From the airport to the city centre Romania

The airports of the four cities served from France (Bucharest, Cluj, Iași and Timișoara) are linked to their centers by rather efficient and very inexpensive bus lines.

In Bucharest, express line no. 100 (formerly 783) connects the main squares in the center (Unirii, Presei Libere, Victoriei, Romană and Universității). It runs 24 hours a day, every 15 to 30 minutes, and the journey takes 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic. Buses wait on the lower level of the arrivals terminal. You can buy your ticket at the kiosk to the right of the exit, or pay directly by credit card at the contactless terminal inside the bus. A single ticket costs just €0.60 (3 lei)!

Since the end of 2020, a train links Gara de Nord to Henri Coandă airport every 40 minutes, for a journey time of 20 minutes (€1.10 one way).

Cabs cost between €8 and €15 (between 2.29 and 3.50 lei/km).

In Cluj, you can choose between the A1E express line (€1.20) or buses no. 5 and 8, which run every 10 to 20 minutes, from 5am to 10.30pm. Cabs cost between €7 and €9 (35 to 45 lei).

In Timișoara, express line 4 goes to the center and express line 4B takes you to the station for €0.80. Cabs cost around €6.

In Iași, take bus 50, which passes through the station and piața Unirii (€0.70).

Arrival by train Romania

Trains are an excellent way to get around Romania. The network managed by Societatea Națională a Căilor Ferate Române (SNCFR, often abbreviated to CFR) is well-developed, fairly efficient and inexpensive. It serves a large number of towns and sometimes quite isolated villages. It's also a great way to enjoy the countryside at your leisure. Be aware, however, that journey times are long, and some trains can be very slow.
There are two types of train: InterRegio and InterCity. The former, which connect the main cities, are the fastest and most comfortable, especially in first class. Night trains are equipped with sleeper cars, with compartments for one to six people. Comfortable and inexpensive, they allow you to save a night in a hotel and make the most of long journeys. InterCity trains vary in comfort, age and speed. They serve a greater number of stations, hence their slowness, and do not always have first class.
Tickets must be purchased before boarding the train. You can buy them at station ticket offices or at CFR agencies, located in some city centers. You can also buy them online, on the very practical CFR website (www.cfrcalatori.ro). Please note that not all short-distance routes are listed. You can transport your bike on trains with specially equipped compartments. Inexpensive bike lockers are available at stations in major cities, usually open 24 hours a day. Good to know: sosire means "arrival" and plecare "departure".

For some years now, a number of private companies have been operating the country's railways, including the largest, Regio Calatori. Their trains are generally more reliable and modern. However, if you're looking for information or timetables on a particular route, we recommend that you consult the CFR website and the parallel Regio Calatori website (www.regiocalatori.ro) to find the offer that suits you best. Another company, Astra Trans Carpatic, operates between Bucharest, Brasov, Timișoara and Arad in particular (www.astratranscarpatic.ro).

Public transport Romania

The major cities have good-quality, extensively modernized public transport networks, often combining buses, streetcars and trolleys (buses connected to a network of electric wires). Bucharest is the only city with a metro. Tickets are cheap (24-hour tickets are very attractive). Tickets can be purchased from vending machines or at transport company ticket offices. It is becoming increasingly common to be able to pay directly on the bus with a contactless credit card.
Buses and minibuses (known as maxitaxis) are also a very efficient and economical way of getting around the country. They are sometimes faster than the train, but less comfortable, especially for long journeys. Numerous private companies offer a multitude of routes, forming a dense network and serving remote areas. Destinations are usually displayed on the front of the vehicle. Many bus stations are located next to the railway station. Tickets can be purchased at station ticket offices or directly from the driver, and must be kept until the end of the journey. To be sure of a seat, book a day in advance if possible. Many drivers are willing to stop outside stations, wherever it suits you. They can sometimes be quite sporty! The excellent website www.autogari.ro has all the information you need (timetables, prices, departure and arrival addresses, contacts, etc.).

There are many international routes, especially to Western Europe, where many Romanians work. Foreign or local airlines can take you to Istanbul, Athens or Budapest.

Romania is served by international lines to Budapest, Istanbul, Sofia, Belgrade, Zagreb, Vienna, Prague, Chișinău, Kiev and Moscow. The Orient-Express also crosses the country (Sinaia, Bucharest).

There are often several bus stations in major cities, depending on your destination. Often off-center, they can be small and hard to find. Some are owned by transport companies, others by several. Check out the excellent website www.autogari.ro, which has all the information you need (timetables, prices, departure address, booking contact, etc.). To make sure you have a seat, don't hesitate to book a day in advance. Buses and maxitaxis can be very useful for destinations that are not too far away and poorly served by train. As for international connections, many transport companies (such as Flixbus or Atlassib, who work in partnership) offer routes to and from all over Europe, particularly France.

Bike, scooters & co Romania

Although the network of bicycle lanes has grown in recent years, it remains embryonic in Romania's major cities, which are not very favorable to two-wheelers. Several of them do offer self-service bicycles, such as Timișoara and Cluj (where they're free!). In Bucharest, the I'Velo service has around twenty automated stations, in major points of the city such as piața Unirii, piața Romană and Herăstrău Park. Rental, via a mobile app, is very cheap (€3 per hour, €8 for 24 hours). Run by the Green Revolution association, I'Velo is also present in Brașov.
In the countryside and mountains, marked bike trails are multiplying, too. However, we advise you to make use of the many agencies that offer guided tours.
Self-service electric scooters have been widely developed in Bucharest, with Lime and Splash, among others.

With a driver Romania

Cabs are widely used in Romania, by a large proportion of the population. There are companies in every town, including the smallest. They charge very low fares, which vary slightly from place to place. In Bucharest, for example, the average price is 2.70 lei/km (€0.54). In the capital, don't be surprised if the driver rounds up the final bill to the nearest ten lei, especially for shorter journeys, and if he doesn't, it's customary to tip 10 lei. At prices roughly equivalent to cabs, VTC companies like Uber and Bolt are also widely used in Bucharest. Uber is also present in Brașov, Iași, Timișoara and Cluj. Bolt is established in Cluj and Timișoara.

In Bucharest, cabs, which are yellow, are innumerable and cheap (2.70 lei/km on average). To pay the right price and for your safety, always choose a cab equipped with a taximeter, with the company name clearly indicated, an official plate (back door) and the fares displayed on the side. They're available everywhere, but you can also order one over the phone, especially at night. Recommended companies include Cristaxi (+40 219 466) and Speed Taxi (+40 21 9477). Several VTC companies also operate in Bucharest, including Uber, BlackCab and Bolt.

By car Romania

It's the best way to discover a country like Romania and get deep into its countryside. The main roads are in fairly good condition. But there are very few freeways, and driving on the two-way lanes, where many trucks are concentrated, is quite tiring. Roads often have a wide verge, where you pull over if a faster vehicle wants to overtake. On the secondary network, the condition of the roads is very uneven, sometimes brand-new, sometimes peppered with potholes. Occasionally, the asphalt disappears altogether to make way for dirt tracks. You'll also have to watch out for the farm animals that roam the roadsides and villages, the flocks of sheep and stray dogs that cross, and the many carts.

Romanian driving is quite sporty. Dangerous overtaking (on a bend or with a car coming in front) is not uncommon, and you often have to pull off to the side of the road or slow down to avoid a collision. Be very careful. The speed limit is 50 km/h in town, 90 to 100 km/h outside built-up areas and 130 km/h on freeways. The blood-alcohol limit is zero. Speed cameras and police checks are fairly frequent.

Vignette. To drive in Romania, your French driver's license is sufficient if you are staying less than 90 days. All vehicles entering the country must pay the Rovignette, which can be purchased at border crossings, post offices and service stations, or online at www.roviniete.ro. It costs €3.30 for 10 days, €5.30 for a month. If you rent a car, the Rovignette is included.

Service stations are springing up all over the country, and you'll have no trouble finding one. Petrol is around 20% cheaper than in France. In the big cities, it's often difficult to find a parking space, which means that parking is rather anarchic. In Bucharest, however, the situation has greatly improved with the recent widespread introduction of paid parking.

Hitchhiking. Finally, hitchhiking is widespread in Romania, especially in the countryside. You'll often see people on the side of the road waving their thumbs. It's customary to contribute to the cost of gasoline.

Accessibility Romania

Let's be frank: getting around for people with reduced mobility is not easy in Romania, even if efforts have been made in recent years. Access ramps to buildings are rare, and the state of sidewalks can pose real problems in places. Not to mention the fact that, in the big cities, these same sidewalks are often squatted by cars in need of parking. In Bucharest, wheelchair users have access to all buses, which are equipped with ramps and reserved space. Most trolleybus lines are also accessible. Streetcars, on the other hand, are difficult to get onto, with their narrow, raised doors. Many metro stations are served by elevators, but getting into the cars can be a problem for electric wheelchairs.

Tourist traps Romania

Choose a cab that clearly displays its fares, its official plate and the name of the company to which it belongs on its bodywork. Make sure the driver turns on the meter.