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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Bușteni
Spend 1–2 days in Bușteni for mountain hikes and cable‑car views; arrive by train or bus from Bucharest, then use local taxis.
Bușteni is the gateway to the Bucegi Mountains. Most attractions are natural – cable‑car to the plateau, hiking trails, and the Caraiman Cross. One full day covers the main sights; a second day adds a longer hike or climbing at Coștila.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (road and trail closures, icy conditions)
- 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 45–80 lei excl. bed · Mid 80–150 lei excl. bed · High 150 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 112 · Medical 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 | 5–8 lei |
| Pizza | 25–45 lei |
| Beer (0.5 l) | 8–12 lei |
| Taxi (station–centre) | 5 lei |
| Cable‑car ticket | 35–55 lei |
| Mountain refuge (Coștila) | Free (bring own food) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- OTP · Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport
- Main hub; train or bus to Bucharest
Typical fares
- Train Bucharest → Bușteni
- ≈ 70 RON, 1 h 45 min (check)
- Bus Bucharest → Bușteni
- ≈ 55 RON, 2 h (check)
- Cable‑car round‑trip
- ≈ 45 RON (check)
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
Local taxis (≈5 lei from train station to town centre) and occasional minibuses. Walkable town centre; cable‑car station reachable by taxi or short walk.
See and do
Known for
- Bucegi National Park
- Cable‑car to Babele & Sphinx
- Caraiman Cross on Caraiman Peak
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Caraiman Cross | Cable‑car from Bușteni to Babele plateau, then 45‑min hike | ≈2 h total |
| Coștila climbing area | Local bus or taxi (check transit time), then hike to refuge | check |
| Sinaia (Peleș Castle) | Train or bus 30 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Hotels 1–4 stars
- Rooms from 45 lei per night, double room.
- Coștila Refuge
- Free self-supported climbing refuge; bring your own food, sleeping and cooking gear.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Scuzaţi-măskuˈzɨt͡sə mə |
| Thank you | Mulțumescmulˈt͡su.meʃk |
| How much is it? | Cât costă?kɨt ˈkɔstɨ |
| Where is the train station? | Unde e gara?ˈunde e ˈɡara |
| I need a taxi | Am nevoie de taxiam neˈvoj de ˈtaksi |
| Can I pay by card? | Pot plăti cu cardul?pot ˈplɨtʲi ku ˈkardul |
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
- Winter road conditions on DN1 can be slippery; check weather before driving.
- Cable‑car queues can reach 3 hours in July; consider early morning or off‑peak times.
- Some hiking trails are closed in winter; verify status at local information points.
Generally safe; watch icy roads in winter and stay on marked trails; mountain rescue number above.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bușteni yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bucegi National Park
- Cable‑car to Babele & Sphinx
- Caraiman Cross on Caraiman Peak
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: Bușteni, revision 5145106 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5145106
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/busteni). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.