Romania
HOW TO GET THERE
Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) is Romania’s busiest international airport, located in Otopeni, 10 miles north of Bucharest’s city centre. There are connecting flights from many major European cities. You can check routes from your departure city on FlightsFrom https://www.flightsfrom.com/.
CURRENCY
The Romanian leu is the currency of Romania.
ATMs are numerous in the larger towns and cities, and even small towns will have one or two at the major banks. Be very careful when using an ATM: It’s easy to miscount the number of zeros and end up with 10 times the desired amount of cash.
Credit cards are accepted at larger hotels, restaurants and shops.
For the most up-to date conversion rate click here or download the app- https://www.xe.com/.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You must have a U.S. passport that is valid for at least three months beyond your departure date from Romania. No visa is required.
For more information, please visit the State Department website here.
ELECTRICAL PLUGS
For Romania there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Romania operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.
Click here to purchase an adapter/converter for your trip and see other travel accessories.
TIPPING
Before your trip, a Happy Ambassador will reach out to you about tipping our local guides. Plan to budget at least $100-$150. Happy Ambassadors are already compensated, the tip money will go to local guides.
WEATHER & WHAT TO WEAR
The average October temperature range throughout the country is between 42° and 64°F which is a comfortable temperature for general sightseeing in the towns and cities. Dress in layers- t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweaters, jeans/tights, boots/sneakers, warm coat and don’t forget your Halloween costume.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We stay at local, unique 4 star properties.
DINING
You’ll find a choice of restaurants in Romania’s towns and cities. Eating out may be a problem in out-of-the-way countryside villages, but in those areas you’re likely to be invited into a local family’s home for a traditional meal. Romanian cuisine isn’t bad; it’s just that variety and quality outside the capital are spotty—especially in winter. Be prepared to eat a lot of fried pork, greasy potatoes, salami, cheese, canned peas and pickled peppers. (Don’t be surprised if a waiter hands you a menu but then says the only available items are pork cutlets and pickled salad.) Always insist on being shown a menu with prices listed—otherwise you might be grossly overcharged. There are usually plenty of food choices in traditional restaurants. In addition to pork, other favorites are chicken and veal.
If you ever see it on a menu, order sarmale cu mamaliga, a dish of cabbage rolls and polenta. Chicken soup is served just like a Jewish mother would make it, complete with matzo balls (round dumplings). There are many varieties of mici (sausage) and cured meats, some served grilled and some served cold (chew the sausages made of minced meat carefully; some may have small bone fragments). Small dried fish may be served as snacks. There are several tasty local spreads: salate de icri, a fish-based one; zakuska, a roasted pepper combination; and vinete, a roasted eggplant mix. Soft sheep’s cheese and yogurt may be available for breakfast. Fish is often served near the Black Sea and fresh trout in the mountain areas. The food is tastier in Transylvania, where the Hungarian influence in cooking is still found. Try porkolt, a Hungarian pork casserole with paprika sauce and dumplings, or an authentic goulash.
Romanian beer is good, with Ursus (the bear) leading the pack. Regional wine also can be quite good, especially red wine from the Black Sea coast or white wine from Transylvania. Be aware that if a bottle of mineral water says it’s medicinal, it will taste like Alka-Seltzer. Ask for apa minerale to get carbonated water or apa plata to get the still variety. Tuica (plum brandy), the national drink, is good, but be careful—it’s strong.
There are unusual restaurants that should be visited throughout the country. They are often tucked away in old wine cellars or very old homes. Ask at your hotel for a list of local favorites. Traditional entertainment such as folk singing, dancing and real Romanian feasting can often be found in smaller towns.
TRANSPORTATION & SECURITY
Uber an Bolt ride apps are available in Bucharest from Otopeni Airport to the hotel. You can meet your driver outside the terminal’s first-floor parking lot.
Getting an airport taxi transfer from Otopeni Airport to Bucharest city center or any part of the city is quick, convenient and reasonably priced. To get a taxi first, look for the yellow touch screen terminals on both sides of the door after the baggage claim area in the international arrivals hall on the 1st floor. Use them to order a reliable taxi with a fair price from the preauthorised local providers. You will get a ticket with the details of your transfer to Bucharest which you need to hold on to and show to your driver.Then, walk outside the terminal building and wait for your taxi to come from the ramp on the left side. You can pay only with Romanian Lei in cash so exchange a small amount, or take out from a nearby ATM.
Romania is generally a safe country for travelers, but it’s important to be aware of potential risks and take necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. While the overall crime rate has decreased in recent years, travelers should still be cautious in larger cities and tourist areas where theft and scams are more common.
Theft is a major concern in Romania, particularly in areas with high tourist traffic such as major cities, beaches, and tourist attractions. Tourists should avoid carrying large sums of money and valuables with them, and always keep a close eye on their belongings. It’s also recommended to use hotel safes or other secure storage options to keep passports, credit cards, and other important documents safe. Scams are another common problem in Romania, with some individuals posing as authorities or officials to deceive tourists and steal their money or belongings. Tourists should be wary of anyone who approaches them with unsolicited offers of assistance, and should only deal with reputable service providers such as hotels, travel agents, and licensed tour guides.
For more information, please visit the State Department website here.
INTRO, HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY
Romania’s modern history is as haunting as its old Dracula legend: The brutal reign of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu ended in 1989, but the country is still plagued by a past of poverty and political uncertainty. Its capital, Bucharest, has come a long way in its post-communist hangover. Some of the massive potholes have been filled, and the roaming street dogs are gone, but now it suffers from the same polluting traffic as any other major European city. And yet Romania offers an entirely different culture from what you’ll find elsewhere in Europe. It has some of the most stunning mountain scenery on the continent, and many parts of the countryside seem untouched by modern history. For adventurous travelers, the eerie castles, charming medieval villages and painted monasteries hidden away in deep forests more than make up for the often-drab cities and the irritating bureaucracy that lingers from the country’s communist past.
Ethnic Romanians, who make up 85% of the population, trace the nation’s history to the Roman colony of Dacia. Turkish and European influences are evident (the area was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1877), although the eight regions of the country remain characteristically very different. Perhaps because it’s composed of formerly independent parts, people identify with their local regions.
There is a strong Hungarian influence in Transylvania (once part of Hungary), which has only been united with Romania since 1918. And debate continues to this day over the future nationality of the area. (Saxon merchants moved in during the 12th century to defend Hungary’s eastern borders.)
In 1916, Romania joined the side of the Triple Entente in World War I, eventually overthrowing Communist leader Bela Kun in Hungary. However, the country’s government was unstable after the war, and between 1930 and 1940, there were more than 25 different administrations. Following World War II, the newly crowned King Mihai attempted to keep a broad-based government but was forced to abdicate in 1947 under pressure from the Communists. Romania then became a People’s Republic. Nicolae Ceausescu assumed leadership of Romania’s Communist party—and the country—in the mid-1960s. His administration was notorious for cracking down on dissent among the people, who were suffering from shortages of food, fuel and other basic necessities.
The country’s violent revolution of December 1989, which led to the execution of Ceausescu, left most of the ruling elite intact. Former Communist Ion Iliescu took the reins and, when he lost re-election in 1996, made history by being Romania’s first leader to leave peacefully without being deposed or shot. His successors have struggled to modernize the country, and foreign investment has finally arrived. Romania was invited to join NATO in 2002, and the country is actively boosting its economy via tourism. It became a member of the European Union in 2007.
The Carpathian Mountains run through the country in the north, and the equally scenic Transylvanian Alps run east-west through the center. The mountains, plus a lengthy Black Sea coastline, make Romania one of the most physically attractive destinations in Europe. Much of the country’s southern border is defined by Europe’s famous Danube River.