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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Simeria
Spend a half‑day in Simeria to walk the town centre, Măgura Uroiului Natural Reserve and Dendrological Park; add a short trip to Deva or Orăștie if you have extra time.
Simeria is a small railway town in Hunedoara County, Transylvania, set between the Apuseni and Retezat Mountains. Its main attractions are nearby natural reserves and easy access to larger towns such as Deva (10 km) and Orăștie (16 km). Walking covers the sights; a half‑day is enough for a quick visit, with optional day trips to historic sites nearby.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- May–September
- Avoid
- December–February (cold, possible snow)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 70–120 excl. bed · Mid RON 120–200 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 112 · Medical 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 | RON 5–8 |
| Local beer (0.5 L) | RON 8–12 |
| Meal at a simple restaurant | RON 20–35 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | RON 30–45 |
| Regional train ticket | RON 10–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SBZ · Sibiu International Airport
- About 1 h 30 min by car or bus via DN7/E68; check for direct bus connections.
- TSR · Timișoara Traian Vuia International Airport
- About 2 h by car or train; check for direct connections.
Typical fares
- Simeria → Deva (train)
- about RON 15, 15 min (check)
- Taxi Simeria centre → Vila Dolce Vita
- ≈ RON 20–30
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is compact; walk to the reserve and park. Regional buses run on DN7/E68; taxis are available.
See and do
Known for
- Măgura Uroiului Natural Reserve
- Dendrological Park
- Railway junction
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Deva | Bus or train 10 km (6.2 mi) east, about 15 minBus or train 6.2 mi (10 km) east, about 15 min | ≈30 min total |
| Orăștie | Bus or train 16 km (9.9 mi) west, about 20 minBus or train 9.9 mi (16 km) west, about 20 min | ≈40 min total |
| Hunedoara (Corvin Castle) | Bus 25 km (16 mi) north, about 35 minBus 16 mi (25 km) north, about 35 min | ≈1 h |
| Hațeg | Bus 31 km (19 mi) south, about 45 minBus 19 mi (31 km) south, about 45 min | ≈1 h 15 min |
| Petroșani (ski) | Bus 81 km (50 mi) east, about 1 h 30 minBus 50 mi (81 km) east, about 1 h 30 min | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- Vila Dolce Vita
- Four double rooms and one single; free Wi‑Fi, air‑conditioning, minibar.
Language
Romanian is a Romance language, closer to Italian than to its Slavic neighbours, so Italian, Spanish or French speakers catch signs and menus quickly. English is common among younger people and in tourism; in Transylvania, Hungarian is the first language in Székely areas (Harghita, Covasna) and German still helps with older people in Saxon towns. A few words of Romanian are warmly received.
- Key words: bună ziua (good day), mulțumesc (thank you), vă rog (please), da / nu (yes / no), cât costă? (how much?), nota, vă rog (the bill, please).
- Diacritics matter for search: ș and ț (Brașov, Timișoara); signs and apps also spell them without, as Brasov and Timisoara.
- Use the polite 'dumneavoastră' form and titles (doamna, domnul) with older people and officials.
- Moldovans speak the same language; in Moldova more people also speak Russian.
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
- Train schedules can vary; check the CFR Călători timetable for connections.
- Some natural reserve paths are unpaved; wear sturdy shoes.
Simeria is generally safe; petty theft can occur near the train station—keep valuables secured.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Simeria yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Măgura Uroiului Natural Reserve
- Dendrological Park
- Railway junction
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: Simeria, revision 4157421 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4157421
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/simeria). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.