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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Bicaz
Spend 1–2 days in Bicaz as a base for the canyon, Ceahlău hikes and the Izvorul Muntelui lake; day trips fit in a short stay.
Bicaz is a small mountain town in Moldavia, well‑placed for the 8‑km Bicaz Gorge, the Ceahlău Massif trails and the large Izvorul Muntelui reservoir. Walkable streets and frequent bus links make a 1‑2‑day stop convenient.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- May–Oct (check)
- Avoid
- Winter (Dec–Feb) when mountain trails can be icy (check)
- Stay
- 1–2 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 30–45 RON excl. bed · Mid 45–70 RON excl. bed · High 70+ 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 112 · Fire and ambulance 112 · Mountain rescue 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.
Get in
By air
- IAS · Iași International Airport
- about 3 h by bus
- BCM · Bacău International Airport
- about 2½ h by bus
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable; local buses connect to nearby gorges and the lake.
See and do
Known for
- Bicaz Gorge (Cheile Bicazului)
- Ceahlău Massif
- Izvorul Muntelui (Bicaz) Lake
- Bicăjel Gorge
- Șugău Gorge
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bicaz Gorge | Walk from town centre, signposted trailhead | 5–10 min |
| Ceahlău Massif | Local bus or taxi north via DN15, then trailhead parking | 30–45 min |
| Izvorul Muntelui Lake | Bus or taxi 4 km (2.5 mi) north on DN15Bus or taxi 2.5 mi (4 km) north on DN15 | 15–20 min |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Most guesthouses and agro‑tourism inns are within walking distance of the main street.
Language
Romanian is a Romance language, closer to Italian than to its Slavic neighbours, so Italian, Spanish or French speakers catch signs and menus quickly. English is common among younger people and in tourism; in Transylvania, Hungarian is the first language in Székely areas (Harghita, Covasna) and German still helps with older people in Saxon towns. A few words of Romanian are warmly received.
- Key words: bună ziua (good day), mulțumesc (thank you), vă rog (please), da / nu (yes / no), cât costă? (how much?), nota, vă rog (the bill, please).
- Diacritics matter for search: ș and ț (Brașov, Timișoara); signs and apps also spell them without, as Brasov and Timisoara.
- Use the polite 'dumneavoastră' form and titles (doamna, domnul) with older people and officials.
- Moldovans speak the same language; in Moldova more people also speak Russian.
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
- Bus schedules from Piatra Neamț and Iași are frequent but check times for early morning departures.
- Winter weather can close higher trail sections on Ceahlău.
Generally safe; mountain weather can change quickly, so carry a rain jacket and check trail conditions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bicaz yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bicaz Gorge (Cheile Bicazului)
- Ceahlău Massif
- Izvorul Muntelui (Bicaz) Lake
- Bicăjel Gorge
- Șugău Gorge
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: Bicaz, revision 5234507 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5234507
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bicaz). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.