Practical information : Sightseeing Romania
Timetable
Generally speaking, museums and other fee-paying sites open at around 9am and close at around 6pm. Times often change slightly between low and high season: from October-November to March-April, sites open and close a little earlier. Many are closed on Mondays. In Sibiu, but also in many public museums, closure extends to Tuesday.
For some particularly touristy attractions, such as Bran and Peleș castles, avoid peak hours in high season, preferring a visit on weekdays, at the very beginning or very end of the day: the crowds can really spoil the fun.
Finally, be aware that many museums are undertaking major modernization work, thanks to European funds. These projects can mean several years of closed doors.
To be booked
It's highly advisable to book your ticket online to visit the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești, especially in high season, especially as it's in a somewhat remote location.
You can buy your ticket for Bran Castle online, a handy way of avoiding the queue on busy days. The ticket is valid until the end of the current calendar year. You can also book a visit to Bucharest's Palace of Parliament 24 hours in advance.
Reservations are often necessary for groups, especially as they can sometimes benefit from special services, such as egg-painting demonstrations at the Vama Egg Museum, which need to be organized.
Budget & Tips
With the exception of a few highlights such as Bran and Peleș castles, or the Palace of Parliament, admission to museums and tourist sites is generally very inexpensive. Children and students benefit almost systematically from reduced rates (often divided by two or four), as do pensioners and senior citizens (a little less systematic and often a little less reduced). Proof of entitlement is required. Infants are admitted free of charge.
If you want to take photos, you will be charged an additional fee.
Bring change to pay: card payment terminals are not always available!
Some towns offer group rates for visiting different sites. This is the case in Sibiu and Brașov, for example.
Main events
Romania takes an active part in the European Museum Night(Noaptea Muzeelor) on May 18 each year. On this occasion, most museums and cultural institutions are open free of charge until late at night, and some sites, such as Bucharest City Hall, are exceptionally open to the public. Also in the capital, a special bus service is organized to take visitors to the various sites.
Guided tours
You will find tourist information centres all over the place. Their quality is uneven and they do not provide guided tours. They are sometimes closed all weekend, especially out of season.
In the big cities, free tours are offered, provided by locals: in Bucharest and at Brașov with Walkabout Free Tour, at Timișoara with Free Walking Tour, in Cluj with Cluj Guided Tours... Alternative Bucharest Tour proposes to discover the street art frescoes of the capital. These free tours are, as their name suggests, free, but tips are welcome at the end of the tour.
Guided tours are often in English, but you will also find some in French.
NGOs, foundations and associations active in the protection of heritage and the environment can be good sources of information. They also sometimes offer tourist services (guided tours, excursions, maps...).
Several municipalities have launched applications dedicated to tourists, rather well done: Sibiu City App, Oradea City, Brașov Tourism, Bucharest CityInfo..
What's very local
In the villages, to visit the churches, you sometimes have to ask a local for the key.
Every town and many villages have their own ethnographic museum. Their prices are ridiculously low, and they may be a little old-fashioned, but they are a treasure trove of folk art.
While it is preferable to dress "correctly" when visiting religious buildings, the rules are becoming less strict on this subject, and a certain tolerance is the order of the day when it comes to tourists. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, however, avoid overly revealing clothing if you plan to visit a church or monastery. In some places, you may be asked to pay a fee for taking photos.
