See what the experts are saying about Romania. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Introduction
When Tolstoy visited Bucharest, he commented that Romanians had a "sad destiny," based no doubt on a strong sense of their troubled past -- Romania's soul is tormented by history, its loveliness overshadowed by the reputations of malevolent p... Continue reading »
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Planning a trip
Visitor Information Romania's National Authority for Tourism operates a website (www.romaniatravel.com) with extensive information about the country and latest developments. You can visit the website of the Romanian National Tourist Office... Continue reading »
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Fast facts
Addresses -- Str. (strada, or street), B-dul (bulevardul, or boulevard), and Sos. (sosea, or avenue) are abbreviations for different road types used throughout this chapter. Calea is another word used for avenue, and a piata is a square. A... Continue reading »
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Getting there
By Plane Many national airlines, including Romania's official carrier, Tarom (www.tarom.ro) have direct flights from London and other major western European centers, including Amsterdam (KLM only), Athens, Bologna (Alitalia only), Düsseldo... Continue reading »
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Escorted & package tours
The best-known company for Romania is U.K.-based Transylvania Uncovered (1 Atkinson Court, Fell Foot, Newby Bridge, Cumbria, United Kingdom LA128NW; tel. 0044-1539-531258; www.beyondtheforest.com) which offers dozens of specialized trips, mo... Continue reading »
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Getting around
By Plane Tarom, the national carrier, operates a timetable of flights between Bucharest and the country's smaller airports; the best deals can only be purchased online (www.tarom.ro). Romania's domestic airports are generally quiet and (wi... Continue reading »
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Regions in brief
About one-third of the country comprises the Carpathian Mountains, or "Transylvanian Alps," a soaring back-to-front Nike swish that separates Transylvania from the country's two other main provinces, Wallachia, to the south, and Moldavia, to... Continue reading »
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The lay of the land
Romania -- just a bit smaller than the United Kingdom and roughly the size of the state of Oregon -- is situated in the southeastern part of central Europe, and is made up, in roughly equal measures, of lowland, hilly, and mountainous terrain... Continue reading »
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Tips on dining
Meat is big in Romania, and you're generally expected to be a carnivore to cope with traditional "Romanian" cuisine that favors pork, but includes plenty of fish, widely considered a vegetable in these parts. Traditional staples include mamal... Continue reading »
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Tips for gay and lesbian travelers
Homosexuality is no longer illegal in Romania, thanks largely to pressure from the E.U. to bring human rights practices in line with the rest of Europe. This represents the end of a long battle against nasty discrimination in legislation, but... Continue reading »
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Suggested itineraries
Romania in 10 to 12 Days The following itinerary can be adapted according to your preferences. For example, you can skip the Delta, or Maramures, if you'd prefer just exploring Romania's cities and medieval towns. Note that this itinerary... Continue reading »
