Romania

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Quick Facts

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Capital

Bucharest

Government

Republic

Nationality

Romanian

Population

21 538 000 ^[1]

Languages

Romanian

Religions

Christianity (Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic)

Currency

Romanian Leu (RON)

Calling Code

+40

Time Zone

EET (UTC+2)

Daylight Saving Time

EEST (UTC+3)

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Introduction

tour in beautiful carpathian mountains

© All Rights Reserved ersa

Some colourful characters have graced Romania's long history. Vlad Tepes, a national hero in the 15th century, had the habit of eating dinner while the impaled heads of his enemies looked on. More recently, Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania's draconian dictator between the mid-60s and late 80s, has charmed the country with his belief in starving the populous as the ruler eats his fill.

Ironically, Romanians are a warm, inviting people. Widespread poverty mixed with corruption makes progress hard, but Romanians work hard at putting positive momentum back into their country. Traditional dance and gypsy music are still widely practiced and performed. Romania's list of attractions is steadily growing, as the nation's tourism industry slowly takes off. The Carpathian Mountains offer up cheap skiing, hiking and animal watching potential; Romania's small stretch of coastline along the Black Sea has been marketed as a hub for summer fun.

Brief History

In ancient history the Romanian territory was inhabited by the Dacians, an Indo-European people with an original language, culture and religion. The prosperity and geographic setting of Dacia, not to mention rulers' intervention in external affairs made the Romans attack the state. After two tough wars, the first one between 101-102 and the second between 105 and 106, the region was conquered by the emperor Traian and became a Roman province.
Through a long, complex process, called romanization, the Romanian people was formed by mixing the two communities: the Latin-speaking colonists and the locals. Most of the Romanian language is inherited from Latin, including parts of the grammar.
Because of the waves of migrators, the Roman administration and army were retreated starting 271. Later, the first political forms of organisation started to be documented. The newly-formed people had to face numerous menaces; firstly, Transylvania was conquered by the Hungarians, while the other regions had to face the migrators. Two states were formed and managed to keep their independence: Moldavia and Wallachia, considered to be protectors of Cristianity as they fought heroicly against the Ottoman Empire (another smaller state, Dobrogea, was conquered by the Turkish). Some of the best-known rulers are: Alexandru cel Bun, Ṣtefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great), Vlad Tepeṣ, mihai Viteazul, Iancu de Hunedoara.
However, the balance of forces was far from helping the Romanian states, so they eventually entered the Ottoman sphere of influence and had to pay numerous taxes. Because of the Romanian struggle, for a while the two states were not allowed to choose a ruler, one being given to them.
The situation remained like that until the 19th century, even though the idea of unity and independence concerned everyone. In 1848, the revolutionary wave in Europe spread to the Romanian states, the need for change being clearly seen be the great powers of the continent. In 1859, these countries aggree to let Vallachia and Moldavia unite, but the proposed unification had hardly any unity in it. So, the Romanins took advantage of some specifications of the treaty and elected the same ruler in both countries: Alexandru Ioan Cuza on the 24th of January, who proved to be a great patriot and excellent statesman. However, the unity was threatened by other countries that had some interest in the area, so Cuza was replaced by a foreign king: Carol I of Hohenzollern. Part of a great dinasty, the new king had plans for his new country.
After the creation of one of the most modern constitutions of the time in 1866, he managed to obtain the independence of the state by taking part in the conflict between Russia and the decaying Ottoman Empire. The next step was to obtain the other regions back. The occasion came up during the First World War as Romania fought together with the Allies and in 1918, after a valuable contribution, managed to unify totally on the 1st of December, which is now the national holiday.
The years between the two world wars were some of the best in Romanian history as the country flourished politically, economically and culturally. The politicians did their best to keep what was established through the Versaiiles Treaty, but unfortunately, some countries had other plans. As the war commenced Romania was forced to let go of some of the territories and then chose to fight together with Germany in order to get some of them back. In 1918 Romania turned its weapons against Germany as the ruler Ion Antonescu was forced to give up power. At the end of the war, Romania only got a part of the territories back and became communist because of the settlement between Curchill and Stalin, wich sealed its fate.
However, starting with president Gheorghe Gheorghiu Dej and continuing with Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania started to have a different position from the Soviet Union. Romania was the only communist country not to take part in the Prague Spring in 1968. However, the conditions in which the population lived were getting worse and worse, so in 1989 the inevitable happened: a revolution in which unfortunately, a lot of people got killed. Ion Iliescu was elected to be the first decmocratically-elected president.
Now Romania is a democratic country, part of many world organisations including NATO and The EU, starting 2007.

Geography

Romania shares international borders with Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary.

Regions

For administrative purposes, Romania is currently divided into 41 counties. It is however more useful for travellers to divide the country into the following regions.

• Banat
• Bucovina
• Crişana
• Dobrogea
• Maramureş
• Moldavia
• Transylvania
• Wallachia

Cities

• Bucharest, the capital
• Brasov
• Constanţa
• Cluj-Napoca
• Galaţi
• Iaşi
• Ploiesti
• Sighisoara
• Timişoara

Sights and Activities

Sighisoara

Sighisoara

© All Rights Reserved mikebv

Along with Brasov, Sighisoara is one of the most popular and beautiful cities in Romania. The Historic Centre of Sighisoara is on the Unesco World Heritage list and the town which was founded by German craftsmen and merchants is a fine example of a small, fortified medieval town which played an important strategic and commercial role at the edge of central Europe for several centuries. Highlights include the Sighisoara Citadel, the Clock Tower, the Weapon Museum, the Covered Staircase and the Church on the hill.

Danube Delta

Although the Danube Delta is not on the list of many travellers, it is one of the natural highlights in the country and can be a welcome relief from visits to cities. The waters of the Danube flow into the Black Sea, forming the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas. As a result, the Danube delta is home to over 300 species of birds and also to 45 freshwater fish species , which live in one of many lakes and marshes. Therefore it is on the Unesco World Heritage List. Tulcea is the main gateway to the Danube Delta.

Transylvania

Bran - Dracula's Castle

© All Rights Reserved mikebv

Transylvania might be known amongst travellers as the place where Dracula comes from, in reality it is a very large part of central and northern Romania. It includes medieval castles and towns, forests and even snowy peaks in the Transylvanian Alps in the north. The Transylvanian villages with their fortified churches in southern Transylvania are on the Unesco World Heritage list, while cities like Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara and Timisoara form the biggest cities, some of which have excellent preserved historical centres (see Sighisoara above). One way to get around this huge piece of land is to do the Transylvania Triangle Train Tour, a fantastic journey along many of the natural and cultural highlights in this region.

Moldavia Churches

The churches from Northern Moldavia (region called Bucovina – in German Buchenland meaning the Beech Country) are among the best-known tourist attractions in Romania and they definitely deserve their fame. Whether you are a believer or not, there are few other places where one can collect their thoughts, meditate and relax away from the maddening world without going to the middle of nowhere. All the churches have a long history, many of them being built by great rulers of Moldavia, which was an independent state at the time, struggling to keep its autonomy from the Ottoman Empire. Religion was highly important at the time, churches usually being built to celebrate a won fight or to serve as a burial place for the ruling family.
Most churches are 500-years old or even more, and one of their most amazing features is their exterior paintings, which are just as amazing today. As a reward for these unique religious edifices the churches received the prize called Pomme d’Or ( the Golden Apple) from FIJET, later becoming part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. The apple is now being kept at Moldovita.
Getting to the churches is quite simple as they are easy to reach, especially by car. Once you’ve got to Suceava county things should become quite simple. There are many special tours which take you to the most important monasteries, tours that will allow you to see a lot of things in a very short time and also meet people with similar interests. However, I would recommend a private tour as the churches are more than tourist attractions and just a few days spent here should make you a new person. So try getting accommodation in the area, or even at the monasteries themselves; the accommodation is affordable and the people are usually friendly, even if you may have a hard time finding an English speaker. Anyway, that should be no problem as each monasterie has nuns or monks that can speak fluently at least 2 languages. Remember to enjoy the food offered at the churches as even if it’s made of vegetables and fish it’s definitely one of the best and healthiest you’ll get to taste.
The landscape is also a reward itself, so if you want to enjoy it and also a big chunk of history and spirituality, the churches are a must on your list. However, remember to treat both the places and the people with respect, and not to speak loudly as you can bother the mass being held at the time. Moreover, choose to avoid revealing outfits as they will raise many eyebrows, which is quite understandable.

The most important churches are:

• Putna – built in the 15th century, it is the resting place of Moldavia’s biggest ruler, Stephen the Great (Stefan cel Mare) and this year is celebrating its 540th year of existence. It is chosen as a prayer lace by thousands of people all over the world, but also by politicians and public figures.
• Voronet - this monastery is famous for its exterior paintings, especially for “The Last Judgement”, due to which the setting is also known as “The Sistine Chapel of the East”. The shade of blue used for the paintings still remains a mystery for everyone trying to replicate it, being considered unique.
• Arbore- built in 1503, this church keeps is famous for its green used in the paintings. Because their creator used solely natural elements for the paintings and took their secret to the grave, it is impossible today to recreate them.
• Moldovita – besides the extraordinary paintings and architecture, this church also offers a collection of cultural and art objects not to be missed.

Other churches:

• Bogdana
• Sucevita
• Patrauti
• Dragomirna
• Probota
• Slatina
• Humor

Other sights and activities

• Dacian Fortresses
• Carphatian Mountains
• Maramures Wooden Churches
• Parliament Palace is in Bucharest, the second largest building in the world, formerly the People's House.

Events and Festivals

Weather

There are four distinct seasons with hot summers averaging 30 degrees (temperatures up to 40 °C in Bucharest and at the coast) and cold winters, around zero during the day (temperatures of down to minus 35 °C around Brasov). Weather is more unpredictable in the mountainous regions - they can be colder at any time of year. Winters are more temperate near the coast, where there is generally less rainfall throughout the year. Occasionally though, temperatures can also drop below -20 degrees along the coast when the wind blows from the northeast.
Most of the precipitation in the country falls in the summermonths though rain or snow is possible year round.
For most of the country, May and September are very good months for a visit, avoiding heath, cold and crowds.

Getting There

By Plane

Romania's primary airport is Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), which services to the rest of Europe, the Middle East and New York. Most lowcost airlines fly into nearby Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (BBU), in Băneasa.

There are several other international airports in Romania, in Timişoara, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca and Constanta's Mihail Kogălniceanu. During summer months there are generally more (charter) flights to international destinations.

By Train

International sleeper trains arrive in Bucharest from to Venice, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Bratislava, Kosice, Krakow, Belgrade, Sofia, Thessaloniki, Istanbul, Moscow, Kiev, and Chisinau. Train travel is generally slower than bus travel. See infofer and this website for train timetables and fares.

By Car

You can cross Romania from all neighbouring countries without much hassle. Have your documentationa regarding the car and yourself in order (including green card and driver's licence) and you will generally be fine.

By Bus

Eurolines offers numerous connections throughout Europe. Destinations include Vienna, Paris and Budapest. Buses leave Bucharest but also other cities like Brasov and Sighisoara.
Direct buses travel between Bucharest and Chisinau in Moldova, but you can also get minibuses from Iasi in the north of Romania. Bucharest to Istanbul is possible as well.

By Boat

Between May and September twice-weekly ferries go between [[Varna (< ERROR: the link title is too long!) (Bulgaria) and Odessa (Ukraine) and Constanta.

Getting Around

By Plane

Tarom and Carpat Air have a number of domestic flights, from Bucharest and Timisoara respectively.

By Train

Romania has a comprehensive train service (known as the CFR) and it is possible to reach most areas of the country by train. The network has recently received huge amounts of EU funding for upgrading so, currently, trains range from dated, USSR models to very modern ones. Staff are generally helpful and, in main tourist destination, speak some English. Tickets are available in advance from train stations (go to the CASA windows) or from 'Agencia de volaj CFR' offices situated in most cities and larger towns. The cost of the ticket is calculated according to distance travelled, class of seat and type of train (you will usually automatically receive a seat reservation printed on your ticket). Two classes of seats are available: 1st and 2nd. Four types of train are available: sleeper, 'Accelerat' (most expensive and nominally faster), 'Rapid/Expres' (the most convenient), and 'Personel' (slowest and usually oldest trains). Currently (August 2008) a second class Rapid ticket costs about 20 USD for 200 km.

Your train ticket will give a train number; departure and arrival times; wagon number and seat number. Platform number comes under the heading 'Linea'.

Trains frequently experience delays - sometimes of over an hour - due to track rennovation and climatic conditions in summer and winter.

Have a look at this website for inter-city train timetables and fares.

By Car

There are several local and international companies where you can rent a car and you will need an international driving permit or national driver's licence and a green card. The main roads are generally in a good condition but many secondary roads are in need of repair. Also, be careful when driving at night and look out for horse-drawn carts.
There are several highways where you need to pay toll.

By Bus

There are a number of bus companies offering infrequent services between most major cities and towns. They are cheap but relatively slow and on most routes there are only a few buses a day.

By Boat

There are no useful services within Romania regarding ferries, but if you want to visit the Danube Delta proparly you will need to get a boatride or join a tour.

Red Tape

If you are a European Union (EU) citizen, you may enter for up to 90 days without any restriction as per your EU citizenship rights. Although, since 2007, Romania has been a member of the EU, it is not yet in the Schengen zone. If you are not an EU citizen you will need to apply for a visa at the Romanian consulate in your home country. The visa they issue is usually valid for up to 30 days.

Money

See also: Money Matters

Currency is the Romanian New Leu (RON), plural pronounced and written 'Lei'. In shops it is often written as 'L' or 'RON'. One Leu is divided into 100 bani.

• Banknotes: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 Lei
• Coins: 1, 5, 10, 50 bani

Approximate street exhange rate (August 2008): 2 RON = 1 USD; 3.7 RON = 1 EUR; 4.2 RON = 1GBP

Romania is scheduled to adopt the Euro currency in 2014 and prices for accommodation, tours etc. are often given in Euros - although must usually be paid for in teh equivalent RON amount.

ATMs are available in most towns. Exchange offices are found near most stations and tourist areas.

Work

Note that shop opening hours are usually 9am-6pm or 9am-8pm Monday to Friday. Most shops and services close early on Saturdays and almost all shops etc. are closed all day on Sundays. Tourist sites are open all week; museums are usually closed on Mondays.

Study

Language

Romanian is close to classical Latin - closer than other languages. It is a Romance language - like French, Italian, and Spanish and speakers of these languages will find some words of written Romanian understandable, although the pronunciation less so. Romanian used to use the Cyrillic alphabet, but now has a phonetic, Latin-based alphabet with 28 letters.

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Health

See also: Travel Health

Tap water is safe to drink.
'Farmacias' (drugstores/chemist shops) are plentiful and well-stocked. What you can purchase can be limited if you do not have a local prescription but staff are generally helpful and may speak some English.

Safety

See also: Travel Safety

Romanians are generally friendly, helpful people. Violent crime is uncommon. Pickpocketing is a growing problem in tourist areas (especially on crowded buses) and opportunistic theft also occurs from hostels and cheaper hotels. Beware of taxi drivers who may not turn on their meters/put a higher rate on their metres than is advertised on the car door/say they have no change for large denomination notes/take long routes to close destinations. If travelling around Brasov and in the Carpathian mountains treat bears with respect and keep your distance: they will attack if provoked; every year one or two tourists are killed (due to their own stupidity) by bears in the Brasov area.

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet clubs exist in most cities and towns. Many restaurants and hotels also have WI-FI.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Public phones work well and are available in all areas. You must purchase a phonecard from a kiosk to use them.

Post

Post is reliable and post boxes are situated in all areas. All towns and cities have at least one post office - open monday to Friday and half a day on Saturday.