Romania — find the right stay, from deciding to booking
“Dracula's castle, Transylvania, medieval towns, and the Carpathian Mountains”
Romania is the land of Transylvania, weaving together legend, history, and beautiful nature — Bran Castle of Dracula legend, the spectacular Peles Castle amid the pines, the medieval World Heritage town of Sighisoara, the capital Bucharest with its Palace of the Parliament (the world's second-largest building), and the painted monasteries of Bucovina, unlike anywhere else in the world — Eastern Europe that still holds its true charm at friendly prices.
Romania at a glance
Choose a city in Romania
Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.
Decide — is Romania right for you?
Why people love Romania, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you
Bran Castle
A castle on a cliff amid the forest, the symbol of the Dracula legend, with a mysterious, inviting atmosphere.
Peles Castle
A Neo-Renaissance castle amid the pines at Sinaia, one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Palace of the Parliament
The world's second-largest building, built in the Ceausescu era, grand and imposing.
Medieval towns
Sighisoara and Brasov, World Heritage Saxon towns with stone ramparts and colorful town halls.
Painted monasteries of Bucovina
15th-century Orthodox churches with exterior walls painted in frescoes, unlike anywhere in the world.
The Carpathian Mountains
Primeval forests, hiking trails, farming villages, and European brown bears.
Romania vs its neighbors
| Romania | Bulgaria | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (per person) | $46–91 | $40–80 | $57–114 |
| Visa for Thai citizens | Schengen | Schengen | Schengen |
| Known for | Castles · Transylvania | Sea · monasteries · low prices | Budapest · spas · wine |
| Currency | Leu (RON) | Lev (BGN) | Forint (HUF) |
| Nature | Carpathians-delta | Black Sea coast | Lake Balaton |
Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.
How do you travel?
History & castles
Base in Brasov — visit Bran Castle, Peles, Sighisoara, and medieval towns over 4–5 days.
See this plan → 🏙️City & culture
Bucharest's Palace of the Parliament, old town, cafes, and Eastern European capital life.
See this plan → 🏔️Nature & adventure
Hike the Carpathians, rural villages, the Danube Delta, and wildlife watching.
See this plan →Plan — stay, eat, see
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.
Find the stay you want
1 ranked reviews
No reviews match these filters — try removing some.
- 1🍲
Ciorba
A sour soup fermented with rice-bran water or tomato, with meat and vegetables, eaten hot as a main.
📍 National soup - 2🥩
Mici
Spiced minced-meat sausages grilled over charcoal, eaten with mustard and bread — a popular street food.
📍 Street food - 3🍖
Tocanita
Meat stewed with vegetables and wine, rustic Romanian comfort food.
📍 Main dish - 4🧀
Branza
Soft, lightly salted sheep cheese, eaten with vegetables and bread or baked into a pie.
📍 Local cheese - 5🥟
Sarmale
Cabbage rolls filled with meat and rice, simmered in tomato sauce — festive and family-gathering food.
📍 Festive - 6🍷
Romanian Wine
Romania is a major European wine producer with good value and quality. The Dealu Mare region is renowned.
📍 Drink
- 1🏰
Bran Castle
A castle on a rock amid the forest, of Dracula legend, with an impressive, mysterious atmosphere.
📍 Brasov - 2👑
Peles Castle
A Neo-Renaissance castle amid the Carpathian pines, one of the most beautiful in Europe.
📍 Sinaia - 3🏛️
Palace of the Parliament
A grand socialist-style building, the world's second largest — you can tour the interior.
📍 Bucharest - 4🕰️
Sighisoara
A medieval UNESCO World Heritage town, with a 14th-century clock tower and the birthplace of the vampire legend.
📍 Transylvania - 5⛪
Painted Monasteries of Bucovina
World Heritage Orthodox churches with exterior walls painted in vivid frescoes, unlike anywhere in the world.
📍 Bucovina - 6🏘️
Brasov Old Town
The heart of Transylvania, with a council square ringed by medieval buildings, city gates, and fortifications.
📍 Brasov
🚆 Getting around Romania
CFR train
Connects all major cities. Bucharest-Brasov is about 2.5 hours, cheap, and bookable online.
Bus and minibus
For routes the train doesn't reach. Buses are faster at a similar price — use the FlixBus or Autogari app.
Taxi-Bolt
Bolt (Uber in Romania) is very cheap and safer than street taxis — highly recommended.
Bucharest Airport
OTP (Henri Coanda) is the main hub. Train and bus reach the city in 40 minutes, with several budget airlines.
Car rental
Great for exploring the countryside and castles. Streets in small towns can be narrow; drive on the right.
🛂 Etiquette & culture in Romania
Deeply Orthodox
The Orthodox faith is embedded in the culture, with churches and monasteries at the center of communities.
Warmth and hospitality
Romanians are friendly and welcoming to tourists. Food and wine are a gesture of generosity.
Tipping is customary
Around 10% at restaurants and for taxis is considered polite — not required, but appreciated.
Legends and folklore
A strong oral and folklore tradition. The Dracula legend really comes from Wallachia.
Thriving folk art
Weaving, wood carving, pottery, and colorful traditional costumes.
💸 Daily budget — a rough guide
Budget
🛏️ Hostel / guesthouse $20–43
Romania is much cheaper than the West — eat at local spots, use Bolt to get around, and see several castles in one trip.
Comfort
🛏️ 3–4 star hotel $43–100
Day castle tours, good restaurants, the Palace of the Parliament, and a Danube Delta boat trip.
Premium
🛏️ Boutique/luxury hotel $114+
Stay in a boutique castle, a private Transylvania tour, and wine and fine dining.
🗓️ When to visit Romania
Late spring
May - JunFresh weather, blooming flowers, migrating birds at the Danube Delta, and no crowds yet — the best time.
Summer
Jul - AugHot weather, busy tourist towns, many music festivals, and great for hiking the Carpathians.
Autumn
Sep - OctChanging leaves in the Carpathian forests, a beautifully mysterious castle atmosphere, and thinning crowds.
Winter
Dec - FebSnow blankets the castles in fairytale scenes, skiing at Poiana Brasov, and Christmas markets in Bucharest.
Book — hotels our team picked
Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in Romania — compare prices across 3 sites.
★ 9.8💼 Great for your trip
★ 9.6💑 Great for your trip
★ 9.5💑 Great for your tripWant to see every option in Romania?
Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.
View the top city guide →FAQ — visiting Romania
How many days should I spend in Romania?+
7–10 days — Bucharest 2 days + Brasov, Bran Castle, and Peles 2–3 days + Sighisoara and Sibiu 2 days + Bucovina or the Danube Delta for 1–2 more days if you have time.
Do Thai citizens need a Romania visa?+
Romania has fully joined Schengen (by air and sea in Mar 2024, by land in Jan 2025). Thai citizens need a Schengen visa in advance — one visa lets you travel across the whole Schengen area.
Is Romania safe?+
Generally safe. Watch for scams in Bucharest (especially around the airport and train station). Use Bolt instead of street taxis. Small towns are very safe.
What currency is used, and can I use cards?+
The Romanian leu (RON) — cards work at hotels, restaurants, and malls, but small shops and markets prefer cash. It's more convenient to carry some RON cash.
Tips before you go to Romania
- Book a Bolt in advance in Bucharest, safer and much cheaper than a taxi.
- Bran Castle + Peles + Sighisoara fit into one 1–2 day trip from Brasov.
- Romania has joined Schengen — a single Schengen visa lets you travel across Europe.
- Local restaurants are cheaper and tastier than tourist spots.
- Winter (Dec-Feb) gives you beautiful snowy castles but bitter cold — pack warm clothes.
- The painted monasteries of Bucovina need planning ahead, as they're far north of Bucharest.