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Information
on Romania
Hotels in Romania | Romania
Attractions | Romania Transportation
Romania is situated in the
southeastern part of Central Europe and shares borders with Hungary
to the northwest, Yugoslavia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the
south, the Black Sea and Ukraine to the southeast and to the north
and the Republic of Moldova to the east. Roughly the size of Oregon,
Romania is the second largest country in the area, after Poland.
Geographical location of Romania: between latitudes 43°37'07"
and 48°15'06" North and longitudes 20°15'44"
and 29°41'24" East.
Romania extends approximately 300 miles North to South and 400
miles East to West.
Bucharest - the capital city of Romania - is
aligned approximately with the cities of Portland, Oregon; Montreal,
Canada; Venice, Italy; and Bordeaux, France.
Romania's territory features splendid mountains, beautiful rolling
hills, fertile plains and numerous rivers and lakes. The Carpathian
Mountains traverse the center of the country bordered on both
sides by foothills and finally the great plains of the outer rim.
Forests cover over one quarter of the country and the fauna is
one of the richest in Europe including bears, deer, lynx, chamois
and wolves. The legendary Danube River ends its eight-country
journey through eight European countries at the Black Sea by forming
one of the biggest and most interesting wetlands in the world,
the Danube Delta.
About a third of the country consists of the Carpathian Mountains
(also known as the Transylvanian Alps). Another third is hills
and plateaus, rich with orchards and vineyards. The final third
is a fertile plain, largely devoted to agriculture. The Danube
River runs through the country, from northwest to southeast, culminating
in the Danube Delta and the Black Sea. |
Before You Go
Travel
formalities | When to go |
Currency exchange | ATM |
Credit Cards | Traveler's checks
| Budget guide
Traveling to Romania is as easy as traveling to any other European
destination. Romania offers a rich tapestry of tourist attractions,
which are unique in Europe.
Even if Romania is not your main travel destination in Europe,
a two or three-day ad-on trip is well worthwhile. Although some
remote areas in Romania only offer mid-scale or budget accommodations
and basic tourist facilities those visiting the country will always
encounter friendly people, wonderful sights and affordable prices.
Travel formalities
American and Canadian citizens as well as citizens of most
European countries do not need an entry visa to visit Romania
(for stays up to 90 - ninety - days).
However, a valid passport is required for all international visitors
except for citizens of the countries of the European Union who
can enter Romania with their Identity Card.
No vaccinations are required/ necessary.
There is no Entry or Departure Tax.
Extensions of stays beyond 90 days can be obtained from the local
passport office.
Citizens of other countries should check the visa regulations
that apply to them with the nearest Romanian diplomatic office.
For more visa information and a list of Romanian diplomatic offices
abroad please visit www.mae.ro.
When to go
Romania is a year-round tourist destination. However, from the
end of April to the beginning of July and from end of August to
the end of October are the most popular sightseeing periods, with
generally mild and pleasant temperatures. Summers can be hot especially
in Southern Romania, including Bucharest, but along the Black
Sea Coast, sea breezes offer moderate temperatures. The mountain
resorts and higher elevation areas are warm and pleasant during
summer. Winters can be very cold, especially in the mountains
and snow is common throughout the country from December to mid
March. Skiers can usually enjoy their favorite sport in the Carpathian
Mountain resorts from December until mid-April.
Money
and Budget Guide
Currency
exchange
Romania's currency is Leu (plural "Lei").
Coins come in denominations of 1, 100, 500, 1,000 and 5,000 Lei.
Notes are issued in the following amounts: 2,000, 10,000, 50,000,
100,000, 500,000 and 1,000,000 Lei.
Foreign currencies may be exchanged at banks or authorized exchange
offices (called: "casa de schimb" or "birou de schimb valutar").
International airports and larger hotels also offer currency exchange
services.
Exchange rates** for foreign currencies, valid on May 6, 2004:
one US dollar = 33,153 lei
one Canadian dollar
= 24,202 lei
one British Pound = 59,666 lei
one
Australian dollar = 24,279 lei
one Euro = 40,355
lei
Note: Although black market rates may seem good, please remember
that it is illegal and you can be easily cheated.
** Official exchange rates announced by the National Bank of Romania
ATM (Bancomat)
ATM machines are available at main banks and at airports and shopping
centers. Do not expect to find ATMs in remote areas or villages.
Credit cards
Major credit cards including American Express, Mastercard and
Visa are accepted in large hotels, car rental companies and stores
in the main cities. However, credit cards are unlikely to prove
useful in small towns or away from tourist areas.
Travelers'
Checks
Preferably in US dollars or Euros, Travelers' Checks can be cashed
in large banks, some hotels and selected exchange offices but
most of them charge considerable commissions. Do not count on
cashing such checks outside Bucharest and a few other major cities.
For travel around the country it is a good idea to carry cash.
Small stores and restaurants might accept U.S. Dollars in small
denominations ($ 1, 5, 10 and 20) but the exchange rate offered
will not be the best. Street handicraft vendors prefer Romanian
currency.
Budget
Guide
Entrance fees to historic buildings and attractions are rarely
more than $2.00.
Hotels outside Bucharest range from $20 to $90 per night/double
room, with full breakfast and taxes included.
A three-course dinner, for two, with wine and tip starts at $12.00
and can go up to $100.00 or more in some of the more upscale restaurants
in Bucharest. However, less expensive does not mean not as good
as a very expensive one. Dinner in restaurants is often accompanied
by live music.
Below are some price samples:
| Product/service |
Price - lei
(U.S. $ equivalent)* |
Loaf of white bread
(one lb.) |
$ 0.20 |
| Quart of milk |
$ 0.45 |
| One lb of beef tenderloin |
$ 2.00 |
| One lb of tomatoes |
$ 0.65 |
Bottle of mineral water
(18 fl.oz.) |
$ 0.30 |
Bottle of domestic beer
(18 fl.oz.) |
$ 0.35 |
Bottle of Romanian wine
(liquor store) |
$ 1.50 to $ 3.50 |
100 miles by express train,
1st class ticket |
$ 5.50 |
| McDonald’s Big Mac |
$ 1.25 |
One gallon of gasoline
(4 liters) |
$ 2.90 |
| Best opera/theater seat |
$ 5.00 or less |
| Use of computer at Internet Cafe |
$ 1.00 per hour |
|
The above material are taken from Romania
Tourism
Domestic Transportation
Getting around Romania is easy and inexpensive.
Bus
Most cities offer efficient and very inexpensive bus, trolleybus
or tram transportation. There are several bus companies that offer
fast and inexpensive connections between Romania's main cities.
Inter-City bus stations are usually next to the train station
and most buses have a stop in the center of the city. Bus or taxi
might be the only choice when choosing to explore some remote
areas.
Car rental
Car is the best way to visit Romania as this allows visitors to
admire the unique scenery and take advantage of the innumerable
photo opportunities that they will encounter even during short
drives. A hired car will save you a lot of time when visiting
some remote attractions as the Painted Monasteries in Bucovina
and the traditional villages in Maramures. Most major international
auto rental companies and several local companies offer cars in
the major cities and airports. Renters must be over 21 and have
a valid driver's license and an internationally valid credit card.
Romania's major roads are safe and well maintained. As they pass
through main cities and towns gas stations, food stores and hotels
are easy to find. Road congestion is not an issue in Romania except
in Bucharest. The Romanian Automobile Association (ACR or "Automobil
Clubul Roman") offers 24 hour roadside assistance. Call: (01)
222 22 22 or (01) 222 15 52.
Domestic flights
There are several scheduled domestic flights connecting cities
within Romania which are operated by Angel Airlines, CarpatAir
and Tarom. CarpatAir has hubs in Timisoara and Cluj.
Tarom operates domestic flights between Bucharest and several
cities in Romania.
Angel Airlines offers service from
Bucharest to Arad, Iasi, Timisoara and Suceava.
For more information on domestic flight schedules, please visit:
Angel Airlines
CarpatAir
Tarom
Train
Romania has a well-developed railway network that covers virtually
the whole country. Trains are the most popular means of getting
around Romania. They are amazingly inexpensive and generally on
time. Three different services are offered. The cheapest and slowest
are Local Trains (Personal). The next fastest and more expensive
are Express Trains (Accelerat and Rapid) that require a seat reservation
along with the ticket. The fastest and the most expensive are
Inter-City Trains (Inter City). The last two types of trains have
dining cars and sleepers (overnight or long distance trains only).
For train enthusiasts there are nine steam trains, dating from
the 1920s and '30s, some of which have been restored to provide
a luxury travel experience. Organizations as well as Individuals
can rent steam trains. For information on train schedules and
fares please visit www.cfr.ro.
Map of Romania's Railways Network
Taxi
Taxis are available in every city and larger towns in Romania.
They can be summoned by telephone or hailed on the street. Authorized
taxis can be recognized by the TAXI sign on the roof. All Taxis
should be equipped with meters. Calling a taxi company is always
a good idea. Drivers approaching you at the airport or at the
train station in Bucharest are likely to inflate their rates;
please avoid them. For longer trips outside the city limits it
is possible to agree on the fee before getting in. In most cases
using a taxi for such trips is affordable and very convenient.
Taxi tariffs vary from city to city:
| upon entry |
$ 0.14 - $ 0.19 / mile |
| trips within city limits |
$ 0.24 - $ 0.47 / mile |
| trips outside city limits |
$ 0.41 - $ 0.58 / mile |
| slow traffic or waiting time |
$ 0.02 - $ 0.03 / minute |
Communications
Telephone:
International direct dialing service is available throughout Romania.
Most public telephones require the use of a calling/ telephone
card. It is very easy to rent or buy a cellular telephone in Romania.
Dialing within Romania:
0 + three digit area code + six digit telephone #
when dialing anywhere in the countryside or
0 + 21 + seven digit telephone #
when dialing a number Bucharest.
Three digit telephone numbers are local toll-free numbers for
emergencies or businesses.
International dialing from
Romania:
00 + country code + area code + telephone #
Dialing
from a foreign country directly to Bucharest:
International Access Code +40 (country code) + 21 + seven digit
telephone #
Dialing from a foreign country directly
to any other city in Romania:
International Access Code + 40 (country code) + three digit area
code + six digit phone #
Romania has several Internet access providers offering advanced
services such as Internet messaging via mobile telephone, Internet
paging, international roaming and more. A number of Internet retail
outlets and cyber-cafes in almost every town offer convenient
Internet access. An increasing number of hotels offer data ports
with high-speed modem connections for guests to access the Internet
and retrieve e-mail in the comfort of their rooms. |
The above material are taken from Romania
Tourism
| Romania
Tourist Attractions Guide |
Bucarest
Romania's capital - named after its legendary founder, a shepherd
called Bucur - lies on the Wallachian plains, between the Carpathian
foothills and the Danube River. In the 1930s it was known as 'the
Paris of the East'. Since then, earthquakes, WWII bombing and
Ceausescu have combined to destroy much of its prewar beauty.
In the 1980s Ceausescu bulldozed 7000 homes and 26 churches in
historic southern Bucharest to build a Civic Centre. The focal
point of what locals dubbed 'Ceausima' is the enormous 12-storey
Palace of Parliament, intended to be the largest building in the
world - it's actually the second, after the Pentagon. Ceausescu
- who was executed just as it neared completion - intended it
to house the president's office, central committee and all the
state ministries. The Iliescu government did not know what to
do with this white elephant - many people wanted it demolished
- but in 1994 decided to use it to house the Parliament and to
host international conferences. There are guided tours, so you'll
get a chance to gawp at the ornate 3100-room interior as well
as the mesmerising exterior.
For a taste of the old, head for central Bucharest, where the
16th-century Old Court Church contains beautifully preserved frescoes.
The George Enescu Museum displays the musician's manuscripts and
personal belongings. Also here is Romania's very own Raffles,
the Athenee Palace Hotel, centre of early-20th-century decadence,
and the meeting place of Olivia Manning's characters in The Balkan
Trilogy. It has just had a US$50 million facelift and is the city's
classiest and most expensive hotel.
In western Bucharest you'll find Ghencea Civil Cemetery, final
resting place of the Ceausescus. Nicolae's grave is quite ornate
and decorated with flowers and candles, but Elena is apparently
less revered by those who still mourn their overthrow. Their son
Nicu (Transylvania boss, drunkard, playboy and one-time partner
of the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci) is buried close by.
Bucharest offers a wide range of accommodation options, including
private rooms, university campuses, hostels and hotels. The main
places are in the centre or around the main train station (Gara
de Nord). Bucharest has seen a rapid influx of flashy, upmarket,
expensive restaurants offering international cuisine, but it is
still easy to track down traditional Romanian cooking in central
Bucharest. This area is also the focal point for nightlife: you'll
find plenty of entertainment here, including bars, nightclubs,
theatres and cinemas.
Brasov
Brasov, a medieval Saxon town surrounded by verdant Transylvanian
hills, is one of Romania's most visited places. It was in Brasov
that the first public opposition to the Ceausescu regime occurred
- in 1987 thousands of disgruntled workers, angered by wage cuts,
long hours, and rationing, took to the streets demanding basic
foodstuffs. Ceausescu's response was to call in the troops (three
people were killed) and cut rations even further. Brasov's main
attraction is the Black Church, said to be the largest Gothic
church between Vienna and Istanbul. The church's name comes from
its blackened appearance following a fire in 1689.
Many people use Brasov as a base for visiting nearby attractions.
The main magnet for tourists is Bran Castle, commonly known as
'Dracula's Castle', 30km (18.6 mi) south of Brasov. Despite popular
myth, the castle has no links with Vlad Tepes, the medeivel prince
most often associated with everyone's favorite vampire. And, with
its fairytale turrets and whitewashed walls, the castle is not
exactly menacing. Less touristy and more dramatic is Rasnov Castle,
en route to Bran Castle from Brasov. The ski resorts of Poiana
Brasov and Sinaia are also within easy reach by bus or train from
Brasov. Plenty of local and international buses and trains stop
at Brasov.
Sighisoara
Like Brasov, Sighisoara is a Saxon medieval town surrounded by
hills in Transylvania. But it is more beautiful and less hyped
than Brasov, and has a greater amount of perfectly preserved medieval
buildings. For many, its great drawcard is the Dracula connection
- within the walls of the medieval citadel you'll find the Dracula
House, in which Vlad Tepes was born in 1431 and reputedly lived
until the age of four. It is now a bar and restaurant.
Sighisoara's other main sights are also inside the citadel walls,
with its nine surviving towers. The clock tower, a history museum
and the Church of the Dominican Monastery, which became the Saxons'
main Lutheran church in 1566, are all worth seeing. And don't
miss climbing the 172 steps of the covered stairway to the Gothic
Church on the Hill. Just 4km (2.5mi) northeast of Sighisoara is
the village of Albesti, home to the Sandor Petofi Museum, which
commemorates the Hungarian poet who died in battle here in 1848.
Sighisoara is well serviced by both local and international bus
and train services.
The Black Sea Coast
In Spain it's Benidorm, in Australia it's the Gold Coast - and
in Romania the sun-sea-sand-and-sex brigade heads for the Black
Sea coast. Constanta, Romania's largest port and second largest
city, is the main transport hub for the Black Sea coast, and the
gateway to other resorts. International soccer fans may feel compelled
to pay a visit, as this is Gheorghe Hagi's home town. The beaches
are dirty and crowded, but the town itself is picturesque and
has some excellent museums. Mamaia, an 8km (5mi) strip of beach
north of Constanta, is Romania's version of Palm Beach, with 61
hotels containing a total of 27,000 beds that fill up between
mid-June and August. If you like lying on overcrowded beaches
listening to blaring pop music, head 17km (10.5mi) south of Constanta
to Eforie Nord. Other beach-and-blaring music resorts are Neptun-Olimp
and Costinesti. And if you think the music's bad, imagine lying
on the beach listening to one of Ceausescu's speeches blaring
from the loudspeakers, the order of the day until the revolution
- not the best cure for a hangover. In summer, Constanta is accessible
by charter flight from European destinations, and by ferry from
Istanbul. Minibuses connect Constanta with other Black Sea towns.
Constanta is well serviced by bus and train.
Timisoara
Timisoara, in the Banat region close to the Hungarian border,
is world-famous as the place where the 1989 revolution began.
Numerous memorial slabs to those people who died in the fighting
are encrusted in walls on streets around the town. Most are still
honoured with fresh flowers and lavish bouquets. The Tokes Reformed
Church, the flashpoint of the revolution, is south of the town
centre. Other main sights include the Roman Catholic Cathedral
and the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, which are in the town centre
on opposite sides of Piata Unirii, Timisoara's most picturesque
square. Timisoara is serviced by international buses, though there
are few bus connections to other Romanian towns. The city is serviced
by plenty of international and domestic trains. Some international
flights go to Timisoara. |
The above material are taken from Romania
Tourism |
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