Backpacking Romania

Although the most famous thing from Romania is undoubtedly Bram Stoker’s character Dracula, the country has so much more to offer than horror stories set in Transylvania. While you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in the past while visiting countless ancient castles from the Balkans (Romania is close to Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, and Hungary), the rest of the country is also well worth seeing. Bucharest, Romania’s capital, is becoming more and more popular thanks to its beautiful architecture and its big-city feel. Still, if you’re more drawn to nature, you’ll also find some great destinations in Romania.



We hope you have fun exploring our ideal backpacking itinerary for Romania!


Important Basics

Official Language

Romanian

Basic Vocabulary
English Romanian
Hello Buna
Goodbye Pa, Salve
Thank you Multumesc
Yes Da
No Nu
Capital City

Bucharest

Form of Government

Semi-presidential system

Phone Country Code

+40

Currency

Romanian Leu

Climate

Highest temperature by day: 2°C to 28°C

Highest temperature at night: -5°C to 16°C

Summer: June to August/Winter: December to February

Fun Facts

Romania was the first country to switch to synthetic polymer banknotes.

Cities

Bucharest

Your first stop will be Romania’s capital, Bucharest. You’ll be able to start your trip with a journey back to the past while exploring the architecture in the old town, which dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries and was home to many Romanian princes. The Palace of Parliament is one of the main tourist attractions of Bucharest. With around 3,000 rooms and an area of 330,000 sq. km of marble and steel, it is considered the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. The ex-dictator Nicholas Ceausescu also lived here.

The Romanian Athenaeum, home of George Enesco´s Philharmonic Orchestra, is the city's concert hall. The auditorium and its 652 seats dates from the 19th century and is known for its excellent music and art performances. The 70-meter long fresco around the round hall illustrates Romania's history.

The church of Stavropoloes, an old royal court and a church, is an important part of Romanian history. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the palatial residence of Vlad Pfahler (Vlad Tepes), a gelding prince who inspired the story of the Dracula legend. Also worth seeing is the old church, which was added to the old court building by Ciobanul and had served as a coronation center for following princes. In the center of Bucharest, the former dictator of Romania, Nicholas Ceausescu, gave a speech on 21 December 1989 in front of 100,000 Romanians where he was booed and later overthrown by them.

You can also visit the Monument of Rebirth, where the names of the 1,050 victims of the revolution and the bronze painting of Prime Minister luliu Maniu are perpetuated. Furthermore, you should not miss the Arc de Triomphe, a 27-meter high building that serves as the center of the military parades. In the Dimitri Gushi National Village Museum, an open-air museum with a lot of history, you will find old huts from different villages in Romania, – which have been carefully preserved here – artifacts and remains of the ancient civilization and much more.

Stay the night at one of the hostels in Bucharest and get a bed in an 8-person dorm for €8 a night.

Sibiu

You’d better take a rental car to travel to Sibiu, Transylvania. There are many historical attractions, events, and beautiful surroundings where you can easily spend a week or more. A lot of history has been made on the square of Sibiu; from a place of execution of criminals to the meeting place it is today.

The places you can visit in Sibiu and which count to the most popular attractions are the Blue House, the Brukenthal Palace, the Catholic Church and the Haller House. All these are located on the large square. On the small square there is a building from the 14th and 16th century. Other attractions are the town hall tower, from which you have a wonderful view over the town, the Lügenbrücke (in Europe today called the Iron Bridge) and the Hermes House.

The notorious Brukenthal National Museum in the old town dates from the 18th century. It is divided into six sectors, which are all divided into five magnificent buildings, such as the Weapons and Hunting Museum, the Pharmacy Museum, the History Museum and the Nature Museum. Why don't you visit also the Astra Museum of Traditional Folk Culture if you want to learn more about the buildings and civilization from past centuries.

It is a very large open-air museum with wooden churches, wooden and stone houses and windmills.

Stay at one of Sibiu’s hostels and get a bed in a 10-person dorm for €8 a night.

Bazna

Your next stop is Bazna and you’ll get there with your trusty rental car. Take your time to explore Bazna calmly so that you don't miss all the beautiful things it has to offer. Tourist attractions in Bazna are the spas, as the village in Sibiu County in Transylvania is famous for its seemingly magical water.

The mud and minerals, are said to have successfully treated rheumatic and motor problems, stress-related disorders as well as nerve and hormonal disorders. The bromine and iron in the water are particularly health-promoting. Swimming and hydro-massage are recommended to visitors to relax and detoxify the body.

You can get a quiet double room to relax in at one of the local hotels for €23 a night.

Brasov

Again, you will arrive by rental car. Take a few days here to relax, to interact with the locals and to learn Romanian, if you like. Brasov, a medieval town in Transylvania, is the most visited city in Romania. Hurry up and check Brasov off your list! There are many places to start your adventure, but I would recommend the Council Square (Piata Sfatuluki) as a starting point. In the past it was used for executing criminals and it is the historical center of the city.

Don't miss the opportunity to see the clock tower from the 13th century and to relax a little on the square. A visit to the Biserica Neagra, the Black Church, which is the largest Gothic church in Europe, is also a must. The Anatolian carpets with which the church walls and the Gothic architecture were designed demonstrate the culture, history and geography of Brasov. If you want to have a great view over the city, you can climb the top of Tampa Mountain. A walk through the streets and buildings of Brasov under the guidance of a tour guide is also a good way to get to know the city. Visit the white and black towers and walk through the narrowest streets in Europe (the Strada sforii). Enjoy Kurtos-Kakis, go on a trip to the Schei area, a trip to the Rasnov fortress and finally a trip to the Carpathian Mountains.

Stay the night at one of the city’s hostels and get a bed in a 6-person dorm for €14 a night.

From Brasov, drive back to Bucharest to catch your flight back home.


Bucharest

Bucharest

Your first stop will be Romania’s capital, Bucharest. You’ll be able to start your trip with a journey back to the past while exploring the architecture in the old town, which dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries and was home to many Romanian princes. The Palace of Parliament is one of the main tourist attractions of Bucharest. With around 3,000 rooms and an area of 330,000 sq. km of marble and steel, it is considered the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. The ex-dictator Nicholas Ceausescu also lived here.

The Romanian Athenaeum, home of George Enesco´s Philharmonic Orchestra, is the city's concert hall. The auditorium and its 652 seats dates from the 19th century and is known for its excellent music and art performances. The 70-meter long fresco around the round hall illustrates Romania's history.

The church of Stavropoloes, an old royal court and a church, is an important part of Romanian history. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the palatial residence of Vlad Pfahler (Vlad Tepes), a gelding prince who inspired the story of the Dracula legend. Also worth seeing is the old church, which was added to the old court building by Ciobanul and had served as a coronation center for following princes. In the center of Bucharest, the former dictator of Romania, Nicholas Ceausescu, gave a speech on 21 December 1989 in front of 100,000 Romanians where he was booed and later overthrown by them.

You can also visit the Monument of Rebirth, where the names of the 1,050 victims of the revolution and the bronze painting of Prime Minister luliu Maniu are perpetuated. Furthermore, you should not miss the Arc de Triomphe, a 27-meter high building that serves as the center of the military parades. In the Dimitri Gushi National Village Museum, an open-air museum with a lot of history, you will find old huts from different villages in Romania, – which have been carefully preserved here – artifacts and remains of the ancient civilization and much more.

Stay the night at one of the hostels in Bucharest and get a bed in an 8-person dorm for €8 a night.

Sibiu

Sibiu

You’d better take a rental car to travel to Sibiu, Transylvania. There are many historical attractions, events, and beautiful surroundings where you can easily spend a week or more. A lot of history has been made on the square of Sibiu; from a place of execution of criminals to the meeting place it is today.

The places you can visit in Sibiu and which count to the most popular attractions are the Blue House, the Brukenthal Palace, the Catholic Church and the Haller House. All these are located on the large square. On the small square there is a building from the 14th and 16th century. Other attractions are the town hall tower, from which you have a wonderful view over the town, the Lügenbrücke (in Europe today called the Iron Bridge) and the Hermes House.

The notorious Brukenthal National Museum in the old town dates from the 18th century. It is divided into six sectors, which are all divided into five magnificent buildings, such as the Weapons and Hunting Museum, the Pharmacy Museum, the History Museum and the Nature Museum. Why don't you visit also the Astra Museum of Traditional Folk Culture if you want to learn more about the buildings and civilization from past centuries.

It is a very large open-air museum with wooden churches, wooden and stone houses and windmills.

Stay at one of Sibiu’s hostels and get a bed in a 10-person dorm for €8 a night.

Bazna

Bazna

Your next stop is Bazna and you’ll get there with your trusty rental car. Take your time to explore Bazna calmly so that you don't miss all the beautiful things it has to offer. Tourist attractions in Bazna are the spas, as the village in Sibiu County in Transylvania is famous for its seemingly magical water.

The mud and minerals, are said to have successfully treated rheumatic and motor problems, stress-related disorders as well as nerve and hormonal disorders. The bromine and iron in the water are particularly health-promoting. Swimming and hydro-massage are recommended to visitors to relax and detoxify the body.

You can get a quiet double room to relax in at one of the local hotels for €23 a night.

Brasov

Brasov

Again, you will arrive by rental car. Take a few days here to relax, to interact with the locals and to learn Romanian, if you like. Brasov, a medieval town in Transylvania, is the most visited city in Romania. Hurry up and check Brasov off your list! There are many places to start your adventure, but I would recommend the Council Square (Piata Sfatuluki) as a starting point. In the past it was used for executing criminals and it is the historical center of the city.

Don't miss the opportunity to see the clock tower from the 13th century and to relax a little on the square. A visit to the Biserica Neagra, the Black Church, which is the largest Gothic church in Europe, is also a must. The Anatolian carpets with which the church walls and the Gothic architecture were designed demonstrate the culture, history and geography of Brasov. If you want to have a great view over the city, you can climb the top of Tampa Mountain. A walk through the streets and buildings of Brasov under the guidance of a tour guide is also a good way to get to know the city. Visit the white and black towers and walk through the narrowest streets in Europe (the Strada sforii). Enjoy Kurtos-Kakis, go on a trip to the Schei area, a trip to the Rasnov fortress and finally a trip to the Carpathian Mountains.

Stay the night at one of the city’s hostels and get a bed in a 6-person dorm for €14 a night.

From Brasov, drive back to Bucharest to catch your flight back home.

Romania Route Map

Itinerary and Stops.

Tag
Route/Station
Transport
Unterkunft
1. Home - Bucharest
Home - Bucharest
Flight
50
8-person dorm
8
2. Bucharest
Bucharest
-
8-person dorm
8
3. Bucharest - Sibiu
Bucharest - Sibiu
Rental car
10-person dorm
8
4. Sibiu
Sibiu
-
10-person dorm
8
5. Sibiu - Bazna
Sibiu - Bazna
Rental car
Double room
23
6. Bazna
Bazna
-
Double room
23
7. Bazna - Brasov
Bazna - Brasov
Rental car
6-person dorm
14
8. Brasov
Brasov
-
6-person dorm
14
9. Brasov
Brasov
-
6-person dorm
14
10. Brasov - Bucharest-Home
Brasov - Bucharest-Home
Rental car +Flight
50

Total price.

Flights 100,00
Transportation 67,00
Tours 0,00
Accommodation 120,00
Total 287,00

Du möchtest 

deine eigene

Reise erstellen?

Du möchtest deine

eigene Reise erstellen?

Dos and Donts, Food & Drinks, Costs.

Breakfast

Mamaliga: this is a porridge made of maize semolina, which is often enjoyed for breakfast with a cup of coffee.

Soups

Ciorba de burta: the typical Romanian tripe soup is a favorite for lunch..

Ciorba de perisoare: for this soup minced meat balls are fried in broth and mixed with some vegetables. From cabbage to carrots or leeks, here you will find everything.

Main courses

Chiftelute: the meatballs from Romania are marinated in a pan and fried with onions. They are usually served with a very spicy sauce made from tomato and garlic.

Pastrama: this is high-quality beef stuffed and wrapped with paprika. A delicious sauce complements the meal.

Tocanita de carne:   a stew prepared with beef or pork. Quinces, garlic and syrup are added to it, giving it a sweet and sour taste.

Papanasi: are you in the mood for a sweet main course? How about quark dumplings? In Romania you get a delicious creamy sauce and some fruit.

Sarmale:  meat is wrapped in cabbage leaves and cooked. Mostly minced meat or alternatively a mixture of fish and rice. 

Drinks

Tuica: the Romanian plum liquor is a specialty and is often drunk together in the evening.

Visinata: another liquor is called Visinata. It is made from sour cherries.

Romania

The exchange rate for 1 Romanian leu is around 0.20 euros (as of June 2022). See prices for certain products and the cost of living below:

Cost of Living

Food

Free time

Personal Hygiene

Dos

Small talk: in Romania the locals love small talk. Short conversations on the bus or in a restaurant are common and therefore you are welcome to participate or start one yourself.

Sharing culture: Romanians love to learn about you and your home. Tell them openly your home country and yourself, but don't compare the countries with each other.

Respect for the family: in Romania the family comes first. Big family celebrations are very important here and you should generally respect this.

Manners: manners are very important in the country, especially when eating and socializing. Therefore always try to behave appropriately, especially when being invited.

Don'ts

Political topics: especially topics of politics or integration you should avoid in Romania, because you are addressing a sore subject.

Rejecting food: you can't say no to food. If you are invited, arrive with a great appetite, for it is considered a compliment if you eat a lot.

Impatience: especially regarding bureaucracy or other regulations, Romania needs a little time. Don't get stressed and stay calm.

Visa, Visa, Passport & Vaccinations

Passport

Yes

Temporary passport

Yes

National ID

Yes

Temporary national ID

Yes

Child’s pass

Yes

Visa

(Not necessary)

Vaccine

Robert-Koch-Instituts

Additional Remarks.

We recommend making sure that your travel documents are valid for 6 months beyond the intended duration of your stay. Current information about this can be found at your country’s Foreign Office.

The team at Backpacker Trail wishes you lots of fun and an unforgettable trip!

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