How to plan a trip to Romania?

Romania is a fascinating travel destination with a a lot of charming places to discover, including lovely villages in Transylvania, medieval towns with fortified churches, impressive castles and beaches on the Black Sea. But here we’re not going to tell you about the wonders to visit in the country, but rather how best to plan your trip to Romania.

Below you can read about all the key aspects of travelling. Find out the best time to visit Romania, how to find the best accommodation, how to get around the country and much more. Plus, with the Passporter App you can make all your preparations in an organised way and get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.

1. Choose the date to travel to Romania

Romania can be visited at any time of the year, however, spring and autumn are the most recommended seasons. During spring, the weather is pleasant and the landscapes are covered with flowers, while in autumn the lush forests are full of colour.

Summer offers warm weather, perfect for enjoying the Black Sea beaches and outdoor activities. However, it’s also high season, so the main tourist destinations are busier and prices rise.

And winter is also a great choice if you want to enjoy snow sports at ski resorts in the Carpathian Mountains. Bear in mind that temperatures can be very cold and some places may be snow-covered, limiting certain tourist activities.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

2. How to get to and around Romania

To get to Romania the most common option is to fly into Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest, which is the best connected to other European countries. However, there are other airports such as Cluj-Napoca International Airport or Sibiu International Airport which also receive flights from the neighbouring countries. Once at the airport you can get to your destination in the following ways:

• Train: Romania has an extensive rail network connecting the country’s main cities and regions. In addition, the ticket price is quite cheap.
• Bus: The bus system is also efficient and is often an economical option.
• Car rental: On arrival at the airport you can hire a car to get around the country freely. The mountain passes in the Carpathian Mountains are challenging roads. So, be careful and remember to bring chains if you’re travelling in winter.

Within the cities public transport includes trams, buses and metro in Bucharest, and ridesharing apps such as Uber and Bolt are also available.

Also, a common way to visit Black Sea cities is by cruise and ferry, which stop at ports such as Constanta.

3. Compare and find accommodation with Passporter

In Romania’s main cities and tourist towns you’ll find a wide range of accommodation, from humble hostels to luxury flats and hotels, and best of all, it’s a fairly cheap destination compared to other European countries.

Bear in mind that accommodation will always be more expensive in tourist towns and on the coast. So, if you have a car, we recommend staying in less popular areas. And whatever your final choice, remember that if you search in advance you can compare and choose from more options, and with the Passporter App you can book it via Booking and keep your bookings organised.

4. Have the necessary documents for travelling to Romania at hand in the Passporter App

If you are a citizen of the European Union you can travel to Romania as a tourist for a period of up to 3 months with just your ID card. However, if you are travelling from another country, you will need the following documents:

• Passport: make sure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond the date of your intended departure from Romania.
• Visa: depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a visa to enter Romania.
• Travel insurance: although not compulsory, it is strongly recommended to have travel insurance to cover medical and repatriation expenses in case of an emergency.
• Return flight ticket: immigration authorities may ask you to prove your intention to leave the country at the end of your stay.
• Proof of sufficient funds: make sure you have enough money to cover your expenses during your trip, either in cash or through bank statements.
• Documentation of accommodation booking: it may be necessary to show proof of accommodation booking on arrival or during visa processing.

One of the advantages of travelling with the Passporter App is that you can save your visa and all your other documents so that you always have them at hand without the risk of losing them.

5. Try the gastronomy in Romania and find the best restaurants with Passporter

Romanian cuisine is a fusion of European, Ottoman and Balkan influences, resulting in a rich variety of dishes characterised by their sour and acidic flavours. Romanian restaurants are also fairly cheap to eat in. And there you can recharge your energy with hearty stews and soups.

We mention below some of Romania’s most typical dishes, and in this post you can read more about its gastronomy: Romanian food: What and where to eat?

• Mamaliga: Similar to polenta, it’s a corn-based side dish.
• Sarmale: Cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice, cooked in tomato sauce.
• Mici: Seasoned and grilled pork, lamb or beef sausages.
• Mitraillette: A sandwich stuffed with meat and salad.
• Ciorba: A sour soup based on meat, vegetables and herbs.
• Mamaliga cu branza si smantana: Corn with cheese and sour cream.
• Fasole cu cârnasi: Beans cooked with sausage.
• Papanasi: Fried cottage cheese dessert topped with jam and sour cream.
• Mucenici: Eight-shaped dumplings dipped in honey and walnuts.
• Mere coapte: Baked apples with walnuts and cinnamon, a simple but delicious dessert.

6. Plan a trip with friends to Romania

Organising a trip with friends to Romania has many advantages, but there are also some challenges to consider. On the one hand, sharing adventures with friends is exciting, encourages bonding and making memories together, and can make the trip more affordable by splitting the costs. In addition, the company of friends can provide support in unexpected situations.

However, coordination can be a major challenge, as preferences and expectations may differ. Making decisions can take more time and patience. In addition, logistical issues arise, such as the availability of dates and destinations that suit everyone.

To make organisation easier, it is best to use the Passporter App, with which you can create a shared travel itinerary so that everyone can participate planning the trip. We tell you how to do it in this post: Group travel: The best way to travel with your group of friends.

7. Must-sees in Romania

Romania has so much to offer that it would take months to visit it all. That’s why we’ve put together this section where we tell you the places you should include in your itinerary when planning a trip to Romania. Take notes!

• Bucharest: Romania’s capital, Bucharest, is a city of neoclassical architecture and is notable for the impressive Parliament Palace.
• Sighisoara: is a medieval town of cobbled streets and the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for the Dracula novel. Highlights include the Clock Tower, Cetatii Square, the School Staircase and the Strada Tâmplarilor.
• Timisoara: is a multicultural city with a rich cultural life and historical heritage, including Victory Square and the Metropolitan Cathedral.
• Constanta: is an attractive seaside destination in Romania, known for its beaches, delicious gastronomy and cultural sites such as the Casino.
• Oradea: is famous for its beautiful baroque architecture and extensive parks, making it a perfect place to explore and relax.
• Brasov: Located in the Carpathian Mountains, Brasov is a charming medieval city with historic architecture and easy access to nature for hiking and winter sports.
• Peles Castle: Peles Castle is a Renaissance architectural jewel that impresses with its opulent interiors and rich history.
• Danube Delta: The Danube Delta is a vast wetland that is home to a variety of wildlife, making it a nature-lover’s paradise.
• Sibiu: Sibiu boasts a charming old town, Germanic architecture and historic sites that take you back in time.
• Bran Castle: Bran Castle, known as “Dracula’s Castle,” stands in the middle of a forest and is an iconic attraction in Romania.

In this post you can read more in detail about these destinations: Things to see and do in Romania

8. Other essential travel tips for planning a trip to Romania

• The official currency in Romania is the Romanian leu (RON), although in some shops and accommodation you will be able to pay in euros.
• The official language of Romania is Romanian, but in tourist areas, it is common to find English speakers, especially in hotels and restaurants.
• If you are an EU citizen, you will only need your identity card or valid passport to travel to Romania. For non-EU countries, a passport with at least 3 months validity is required; a tourist visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days.
• It is advisable to travel with travel insurance that provides adequate medical cover, as free medical care in Romania is limited for foreign visitors.
• Romania is a safe country, but keep your belongings safe and be aware of possible pickpockets in tourist areas and on public transport.
• The best time to visit Romania is between May and September.
• Tap water is safe to drink, but it is advisable to avoid tap water and drink bottled water.

9. How to prepare what to see on your trip to Romania

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, photos and itineraries
• Organise your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or type of trip (beach, mountain, restaurants…).
• Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and information about the trip.
• Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you feel like visiting each day.
• Add the stops that interest you the most, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums…
• Book your flights, accommodation, transfers and activities through a single app.
• Save all your documents in the app so that you always have everything at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documentation…
• Make any modifications you need and you’re all set for your trip
• Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travellers with your experience. You can also share your own travel tips and recommendations on how to plan your trip to Romania.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter. 

10. Frequently asked questions when planning a trip to Romania