TRANSPORTATION IN ROMANIA
International Airports in Romania
There are plenty of international airports in Romania to make traveling a fast and comfortable experience. For long distance flights, Bucharest International Airport is the only option, while for incoming European travelers, there are other international airports of Romania, the most important being the ones in Cluj Napoca, Timisoara, Constanta, Iasi, Sibiu, Craiova, Bacau, Suceava and Oradea. Flying to Romania for the first time, many travelers have difficult time finding information about the Romanian airports, their location and how to get into the city from the airport.
Bucharest Airport
Aeroportul InternaTional Henri CoandA
By far the largest and busiest among the airports of Romania, it is located in Otopeni, about 16 km north of the city center. It is the base of operations for the national carrier Tarom and low-cost companies Wizz Air, Blue Air and Ryanair. The international airport of Bucharest served almost 15 million passengers in 2019 and the traffic is expected to increase. It has flight connections to most destinations in Europe, but also several long-haul places like Moscow, Dubai, Doha, Amman and more. Of course, there is also the option of connecting flights with the major capitals of the world and then flying to Bucharest or other cities in Romania. There are several options to reach the city upon arriving at the Bucharest International Airport. The easiest way is by public bus and the station can be found in front of the Arrivals Terminal, at ground floor. Passengers have to buy the tickets from the counter before boarding the buses (1 ticket costs under 1 € and a magnetic card valid for 2 trips costs under 2 €). There are several bus lines available, 780 connects the airport to the main train station (Gara de Nord), 782 connects the airport to the city center (Unity Square) and 783 runs the same route but is also available at night (every 40 minutes). Visitors can also get to the Bucharest North Railway Station by train, first boarding the shuttle that takes them to the airport train station (1 km away). The ticket of under 2 € is valid for both the shuttle and the train ride. Another option is to hail a taxi at the airport arrivals terminal and this can be done by using a touch screen terminal that prints order tickets. The taxi station is on the ground floor, in front of the arrivals terminal. Prices towards the city center and most destinations in Bucharest should be between 5 and 15 Euros, depending on the company and the destination.
Cluj Airport
Aeroportul International ”Avram Iancu” Cluj Napoca
The main airport of Transylvania is located in the city of Cluj Napoca, in the heart of the region. The airport is about 9 km east of the city center and mainly serves European destinations, most of them with low-cost flights. The most important flight connections to Cluj Airport include Bucharest, London, Paris, Barcelona, Istanbul, Madrid, Rome, Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt and many more. The airport of Cluj Napoca is linked to the city center by the no. 8 bus line (to Mihai Viteazul Square) and the trolleybus line no. 5 to the main railway station.
Timisoara Airport
Aeroportul International ”Traian Vuia” Timisoara
Timisoara is third among the airports of Romania by number of passengers, serving the west part of the country, together with the airports of Arad and Oradea. The airport of Timisoara is currently being developed further, preparing for 2021 when the city will be the European Capital of Culture. It is located about 12 km northeast of the city center and connects the city with Bucharest and major cities in Europe like London, Munich, Bergamo-Milan, Brussels, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Madrid and more. Timisoara Airport is connected to the city by the express bus line no E4, going all the way to the main railway station. The ticket price is under 1 € and the station can be found outside the domestic flights terminal.
Iasi Airport
Aeroportul InternaTional IaSi
The airport of Iasi is the most important in the historical region of Moldavia and the fourth busiest in Romania. It is located about 8 km east from the city center and has connections to several important European cities like Paris, London, Munich, Brussels, Vienna, Turin, Barcelona, Rome and more, as well as Bucharest and Timisoara. Iasi Airport has three terminals and is connected to the city center and railway station by express public bus no. 50. It is correlated with the flight traffic and a ticket costs about 0,50 €.
Sibiu Airport
Aeroportul InternaTional Sibiu
The airport of Sibiu serves the south part of Transylvania, one of the most popular travel destinations in Romania. It is located about 3 km west of the city and has connections to several major European cities, including Munich, London, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Nuremberg, Vienna and Madrid. Sibiu Airport is linked to the city center by several public bus lines (11, 112, 116, 117, 118), the bus station being located right in front of the airport. Tickets are under 0,50€ and can be bought from the station.
Craiova Airport
Aeroportul InternaTional Craiova
The airport of Craiova serves the historical region of Oltenia in southwestern Romania. It is located about 7 km east of the city and has connections to several important cities in Europe, including Barcelona, Bergamo, London, Bologna, Madrid, Rome, Cologne/Bonn and Birmingham. Craiova Airport is connected to the city by the public bus route no. 9.
Other Airports of Romania
Apart from the above, there are several other airports in Romania, although with less flights, connections and passengers. The most important are the ones in Brașov (central Romania), Constanta (by the Black Sea), Bacău (central Moldavia), Suceava (Bucovina region) and Oradea (western Romania). Most of them have the same connections to European cities where many Romanians live or work.
ROAD TRAVEL IN ROMANIA
While not as developed and modernized as in Western Europe, Romania has a complex and extensive network of national and local roads, although some of them might be quite dangerous and in poor shape. In the last decade, the highway network of Romania has also increased, with about 1000 km already in circulation and many other projects under development, although quite slow. For longer distances between cities, it might be a lot faster and more comfortable to use public transportation (buses, trains, airplanes), with most towns and villages are well connected. Road safety might be a concern in Romania, with reckless driving, poor infrastructure and road hazards being the major cause of accidents. Nevertheless, there are countless amazing roads that allow travelers to reach incredible places in Romania and each year, there are developments in road safety!
Driving in Romania
Foreign visitors of Romania can drive on all roads, either their own or rental cars, provided they hold an internationally valid driving license. It is also necessary to always have a personal ID, the car’s registration and a valid car insurance. Driving in Romania is on the right side of the road and all passengers must use the seat belt at all times. The speed limits in Romania are 50 km/h within settlements (unless it is specified otherwise on road signs), 90 km/h outside settlements and 130km/h on highways. It is very important to always stay alert, especially in rural areas, where livestock and even wildlife can be encountered along the road. Another thing to keep in mind is that driving licenses can be suspended for driving under the influence, driving 50km/h over the speed limit, not stopping at train crossings, not giving priority to pedestrians, illegal overtaking, not stopping at traffic lights and many other cases!
Public Tranportation in Romania
Public transportation in Romania is quite developed and while it can be slow and unreliable at times, it provides a great way to explore the country quite cheaply. Long distances are usually serviced by bus and minibus companies, which are quite cheap (about 15 euros/300km), but also slow. You can find most routes and prices on the website autogari.ro. Within major cities, there are also trolleybuses, tramways and Bucharest has an underground metro system. Many companies have a website where you can buy tickets, while with others you can also buy the ticket from bus stations or directly from the driver.
Renting a Car in Romania
One of the best ways to explore Romania on your own and without the hassle of public transportation is by renting a car. There are a few well-known companies that also operate in Romania and the prices are usually a bit lower than Western Europe. If you plan to explore the countryside, I would advise on getting an SUV or a 4×4 vehicle (Dacia Duster is a great car with excellent mileage). The local roads are sometimes in poor shape and the most stunning natural destinations are quite remote and you might need to get off-road in some cases. Another good idea is to always have GPS available, as some places do now have mobile signal (apps like Maps.me are excellent). You can find most of the international rent-a-car brands in Romania: Europcar, Sixt, Avis, Autonom.ro and more!
Traveling by train in Romania
Romania has one of the most dense and extensive railway networks in the world, although the quality of the system still needs improving. Most of the cities and towns of Romania can be reached by train, with plenty of trains also reaching the countryside areas. The national railway carrier is called CFR (Căile Ferate Române), the company running most of the trains in the country. Although the speed of trains is quite low compared to Western Europe and there are frequent delays, traveling by train in Romania is very safe and one can reach almost any area of the country, including across the mountains.
Types of Trains in Romania
There are three main types of trains used in the country, depending on the distance and destination they are used for. The basic commuter type is called Regio (R) and is mainly used for short distance, with very slow speed and stopping in each station along the way. These should be used by travelers just in special cases where there are no other options like buses or minibuses available. They are pretty cheap and used by people commuting to work on a daily basis, having basic comfort levels. The next type of trains is InterRegio (IR), which are faster and serving longer distances, stopping only for major stations along the way. These are almost twice as expensive as the Regio trains, although still affordable. The comfort is a lot higher than the first type, with some routes having modernized cars. The fastest and most comfortable, but also the most expensive type of train available in Romania is the InterCity (IC) that connects major cities and destinations, without any secondary stops along the way. These trains have modern conditions and facilities, including charging outlets, dining cars, air conditioning and more. These types of trains have almost been taken out of service, because of high prices and low popularity. The InterRegio trains have two comfort classes, with several cars for 1st class, with more space and comfort, but also more expensive. Some InterRegio trains that have long routes and travel during the night will also have couchette or sleeping cars available. Some of the most popular and sometimes secondary routes are served by private companies, although greatly outnumbered by the CFR network. Special types of trains are tourist trains running on narrow gauge railways along scenic mountain routes, offering a unique experience for travelers.
Buying a Train Ticket in Romania
It’s actually pretty simple to buy a CFR train ticket, with the best option to get it directly at the stations across the country, although many villages and small towns might not have ticket booths. Although possible, buying a ticket after boarding is possible when not booth is available or running late, although this will also imply paying a fine and a more expensive ticket. In the past, many people traveled without a ticket and simply bribed the control officers along the way. This is still practiced, although not recommended in the present, as you might be forced to descend in the first station. It is also possible to buy train tickets online in Romania, by using the cfrcalatori.ro website, with all the necessary information available in English. It’s possible to buy a ticket with up to 6 months in advance, CFR offering discounts for groups, return tickets and advance purchases. For example, in 2020, a train ticket for an InterRegio train from Bucharest North to Brasov (166km) costs 48.6 Lei (about 10 Euros) for 2nd class and 70 lei (15 Euros) for 1st class, while the trip takes almost 3 hours.
Important Information about Traveling by Train in Romania
One of the main things to keep into consideration when traveling by train in Romania is to never rely on the schedules when traveling over long distances. Weather conditions, speed limitations and railway works will often mean long delays, although things are better each year. There are no announcements regarding the next stations and this will be especially troublesome for smaller stations, when the train only stops for a minute at most. The best option would be to ask other passengers for help and prepare detailed timetables with each stop along the way. Another important advice is to never descend on other stations along the way in order to buy something, as the train might leave without any notice. The modernized cars will have decent conditions, with small bathrooms/lavatories, but for long distance trains, these might become unusable pretty fast. The average speed of Romanian trains is very low, with only about 50-60 km, allowing you to enjoy the scenery along the way. If you are in a hurry or have further connections from your destinations, allow for at least a couple of hours delays.