By Adrian Aftanache · Travel information checked 30 October 2026
A good Romania holiday starts with a route you can enjoy at a comfortable pace. Choose the places that interest you, check how you will reach them and book accommodation that fits your plans. Leave room for arrival day, changing weather and the occasional slower journey.
Choose a base · Trip ideas · Travel checks · Getting around · Money and booking
Choose your base before your flight
For a city break, start with Bucharest or Cluj-Napoca. For a Transylvania holiday, compare Brașov and Sibiu. A city-centre stay, a village guesthouse and a mountain resort create very different transport needs.
Compare the whole journey from your UK departure point to your Romanian accommodation. Include baggage, airport transfers, late-arrival arrangements and the return journey. Check the exact airport and operating dates with the airline; a route shown for one season may not run on your dates.
Travelling from Northern Ireland? Compare the total journey via Belfast and, where practical, Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. Include the trip to the departure airport, parking or coach costs and any overnight stay. This is a comparison suggestion, not confirmation of a direct service.
How much can you fit into the holiday?
- Two nights: choose one city. Keep arrival and departure days flexible and plan one main area or attraction on your full day.
- Three nights: stay in one base, with time for the city and one manageable excursion. Check the return transport before choosing a rural outing.
- Seven nights: use two or three bases, with a lighter transfer day between them. Our seven-day Transylvania itinerary uses six overnight stays; add a seventh night near your arrival or departure point, or at the base you most want to explore.
- Two weeks: follow the 14-day Bucharest-to-Cluj route, adapting the finish to your flights. Replace a section if you prefer another region rather than adding every destination.
For smaller excursions and village weekends, browse Local Discoveries. These are independent planning ideas, not package holidays.
Passport, entry and travel advice
For a full British citizen passport, current FCDO guidance says the passport must have been issued less than ten years before arrival and remain valid for at least three months after the planned departure from the Schengen area. Tourist visits are generally visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area, not 90 days in each country.
Check the official Romania entry requirements before booking and again before departure. The rules depend on your passport and status; UK residence alone does not establish which rules apply. Use the official guidance for border-system updates, including EES, and any ETIAS requirements applicable on your travel date.
Healthcare and insurance
Check eligibility for a GHIC or EHIC and take a valid card if applicable. It can help with medically necessary state healthcare, but does not replace travel insurance or cover every cost. Arrange insurance for your itinerary and activities, and check the FCDO health guidance. The emergency number is 112.
Read the full FCDO Romania travel advice, including current safety information for the regions you plan to visit. Check any requirements for travelling with medication or children that apply to your circumstances.
Do you need a hire car?
For a city break: compare airport transport, local public transport and the actual walk to your accommodation. A car may add parking costs and inconvenience. Our two-day Bucharest itinerary groups sights into practical areas.
For a wider route: check rail and coach journeys on your dates, including changes and arrival stations. Rural villages, mountain stays and some attractions need separately arranged transport. Do not assume that a nearby town has a frequent connection to the final destination.
For car hire: confirm the supplier’s licence and age rules, payment-card and deposit requirements, insurance excess, fuel policy, automatic-car availability, late collection and one-way charges. Read the FCDO driving advice. Check road and weather conditions; a mountain pass should not be essential to a tightly timed airport transfer.
Choose accommodation for the journey you will make
Use our Romania accommodation guide to compare city, mountain and Delta bases. Before reserving, check the actual address, room layout, check-in time, parking or transfer arrangements and cancellation deadline.
Access questions worth asking: Are there steps at the entrance? Is there a lift to the room? How steep or uneven is the station-to-hotel route? Are accessible toilets available at the attractions? Can assistance be booked? A description such as “central” or “family-friendly” does not answer these questions.
Luggage storage before check-in or after check-out
Arriving before your room is ready, or leaving Bucharest after check-out? Ask your accommodation whether it can hold your bags. If you need another option, Radical Storage lists luggage storage with local businesses in Bucharest.
Ad · Affiliate link: Search luggage storage with Radical Storage →. This is a commercial affiliate link.
Enter Bucharest or your destination in the provider’s search and check availability for your dates. Before booking, confirm the exact location, opening hours, latest collection time, total price and cancellation terms. Allow time to collect your bags before onward travel.
Money, mobile data and useful booking checks
Romania’s currency is the Romanian leu, shown as RON; lei is the plural. Compare the provider’s final charge in its stated currency, including taxes and extras. If you use a GBP estimate, note the exchange-rate date and remember that your card provider’s conversion and fees may differ. We do not present an undated conversion as a guaranteed price.
Check your own UK mobile tariff before travel: EU roaming is not automatically included in every plan. Download essential maps and booking details for offline use, and keep your accommodation’s contact details available.
For activities, confirm the language, meeting point, admission inclusions, participation or age rules, access arrangements and cancellation terms. Check current opening dates directly with attractions, especially around holidays and seasonal closures.
Explore destinations → · Find things to do → · Compare tours and transport options →
This guide provides general travel planning information. Official entry rules, transport services and supplier conditions can change; verify the details that apply to your dates and circumstances.
