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Romania travel guide
Castles, painted monasteries and wild Carpathian mountains.
Romania is a large country in southeastern Europe known for medieval towns, Gothic castles and wide mountain landscapes. Transylvania is famous for its fortified churches and the legend of Dracula, Bucovina for its painted monasteries, and the Danube Delta for its birdlife.
Travel tools
Getting there
Bucharest's Henri Coandă International Airport is the main gateway, with other international airports including Cluj-Napoca, Iași, Timișoara and Sibiu. Romania has land borders with Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine.
Best time to visit: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – pleasant weather for cities and hiking.
Tougher months: No bad time - winters are cold but good for skiing and Christmas traditions; July-August can be hot in Bucharest.
Weather by month in Bucharest
- 2°J●
- 5°F●
- 11°M●
- 18°A●
- 23°M●●
- 27°J●●
- 30°J●
- 30°A●
- 24°S●
- 18°O●
- 10°N●
- 4°D●
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Europe/Bucharest. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Romania without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2025-10-14). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Romania travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Romania are based around Bucharest, Brașov or Sibiu. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$30–50 for a backpacker and US$70–130 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Romania page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +40.
Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Bucharest (Wallachia · capital): A lively capital with the vast Palace of the Parliament, an old town and Belle Époque buildings.
- Brașov (Transylvania · medieval city): A charming city with the Black Church, a lively square and easy access to Bran and the mountains.
- Sibiu (Transylvania · old town): A beautifully restored town with 'eyes' in its rooftops and a major open-air museum.
- Sighișoara (Transylvania · citadel): A colourful UNESCO-listed citadel still inhabited today.
- Bucovina (North-east · monasteries): A green region famous for its painted monasteries and rural traditions.
- Maramureș (North · rural heritage): A region of wooden churches, traditional crafts and the Merry Cemetery of Săpânța.
- Danube Delta (South-east · wetlands): A UNESCO biosphere reserve rich in birds and fishing villages.
- Cluj-Napoca (Transylvania · university city): A youthful city with a buzzing café, music and festival scene.
Things to do
- Drive the Transfăgărășan. Follow one of Europe's most spectacular mountain roads over the Făgăraș Mountains to glacial Bâlea Lake.
- Explore Sighișoara. Climb the clock tower of a lived-in medieval citadel where Vlad III was born.
- Visit the painted monasteries. Admire vivid exterior frescoes on the monasteries of Bucovina in the north.
- Tour Peleș Castle. Wander the opulent halls of a royal castle set among the forests of Sinaia.
- Boat through the Danube Delta. Paddle among reed beds and lakes in one of Europe's great wetlands, home to pelicans.
- See Bran Castle. Visit the hilltop fortress often linked to the Dracula legend.
- Wander Saxon villages. Stay in villages like Viscri and see UNESCO-listed fortified churches.
- Hike the Carpathians. Trek through mountains that shelter some of Europe's largest populations of bears and wolves.
Source: full Romania guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Sarmale – cabbage rolls stuffed with spiced meat and rice
- Mici – small grilled skinless sausages served with mustard
- Mămăligă – soft polenta topped with cheese and sour cream
- Papanași – fried doughnuts with sour cream and jam
Source: RoamSun Romania guide
Money and safety
Currency: Romanian leu (RON). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: About 10% is common in restaurants.
Emergency numbers: 112 police, fire & ambulance.
- The currency is the Romanian leu; cards are widely accepted in cities.
- Carry cash for rural areas, markets and small guesthouses; ATMs are easy to find in towns.
- Romania is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in crowded areas and on public transport.
- Use official taxis or ride apps rather than unmarked cars.
Source: RoamSun Romania facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Romania?
May–Jun and Sep–Oct – pleasant weather for cities and hiking. Hot summers and cold, snowy winters, especially in the mountains.
What time zone is Romania in?
Romania uses Europe/Bucharest.
Do I need a visa for Romania?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 93 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 0 need an e-visa or eTA and 105 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Romania use?
Romania uses plug type C, F at 230 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Romania?
The international calling code for Romania is +40.
Do you tip in Romania?
About 10% is common in restaurants.
What is the emergency number in Romania?
112 police, fire & ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Romania?
Traffic drives on the right.