s a good idea to have a modest amount of cash on hand (around 50 lei or more). Apart from lei, no other common money (such as euros or dollars) may be withdrawn.

Romanian companies are not required to give you full change for every transaction, and their tills are often depleted of tiny coins in particular. Many prices, fortunately, are in round multiples of 1 leu, and they are nearly always in multiples of 10 bani. Even if a shop can exchange a 100 lei note, they will initially ask for lesser change. For extremely modest sums (say, 20 or 50 bani), they may occasionally insist on you purchasing something of equal value rather than giving you change.

Romania is usually extremely inexpensive, and is likely the cheapest nation inside the EU, but it is still more costly than neighboring Ukraine. Inflation has hit Romania in many areas, and some prices are as high as or greater than those in Western Europe, although this is typically reserved for luxury, hotels, technology, and, to a lesser degree, restaurants. However, raw food, transportation, and lodging remain reasonably priced, as does general shopping, particularly in markets and outside the city. Bucharest, like every other capital in the globe, is more costly than the national average, especially in the city center. Bucharest has grown more costly in the last 2-3 years, and this trend is likely to continue for some time. Travelers from the Nordic countries, on the other hand, will find all costs in Romania to be very cheap, particularly for transportation (both short and long distance), restaurant meals and beverages.

Farmers’ markets are a wonderful location to buy for food, although hypermarkets such as Auchan, Billa, Carrefour, Cora, and Kaufland have grown popular in Romania.

Neighborhood grocery shops, known as ‘alimentare,’ differ from supermarkets. The shops are dark, ancient Communist-era establishments that may be less expensive. These stores, which are similar to British cornershops, may be useful if you live in the suburbs or a smaller town. Despite their outward look, they offer high-quality cuisine. Expect unusual payment or selection procedures in ‘alimentara’: you may not be allowed to pick goods from the shelf yourself, or one person may calculate your total before another handles the cash, and so on. Many locals, on the other hand, prefer these businesses because they provide a personalized touch, with many salesmen remembering each buyer’s preferences and catering particularly to their requirements.

The hours of operation are very regular and incredibly lengthy. Some stores will display a “non-stop” sign, indicating that they are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Shops that are not open 24 hours are typically open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with some remaining up until 2 or 3 a.m. in the summer. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., except on certain days around Easter and Christmas, when they are open all night. Pharmacies and specialty stores are often open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., occasionally later, while farmers’ markets typically open at 7 a.m. and close at 5 or 6 p.m.

The weekly fair (târg, bâlci, or obor) is a traditional way to shop in the countryside. Typically held on Sundays, everything that can be sold or purchased is available, from live animals being exchanged among farmers (the primary reason fairs were established centuries ago) to clothing, vegetables, and occasionally even used automobiles or tractors. Such fairs are frantic, with people bartering, music and dance events, amusement rides, and quick food booths selling sausages, “mititei,” and charcoal-grilled steaks amid the numerous buyers and sellers. In certain areas, it is customary to attend them after a significant religious occasion (for example, after St. Mary’s Day in Oltenia), making them large communal gatherings that draw thousands of people from surrounding villages. Such festivals are very vibrant, and for many, they provide a glimpse into life centuries ago. The Obor fair in Bucharest is one such rural fair (though it is certainly NOT in the countryside) – it has been running everyday for more than three centuries in an empty area right in the heart of the city.

Music

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Theatre

Cinema

Romanians are very welcoming. They welcome foreign visitors in the countryside and small towns, and they may even ask you to lunch on occasion. As is typical among Romania’s Balkan neighbors, Romanians will persist when giving anything since “no” does not always mean “no,” and they just think it nice for you to reject and polite for them to insist.

You should first take some standard measures to examine your hosts. When greeting or leaving, it is customary for friends and relatives to kiss both cheeks. Respect for the elderly is highly valued and a positive reflection of your character. “Bună ziua” (Boo-nah Zee-wah) means “Good day” or “Good afternoon” and is used to welcome both friends and strangers. The words “Bună dimineaţa” and “Bună seara” are used in the morning and evening, respectively.

Men wear speedos or shorts to the beach, with the former being more popular with the over-40 population and the latter with the younger audience. Ladies often wear thong bikinis, and topless sunbathing is becoming increasingly popular.

Avoid claiming that Romanian is a Slavic language or that it is connected to Hungarian, Turkish, or Albanian. People may find it insulting; in reality, as previously said, Romanians do not pronounce vowels and consonants in the same manner as their neighbors.

Romanians also value foreigners who do not believe Romania was a part of the Russian Empire or the Soviet Union (it was only a member of the Eastern Bloc).

Avoid bringing up ethnic tensions between Romanians and ethnic Hungarians. Hungarians predominate in certain parts of Transylvania, and inter-ethnic conflict has flared up on occasion in recent years.

Other minority-rich areas include Dobrogea, which is still home to Tatars, Turks, and Ukrainians, as well as the country’s west, which is home to a small number of Serbs, Slovaks, and Germans. In the decades after the Holocaust, almost all Jews fled the nation.

Another heinous misunderstanding is that there is no distinction between Romanians and Roma people (commonly referred to as Gypsies, although this term is considered derogatory). Because there is still a lot of prejudice towards Roma people, conflating the two ethnic groups may upset a lot of people.

Romanians may object to being labeled as a Balkan nation due to the region’s relatively bad reputation. It is also not completely geographically accurate, since the majority of Romania (save for Dobrogea) officially falls outside the Balkan Peninsula.

By the end of the 18th century, academics from the Transylvanian School were debating the origins of the Romanians. Several writers rose to prominence in the nineteenth century, including George Coșbuc, Ioan Slavici, Mihail Kogălniceanu, Vasile Alecsandri, Nicolae Bălcescu, Ion Luca Caragiale, Ion Creangă, and Mihai Eminescu, the latter being regarded as the greatest and most influential Romanian poet, particularly for his poem Luceafărul. Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco, Mircea Eliade, Nicolae Grigorescu, Marin Preda, Liviu Rebreanu, Eugène Ionesco, Emil Cioran, and Constantin Brâncuși were among the Romanian artists who achieved worldwide recognition in the twentieth century. The latter has a sculptural ensemble in Târgu Jiu, and his work Bird in Space sold for $27.5 million at auction in 2005. Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, who was born in Romania, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, while writer Herta Müller received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2009.

Among the prominent Romanian painters are Nicolae Grigorescu, Stefan Luchian, and Ion Andreescu. Theodor Aman and Nicolae Tonitza Ciprian Porumbescu, Anton Pann, Eduard Caudella, Mihail Jora, Dinu Lipatti, and notably George Enescu are notable Romanian classical composers of the 19th and 20th century. The annual George Enescu Festival is held in Bucharest in commemoration of the composer of the same name who lived in the twentieth century. Angela Gheorghiu, Gheorghe Zamfir, Inna, Alexandra Stan, and many more contemporary musicians have gained varying degrees of worldwide recognition. Romanian artists finished third in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 and 2010.

Several films from the Romanian New Wave have received worldwide recognition. Cristian Mungiu’s film 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days won the Palme d’Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Child’s Pose, directed by Călin Peter Netzer, received the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2013.

Six cultural monuments in Romania are on the list of World Heritage Sites, including eight Painted churches of northern Moldavia, eight Wooden Churches of Maramureş, seven Villages with fortified churches in Transylvania, the Horezu Monastery, and the Historic Centre of Sighişoara. Sibiu, with its Brukenthal National Museum, was named European Capital of Culture in 2007. In Romania, there are many castles, including the famous tourist sites of Peleș Castle, Corvin Castle, and “Dracula’s Castle.”

There are 12 non-working public holidays, including the Great Merger Day on December 1st, which commemorates Transylvania’s 1918 union with Romania. Winter holidays include Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations, which include a variety of distinctive traditional dances and games such as plugușorul, sorcova, ursul, and capra. Traditional Romanian clothing, which had largely gone out of favor throughout the twentieth century, is a popular ceremonial vestment worn during these events, particularly in rural regions. After 2007, the sacrifice of live pigs at Christmas and lambs at Easter required a specific exemption from EU legislation. Painted eggs are popular around Easter, while the 1st of March celebrates mărțișor giving, a Thracian custom.

Romanian food is related to other Balkan cuisines such as Greek, Bulgarian, and Turkish cuisine. Ciorbă contains a broad variety of sour soups, while main dishes often include mititei, mămăligă (similar to polenta), and sarmale. The most common meats are pork, chicken, and beef, although lamb and fish are also popular. Certain traditional dishes are prepared specifically for the holidays: chiftele, tobă, and tochitura for Christmas; drob, pască, and cozonac for Easter and other Romanian festivals. uică is a powerful plum brandy with a 70% alcohol concentration that is the country’s traditional alcoholic beverage, accounting for up to 75% of the national harvest (Romania is one of the largest plum producers in the world). Traditional alcoholic drinks include wine, rachiu, palincă, and vişinată, although beer usage has skyrocketed in recent years.

While violence against foreign visitors is uncommon, you should not leave your common sense at home if you plan to spend your holiday in Romania. In general, crime is confined to small thefts and typical frauds, with nothing more to worry a visitor about. You should have no issues if you avoid metropolitan neighborhoods and areas that are primarily inhabited by gypsies. Ask trustworthy locals about the surroundings wherever you are in the nation; they will happily offer you a few suggestions.

Although there is racial discrimination in Romania, particularly against people who appear like Roma (“gypsies”), hate crimes are uncommon. Some homophobic discrimination still exists; for example, Bucharest’s annual gay pride march has been the site of violent demonstrations in previous years..

Emergency phone numbers

Since 2004, Romania has used the pan-European standard number 112 for all emergency calls. As a result, this is the only number you’ll need to know for police, ambulance, and fire.

Petty crime

Romania is relatively secure, with minimal violent crime. Pickpocketing and frauds (such as taxi scams or confidence tricks) are more prevalent, therefore be caution, particularly in busy areas (such as train stations, some markets, urban public transport). Keep your money and valuables in the inside compartments of your backpack, and constantly keep an eye on your purse in busy places. When taking a taxi, always read and remember the price per kilometer that is posted on the exterior of the vehicle, since unscrupulous drivers may attempt to take advantage of the fact that you are unfamiliar with the pricing.

Animals

Romania has a sizable wild animal population, including one of Europe’s biggest populations of wild bears. Bears are lethal, and even those who live near to cities and raid trash cans should not be approached. Bears are known to frequent city areas near mountain woods in quest of food (such as Braşov). As a result, seeing a bear or wolf is very simple. Although such creatures are generally not harmful, if proper care is not given, they may grow hostile. If you see a bear or wolf while hiking, it is best to turn around and go the opposite direction. To prevent bears, local shepherds urge those who go wild camping to stay in the open rather than beneath trees. Under no circumstances should you try to escape or feed the animal, since it may get confused and attack. Six persons were murdered by wild animals in Romania in 2006. There have also been reports of visitors coming across bear cubs and attempting to feed or play with them. In certain instances, this has proven to be a deadly error. If you come across any young animals, keep in mind that their parents are probably nearby. The best thing you can do is leave the area as quickly as possible since, as beautiful and cuddly as bear pups are, their parents are not. When bears have cubs, they become very aggressive and will attack at the least indication of a danger to their babies. Please be mindful. This is one of the most common reasons for animal assaults on humans.

Feral animals, like as stray dogs, may also be an issue in Bucharest and other large cities where they are common. Some may not be hostile, but be cautious with animals in groups especially at night. Some are cared for by individuals from neighboring apartment complexes, and they may be particularly territorial and may attack without notice at times. The number of stray dogs is decreasing but remains very high, and they pose the greatest physical risk, particularly in rural regions.

Dogs are frequently used by Romanian farmers to herd and guard livestock. This is more likely to be seen if you’re strolling near farms, on dirt roads, or in rural regions. Farmers typically place horizontally-hanging poles beneath their necks to identify them as sheep dogs. If you come across one of these dogs, it may seem frightened at first and may be staring back. It is frightened, but it is not searching for a place to hide: it is looking for its fellow doggie pals! If you continue going towards their area or the herd of sheep they are guarding, they will almost definitely grow more protective, and there is little doubt that more will emerge as you approach closer to the herd. You just need to back off in instances like these. It’s also not worth trying to protect oneself since Romanian farmers would be furious. If you are in a rural region, try hitchhiking or waiting for a horse-drawn wagon or car: this is the best method to traverse such terrain.

Corruption

Some tourists may come into contact with corrupt police officers (Poliţişti) and customs officials (Vameşi, Ofiţeri de vamă), despite the fact that this seems to be a decreasing issue. While it may be tempting to pay a bribe (mită or şpagă) to expedite your visit, you should avoid doing so since it simply adds to the issue. It is likewise unlawful to offer a bribe as well as receive one. Foreigners may face harsher penalties in Romania.

A excellent piece of advise for when you are asked to pay a bribe (or simply encouraged to do so) is to respectfully reject the idea, saying unequivocally that you will not do so. If you are being harassed, assume a firm and resolute demeanor and threaten to contact the police right away. This will mostly certainly cause the person asking for the money to quit and leave you alone.