Romania Tours & Guided Travel Packages

Essential Travel Tips for Romania

Whether you're chasing castle spires across Transylvania or scanning the Delta for pelicans at dawn, a little preparation goes a long way in Romania. From entry requirements and local transport to connectivity and language, these practical tips will help you make the most of your journey.

Visa & Entry

As a member of both the European Union and the Schengen Area, Romania is easily accessible for travellers arriving from elsewhere in Europe. Citizens of many countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and EU member states, can visit without a visa for short stays. Entry requirements vary by nationality, so always check the latest regulations before travelling.

Currency & Payments

Romania uses the Romanian Leu (RON). While the country is an EU member, the euro is not currently used as an official currency. Cards are widely accepted in cities, tourist areas, hotels, restaurants, and larger shops, though carrying some cash is advisable for rural regions, mountain villages, and the Danube Delta. Access to cash is generally straightforward in cities and larger towns, while smaller settlements may have fewer banking facilities. Tipping around 10% in restaurants is standard practice.

Getting Around

Romania has a rail network connecting major cities, though journey times can be slow compared to Western Europe. Intercity buses can be a practical alternative on some routes. For Transylvania, the Carpathians, Maramureș, and the Delta, private transfers or organised tour transport are often the most convenient options, as many of the country's most rewarding destinations lie beyond the main public transport corridors. Most Romania tours depart from Bucharest or Brașov.

Health & Safety

Romania is a safe destination with low rates of serious crime. Standard urban precautions apply in larger cities, including Bucharest. Mountain hiking in the Carpathians requires proper gear and preparation — terrain can be demanding and weather conditions can change quickly. Brown bear encounters are possible in forested areas, and local guides are familiar with appropriate safety protocols. If you plan to hike, cycle, or spend time in remote areas, make sure your insurance policy covers outdoor activities.

Connectivity

Romania has some of the fastest internet infrastructure in Europe and excellent 4G coverage across cities and towns. EU roaming rules apply for travellers from EU countries. Signal can be weak in remote mountain areas and parts of the Danube Delta, so plan accordingly for multi-day wilderness trips. Prepaid SIM cards are easy to purchase at airports, shopping centres, and mobile phone stores throughout Romania.

Language

Romanian is a Romance language — closer to Italian and Spanish than to its Slavic neighbours — which can be surprisingly helpful for many European travellers. English is widely spoken in Bucharest, Brașov, Cluj-Napoca, and most tourist areas. In parts of Transylvania, some German is still understood due to the region's Saxon heritage, while older generations may occasionally speak French. Learning mulțumesc ("thank you") and bună ziua ("good day") is always appreciated.

Climate in Romania

Romania's climate follows a continental rhythm with clear seasons — each one bringing a different character to the landscapes and a different reason to visit.

Continental Lowlands & Transylvania

Most of Romania experiences a temperate continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers (June–August) are warm and sunny, reaching 28–32 °C in Bucharest and the Wallachian Plain. Winters are cold, with snowfall common between December and February and temperatures frequently dropping below 0 °C. Transylvania, framed by the Carpathians, tends to be slightly cooler and wetter than the southern lowlands.

Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathians have their own climate system. Even in midsummer, temperatures at higher elevations often remain below 20 °C, and afternoon thunderstorms are common from June through August. Snow arrives early — often by October at higher elevations — and lingers into May on the highest ridges. The hiking season in the Făgăraș, Retezat, and Bucegi ranges generally runs from mid-June to late September. Winter typically brings good skiing conditions to resorts such as Sinaia, Predeal, and Poiana Brașov.

Danube Delta & Black Sea Coast

The southeastern corner of Romania experiences a continental-steppe climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. The Black Sea coast enjoys warmer sea temperatures, peaking at around 24–26 °C in August, and a beach season that generally runs from June through September. The Danube Delta can be visited throughout the year, though spring (April–May) and early autumn (September–October) are generally considered the best seasons for birdwatching and wildlife observation. Peak migration periods bring extraordinary concentrations of species.

Northern Romania: Maramureș & Bucovina

Northern Romania is known for its snowy winters and lush summer landscapes. Maramureș and Bucovina receive significant snowfall and are at their most atmospheric in December and January, when villages lie under deep snow and wooden churches rise above snow-covered hills. Spring and early summer bring vibrant green landscapes that are ideal for cycling, photography, and cultural tours.

When to Visit Romania

Every season in Romania has its own logic — snow-dusted castles in winter, blooming Carpathian meadows in spring, golden Transylvania in autumn. The question is which version of Romania you're after.

Best Overall: May–June & September–October

May, June, September, and early October are Romania's golden travel months across almost every region. Mountain trails are open and relatively uncrowded, Transylvania's villages are at their most photogenic, the Danube Delta is alive with birdlife, and temperatures are comfortable for sightseeing. Many Romania tour packages schedule their most popular departures during this period, making it the easiest time to combine several regions in a single trip.

Peak Summer: July & August

July and August bring reliable warm weather and are especially popular for Black Sea coast holidays and Transylvania road trips. Mountain routes become busier at weekends but remain relatively quiet on weekdays. Summer festivals, including Sighișoara's famous medieval celebrations and numerous music and cultural events across the country, add depth to summer itineraries.

Trekking Season: Mid-June to Late September

High-altitude routes in the Făgăraș Mountains, including Moldoveanu Peak (Romania's highest summit at 2,544 m), the glacial lake trails of Retezat National Park, and the cave networks of the Apuseni Mountains are best explored between mid-June and late September. Snow can block higher passes into early June, while early October occasionally brings sudden weather changes. Most dedicated Romania hiking tours operate within this window.

Birdwatching: Spring & Autumn Migration

The Danube Delta and the Black Sea coast offer exceptional birdwatching during spring migration (April–May) and early autumn (September–October). Great white pelicans, pygmy cormorants, glossy ibises, and hundreds of other bird species gather in the Delta, making it one of Europe's premier birdwatching destinations. Specialist wildlife tours operate throughout the year, though spring is generally considered the peak season.

Winter: Castles in the Snow

Winter reveals a quieter and often overlooked side of Romania. Snow-covered castles, horse-drawn sleighs in Maramureș, and the painted monasteries of Bucovina create some of the country's most memorable landscapes. Ski resorts in the Carpathians typically operate from December through March, while Bucharest hosts Christmas markets, seasonal events, and a lively winter atmosphere.

A Taste of Romania 

Romanian food is shaped by forests, fields, and centuries of rural tradition — generous, slow-cooked, and rooted in the seasons. Every region has its own version of the story.

Romanian cuisine: rich, rustic, regional

Romanian cooking is built on the foundations of a pastoral culture: slow-braised meats, fermented cabbage, polenta, forest mushrooms, and dairy products — especially smoked and brined cheeses that taste nothing like their supermarket equivalents. It's food designed to sustain shepherds in the mountains and farmers through long winters, which means it is deeply satisfying at the end of a hiking day.

What to eat

Mămăligă is one of Romania's defining staple foods, served alongside almost everything from braised pork to sour cream and cheese. Sarmale (cabbage rolls typically stuffed with minced pork and rice, slowly cooked with tomato and sauerkraut) are arguably Romania's most beloved dish and appear at every celebration. Ciorbă refers to Romania's signature family of sour soups, often flavoured with fermented wheat bran (borș), lemon, or other souring agents, and is a common opening course in traditional meals. In Transylvania, kürtőskalács (chimney cake, a spiral pastry rooted in Hungarian traditions) is a popular street food. The Danube Delta has its own cuisine built around river fish: catfish, carp, and pike, often prepared over open fires or in traditional fish stews.

Drinking culture

Romania is a significant wine-producing country with a long and underappreciated tradition. The Dealu Mare region near Ploiești produces some of the country's best reds; Transylvania's cooler climate suits aromatic whites. Țuică — Romanian plum brandy — is the national spirit, traditionally offered at the beginning of festive meals and family gatherings. Romanian craft beer has grown rapidly in the past decade, with Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca leading a genuine brewing scene.

Where to eat on a guided Romania tour

The best Romanian food is found in village guesthouses where the host family grows the vegetables and raises the animals, in mountain cabins after a long day on the trail, and in neighbourhood restaurants where traditional recipes have been passed down for generations. Several Romania tours through Balkan Tours Club include dedicated food experiences: wine cycling in Dealu Mare, beekeeping encounters in the countryside, and home-cooked dinners with local families in Maramureș and Bucovina.

Romania's must-visit destinations

Romania is one of southeastern Europe's largest countries, so most guided tours focus on one or two regions rather than trying to cover everything. Here are the key destinations that appear most often in Romania travel packages.

Bucharest

Romania's capital is a city of striking contrasts: Belle Époque boulevards and Art Nouveau mansions sit alongside the colossal Palace of the Parliament (the second-largest administrative building in the world), brutalist communist-era blocks, and a thriving café and arts scene that has made Bucharest one of the most interesting urban destinations in Eastern Europe. Most Romania tours begin or end here, and the city rewards at least a full day of exploration in its own right.

Brașov

The unofficial capital of Transylvania, Brașov sits in a dramatic mountain bowl surrounded by the Carpathians and serves as the hub for most of the region's key attractions — Bran Castle, Peleș Castle, Râșnov Fortress, and the Bucegi Mountains are all within roughly an hour's drive. The medieval Old Town, with its Black Church and fortified towers, is one of the most atmospheric in Romania. Most Transylvania guided tours are based here.

Sibiu

European Capital of Culture in 2007, Sibiu is arguably the most beautifully preserved Saxon city in Romania — a compact medieval core of ochre and cream buildings arranged around three interconnected main squares, with a remarkable old town that feels genuinely lived-in rather than like an open-air museum. The Brukenthal National Museum is one of the finest art collections in southeastern Europe.

Sighișoara

One of Europe's best-preserved and continuously inhabited medieval citadels, Sighișoara is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler — the historical figure behind the Dracula legend — and one of the most evocative towns in all of Transylvania. The cobbled upper citadel, accessible via a covered wooden stairway, contains a clock tower, a gothic church, and a handful of restaurants, making it easy to spend far longer here than planned.

Sinaia & the Prahova Valley

Sinaia is Romania's royal resort town, built around the extraordinary Peleș Castle — a Neo-Renaissance palace constructed by King Carol I in the 1870s and widely regarded as one of Europe's finest castles. It also sits at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, making it the starting point for hikes to the famous Sphinx rock formation and the high plateau above. In winter, the Prahova Valley is the main skiing corridor of the Carpathians.

Tulcea & the Danube Delta

Tulcea is the gateway city for the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Europe's most important wetland ecosystems. From Tulcea, boats fan out into a labyrinth of channels, lakes, and reed islands that shelter over 300 bird species and some of the continent's last unspoiled river wilderness. Birdwatching and wildlife tours depart from Tulcea throughout much of the year, with spring and autumn being especially popular.