Romania’s climate makes it a year-round destination. The south has hot summers and mild winters, while in the northern mountains, winters are harsher and summers are cooler. Tourist season peaks sharply in July and August only along the Black Sea Coast; elsewhere, travelers will find a refreshing lack of crowds even in mid-summer. Travelers would do well to remember, however, that summer can be brutally hot in much of Romania.
Embassies And Consulates. Foreign embassies are in Bucharest . Romanian embassies abroad include: Australia, 4 Dalman Crescent, O’Malley, Canberra, ACT 2606 (☎262 862 343; www.canberra.mae.ro); Canada, 655 Rideau St., Ottawa, ON K1N 6A3 (☎613-789-3709; www.ottawa.mae.ro); Ireland, 26 Waterloo Rd., Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (☎016 681 085; www.dublin.mae.ro); UK, 4 Palace Green, London W8 4QD (☎020 79 37 96 66; www.roemb.co.uk); US, 1607 23rd St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 (☎202-332-4846; www.roembus.org).
Visa And Entry Information. Romanian visa regulations change frequently; check with your embassy or consulate for the most current information. Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US can visit Romania for up to 90 days without visas. In all cases, passports are required and must be valid for six months after the date of departure. Travelers should consult the Romanian embassy in their country of origin to apply for a long-term visa. For citizens of the US, a single-entry visa costs US$40; multiple-entry US$75. Visas are not available at the border. Romanian embassies estimate—but do not guarantee—a five-day processing time for most visas. Apply early to allow the bureaucratic process to run its slow, frustrating course. Visa extensions and related services are available at police headquarters in large cities or at Bucharest’s Visas for Foreigners Office (Str. Luigi Cazzavillan 11, ☎01 650 3050). Long lines are common at the border for customs. Bags are rarely searched, but customs officials are strict about visa laws. In order to avoid being scammed, travelers should be aware that there is no entry tax for Romania. For additional information on visas and a list of Romanian embassies and consulates abroad, check out www.mae.ro.
Tourist Offices. Romania has limited resources for tourists, but the National tourist offices. Romania has limited resources for tourists, but the National Tourist Office (www.romaniatourism.com) is useful. Large hotels, however, can be excellent resources in smaller towns.
Money. The Romanian currency is the leu (L), plural lei (pronounced “lay”), which was revalued in 2005. One leu is equal to 100 bani (singular ban ), with standard denominations of L1, L5, L10, L50, L100, and L500 in notes, and 1, 5, 10, and 50 bani in coins. Romania joined the EU in 2007, and plans to adopt the euro by 2014. As the leu strengthens, inflation rates continue to drop dramatically and now hover around 5%, though this statistic is liable to fluctuate. Romania has a 19% value added tax (VAT), a sales tax on goods and services. The prices given in Let’s Go include VAT. ATMs generally accept MasterCard and Visa, and are the best way to withdraw money. Private exchange bureaus, which often offer better rates than banks, are everywhere. Many banks will cash traveler’s checks in US dollars, then exchange them for lei, with high fees. Changing money on the street is both illegal and a surefire way to get cheated.
If possible, avoid Romanian hospitals, as the quality of health care is relatively low. Embassies can recommend good private doctors for emergencies. Some European medical clinics in Bucharest have English-speaking doctors and will require cash payments. Farmacii (pharmacies) stock basic medical supplies. Public restrooms are relatively uncommon in Romania and often lack soap, towels, and toilet paper. Though water in Romania is cleaner than it once was, avoid untreated tap water and do not use ice cubes; boil water before drinking it or drink imported bottled water. Beware of contaminated vendor food.
Violent crime is not a major concern, but petty crime against tourists is common. Be especially careful on public transport and night trains. Pickpocketing, is prevalent in Romania, and taxis and money-exchange services sometimes swindle tourists. Beware of distracting children and con artists dressed as policemen who ask for your passport or wallet. If someone shows a badge and claims to be a plain-clothes policeman, he may be lying and trying to scam you. No police officer would ask to see credit cards or cash. When in doubt, ask the officer to escort you to the nearest police station. The drinking age, which is 18, is reportedly not strictly enforced, but if you smoke marijuana, be prepared to spend the next seven years in a Romanian prison. Solo female travelers should say they are traveling with a male, dress conservatively, and avoid going out alone after dark. Sexual harassment can be a problem in Bucharest. Minorities, and especially those with dark skin, may encounter unwanted attention, as they may be mistaken for Roma (gypsies), who face discrimination in Romania. Practitioners of religions other than Orthodox Christianity may feel uncomfortable in the province of Moldavia. Though homosexuality is now legal, Most Romanians hold conservative attitudes toward sexuality, which may translate into harassment of GLBT travelers and often manifests itself in the form of anti-gay propaganda in major cities. For more information about gay and lesbian clubs and resources, check out www.accept-romania.ro.
By Plane. Many international airlines fly into Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport ( OTP; ☎021 204 1000; www.otp-airport.ro), although flights from locations outside of Europe tend to be very expensive. It is often cheaper to fly into another major European city, such as Budapest or Prague, and then to catch a train to Bucharest. Romanian Airlines (TAROM; www.tarom.ro) and CarpatAir (www.carpatair.com) fly to a number of European and Middle Eastern destinations and smaller airports within Romania, including Cluj-Napoca, Constanţa, Suceava, and Timişoara.
By Train. Trains are fast and efficient for international travel and less expensive than flights. Eurail is accepted within the Romanian rail network. To buy tickets for the national railway, go to the CFR (Che-Fe-Re) office in larger towns. You must buy international tickets ahead. Train stations sell domestic tickets 1hr. in advance. The English-language timetable Mersul Trenurilor (hardcopy L12; www.cfr.ro) is very useful. There are four types of trains: InterCity (indicated by an “IC”); rapid (in green); accelerat (red); and personal (black). International trains (blue) are indicated with an “i.” InterCity trains stop only at major cities. Rapid trains are the next fastest; accelerat trains are slower and dirtier. The sluggish and decrepit personal trains stop at every station. The difference between first class (clasa întâi; 6 people per compartment) and 2nd class (clasa doua; 8 people) is small, except on personal trains. In an overnight train, shell out for a vagon de dormit (sleeper car) and buy both compartment tickets if you don’t want to share.
By Bus. Traveling to Romania by bus is often cheaper than entering by plane or train, but not as fast. Tourist agencies may sell tickets, but buying tickets from the carrier saves commission and is often cheaper. Use the slow local bus system only when trains are unavailable. Local buses can be cheaper than trains but are packed and poorly ventilated. Minibuses are a good option for short distances, as they are often cheaper, faster, and cleaner than trains. Rates are posted inside.
By Ferry And By Taxi. In the Danube Delta, boats are the best mode of transport. A ferry runs down the new European riverway from Rotterdam, NTH to Constanta, and in the Black Sea between İstanbul, TUR, and Constanta. Taxis should be avoided if possible, as scams are very, very common. If it is necessary to take a taxi, particularly an intercity taxi, definitely call for a taxi, verify that the meter is operational, and agree on a price beforehand. Your ride should cost no more than L6 per km plus a L7 flat fee.
By Thumb. Some travelers report that hitchhiking is very common in rural Romania and, in some places, that it is the only way to get around without a car. Hitchhikers stand on the side of the road and put out their palm, as if waving. Drivers generally expect a payment similar to the price of a train or bus ticket for the distance traveled; L1 for every 10km is a fair price. Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking.
Internet And Telephone Internet cafes are relatively common—though not always easy to find—in cities and larger towns and cost L3 per hr. They are typically open late and sometimes 24hr. Most public phones are orange and only accept phone cards, sold at telephone offices, Metro stops, and some post offices and kiosks. These cards are only accepted at telephones of the same brand; the most prevalent is Romtelecom. Rates run around L1.20 per min. to neighboring countries, L1.60 per min. to most of Europe, and L2 per min. to the US. Phones operate in English if you press “i.” At an analog phone, dial ☎971 for international calls. People with European cell phones can avoid roaming charges by buying a SIM card at Connex, Dialog, or CosmoRom. International access codes include: AT&T (☎0808 03 4288); British Telecom (☎02 18 00 44 44); MCI WorldPhone (☎02 18 00 18 00); Canada Direct (☎02 18 00 50 00).
Mail. At the post office, request par avion for airmail, which takes two weeks for delivery. For postcards or letters, it costs L3 to mail within Europe and L5 to mail to the rest of the world. Mail can be received through Poste Restante (mail is held at the post office for collection), though you may run into problems picking up your package. Address envelopes as follows: LAST NAME, first name, Oficiul Postal nr. 1 (post office address), city - POSTE RESTANTE, Romania, Postal Code. Major cities have UPS and Federal Express.
Language. Romanian is a Romance language, but differs from other Romance tongues in its Slavic-influenced vocabulary. German and Hungarian are widely spoken in Transylvania. French is a common second language for the older generation, while English is common among the younger. Avoid Russian, which is often understood but disliked. For basic Romanian words and phrases, see Phrasebook .
Many hostels are fairly pleasant, and some have perks like breakfast and free beer. While some hotels charge foreigners 50-100% more, lodging is still inexpensive (US$7-20). Guesthouses and pensions are simple and comfortable but rare. In summer, many towns rent low-priced rooms in university dorms. Consult the tourist office. Private rooms and homestays are a great option, but hosts rarely speak English. Rooms run L50-80. Look at the room and fix a price before accepting. Bungalows are often full in summer; reserve far ahead. Hotels and hostels often provide the best info for tourists.
A complete Romanian meal includes an appetizer, soup, fish, an entree, and dessert. Lunch includes soup, called supă or ciorbă (the former has noodles or dumplings, the latter is saltier and with vegetables), an entree, and dessert. Clătite (crepes), papanaşi (doughnuts with jam and sour cream), and torts (creamy cakes) are all delicious. In the west, you’ll find as much Hungarian food as Romanian. Some restaurants charge by weight rather than by portion. Although prices may be listed per 50 or 100 grams, the actual serving can be up to 300 grams. Some servers will attempt to charge unsuspecting tourists extra. If the menu is not specific, always ask. Garnituri, the extras that come with a meal, are usually charged separately. This means you’re paying for everything, even a bit of butter or a dollop of mustard. Pork rules in Romania, so keeping kosher is difficult. Local drinks include țuicǎ, a brandy made from plums and apples, and double-distilled palincǎ, which approaches 70% alcohol. Vișįnatǎ liqueur is made from wild cherries. Always verify that the server brings the exact vintage that was ordered, since some will attempt to substitute a more expensive wine and claim that they ran out of the one you ordered.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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