Romania

Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe and an increasingly important aviation market in the region. Located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, it offers travelers access to the Carpathian Mountains, Black Sea coast, and well-preserved medieval towns. Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) is the primary gateway and hub for TAROM, the national carrier and SkyTeam member.

For international travelers, Romania provides excellent value with growing air connectivity. Beyond Bucharest, regional airports in Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, and Iasi serve major cities and have seen significant growth from low-cost carriers. Wizz Air has established Romania as one of its key markets, with substantial operations at multiple airports. Ryanair also maintains a strong presence throughout the country.

Romania is an EU member state but retains its own currency, the Romanian Leu (RON), rather than the Euro. The country joined the Schengen Area for air and sea borders in March 2024.

Gateway Airports

Airport	City	Role	Major Airlines
OTP	Bucharest	Primary international hub	TAROM, Wizz Air, Ryanair
CLJ	Cluj-Napoca	Transylvania gateway, second busiest	Wizz Air, Ryanair, TAROM
TSR	Timisoara	Western Romania hub	Wizz Air, Ryanair
IAS	Iasi	Moldova region gateway	Wizz Air, TAROM

Bucharest Airports

Bucharest Henri Coanda (OTP) is Romania's main international airport, located 16 km north of the city center. Named after the Romanian aviation pioneer, it serves as TAROM's hub and handles the vast majority of international traffic. The airport has modern terminals with growing capacity. Connected to the city center by express bus (783 to city center, 45 minutes), taxi, and ride-hailing services. A rail link is under development.

Bucharest Baneasa (BBU) is a secondary airport used primarily for private aviation and low-cost carriers historically. Most commercial traffic has moved to OTP.

Which Bucharest airport? OTP for virtually all commercial flights. Always verify your airport when booking.

Regional Airports

Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) is Romania's second-busiest airport, serving Transylvania and the country's second-largest city. Located 9 km east of the city center with bus connections (30 minutes). Strong presence from Wizz Air and growing international routes. Excellent base for exploring Transylvania.

Timisoara (TSR) serves western Romania, close to the Hungarian and Serbian borders. Located 12 km from the city center. Growing low-cost carrier network, particularly to Western European destinations.

Iasi (IAS) is the gateway to the Moldova region in northeastern Romania. Located 8 km from the city center. Important for connections to Italy, UK, and other destinations with Romanian diaspora communities.

Other regional airports include Sibiu (SBZ), Craiova (CRA), Bacau (BCM), and Oradea (OMR), with primarily low-cost carrier service.

Flag Carrier

TAROM (RO) is the national carrier and one of Europe's oldest airlines, founded in 1954. A SkyTeam member, TAROM operates from its Bucharest hub with:

• European network covering major capitals and business destinations
• Middle East connections (Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai)
• Limited domestic network
• Mix of Boeing 737 and ATR regional aircraft

Low-Cost Carriers

Romania has significant low-cost carrier penetration:

• Wizz Air is the largest carrier in Romania by passengers, with bases at OTP, CLJ, TSR, IAS, and other airports. Extensive network to Western Europe, especially UK, Italy, Germany, and Spain
• Ryanair maintains strong presence at OTP, CLJ, and other Romanian airports with competitive European routes
• Blue Air was a Romanian low-cost carrier that operated until 2022; its routes have largely been absorbed by Wizz Air and Ryanair

Other International Carriers

Major European carriers with frequent Romania service include Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Air France, KLM, and Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines offers strong connectivity through Istanbul.

Schengen Area

Romania joined the Schengen Area for air and sea borders in March 2024. Land border controls remain in place. A Schengen visa allows travel throughout 29 European countries.

Visa-Exempt Nationalities

Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and 60+ other countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) will be required for visa-exempt travelers from 2025. This is a simple online authorization (valid 3 years, approximately 7 EUR).

Visa Required

Citizens of countries not on the visa-exempt list need a Schengen visa. Apply at the Romanian consulate or embassy in your country of residence. Standard processing is 15 days.

Passport Requirements

• Valid for at least 3 months beyond planned departure from Schengen area
• Issued within the previous 10 years
• At least 2 blank pages

Official visa information: mae.ro

Domestic Flights

Domestic flights are limited given Romania's size and road improvements:

• Bucharest ↔ Cluj-Napoca: 1h flight vs. 7-8h by train
• Bucharest ↔ Timisoara: 1h flight vs. 9h by train
• Bucharest ↔ Iasi: 1h flight vs. 6h by train

For longer routes, flying saves considerable time. TAROM and low-cost carriers operate domestic routes.

Trains (CFR)

Romania's rail network connects major cities but is slower than Western European standards:

• IC (InterCity): Faster intercity service
• IR (InterRegio): Standard long-distance service
• Regional: Local and suburban routes

Key routes from Bucharest:

• Cluj-Napoca: 7-8 hours
• Timisoara: 9 hours
• Brasov: 2.5-3 hours
• Constanta: 2-2.5 hours

Booking: cfrcalatori.ro

Car Rental

Available at all airports. Notes:

• Road network improving with new motorways
• Right-hand traffic
• International license accepted
• Vignette (rovinieta) required for motorways, purchasable online
• Mountain roads scenic but slow

Buses

FlixBus and local operators offer intercity connections. Often faster than trains for certain routes. Useful for destinations not on main rail lines.

Peak Season (June-August)

Summer is busiest for Transylvania, Black Sea coast, and mountain resorts. Expect highest airfares and accommodation prices, especially August.

Shoulder Season (April-May, September-October)

Best overall value. Pleasant weather for sightseeing and hiking. Transylvania is particularly beautiful in autumn with fall colors. September offers warm days and wine harvest festivals.

Flights typically 20-30% cheaper than peak summer.

Off-Season (November-March)

Lowest prices except Christmas and New Year period. Cold winters but atmospheric—Romanian towns have traditional Christmas markets. Good for:

• Budget travelers
• Skiing in the Carpathians (December-March)
• Winter city breaks

Regional Timing

• Black Sea Coast (Constanta): June-August for beaches
• Transylvania (Cluj, Brasov, Sibiu): April-October, beautiful autumn colors
• Carpathian Mountains: December-March for skiing, June-September for hiking
• Bucharest: Year-round, spring/autumn best for weather

Cities

City	Airport	Known For
Bucharest	OTP	Capital, architecture, nightlife, museums
Cluj-Napoca	CLJ	University city, culture, Transylvania base
Timisoara	TSR	"Little Vienna," revolution history
Brasov	OTP (2.5h)	Medieval center, mountain gateway
Sibiu	SBZ	German heritage, medieval walls

Regions

• Transylvania: Heart of Romania; medieval towns, castles, Carpathian scenery; fly to CLJ or OTP
• Black Sea Coast: Constanta, Mamaia beach resorts; fly to OTP, 2.5h drive
• Carpathian Mountains: Skiing, hiking; access via OTP or CLJ
• Maramures: Traditional villages, wooden churches; fly to CLJ, drive north
• Bucovina: Painted monasteries; fly to IAS or Suceava (SCV)

Day Trips from Major Airports

• From OTP: Brasov (2.5h), Sinaia (2h), Constanta (2.5h)
• From CLJ: Turda Salt Mine (45min), Sighisoara (2h), Alba Iulia (1.5h)
• From TSR: Hunedoara Castle (1.5h), Serbian border towns

Money

• Currency: Romanian Leu (RON). 1 EUR ≈ 5 RON approximately
• Cards: Widely accepted in cities and tourist areas. Contactless common
• ATMs: Widespread. Avoid "dynamic currency conversion"—always pay in RON
• Tipping: 10% at restaurants. Round up for taxis

Note: Romania uses the Leu, not the Euro. Some tourist areas accept EUR but at poor rates—use RON.

Electrical

• Voltage: 230 V / 50 Hz
• Plugs: Type C (Europlug) and Type F (Schuko, with grounding clips)
• Adapters: US, UK, and Australian travelers need adapters
• Note: Most phone chargers and laptops are dual-voltage (100-240V)

Connectivity

• Mobile: Major carriers are Orange, Vodafone, Digi, Telekom
• eSIM: Widely supported. Airalo, Holafly, or EU roaming packages work well
• WiFi: Free at airports, hotels, most cafes and restaurants
• EU roaming: Free for EU mobile plans

Language

Romanian is the official language. English is increasingly spoken, especially by younger generations and in tourist areas. Some German in Transylvania. Basic Romanian phrases are appreciated.

Safety

Romania is generally safe for tourists. Standard urban precautions apply:

• Watch for pickpockets in tourist areas and on public transport
• Use official taxis (verify meter) or ride-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt)
• Avoid unlicensed money changers
• Beware of stray dogs in some areas

• Tourism: Romania.travel
• Visa: Romanian MFA
• ETIAS: ETIAS Official
• Rail: CFR Calatori
• Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport: bucharestairports.ro
• TAROM: tarom.ro