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Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- May–Jun and Sep
- Time needed
- 7 to 10 days
- Currency
- Romanian leu (RON)
- Language
- Romanian
- Visa
- Schengen member since 1 January 2025
- Getting around
- CFR Călători trains, intercity buses
Romania is a big country by European standards, with a sprawling capital on the plains in the south, the medieval towns of Transylvania behind the Carpathian mountains, and a Black Sea coast in the east. It is one of the cheaper countries in the EU to travel in, and since 2025 it sits fully inside the Schengen area. All prices and dates below were checked on 9 October 2026.
Romania weather month by month
The figures are the National Meteorological Administration’s 1981-2010 averages, published through the World Meteorological Organization, for Bucharest in the south and Sibiu in Transylvania, which is colder at night all year.
| Month | Bucharest high / low | Bucharest rain | Sibiu high / low | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.8°C / -4.8°C | 33 mm | 1.8°C / -6.9°C | Skiing, museums, low hotel prices |
| February | 5.5°C / -4.0°C | 33 mm | 4.5°C / -5.9°C | Skiing, quiet city breaks |
| March | 11.4°C / 0.1°C | 39 mm | 10.1°C / -1.2°C | First spring days |
| April | 18.0°C / 4.9°C | 49 mm | 16.0°C / 3.9°C | Parks in bloom, Easter |
| May | 24.0°C / 9.6°C | 56 mm | 21.3°C / 8.6°C | Ideal for cities and Transylvania |
| June | 27.7°C / 13.6°C | 79 mm | 24.2°C / 11.6°C | Long days, the wettest month |
| July | 29.8°C / 15.4°C | 64 mm | 26.3°C / 13.3°C | Black Sea coast, mountain roads |
| August | 29.8°C / 14.9°C | 51 mm | 26.2°C / 12.7°C | Hot in Bucharest, beaches |
| September | 24.6°C / 10.5°C | 53 mm | 21.4°C / 8.7°C | Warm, settled, fewer crowds |
| October | 17.9°C / 5.4°C | 47 mm | 16.2°C / 3.5°C | Autumn colour in the Carpathians |
| November | 9.8°C / 0.6°C | 43 mm | 9.1°C / -1.2°C | Cheap, grey, Christmas markets open late in the month |
| December | 3.8°C / -3.4°C | 44 mm | 3.1°C / -5.3°C | Christmas markets, ski season starts |
Two things shape the year. The south is continental and hot in summer: Bucharest averages close to 30°C in July and August, while the coast at Constanța stays a little milder, at about 27°C. And the interior is cold in winter: Sibiu averages lows below freezing from November to March. For a winter trip, pack a warm layer from our best packable down jackets guide and boots from our best winter boots for travel.
Top Cities to Explore
Best time to visit Romania by trip type
City breaks and Transylvania (May to June, September)
Bucharest, Brașov and Sibiu are at their best in late spring and early autumn, when highs sit around 21 to 28°C. Our Bucharest city guide covers where to stay, the airport train and the Palace of Parliament tour.
Summer (July and August)
Summer is hot on the plains and pleasant in the mountains. It is the season for the Black Sea coast around Constanța and for the high Carpathian roads, while Bucharest is best explored in the morning and evening.
Christmas markets (late November to December)
Bucharest’s main Christmas market in Piața Constituției, in front of the Palace of Parliament, is organised by the city’s CREART centre. The 2025 edition ran from 29 November to 28 December with free entry, and the 2026 dates had not been announced when we checked on 9 October 2026. See our Christmas markets in Europe 2026 guide for the bigger markets, with Budapest a short flight away.
Skiing (December to March)
The Carpathians around Brașov are Romania’s main ski area, with Poiana Brașov on the edge of the city. Our cheapest ski resorts in Europe guide compares ski prices across the region.
Halloween and the Dracula trail (October)
Bran Castle, marketed as Dracula’s castle, runs Halloween events in its last week of October. Our Halloween trips in Europe guide covers what is on and how to plan around it.
Where to go in Romania
Bucharest is where most trips start, at Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni. The capital is home to the Palace of Parliament, one of the largest administrative buildings in the world, a compact Old Town and the open-air Village Museum. Give it two days.
Brașov is the classic base for Transylvania: a medieval centre below Tâmpa hill, about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes from Bucharest Nord on InterCity and InterRegio trains, with around 20 trains a day.
Bran Castle stands 30 km from Brașov, about 35 minutes by road, or 160 km and about 2.5 hours from Bucharest. It opens daily: from April to 1 November, last entry is 19:00 (from 12:00 on Mondays), and from 2 November to 31 March last entry is 18:00.
Peleș Castle in Sinaia, the former royal summer residence in the Prahova Valley, sits on the Bucharest to Brașov railway. It opens Wednesday to Sunday, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and limits visits to 2,000 people a day in timed slots.
Sibiu is the other great Transylvanian town, with a walled old town around its Large Square, its own airport, and InterRegio trains from Brașov in about 2 hours 50 minutes.
How much does Romania cost per day?
Romania is cheap by EU standards for transport and sightseeing. In a Booking.com check on 9 October 2026, well-reviewed hotels in Bucharest’s Old Town for a mid-December weekend started at around 60 to 100 euros a night for two. Euro figures below use the European Central Bank’s rate of about 5.34 lei to the euro on 9 October 2026.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bucharest bus, tram or trolleybus, 90 minutes | 3 lei (about 0.55 euros) |
| Bucharest 24-hour surface transport pass | 8 lei (about 1.50 euros) |
| Train Bucharest Nord to the airport | 6.50 lei (about 1.20 euros) bought in advance |
| Palace of Parliament standard tour, adult | 85 lei (about 16 euros) |
| Bran Castle standard tour, adult | 100 lei (about 19 euros) |
| Peleș Castle, ground and first floor, adult | 100 lei (about 19 euros) |
| Village Museum, Bucharest, adult | 40 lei (about 7.50 euros) |
How to get around Romania
Trains. CFR Călători is the national rail operator. The main tourist line runs from Bucharest Nord through the Prahova Valley and Sinaia to Brașov, where InterCity and InterRegio trains take about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes; slower Regio trains take over three hours. On this line, CFR Călători issues a seat reservation automatically with every ticket, included in the price. Brașov to Sibiu takes about 2 hours 50 minutes on the fastest trains, with only a few departures a day, so many travellers drive or take a bus on that leg.
In Bucharest. STB runs buses, trams and trolleybuses, with a 90-minute ticket at 3 lei and contactless bank cards accepted at the validators. Metrorex runs the metro. Our Bucharest guide covers the airport train and bus.
Driving. A car makes the Carpathians and the smaller Transylvanian villages much easier. Cars need a rovinieta, Romania’s electronic road-use vignette, to drive on national roads; buy it on the official CNAIR portal before you set off.
Entry requirements, money and connectivity
Romania is in Schengen. According to the European Commission, checks at internal air and sea borders with Romania ended on 31 March 2024, and Romania became a full Schengen member on 1 January 2025, when checks at internal land borders were lifted. For visitors from outside the EU, that means days in Romania count towards the Schengen 90-in-180 limit; our Schengen 90/180 rule explainer shows how to count them, and our EES and ETIAS guide covers the new biometric registration at the external border.
Money. Romania uses the Romanian leu (RON), not the euro: about 5.34 lei to the euro on 9 October 2026, according to the European Central Bank. Cards work widely in the cities, but keep some cash for markets and small guesthouses, and decline dynamic currency conversion when a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency.
Mobile data. Romania is in the EU, so EU SIM cards roam at home rates. Travellers from elsewhere can buy a Europe eSIM; our best eSIM for Europe guide compares them.
- Activate before you fly: data works on arrival
- Plans for 200+ countries from a few dollars
- Keep your number; no physical SIM swap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit Romania?
May, June and September are the best months for most trips. The National Meteorological Administration’s 1981-2010 averages for Bucharest give highs of 24.0°C in May, 27.7°C in June and 24.6°C in September, while Sibiu in Transylvania stays a few degrees cooler. July and August are the hottest months, near 30°C in Bucharest, and the best time for the Black Sea coast.
What is Romania like in winter?
Cold, with frequent frost. Bucharest averages a high of 2.8°C and a low of -4.8°C in January, and Sibiu drops to -6.9°C at night, according to the National Meteorological Administration’s averages. Winter suits Christmas markets, skiing in the Carpathians and indoor sights. Note that Peleș Castle closes from 2 November to 1 December 2026 for cleaning and conservation.
Is Romania in the Schengen area?
Yes. Romania has been a full member of the Schengen area since 1 January 2025, when checks at internal land borders were lifted. Checks at internal air and sea borders had already ended on 31 March 2024. Days spent in Romania now count towards the Schengen 90-in-180 limit for visitors who need to track it.
How much does it cost to visit Bran Castle and Peleș Castle?
Bran Castle’s standard tour costs 100 lei for adults, 60 lei for students and 40 lei for children aged 5 to 17, and it opens every day, from 12:00 on Mondays. Peleș Castle in Sinaia also costs 100 lei for adults, for the ground and first floor, but it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and tickets are sold online or at the machines on site.
What currency does Romania use?
Romania uses the Romanian leu (RON), not the euro. The European Central Bank’s reference rate was about 5.34 lei to the euro on 9 October 2026. Cards and contactless payment are widely accepted in cities, and Bucharest’s buses and trams take contactless bank cards directly at the validator. Decline dynamic currency conversion when a terminal offers your home currency.
How many days do you need in Romania?
Seven to ten days covers Bucharest and southern Transylvania. Give Bucharest two days, then take the train to Brașov, which InterCity and InterRegio trains reach in about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes. Use Brașov as a base for Bran Castle and Peleș Castle, then continue to Sibiu, about 2 hours 50 minutes further by InterRegio train.
Start planning your Romania trip
Henri Coandă International Airport near Bucharest is the main gateway, and Wizz Air has a base there with low-cost routes across Europe; our Wizz Air review covers its fares and baggage rules. Compare flights first, then book the room: Bucharest hotels are good value, and Brașov fills up on summer and Christmas-market weekends.
Find cheap flights to Bucharest | Compare Bucharest hotel prices
More ideas: where to go in May, where to go in December, our Bulgaria guide next door and the cheapest European countries to visit in 2026.
