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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Lupeni
Use Lupeni as a ski base for Straja; one night covers lift access, two nights if you want extra slope time or to explore the Jiu Valley.
Lupeni is a small city in Hunedoara County at 700 m altitude, the gateway to the Straja ski resort in the Vâlcan Mountains. Most visitors stay one or two nights to ski and enjoy the mountain village atmosphere; day trips to nearby Petroșani or Deva are easy by car.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (ski), Jun–Sep (hiking)
- Avoid
- Jan (low snow) and extreme summer heat in the valley
- 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 RON 120–180 excl. bed · Mid RON 200–300 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 / 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.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee in a café | RON 5–8 |
| Pizza slice | RON 12–20 |
| Beer (0.5 l, bar) | RON 10–15 |
| Taxi (first km) | RON 15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SBZ · Sibiu International Airport
- ≈120 km (75 mi) north, bus or car transfer≈75 mi (120 km) north, bus or car transfer
Typical fares
- Lupeni → Straja (car)
- ≈ 30 min, 15 km (9.3 mi), fuel ~RON 10 (check)≈ 30 min, 9.3 mi (15 km), fuel ~RON 10 (check)
- Lupeni → Petroșani (car)
- ≈ 25 min, 20 km (12 mi), fuel ~RON 8 (check)≈ 25 min, 12 mi (20 km), fuel ~RON 8 (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
Drive on DN66A from Lupeni to Straja (≈30 min). Public transport is limited; the train reaches Jiu Valley stations, then a taxi or bus to the ski area.
See and do
Known for
- Ski Straja resort
- Historic mining protests
- Jiu Valley location
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Petroșani | Drive south on DN66A, about 20 km (12 mi), 25 minDrive south on DN66A, about 12 mi (20 km), 25 min | ≈30 min round trip |
| Deva | Drive north on DN66, then DN7, about 70 km (43 mi), 1 h 15 minDrive north on DN66, then DN7, about 43 mi (70 km), 1 h 15 min | ≈2 h total |
Sleep
- Cabana Montana
- Mountain chalet in Straja ski village, basic rooms.
- Cabana Daria
- Family‑friendly chalet, ski‑in/ski‑out.
- Cabana Fortuna
- Simple accommodation near DN15, check availability.
- Vila Victoria
- Private villa in Straja, good for groups.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Scuzaţi-măskuˈzatzɨ mə |
| Thank you | Mulţumescmulˈt͡sumesk |
| How much is it? | Cât costă?kɨt ˈkosta |
| Where is the ski lift? | Unde este telecabina?ˈunde ˈeste telekaˈbina |
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 storms can close the gondola; check lift status before heading up.
- Limited nightlife; plan meals ahead.
- Some chalet websites are outdated; confirm booking.
Lupeni is generally safe; watch mountain weather and keep valuables locked in accommodation.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lupeni yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ski Straja resort
- Historic mining protests
- Jiu Valley location
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Lupeni: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Lupeni, revision 4871092 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4871092
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Lupeni
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / ambulance / fire / mountain rescue112
US embassy in Bucharest; consulate in Cluj‑Napoca (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/lupeni). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.