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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Orșova
Half a day is enough: see the Decebalus sculpture by boat, visit St. Anne Monastery and walk the Danube promenade. Not a base — one night if you want a relaxed dinner by the river.
Orșova is a small Danube port in the Banat region, known for the 40 m Decebalus rock carving, a hydroelectric plant and a quiet riverside promenade. Most travellers stop for a few hours on the way between Timișoara and Bucharest or as a side trip from Băile Herculane. The town itself has limited sights; the main draw is the boat trip to the sculpture and nearby caves.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (cold, many boat trips stop)
- Stay
- 0–1 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.
Get in
By air
- CRA · Craiova International Airport
- 150 km (93 mi), about 2 h by minibus, train or car93 mi (150 km), about 2 h by minibus, train or car
- TSR · Timișoara Traian Vuia International Airport
- about 160 km (99 mi), 2–2.5 h by car or trainabout 99 mi (160 km), 2–2.5 h by car or train
Typical fares
- Boat trip to Decebalus and caves
- about 60 lei per person, min. 6 passengers (check)
- Train Orșova → Timișoara
- about 40–60 lei, 2–2.5 h (check)
- Train Orșova → Bucharest
- about 80–120 lei, 5–6 h (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
Orșova is walkable. For the Decebalus sculpture and caves you need a boat trip (small boat, about 60 lei per person, minimum 6 passengers or pay for 6 seats). Taxis are available at the station.
See and do
Known for
- Decebalus Stone Sculpture (largest rock carving in Europe)
- Danube promenade and Iron Gates gorge
- St. Anne Monastery
- Boat trips to Veterani Cave and Trajan's Tablet
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Băile Herculane | Train or car, about 25 min | About 30 min |
| Drobeta-Turnu Severin | Train or car, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Iron Gates Natural Park | Boat or car along the Danube | From 1 h |
Sleep
- City centre / Danube promenade
- A few guesthouses and a hotel; walkable to the port and main sights.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bună ziuaBOO-nuh ZEE-wah |
| Thank you | Mulțumescmool-tsoo-MESK |
| How much does the boat cost? | Cât costă barca?kut KOS-tuh BAR-ka |
| Where is the train station? | Unde este gara?OON-day YES-teh GAH-ra |
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
- Boat trips to Decebalus and caves run only with enough passengers; check in advance or book a private tour.
- The railway station is about 2 km east of the centre; a taxi or a 25-min walk.
- Some restaurants close early outside summer; have a backup plan for dinner.
Orșova is safe. The main risks are uneven pavements near the river and the lack of English menus in some restaurants.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Orșova yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Decebalus Stone Sculpture (largest rock carving in Europe)
- Danube promenade and Iron Gates gorge
- St. Anne Monastery
- Boat trips to Veterani Cave and Trajan's Tablet
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: Orșova, revision 5096511 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5096511
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Orșova
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire112
Embassies are in Bucharest. The nearest consulate is in Timișoara (check).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/orsova). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.