Romania

Trains in Romania: tickets, passes and routes

Yes for Bucharest–Brașov and Bucharest–Constanța, where InterRegio trains take 2 h 15–3 h and cost RON 50–180; skip the train for Transylvanian town-to-town hops under 4 h, where buses are faster. Buy on cfrcalatori.ro, expect 30–60 min delays on long lines, and book sleepers ahead.

Not field-verified

Source checked: A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
Field checked: Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
Plan calculated: Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.

Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Updated Sep 20262 min read

GuideRomania

Key facts

Best train routes: Bucharest–Brașov 2 h 30–3 h; Bucharest–Constanța 2 h 15
Typical fare: RON 50–180 one way, 2nd class — 2026 estimate
Long hauls: Bucharest–Cluj 8–10 h; overnight sleepers save a hotel night
Where trains lose: Brașov–Sibiu about 3 h by rail vs 2 h 30 by bus
Buy tickets: Online at cfrcalatori.ro or at the station; operator-specific
Rail pass: Not needed for most trips; point-to-point tickets are cheap
Reliability: Delays of 30–60 min common on long lines

Details

Romania's rail network is run mainly by CFR Călători, with private operators (Regio, Astra Trans Carpatic, Softrans, Transferoviar) covering some routes. InterRegio (IR) trains are the fast tier and the default for Bucharest–Brașov and Bucharest–Constanța. Regional trains are slower and stop everywhere, which suits short hops but not a full day's journey.

Average speeds are low, so compare the train against a bus before committing. Between Transylvanian towns the bus usually wins: Brașov–Sibiu is about 3 h by rail against 2 h 30 by road, and Sibiu–Cluj is 4–5 h by rail against 3 h 30 by bus. The train still makes sense for long northbound and westbound runs, where an overnight sleeper replaces a hotel night.

Tickets are operator-specific: a CFR ticket is not valid on a private train, and private operators sell through their own channels. Mersul Trenurilor and the Trenul Meu app show all operators in one timetable. At Gara de Nord in Bucharest, check the platform board rather than trusting the app alone.

Details
Route	Train time	Fare (2nd class)	Verdict
Bucharest – Brașov	2 h 30–3 h	RON 50–180	Take the train
Bucharest – Constanța	2 h 15	RON 50–180	Take the train
Bucharest – Cluj	8–10 h	RON 50–180	Sleeper saves a night
Brașov – Sibiu	about 3 h	RON 20–80	Bus is faster
Sibiu – Cluj	4–5 h	RON 20–80	Bus is faster

Fares are 2026 estimates; private operators set their own prices.

Tips

Book online at cfrcalatori.ro for the best chance of a seat on peak summer and holiday weekends. Sleepers and couchettes on the Bucharest–Cluj and Bucharest–Suceava routes sell out first; reserve days ahead, not hours.

Allow buffer time on long lines. A 30–60 min delay is normal, so do not schedule a tight onward connection or a same-day flight. Keep your ticket and ID ready for inspection, and validate where required.

For a single trip, point-to-point tickets are usually cheaper than any pass. A rail pass only pays off if you are doing several long journeys in a short window.

Buy on cfrcalatori.ro or at the station; private operators sell separately.
Reserve sleepers and couchettes days ahead in summer.
Check the platform board at Gara de Nord; apps can lag.
Compare bus times for any hop under 4 h.

Questions people ask

Is the train a good way to get around Romania?

Yes for Bucharest–Brașov and Bucharest–Constanța, where InterRegio trains take 2 h 15–3 h. For Transylvanian town-to-town hops under 4 h, buses are usually faster. Long northbound and westbound runs work best as overnight sleepers.

Do I need a rail pass for Romania?

Usually not. Point-to-point tickets are cheap — RON 50–180 for a long InterRegio trip — so a pass only pays off if you are doing several long journeys in a short window. Check current pass offers before buying.

How far in advance should I book trains in Romania?

Book days ahead for sleepers and couchettes on the Bucharest–Cluj and Bucharest–Suceava routes, and for peak summer weekends. Day seats on Bucharest–Brașov and Bucharest–Constanța are often available closer to departure.

Deep dive

Every source; changeable facts are marked check