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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Anina
Spend one day in Anina to see the historic mountain railway, a cave or lake, then head back to Reșița or Oravița.
Anina is a small mining town in the Banat mountains, best known for the historic Anina‑Oravița railway and nearby karst caves and lakes. The centre is walkable, but most attractions require a short drive or organised tour. One full day covers the railway station, a cave visit and a lake, with extra time for festivals in summer.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited services)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 120 RON–180 RON excl. bed · Mid 180 RON–300 RON 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 in a café | 5–8 lei |
| Pizza slice | 12–20 lei |
| Taxi (within town) | 15–25 lei |
| Train ticket Oravița‑Anina | 8–12 lei |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TSR · Timișoara Traian Vuia International
- About 2 h 15 min by car via DN58 and DN6; check bus connections.
Typical fares
- Car rental small, 1 day
- ≈80 lei (budget) – 180 lei (high)
- Train Oravița → Anina
- ≈10 lei one‑way
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
Town centre is walkable; a car or jeep is needed for lakes, caves and the railway line. Local minibuses are irregular – hitchhiking or taxis are common.
See and do
Known for
- Anina‑Oravița mountain railway
- Mărghitaș Lake and Cave
- Buhui Lake and Cave
- Bone Cave (oldest modern human remains in Europe)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mărghitaș Lake & Cave | Drive 15 km (9.3 mi) east on local road; 10‑min walk to lake, then cave trailDrive 9.3 mi (15 km) east on local road; 10‑min walk to lake, then cave trail | ≈45 min total |
| Buhui Lake & Cave | Drive 12 km (7.5 mi) south; lake reachable by foot, cave requires guideDrive 7.5 mi (12 km) south; lake reachable by foot, cave requires guide | ≈1 h |
| Oravița (railway connection) | Train from Oravița 11:15 → 13:05 (as of 2014) or drive 33 km (21 mi)Train from Oravița 11:15 AM → 1:05 PM (as of 2014) or drive 33 km (21 mi)Train from Oravița 11:15 → 13:05 (as of 2014) or drive 21 mi (33 km)Train from Oravița 11:15 AM → 1:05 PM (as of 2014) or drive 21 mi (33 km) | ≈1 h by train, 45 min by car |
Sleep
- Pensiunea Anina
- Rustic, outdoorsy feel; walkable to town centre.
- Pensiunea Casa Piri
- Pool, jacuzzi, mountain views; price 132 lei per night.
- Pensiunea Muntii Aninei
- Country‑lodge style, restaurant, pool table; 5 km (3.1 mi) south of town.Country‑lodge style, restaurant, pool table; 3.1 mi (5 km) south of town.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Scuzaţi-măskuˈza.t͡sɨ.me |
| Thank you | Mulțumescmul.t͡suˈmesk |
| How much is it? | Cât costă?kɨt ˈkos.tə |
| Where is the bus stop? | Unde e stația de autobuz?ˈun.de e ˈsta.t͡si.a de ˈan.tɔ.bus |
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
- Train schedule (Oravița → Anina) is from 2014; verify current times.
- Bus timetables change often; confirm locally before travel.
Generally safe; watch for uneven mountain paths and keep valuables secure in trains and buses.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Anina yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Anina‑Oravița mountain railway
- Mărghitaș Lake and Cave
- Buhui Lake and Cave
- Bone Cave (oldest modern human remains in Europe)
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: Anina, revision 4727848 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4727848
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Anina
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire112
US consulate in Timișoara (check address); Romanian emergency number 112.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/anina). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.