| Romania Hotels > Romania Information |
| 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. |
| Romania Maps Romania in Europe | Romania's physical map | Romania road map | Romania rail map |
| 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:
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| Romania Hotels > Romania Transportation |
| 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:
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. |
| Romania Hotels > 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. |