Major city · Romania
Costești
Skip as a base: Costești is a 1–2 hour stop on the Pitești–Craiova line. Sleep in Pitești or Bucharest and come only if you want the wooden churches.
Costești is a small Argeș county town of about 10,000 people on the Pitești–Slatina–Craiova railway, in the Wallachian Plain at the edge of the Argeș hills. It has two old wooden churches, a 1930s memorial church, a central park and a small ethnographic museum, plus a rail station and a bus station on the same street. There is almost no tourist infrastructure: one guesthouse, a handful of cafés and fast-food places, no ticket office culture. Treat it as a half-day stop between Pitești and Craiova, or skip it and use Pitești as your base.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- RON
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot, 30 °C (86 °F)+), Dec–Feb (cold, short days)avoid Jul–Aug (hot, 86 °F (30 °C)+), Dec–Feb (cold, short days)
- Airports
- OTP · CRA
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovin…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Balkans ↗Mine-suspected land still exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in pockets of Croatia's former front line: outside towns keep to tarmac and waymarked paths, and treat red triangle signs and taped-off fields as absolute.
- Balkans ↗Serbia refuses onward entry to travellers who reached Kosovo from a third country and then try to cross straight into Serbia; route Kosovo–Serbia legs through North Macedonia or Montenegro, or start the loop in Serbia.
- Balkans ↗Hire cars need written permission from the rental company and valid insurance for every country on the line; Kosovo sells its own border insurance and some contracts exclude Albania, Kosovo or Bosnia outright.
- Romania ↗Romania is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Romanian sources for your passport.
- Romania ↗Drivers need an electronic road vignette (rovinieta) on national roads; rental cars normally include it, but check.
- Romania ↗Brown bears live in the Carpathians and sometimes enter towns and roadsides: never feed or approach them, and follow local warnings.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Costești112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Costești, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Romanian leu (RON, plural lei); Romania does not use the euro.Romania-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, Vodafone and Digi sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; Digi is the cheapest.Romania-wide
- Tap waterTap water in cities is treated and generally safe; many locals prefer bottled mineral water (apă plată = still, apă minerală = sparkling).Romania-wide
- TippingRestaurant: About 10%, left in cash even when paying by card.Romania-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Romania-wide
- SafetyA quiet, low-crime small town; the real issues are stray dogs, unlit outer streets after dark and almost no late transport.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsUse cafés, malls, museums and fuel stations; some stations and parks charge RON 1–3.Romania-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police · 112 ambulance and fire · 112 European emergency number (English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidayscheckMany museums close Monday (and some also Tuesday); Peleș closes Monday and has shorter hours Tuesday — check.Romania-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportOTP Bucharest Henri Coandă (About 2 h 30 min–3 h by train or car via Pitești; the usual arrival airport for this area.).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee in a caféRON 10–18
- Street or quick mealShawarma or pizza sliceRON 20–35
- BeerLocal beer, 0.5 LRON 10–18
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi within townRON 15–30
- Budget bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomRON 150
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomRON 250
- High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomRON 400
A day, not counting the bed: Budget RON 200 · Mid RON 550 · High RON 1,500
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- OTP Bucharest Henri Coandă (About 2 h 30 min–3 h by train or car via Pitești; the usual arrival airport for this area.) · CRA Craiova (About 1 h 30 min by car or train from the south; small, few international routes.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Feb
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Mar
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Apr
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Oct
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Dec
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jan (−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C) low), wettest May (9 rain days), driest Jan (6). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Costești: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
6 rd
Feb
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
6 rd
Mar
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
7 rd
Apr
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
8 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
9 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
9 rd
Jul
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6 rd
Sep
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
6 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
6 rd
Nov
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
7 rd
Dec
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes. Trains and buses both stop on Aleea Gării, a few minutes apart. For Telești Lake and the outlying wooden churches you need a car, a taxi or a long walk; local buses exist but timetables are unreliable — check locally.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 50 min–1 h
Frequent bus or train from Aleea Gării
Better base and better food; the Art Gallery and the zoo fill an afternoon.
Door to door: 2 h 30 min–3 h 30 min
Train via Pitești, or bus
Do it as a transfer, not a return day trip.
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min
Train towards Pitești, then local connection
Small stop; check connections before setting out.
Door to door: 2–3 h
Train south on the Pitești–Slatina–Craiova line
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there.
Snagov
skipDoor to door: 3 h+
Car or bus via Bucharest
Only makes sense if you are already based near Bucharest.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Strada Victoriei / Aleea Gării
The only practical area: rail station, bus station, post office, shops and the one guesthouse are all within a 10-minute walk.
Pitești (base instead)
About 40–50 min by train or bus; far more beds, restaurants and onward connections. Most travellers sleep here.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- RON 175–400 excl. bed
- Mid
- RON 450–880 excl. bed
- Comfort
- RON 1,080–2,500 excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × RON 250 | RON 250 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × RON 550 | RON 1,100 |
| Train Pitești–Costești, one way, 2nd class2 × RON 15 | RON 30 |
| Bus Pitești–Costești, one way2 × RON 12 | RON 24 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × RON 50 | RON 100 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | RON 150 |
| Trip total≈ RON 827 per person per day, bed included | RON 1,654 |
2026 estimate in lei; long-distance trains and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee in a café | RON 10–18 |
| Daily lunch menu (meniul zilei) | RON 30–50 |
| Local beer, 0.5 L | RON 10–18 |
| Shawarma or pizza slice | RON 20–35 |
| Taxi within town | RON 15–30 |
| Train Pitești–Costești, 2nd class | RON 10–20 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Very limited beds: one guesthouse listed, so book ahead or base in Pitești.
- Few places take cards outside the main shops; carry lei cash.
- Some churches are locked outside service times; ask at the parish house.
- Stray dogs and unlit side streets after dark in the outer neighbourhoods.
- Rail line Pitești–Craiova has infrequent services; check times the day before.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Ambulance and fire
- 112
- European emergency number (English)
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
CosteștiCostești
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
—
La această adresă, vă rogTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, ambulance and fire112
- European emergency number (English)112
Embassy
No embassies in Costești; most are in Bucharest. The US, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland all have missions in Bucharest — check addresses before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Pitești → Costești: about RON 10–20, 40–50 min
- Bus Pitești → Costești: about RON 10–15, 50 min
- Taxi Costești station → town centre: RON 15–25
Say or show
- Bună ziua — Hello (BOO-nuh ZEE-wah)
- Mulțumesc — Thank you (mool-tsoo-MESK)
- Cât costă? — How much is it? (kuht KOS-tuh)
- Pot plăti cu cardul? — Can I pay by card? (pot pluh-TEE koo KAR-dool)
- Unde este gara? — Where is the station? (OON-deh YES-teh GAH-rah)
- Ajutor — Help (ah-zhoo-TOR)
Print this card; mobile signal is fine in town but weak on the rail line south.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Costești. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, 30 °C+), Dec–Feb (cold, short days) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for OTP: last train and bus times to Pitești, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster map for the centre: park, cathedral, ethnographic museum, former town hall and court, all within 15 minutes.
- Place pages with verified access rules for the two wooden churches and the memorial church, plus service times.
- Eat pages with last orders for the cafés and fast-food places on Strada Victoriei.