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Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Târgoviște
Half-day trip from Bucharest: see the Princely Court and Chindia Tower, then return. Not worth an overnight unless you have a specific interest in medieval Wallachia.
Târgoviște was the capital of Wallachia for over 300 years and the seat of Vlad the Impaler. Today it is a quiet provincial city with a compact historic core. The main draw is the Curtea Domnească complex with the Chindia Tower. Most visitors come from Bucharest (1.5 h by train or bus) and leave the same day.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (cold, some sights may have reduced hours)
- Stay
- 0 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 RON 80–120 (day trip, no accommodation) · Mid RON 120–200 (day trip, no accommodation) · High RON 200+ (day trip, no accommodation) (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, fire, ambulance 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 8–12 |
| Lunch (main dish) | RON 25–45 |
| Beer (0.5 L) | RON 6–10 |
| Bus ticket (single) | RON 2–3 |
| Entry to Curtea Domnească | RON 10–20 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- OTP · Henri Coandă International Airport (Bucharest)
- About 1.5 h by car or train+bus via Bucharest North station
Typical fares
- Train Bucharest North → Târgoviște
- about RON 20 one way, 1.5 h (check)
- Bus Bucharest → Târgoviște
- about RON 15 one way, 1.5 h (check)
- Taxi from Târgoviște station to centre
- RON 10–15
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
The centre is walkable. Nine bus lines and four minibus lines cover the rest; check the city hall website for a map.
See and do
Known for
- Curtea Domnească (Princely Court)
- Chindia Tower
- Capital of Wallachia (1396–1714)
- Vlad the Impaler's fortress
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bucharest | Train (Accelerat ~1.5 h) or bus (~1.5 h) from Bucharest North station area | About 2 h |
| Pitești | Bus or car, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Ploiești | Bus or car, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Snagov | Car, about 30 min | About 45 min |
Sleep
- City centre
- Close to the Princely Court and restaurants; limited options.
- Near the train station
- Convenient for arrival/departure, but little atmosphere.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bună ziuaBOO-nuh ZEE-wah |
| Thank you | Mulțumescmool-tsoo-MESK |
| How much? | Cât costă?kut KOS-tuh |
| Where is the train station? | Unde este gara?OON-day YES-teh GAH-rah |
| Goodbye | La revederelah reh-veh-DEH-reh |
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
- The Princely Court and Chindia Tower have variable opening hours; check the official site before going.
- Train and bus schedules may change; confirm on infofer.ro or autogari.ro.
- Few English speakers outside the main sights; have a translation app ready.
Târgoviște is safe for tourists. Usual precautions apply: watch your belongings in crowded buses and avoid poorly lit areas at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Târgoviște yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Curtea Domnească (Princely Court)
- Chindia Tower
- Capital of Wallachia (1396–1714)
- Vlad the Impaler's fortress
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: Târgoviște, revision 5329491 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5329491
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Târgoviște
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance112
The nearest embassy is in Bucharest (about 1.5 h away).
Day trip from Bucharest: leave by 09:00, return by 18:00.Day trip from Bucharest: leave by 9:00 AM, return by 6:00 PM.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/targoviste). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.