Romania
Romania for first-time visitors: what to know before you go
First-timers should fly into Bucharest for 2 nights, then take the train to Brașov (2–3 nights) and Sibiu (2 nights), moving by train or a one-day hire car; skip Maramureș, Bucovina and the Danube Delta unless you have a second week. Change that plan if you land in Cluj or Timișoara, or travel in July–August when the coast and mountain roads fill up.
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GuideRomania
Key facts
- Minimum useful trip
- 7 days: Bucharest 2 nights, Brașov 2–3, Sighișoara 1, Sibiu 2
- Best months
- May–June and September–October for cities and villages; July–August for the Black Sea coast and Transfăgărășan
- Getting around
- Trains between Bucharest, Brașov, Sibiu and Cluj; a hire car for one or two days unlocks Bran, Râșnov, Viscri and Biertan
- Currency
- Romanian leu (RON); cards work in cities and hotels, carry cash for villages, markets and small guesthouses
- Language
- Romanian; English is common under 40 in cities and at hotels, less so in villages and at rural train stations
- Tap watercheck
- Generally treated and drinkable in cities; bottled or filtered in villages and the Delta (check)
- Emergency number
- 112 for police, ambulance and fire
- Peak crowdingcheck
- Bran Castle, Peleș and the Transfăgărășan in July–August; go early morning or book timed entry (check)
Details
Romania rewards a simple line, not a loop. Fly into Bucharest, spend two nights on the Old Town, the Palace of the Parliament and the Village Museum, then take the train north to Brașov. Brașov is the best first base in Transylvania: the old town sits under Mount Tâmpa, and Bran, Râșnov and Peleș are day trips. From Brașov, one night inside the walls at Sighișoara, then two nights in Sibiu for the squares, the museums and the fortified churches at Biertan and Viscri.
If you have ten days, add a car day or two and drop it in Cluj-Napoca, flying home from there. With two weeks, Maramureș (three nights) is the strongest addition: wooden churches, village guesthouses and the Merry Cemetery. Bucovina's painted monasteries and the Danube Delta need their own transport and at least two to three nights each, so leave them for a second trip.
Trains are cheap and cover Bucharest–Brașov–Sighișoara–Sibiu–Cluj, but they are slow on secondary lines and rural stations are often unstaffed. A hire car for a day or two is the practical way to reach villages, and it is the only realistic way to drive the Transfăgărășan, which is generally open July to September (check).
Book accommodation in Brașov, Sibiu and Sighișoara ahead for May–September and December; small guesthouses in Viscri and Maramureș have few rooms. Carry some cash: cards are fine in city hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, but village guesthouses, markets and some taxis still prefer lei.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| How many days | 7 minimum for Bucharest and southern Transylvania; 10–14 for Maramureș or the Delta |
| Where to start | Bucharest if you fly long-haul; Cluj or Timișoara if you arrive from Hungary or Serbia |
| Train or car | Train for the main cities, car for one or two days in the villages |
| Cash or card | Card in cities, cash in villages and at markets |
| English spoken | Yes in cities and hotels, limited in villages |
| Best months | May–June, September–October; July–August for the coast |
Tips
The most common first-trip mistakes are trying to see the whole country in a week, treating Bran Castle as the only castle, and skipping Bucharest. Bran is a busy market-style visit; Peleș at Sinaia and the fortified churches at Viscri and Biertan are usually the better half of the day. Bucharest deserves its two nights for food and the Parliament building.
Other practical points: buy train tickets online or at the station a day ahead for peak summer weekends; keep your ticket for inspection; expect long queues at Bran and Peleș in August; and note that many village museums and small churches close on Mondays (check).
For money, cards and cash points, see the country pages below. Tipping is common in restaurants and cafés, around 5–10% if service is not already included. Check the customs rules before you pack alcohol, tobacco or anything from outside the EU, and read up on the small-print scams around taxi ranks and card machines before you arrive.
- Book Brașov and Sighișoara accommodation early for May–September and December.
- Take the early train or drive before 9am to Bran and Peleș in summer.
- Keep small lei notes for markets, rural guesthouses and tips.
- Download an offline map and a translation app before leaving the city.
- Check the Transfăgărășan opening dates if you plan to drive it.
Questions people ask
What should first-time visitors know about Romania?
Base yourself in Bucharest for 2 nights, then Brașov and Sibiu, moving by train or a short car hire. Carry some cash for villages, book summer accommodation ahead, and leave Maramureș, Bucovina and the Danube Delta for a second, longer trip.
How many days do I need in Romania?
Seven days covers Bucharest, Brașov, Sighișoara and Sibiu without rushing. Ten days adds Cluj and a car day; two weeks lets you add Maramureș, Bucovina or the Danube Delta, each of which needs two to three nights.
What are the biggest mistakes tourists make in Romania?
Trying to cover the whole country in a week, treating Bran Castle as the only worthwhile castle, skipping Bucharest, and relying on cards in villages. Also common: arriving at Bran or Peleș at midday in August, and not booking summer rooms ahead.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check