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Romania

Capital

Bucharest

Currency

Romanian Leu (RON)

Language

Romanian

Best Time

May–Jun and Sep

Time Zone

EET (UTC+2) / EEST (UTC+3)

Sustainability Politics
Flag of Romania
Welcome to Romania

Romania's Castles and Carpathian Peaks

Welcome to Romania, a country where medieval castles, dense forests, and dramatic Carpathian peaks create a landscape steeped in legend. Bran Castle, famously linked to the Dracula legend, rises dramatically above the Transylvanian countryside. Bucharest, the capital, blends grand belle époque architecture with a lively, modern urban energy. The Carpathian Mountains offer excellent hiking, wildlife spotting, and remote villages seemingly untouched by time. Transylvania's fortified churches and medieval towns, including Sighișoara, reveal centuries of Saxon heritage. The Danube Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, teems with extraordinary birdlife across its wetland channels. Traditional wooden villages in Maramureș preserve folk customs, crafts, and rural life dating back generations. Romania invites travelers to discover a country of legend, history, and dramatic natural beauty.

Popular City

Bucharest

Bucharest’s Palace of the Parliament, the second-largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon, offers guided tours through its marble halls built under Nicolae Ceausescu’s regime. The Old Town, or Lipscani district, has been revitalized with cafes and bars filling restored interwar buildings. The Village Museum, an open-air collection of traditional wooden houses gathered from across Romania, offers a glimpse of rural life largely lost to the capital’s rapid development. Calea Victoriei, one of the city’s grandest boulevards, is lined with Belle Epoque architecture and the ornate Romanian Athenaeum concert hall. Herastrau Park, the city’s largest green space, offers lakeside walking paths and boat rentals popular with locals on weekends. Bucharest’s mix of communist-era monuments and Belle Epoque elegance, once earning it the nickname Little Paris, makes it a compelling if underrated European capital.

Travel News

Popular City

Brasov

Brasov, at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, centers on the Black Church, the largest Gothic church in Romania, named for its blackened walls following a seventeenth-century fire. The narrow, colorful Rope Street, one of the narrowest streets in Europe, winds through the old town’s medieval quarter. A cable car climbs Tampa Mountain, overlooking the city with a Hollywood-style Brasov sign, for panoramic views over the red-tiled rooftops. Just outside the city, Bran Castle, popularly associated with the Dracula legend, draws visitors into its turreted rooms and courtyards. Brasov’s Council Square, ringed by colorful baroque buildings, hosts cafes and markets throughout the year. Its mountain setting and proximity to Transylvania’s castle legends make Brasov one of Romania’s most visited destinations.

Travel Tips

Helpful information to consider before and during your visit.

Before You Go

  • Confirm passport validity and entry requirements.
  • Check whether a tourist visa is required.
  • Keep digital copies of important documents.
  • Consider purchasing travel insurance.

Money & Payments

  • Review the local currency and exchange rate.
  • Carry some cash for small businesses and markets.
  • Check for international bank transaction fees.
  • Learn the country's customary tipping practices.

Stay Connected

  • Review your mobile carrier's international plan.
  • Consider purchasing a local SIM or eSIM.
  • Download maps for offline use before traveling.
  • Avoid sensitive transactions on unsecured Wi-Fi.

Transportation

  • Research public transportation before arrival.
  • Use licensed taxis or reputable rideshare services.
  • Check which side of the road vehicles use.
  • Confirm whether an international permit is needed.

Electricity

  • Check the country's voltage and outlet type.
  • Bring the correct plug adapter for your devices.
  • Use a voltage converter when required.
  • Pack a portable charger for longer excursions.

Weather & Clothing

  • Review the seasonal weather before packing.
  • Bring layers for changing temperatures.
  • Pack rain protection when appropriate.
  • Use sunscreen even on cool or cloudy days.

Food & Water

  • Research whether tap water is safe to drink.
  • Communicate food allergies clearly.
  • Try traditional dishes from reputable vendors.
  • Observe local dining customs and meal times.

Safety

  • Secure valuables in crowded tourist areas.
  • Avoid displaying large amounts of cash.
  • Share your itinerary with someone you trust.
  • Review current government travel advisories.

Language & Etiquette

  • Learn a few polite words in the local language.
  • Respect dress requirements at religious sites.
  • Ask permission before photographing people.
  • Follow local traditions, laws and social customs.

Emergency Planning

  • Save the country's emergency telephone number.
  • Locate your nearest embassy or consulate.
  • Keep medication in its original packaging.
  • Store emergency contacts offline and on paper.

Smart Packing

  • Pack comfortable shoes for walking and tours.
  • Keep essential medication in your carry-on.
  • Bring a reusable bottle where appropriate.
  • Leave room for locally purchased items.

Local Research

  • Check attraction hours and reservation policies.
  • Review national holidays and local closures.
  • Download important addresses before departure.
  • Leave flexibility for unexpected discoveries.
Important: Entry requirements, transportation rules, weather conditions and safety guidance can change. Verify important information with official sources before traveling.

Popular City

Sibiu

Sibiu, a former European Capital of Culture, preserves a beautifully restored old town where distinctive dormer windows, nicknamed the eyes of Sibiu, peer out from red-tiled rooftops. The Bridge of Lies connects the Upper and Lower Towns, according to local legend groaning under the weight of anyone who tells a falsehood upon it. The Brukenthal National Museum, housed in a baroque palace, holds one of Romania’s most significant art collections, including works by Flemish and Romanian masters. The Large Square and Small Square, both lined with pastel merchant houses, form the heart of the old town’s Saxon architectural heritage. Nearby, the fortified Saxon villages of Transylvania, several UNESCO World Heritage sites, offer a glimpse of medieval defensive church architecture unique to the region. Sibiu’s well-preserved Saxon heritage makes it one of Transylvania’s most charming and historically distinct cities.

Local Food to Try

Discover some of Romania's most popular flavors, traditional dishes and memorable local treats during your visit.

Sarmale

Sarmale is a signature Romania specialty known for its distinctive local ingredients, seasoning and traditional preparation.

Mămăligă

This popular Romania dish brings together familiar regional flavors and is commonly enjoyed in homes, markets or local restaurants.

Ciorbă de Burtă

A well-loved part of Romania cuisine, Ciorbă de Burtă reflects the country's culinary traditions and locally available ingredients.

Mici

Mici is a comforting regional favorite, prepared in styles that may vary between families, cities and different parts of Romania.

Tochitură

Visitors often seek out Tochitură for an authentic taste of Romania's everyday cooking and food culture.

Papanași

This traditional favorite highlights the bold, savory or gently spiced flavors associated with cooking in Romania.

Cozonac

Cozonac is widely recognized in Romania and is often served at casual meals, celebrations or community gatherings.

Salată de Boeuf

A memorable choice for travelers, Salată de Boeuf offers a flavorful introduction to the ingredients and techniques used across Romania.

Plăcintă

This classic food is an important part of Romania's culinary identity and is best sampled freshly prepared.

Dining tip: Regional specialties and preparation styles vary throughout Romania. Explore local markets, independent cafés and family-owned restaurants for an authentic taste of the destination.

Little-Known Facts

Romania

Romania is home to the historical region of Transylvania, whose dramatic castles and dense forests inspired the setting of Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Bran Castle, often marketed to tourists as "Dracula's Castle," draws visitors from around the world despite having only a loose historical connection to Vlad the Impaler, the 15th-century ruler often cited as a partial inspiration for the fictional count. Romania is also home to the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, the heaviest building in the world and one of the largest administrative buildings on Earth, built under the communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu at enormous cost to the country.

The country contains a significant portion of the Carpathian Mountains, which host one of the largest populations of brown bears, wolves, and lynx remaining in Europe, since Romania's forests were left comparatively undisturbed for decades under communist-era land policies. Romania is also home to the Danube Delta, one of the best-preserved river deltas in Europe and a UNESCO-protected wetland that supports an extraordinary diversity of bird species.

Romanian is a Romance language, closely related to Italian, French, and Spanish, despite Romania's location in Eastern Europe surrounded largely by Slavic-speaking neighbors, a linguistic legacy of the region's ancient Roman colonization.