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Last update:  November 18, 2024

Romania is safe and hospitable.   All visitors are welcome!
There are no events or situations - such as diseases, distress or unrest - threatening the personal safety or well-being of visitors.
We do hope you will enjoy your visit to Romania and that the following information will be of interest to you.

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Travel to Romania given the Ukraine situation

The unfortunate situation in the Ukraine does not affect - and does not threaten to destabilize - Romania at all.
Safety of locals and visitors is not affected at all by fighting occuring in Eastern Ukraine, several hundreds of miles away.

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Romania Traffic Restrictions / Road Closures
TransFagarasan scenic road

National Road DN 7 C (Drumul National 7 C) crossing the Fagaras Mountains
Current Road Status:   Closed
abundant snow / dangerous driving conditions
Scheduled days:   Monday - Sunday.
Section affected:  Piscu Negru (Arges county) --- Balea Cascada (Sibiu county) (km 104 to km 131)
Scheduled Dates:   Road will be closed, for winter, when bad weather/ dangerous driving conditions.
Tentative re-opening date: June 30, 2025.
The TransFagarasan will reopen sooner if weather/ road condition will allow.
TransFagarasan road more info.

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TransAlpina scenic road

National Road DN 67 C (Drumul National 67 C) crossing the Parang Mountains
Current Road Status:   Closed
abundant snow / dangerous driving conditions
Scheduled days:   Monday - Sunday.
Section affected:   Ranca (Gorj county) - Curpat (Sibiu county) (km 34 to km 79)
Scheduled Dates:   Road will be closed, for winter, when bad weather/ dangerous driving conditions.
Tentative re-opening date: May 15, 2025.
The TransAlpina will reopen sooner if weather/ road condition will allow.
TransAlpina road more info.

Information on Road Conditions can also be obtained from the Romania Road Authority
(Compania Nationala de Administrare a Infrastructurii Rutiere - CNAIR)
Telephone:   (+4) 021 264.33.33 ext. 4   or   0800 800.301 (local toll free)
E-mail

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Bucharest Taxi, avoid possible scam

RomaniaTourism has received several complaints concerning Bucharest taxi drivers who have overcharged customers by not using the meter or employing malfunctioning meters. Drivers approaching you at the airport or at Bucharest train station (Gara de Nord) are likely to inflate their rates; please be aware and try to avoid them.
Taxis can be summoned by telephone or hailed on the street.
Meridian Taxi,   Cris Taxi   and   Speed Taxi are three of the most trusted Bucharest taxi companies. All accept credit cards and have efficient dispatch service. Confirming the approximate cost of the ride with the driver, before starting the trip, is always a good idea.
Visitors arriving at Bucharest International Airport can book a taxi by using the touch screen taxi dispatch (Dispecerat Automatizat Taxi) located in the arrivals terminal, next to the Taxi Desk (Taxi la Comanda).

If you run into a problem with any taxi in Bucharest - or if you are suspecting that you have met a dishonest driver - ask for a receipt and write down the vehicle's license plate #, if possible.
Taxi tariffs can vary from company to company.

Typical Bucharest Taxi tariffs:

Lei (RON) U.S. Dollars*
Initial fee 2.59 Lei - 4.50 Lei $0.50 - $1.00
Trips within city limits 2.59 Lei - 4.50 Lei / km $0.80 - $1.60 / mile
Trips outside city limits 2.89 Lei - 8 Lei / km $0.90 - $2.85 / mile
Slow traffic or waiting time 0.50 Lei - 0.95 Lei / minute $0.20 - $0.40 / minute
Waiting time 25,9 Lei - 49 Lei / hour $5.75 - $10.50 / hour

* Tariffs in U.S. Dollars estimated at an exchange rate of 4.50 Lei / Dollar.

The average cost of the taxi trip from Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport to downtown Bucharest is 80.00 Lei (US$ 18).
To call a taxi visitors can use the kiosks available in the arrivals hall. Select the taxi company and get the confirmation ticket that shows taxi's number plate. Reliable taxi companies include   Cobalcescu,   Cristaxi,   and Speed Taxi.
More information on transportation from/ to Bucharest Airport are available at RomaniaTourism Bucharest info section.

If you run into a problem with any taxi in Bucharest - or if you are suspecting that you have met a dishonest driver - ask for a receipt and, if possible, write down the vehicle's license plate #.

To file a Taxi complaint please contact:

Organization
 
Address Phone/ E-mail
Bucharest Police Department Bd. Libertății 18, Bl. 104 (+4) 021 539.14.00
E-mail
Bucharest City Hall - Public Relations
Primaria Municipiului Bucuresti
Bd. Regina Elisabeta 47 (+4) 031 98.98 (valid short phone #)
E-mail
Bucharest Consumer Protection Agency
Oficiul Municipal pentru Protectia Consumatorilor
Str. Transilvaniei 2 (+4) 021 310.63.75 or (+4) 021 95.51
E-mail
Ministry of Economy and Tourism Calea Victoriei 152 (+4) 0372 492.636
E-mail
Bucharest International Airport
 
Calea Bucureştilor 224E,
Otopeni
E-mail
Contact Form
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Good to know
Bucharest Public Transport

Bucharest public transport system is safe, efficient and inexpensive .
Fares can be paid with (contactless) credit or debit card.
Feedback recently received from visitors to Bucharest indicates that Bucharest Transport Authority (STB) Passenger Fare Controllers they have encountered where rather obtuse and aloof.
Most ticket kiosks attendants and Passenger Fare Controllers do not speak English or other foreign language.

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Money Exchange / Lefover Romanian currency

Romania's currency (Lei) is not readily available abroad.
If you do not wish to keep your leftover Romanian Lei (RON), please make sure that, before leaving Romania, you have converted them into the currency of your choice.
To check the official exchange rates please visit the Website of Romania's National Bank.

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Driving in Romania

Most major tourist attractions in Romania are easily accessible by public transportation but travel by car is perhaps the best way to discover Romania's charming villages and to reach attractions located in areas with limitted bus or train service.

If planning to drive in Romania,
please check if you need an International Drivers License.

In some areas of Romania, conditions of roads, the number of slow moving vehicles and even the level of adherence to traffic regulations and common road courtesies may be different from what you are familiar with in the USA or Canada.

Feedback from several foreign visitors have indicated that some Romanian drivers have a competitive driving style (improper passing / cutting into another car's path and tailgating flash of the headlamps are not uncommon).

While in North America flashing the headlamps may be considered rude, in Romania a quick flash of the headlamps is sufficient to get the car lead to move on the first lane of the (multi-lane) road.

In rural areas be ready to share the road with slow-moving vehicles, including horse-drawn wagons.

A number of roads are under construction.
Signage and safety studs may be inferior to those used in North America.

The numerous photo opportunities offered by Romania's scenic countryside may make you to stop more often than planned and driving to your destination may take longer than expected.

However, as long as you will drive cautiously we believe that you will enjoy your driving vacation in Romania.

Map of Romania's roads condition

Map of road traffic intensity forecast (not real-time traffic info)

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Feedback about tour operators / travel agencies

All Romanian Tour Operators, Travel Agencies and Freelance Guides must be licensed by the Romanian Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
Be particularly cautious if:
~   the Website of a travel company or a freelance guide does not indicate a physical address,
~   hotel rates and prices for similar services are significantly lower then those offered by other companies,
~   full payment - in cash / wire transfer - is being asked when making the reservation or long before the beginning of trip, especially for services that must not be paid in advance by the travel company (meals, guide services, ground transportation).

Please E-mail us if your Romania experience was flawed by a company and/or its staff, or you wish to check the credentials of a Romanian tour company.   Thank you for your feedback!