Romania is a big country where one trip can mix Transylvania's Saxon towns, Bucharest's boulevards, the Carpathians, and the Black Sea coast. These are the national basics to lock in before you go: Schengen entry rules and passport validity, the leu and how cards work, trains between cities, the road vignette, plugs, public holidays, and what each season actually delivers.
Romania uses the leu (plural lei, code RON), not the euro.SourceRomania Tourism
Sockets take the standard continental European two round prong plugs (types C and F), at 230 V and 50 Hz.SourceRomania Tourism
US, UK, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, with at least 3 months of passport validity beyond departure.SourceUS State Department·GOV.UK
Lowland highs climb from about 10 to 15°C in March to 20 to 25°C by May, while the mountains stay cooler and wetter.SourceWikipedia: Climate of Romania
Crowds
Shoulder season. The best sightseeing weather arrives from late April, but Orthodox Easter can fall in April or May and packs the trains and family restaurants.
Summer
Months
June to August
Weather
Lowland heat can push past 30 to 36°C in heat waves, with nights around 16 to 21°C; the Black Sea coast is moderated by sea breezes and the mountains stay pleasant.SourceWikipedia: Climate of Romania
Crowds
Peak season on the coast and in Transylvania's towns. Book Bran Castle and Peleș ahead, and reserve beach weekends early.
Autumn
Months
September to November
Weather
September still reaches 20 to 25°C, then cools to around 5 to 10°C by November, with rain increasing in the north and mountains.SourceWikipedia: Climate of Romania
Crowds
Late August to late October is the other best window to visit, with mild temperatures and fewer crowds once school holidays end.
Winter
Months
December to February
Weather
Highs sit around 0 to 5°C, with lows of about -5 to -10°C inland and snow in the mountains; Carpathian resorts usually ski from December to mid April.SourceWikipedia: Climate of Romania·Romania Tourism
Crowds
Quiet in the cities outside the holidays, busy in ski resorts around Christmas, New Year, and the February school break.
When to visit Romania, by season
Season
Months
Weather
Crowds
Spring
March to May
Lowland highs climb from about 10 to 15°C in March to 20 to 25°C by May, while the mountains stay cooler and wetter.SourceWikipedia: Climate of Romania
Shoulder season. The best sightseeing weather arrives from late April, but Orthodox Easter can fall in April or May and packs the trains and family restaurants.
Summer
June to August
Lowland heat can push past 30 to 36°C in heat waves, with nights around 16 to 21°C; the Black Sea coast is moderated by sea breezes and the mountains stay pleasant.SourceWikipedia: Climate of Romania
Peak season on the coast and in Transylvania's towns. Book Bran Castle and Peleș ahead, and reserve beach weekends early.
Autumn
September to November
September still reaches 20 to 25°C, then cools to around 5 to 10°C by November, with rain increasing in the north and mountains.SourceWikipedia: Climate of Romania
Late August to late October is the other best window to visit, with mild temperatures and fewer crowds once school holidays end.
Winter
December to February
Highs sit around 0 to 5°C, with lows of about -5 to -10°C inland and snow in the mountains; Carpathian resorts usually ski from December to mid April.SourceWikipedia: Climate of Romania·Romania Tourism
Quiet in the cities outside the holidays, busy in ski resorts around Christmas, New Year, and the February school break.
The practical guide
Everything to sort before you go
Visa and entry
Romania is in the Schengen area, so entry works on Schengen rules. US, UK, Canadian, Australian, and most other Western visitors do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, and time in other Schengen countries counts toward that total. Your passport needs at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure. Overstaying can lead to a re-entry ban.
US passport holders can stay visa-free for up to 90 days; the passport must have 3 months of validity beyond departure and at least one blank page. SourceUS State Department
UK passport holders are visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and expire at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area. SourceGOV.UK
Canadian citizens are visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, cumulative across all Schengen countries, with 3 months of passport validity beyond the expected departure date. SourceGovernment of Canada
Romania is in the Schengen area, so arrivals from Hungary or Bulgaria normally pass without routine border checks, though you should still carry your passport. SourceGOV.UK
Getting in from the airport
Bucharest's Henri Coandă International Airport at Otopeni (OTP) is the main gateway and where most long-haul and European flights land. Bucharest's smaller Băneasa airport handles some traffic, and Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași, Sibiu, and Brașov-Ghimbav all have international airports for regional arrivals. Because Romania is in Schengen, flying in from another Schengen country feels like a domestic flight.
Cluj-Napoca (CLJ), Timișoara (TSR), Iași (IAS), Sibiu (SBZ), and Brașov-Ghimbav (GHV) are Romania's other international airports. SourceWikipedia: List of airports in Romania
You should carry your passport when moving between Schengen countries; spot checks can happen at land and river borders. SourceGOV.UK
Getting around between cities
CFR Călători, the state railway, links the main cities with InterRegio and InterCity trains, and domestic fares are among the cheapest in the EU. For a one-week trip, buy point-to-point tickets at cfrcalatori.ro rather than a rail pass; a Romania One Country Pass only pays off if you ride most days. Night trains with sleepers run from Bucharest to Cluj, Timișoara, and Iași. To drive between cities you need a rovinieta vignette before using national roads.
Bucharest to Brașov costs about 75 lei on an InterRegio and 85 lei on an InterCity, under the December 2025 fare table. SourceEconomedia
Bucharest to Cluj-Napoca is about 138.50 lei InterRegio or 159 lei InterCity, and Bucharest to Timișoara is about 153.50 lei InterRegio or 159 lei InterCity. SourceEconomedia
A Romania One Country Pass for 2026 starts at €105 for 3 travel days in a month, €129 for 4 days, and €152 for 5 days, adult 2nd class. SourceCFR Călători
Domestic tickets go on sale up to 30 days ahead online at cfrcalatori.ro, and buying early locks in cheaper quota-limited fares. SourceCFR Călători
Night trains from Bucharest to Cluj, Timișoara, and Iași carry sleeper and couchette berths; Interrail holders pay roughly €10 to €25 per berth on top of the pass. SourceEveryRail
Driving on national roads requires a rovinieta vignette: the national tourism office lists about €6 for 10 days, €9.50 for 30 days, and €50 for a year for a passenger car, paid in lei. SourceRomania Tourism
Money and payments
Romania uses the leu, not the euro, and prices in shops and restaurants are in lei. Cards work in cities, hotels, and chain shops, and ATMs dispense lei, but carry some cash for village shops, markets, and small guesthouses. Non-EU visitors can reclaim VAT on larger purchases, and restaurants often expect a tip when service is not included.
The currency is the Romanian leu (RON), and payments for goods and services in Romania should be made in lei. SourceRomania Tourism
Major credit and debit cards valid in the EU are accepted at many businesses, and ATMs dispense lei; a PIN is usually required for card payments of 100 lei or more. SourceRomanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs·Romania Tourism
Non-EU visitors can reclaim VAT on purchases of at least €175 including tax, with the refund processed at customs on departure. SourceRomania Tourism
Safety and common scams
Romania is generally safe to travel, and the practical risks are the usual urban ones: pickpocketing and distraction theft around stations, airports, and crowded tourist streets, plus taxi overcharging. Use Bolt or Uber rather than hailing cabs on the street. In the mountains, weather changes fast and bears live in the Carpathians, so keep food packed and follow local signs. Drink-driving has zero tolerance.
Petty theft is common in large towns, especially near money exchanges, hotels, public transport, main railway stations, and airports; card fraud has occurred in bars and restaurants. SourceGOV.UK
Bolt and Uber are generally reliable, while foreign visitors can be overcharged by some street taxis. SourceGOV.UK
The blood alcohol limit for private drivers in Romania is 0.00%. SourceRAC
RO-ALERT pushes emergency SMS alerts to active SIM cards during severe weather or disasters, in Romanian and English. SourceGovernment of Canada
Winter tyres or chains are recommended whenever snow or ice is on the road, roughly November to March. SourceGOV.UK
Health and emergencies
Bring your EHIC or GHIC if you are an EU or UK resident, and carry travel insurance regardless, because state cover does not include private care or repatriation. Health authorities advise standard food and water precautions. Ticks in forested regions can carry tick-borne encephalitis, and rabies is present in wildlife, so plan vaccines if you will hike or cycle a lot.
UK residents should carry a GHIC or EHIC for medically necessary state healthcare; it is not a substitute for travel insurance. SourceGOV.UK
The CDC recommends Hepatitis A vaccination for most unvaccinated travelers and a tick-borne encephalitis vaccine for people with heavy outdoor or tick exposure. SourceCDC
Rabies is present in wildlife, so discuss pre-exposure vaccination if you plan high-risk outdoor activities. SourceCDC
Take standard food and water precautions and avoid swimming in contaminated water. SourceGovernment of Canada
Dial 112 for an ambulance anywhere in Romania. SourceGOV.UK
Staying connected
Mobile coverage is strong in towns and along main roads, and 4G or 5G reaches most cities. EU visitors roam like at home with no extra charges under EU rules; non-EU visitors can buy a prepaid SIM from Orange, Vodafone, or Digi at the airport or any operator shop. RO-ALERT emergency messages arrive in Romanian and English.
EU residents can use their home plan in Romania at no extra roaming charge under the EU's Roam Like At Home rules, subject to fair-use limits. SourceEuropean Commission
RO-ALERT sends emergency SMS messages to active SIM cards in Romania during emergencies or disasters. SourceGovernment of Canada
Romanians are warm but a little formal with strangers. Greet with bună ziua (good day) in shops and restaurants, and shake hands when introduced. Dress modestly inside Orthodox churches and monasteries, with shoulders and knees covered, and remove your hat. Round up or tip 10 to 15% in restaurants when service is not included, and keep small lei notes for places that do not take cards.
Restaurants typically receive a 10 to 15% tip when service is not included; porters and hotel staff get small tips of a few lei. SourceRomania Tourism
The language
Romanian is the official language everywhere. In cities and tourist towns, younger people and hospitality staff usually speak workable English, but rural areas and older generations run mostly on Romanian. Hungarian is a second everyday language in parts of Transylvania. Learn bună ziua, mulțumesc (thank you), and the numbers for prices.
Romanian is the sole official language, used as a primary language by about 91% of the population. SourceWikipedia: Languages of Romania
Hungarian is the largest minority language, spoken by about 6.1% of the population and concentrated mainly in Transylvania. SourceWikipedia: Languages of Romania
Romania observes 17 national non-working holidays in 2025, and banks, post offices, many museums, and some shops close. The Orthodox Easter cycle moves each year and brings Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday as holidays, plus Pentecost Monday. Plan grocery and pharmacy runs around the fixed dates, especially the long winter holiday stretch.
Romania has 17 national non-working holidays in 2025. SourceRomania Insider
Fixed non-working holidays include January 1 and 2, January 24 (Unification Day), May 1, June 1, August 15, November 30 (St Andrew), December 1 (National Day), and December 25 and 26. SourceWikipedia: Public holidays in Romania
Orthodox Easter falls on April 20 in 2025 and April 12 in 2026, with Pentecost 50 days later; the Monday after each is also a holiday. SourceWikipedia: Public holidays in Romania
What to book ahead
Romania's headline sights are timed or capacity-limited, and the cheapest train fares sell out first. Book Bran Castle and Peleș Castle entry slots before you arrive in high season, reserve the Palace of the Parliament tour in advance, and buy inter-city train tickets up to 30 days ahead. High mountain roads such as the Transfăgărășan open only after the snow clears and can close early in autumn, so check conditions before you drive.
CFR sells domestic train tickets up to 30 days ahead online, and booking early locks in cheaper quota-limited fares. SourceCFR Călători
Bran Castle tickets are sold online with timed entry, and the official site recommends booking ahead, especially in summer. SourceBran Castle
Peleș Castle tickets are tied to a specific time slot and cannot be rebooked, so buy for the slot you can actually make. SourcePeleș Castle
