Romania

Why Romania

Romania is one of Europe's last great surprises, a country that has yet to give up all its secrets to mass tourism. Here, the hills of Transylvania roll under a coppery autumn sky, Saxon fortresses appear at the bend of mountain roads and peasants drive horseback carts on paths that Western Europe has forgotten for a century.

What sets Romania apart from its neighbours is the depth of its contrasts. In a week, you can walk through UNESCO-listed medieval cities where Vlad the Impaler may have walked, find yourself in front of a neo-Renaissance castle worthy of the most elaborate fairytale settings, and then descend along a branch of the Danube in a silence populated by pelicans and egrets, at the eastern tip of the continent.

The country is also one of the most accessible in Central Europe: cheaper than Croatia, less popular than Prague or Budapest, and yet with a rich heritage and nature that often exceeds expectations. Travellers who have discovered it rarely return empty-handed from their first trip.

When to go

Spring and autumn: the golden seasons

May-June and September-October offer the best conditions to explore Romania. Temperatures are mild (15 to 25°C in Brasov and the Carpathians), the forests and meadows of Transylvania are at their best, and the tourist sites have not yet reached their summer saturation. Spring brings wildflowers to the valleys of Maramures; autumn transforms the beech and coniferous forests of the Carpathians into a striking chromatic spectacle.

Summer: festival and great outdoors

July-August is the high season: warmer temperatures (up to 32°C in Bucharest, cooler at altitude), medieval festivals in Sighisoara and Brasov, Electric Castle in Cluj-Napoca. This is the ideal time for the Danube Delta, where the fauna is most active and boats are most frequent. Count on more crowds in Bran and Peles, book hotels and cars well in advance.

Winter: skiing and Christmas markets

From December to March, Romania reveals another side. The ski resorts of Sinaia and Poiana Brasov are renowned in Eastern countries for their slopes and prices two to three times lower than the French Alps. The Christmas markets in Brasov, Sibiu and Bucharest are among the most beautiful in the region, animated until the evening in snowy settings. Bring warm clothes: the minimums can drop below -10°C in Bucharest in January.

How much does it cost

Romania is one of the most affordable European destinations. The cost of living is about 40% lower than in France: a meal in a local restaurant costs €6-10, a night in a gîte or small charming hotel in Transylvania costs around €40-70, and domestic transport (bus, train) is very cheap.

A self-sufficient traveler with a rental car will count €35 to €60 per day all inclusive (average accommodation, local meals, petrol, tickets). A tour organized with full board, from Paris, starts around €900 per person for 8-10 days, including flight depending on the promotions. The most popular formula remains car rental with accommodation booked in advance (guest houses, Transylvanian guesthouses), between €75 and €120 per day for two people.

The Paris-Bucharest flight (direct, 3h-3h30) is very affordable: from €50 one-way in low season, €100-250 for a round trip in high season on Wizz Air, Air France or HiSky.

Where to go

Romania is naturally divided into three main travel areas, complementary and combinable according to the length of stay.

Transylvania: historic heart

This is the region that everyone comes for, and it does not disappoint. Brasov, surrounded by forests and mountains, is the best base: the Gothic Black Church, the Saxon bastions and the cobbled streets of the center make it one of the most photogenic cities in the region. Sighisoara, a medieval citadel classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is still inhabited, is a must-see: its Clock Tower and its colorful houses offer a glimpse into the Middle Ages without artifice. Sinaia, an Alpine resort with an Austrian feel, is home to Peles Castle, perhaps the most beautiful neo-Renaissance castle in Europe in its setting of autumn forests. Finally, Bucharest, often neglected, surprises with its energy, its colossal Palace of Parliament and its Art Nouveau districts.

Maramures: peasant Europe

To the north, Maramures is one of the best-preserved rural regions on the continent. The inhabitants still cultivate the same land according to the same rhythms as in the nineteenth century, and on Sundays, women wear traditional embroidered costume to go to church. Eight of these wooden churches with slender steeples are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Sapanta, the Merry Cemetery displays hundreds of naïve epitaphs painted in bright blue: a monument to life rather than death.

The Danube Delta: nature in its purest form

To the southeast, where the Danube splits into multiple arms before joining the Black Sea, lies one of the largest deltas in Europe. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it is home to more than 300 species of birds, including the largest colony of white pelicans on the continent. A sunrise boat trip through the secondary canals, surrounded by egrets and cormorants, is one of the most accessible birding experiences in Europe.

Our itineraries

In pictures

Practical advice

Formalities

No visa is required for French nationals: Romania has been a member of the European Union since 2007. The national identity card is sufficient (check that the printed expiry date has not passed: the automatic extension of 2014 is not recognised by the Romanian authorities). The passport is recommended for travellers wishing to cross into Ukraine or Moldova.

For vaccines, the usual recommendations of European travellers apply: up-to-date DTP and hepatitis A. Hikers and people staying in the forest should find out about tick-borne encephalitis, which is present in the wooded areas of the Carpathians. Consult a travel medicine centre for a personalised opinion.

Getting around

Car rental is by far the most convenient way to explore Transylvania and Maramures. The national roads (DN) are ok, the distances reasonable (Bucharest-Brasov: 170 km, 2h30; Brasov-Sighisoara: 120 km, 2h) and the landscapes crossed. Bring a GPS or a mobile connection: signs may be missing on secondary roads.

The train offers a charming alternative between the big cities (Bucharest-Brasov: about 2h30, €10-15) and panoramic mountain trains (the Brasov-Sinaia line runs along the Prahova Gorge). For the Danube Delta, water taxis leave from Tulcea to the villages of the delta.

Culture and uses

Romania is a Latin country, and Romanians are often surprised and touched that French people understand a few words of their language (languages are cousins). English is well mastered by the younger generations in the cities; in the villages of Maramures, Romanian or German (Saxon heritage) will be more useful.

Tips are not mandatory but appreciated: 10% in restaurants, rounded up for taxis. The currency is the leu (RON), at 5.25 for 1 €. Cash remains essential in rural areas, markets and small accommodations. Change in Romania rather than in France for better rates.

The country is predominantly Orthodox: religious holidays (Orthodox Easter, Christmas) are highly celebrated and can lead to site closures. Decent clothing (covered shoulders and knees) is required to visit the monasteries.

Frequently asked questions