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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Aiud
Skip Aiud unless you have a specific reason (rail hub, family visit). Half a day is enough to see the citadel and the two museums; no need to stay overnight.
Aiud is a small Transylvanian town with a tragic history and a quiet present. Its main draw is the 13th-century citadel, which houses a history museum and a natural sciences museum. The central square retains some old atmosphere, but the town is otherwise unremarkable. Most travellers pass through on the train or skip it entirely.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (cold, grey)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- RON
- Money
- Currency is the Romanian leu (RON, plural lei); Romania does not use the euro. About 5 lei to €1 in 2026 — check the live rate.
- Daily spend
- Budget 100–150 lei excl. bed · Mid 150–250 lei excl. bed · High 250+ lei excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, Vodafone and Digi sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; Digi is the cheapest. Passport ID is required to register a SIM — check.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin; Schuko (F) sockets take C plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%, left in cash even when paying by card.; Café or bar: Round up or leave a few lei.; Taxi or Bolt: Round up; app tips optional.; Guesthouse host or driver-guide: RON 20–50 per day for good service.; Hotel porter: RON 5–10 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water in cities is treated and generally safe; many locals prefer bottled mineral water (apă plată = still, apă minerală = sparkling). Avoid untreated wells in villages.
- Toilets
- Use cafés, malls, museums and fuel stations; some stations and parks charge RON 1–3. Village and monastery toilets can be basic — carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 8–12 lei |
| Lunch (soup + main) | 30–50 lei |
| Beer (draught) | 6–10 lei |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | 20–30 lei |
| Museum entry | 10–15 lei |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CLJ · Cluj-Napoca International Airport
- About 1 h 15 min by car or train
Typical fares
- Train Aiud → Alba Iulia
- about 15 lei, 30 min (check)
- Taxi from station to centre
- 10–15 lei
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Aiud is walkable. The citadel, museums, city hall and park are within 15 min of each other. Taxis are available but rarely needed.
See and do
Known for
- Aiud Citadel (Cetatea Aiudului)
- Museum of History
- Museum of Natural Sciences
- Railway hub in Alba County
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Alba Iulia | Train (about 30 min) or car (about 25 km (16 mi))Train (about 30 min) or car (about 16 mi (25 km)) | About 1 h |
| Turda | Train (about 40 min) or car (about 35 km (22 mi))Train (about 40 min) or car (about 22 mi (35 km)) | About 1 h |
| Cluj-Napoca | Train (about 1 h 15 min) or car (about 60 km (37 mi))Train (about 1 h 15 min) or car (about 37 mi (60 km)) | About 1.5 h |
| Roșia Montană | Car (about 50 km (31 mi), winding roads)Car (about 31 mi (50 km), winding roads) | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (near Piața Cuza Vodă)
- Walking distance to the citadel and restaurants; limited options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bună ziuaBOO-nuh ZEE-wah |
| Thank you | Mulțumescmool-tsoo-MESK |
| How much? | Cât costă?kut KOS-tuh |
| Where is the citadel? | Unde este cetatea?OON-day YES-teh che-TAH-tya |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and eye contact; 'bună ziua' by day, 'bună seara' in the evening; avoid: First names with older people before they offer them
- Visiting a home: Take shoes off at the door; bring flowers (an odd number), chocolate or wine; avoid: Even numbers of flowers — they are for funerals
- Churches: Cover shoulders and knees; women may cover their hair in monasteries; stand quietly at the back during services; avoid: Crossing in front of the altar area or photographing people praying
- Conversation: Food, football, travel in Romania and family are safe topics; avoid: Dracula as the country's identity, calling Romanians Slavs, and careless talk about Roma or Hungarians
- Hospitality: Accept at least a taste of what you are offered; thank the host by name; avoid: Refusing all food and drink outright
- Queues and transport: Give seats to older people and parents with children; avoid: Loud phone calls in train compartments
Scams and watch-outs
- The citadel keep may be closed for restoration: check the official site.
- Museum hours are irregular; call ahead or check Facebook.
- Few English speakers outside the citadel area; have Google Translate ready.
Aiud is safe. Watch for stray dogs near the park and uneven pavement in the citadel area.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Aiud yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Aiud Citadel (Cetatea Aiudului)
- Museum of History
- Museum of Natural Sciences
- Railway hub in Alba County
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Aiud, revision 4877297 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4877297
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Aiud
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire112
The nearest consulates are in Cluj-Napoca (check). Embassies are in Bucharest.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/aiud). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.