Romania family holiday: Everything you need to know!

Are you planning a Romania family holiday and want to make sure you are as prepared as possible? Especially if you are traveling to Romania for the first time, you probably have a load of questions.

Traveling with children to a new country is always a challenge, as a mother I know that too, believe me. It starts with wondering if the destination is safe for families and continues with finding things to explore, family-friendly hotels and restaurants and the suitable transportation. As a native Romanian and mom, who loves to plan adventure-packed family holidays, I can help!

In this guide, I will answer all the questions above and summarize the most important travel tips for an amazing Romania family holiday. You will learn how to plan your trip to Romania, which flights and airports to choose, what to consider when looking for hotels, and of course, what the best activities for families in Romania are.

Let’s start planning your next family adventure in Romania!

Romania is a child-friendly travel destination, which is rarely on the radar of families in Europe. Romania offers a whole range of family-friendly destinations and regions. One of the regions where families feel very comfortable is Transylvania. Especially big cities like Cluj-Napoca or Brasov are ideal for adventurous families: both cities are easily accessible via their airports, there is a good selection of family-friendly hotels and restaurants, and there is a lot to do in the surrounding area.

Our favorite base for a family holiday in Romania is Cluj-Napoca. I spent 3 years here during my university studies and know the city like the palm of my hand. It is also the best starting point to explore the regions of Transylvania, Maramures and Moldavia. Learn more about this family-friendly destination in my complete guide for first-time visitors!

Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is also well-suited for a family vacation in Romania. The capital of Romania has 2 airports, a subway, numerous family hotels, theme parks, shopping opportunities, and is close to other attractions in Romania. For families seeking action, Bucharest is a very good choice. From Bucharest you can easily plan a day trip to the Dracula Castle in Bran or to the medieval city of Brasov. The Fagaras mountains, the mountain resort Sinaia and the castle of Peles are also to close to Bucharest (~ 2 hour-drive).

Other family-friendly destinations in Romania include the sandy beaches on the Black Sea like Mamaia or Eforie Nord or the neighboring Danube Delta. The resorts on the Black Sea offer a lot of comfort for families: beautiful hotels with private beaches and entertainment programs, child-friendly meals, and all-inclusive offers, child-friendly activities like a visit to the aquapark in Mamaia or the dolphinarium in Constanta. For families who have 10 days available, a relaxed visit to the Danube Delta is also worthwhile. Here you can observe the pelicans in their colonies, take a boat tour through the delta, watch the wild horses in the Letea forest, and simply connect to nature and unique serenity of this place.

The easiest and fastest way to get to Romania is to fly. The airports in Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest offer the best selection of flight connections to Romania. Both airports have good infrastructure for families, with family-friendly restaurants, toilets, free Internet and shops.

Other smaller airports are located in the cities of Brasov and Sibiu in Transylvania, in Timisoara and Oradea in western Romania, in Suceava and Iasi in eastern Romania and in Constanta near the Black Sea Coast and the beaches in Romania. These smaller airports have less infrastructure and offer a smaller choice of flights. However, they have the advantage of being less overcrowded and can be the ideal option if you only want to visit a specific region in Romania.

I always book our flights via Trip.com. They have the best flight connections and prices.

Especially when traveling with children, you should consider booking an airport transfer in advance to avoid additional costs and make sure your transportation offers child seats. Booking your airport transfer in advance ensures a less stressful arrival and allows you to get faster to your booked accommodation.

This is where we book our airport transfer on arrival so we do not have to worry about it on arrival.

Planning a family vacation in an unfamiliar country can be a real challenge. I don’t know about you, but I generally spend long for days searching for the best deals, comparing prices and reviews, until I eventually become so overwhelmed that I can’t make any decision at all. Finding the “perfect” hotel is really difficult when you have a long checklist of requirements.

In the last 2 years, I have become a bit more efficient in choosing a family-friendly hotel. It’s not about ticking off every requirement, but about the right location of the hotel for your own holiday plan.

Here are my best tips to make your hotel search for a family vacation in Romania easier:

Book your hotel 6 weeks before arrival. This is generally the time when you get the best prices and conditions. Especially when you are restricted by school holidays, day care closing times, vacation planning at work etc, you should not wait too long to book.

Don’t waste too much time looking for the “perfect” hotel that meets all criteria. First, consider which 3 attractions in Romania you absolutely want to visit as a family and choose a hotel near these attractions. You should preferably be able to reach your chosen tourist spots by foot or public transportation, this makes things a lot easier. If you want to make 1- or 2-day trips, I recommend booking a guided tour.

Think about what is really important to you as a family when choosing a hotel: breakfast, massages, air conditioning, indoor playground, etc.? Ideally, you should limit yourself to 3 amenities, that you regularly use during a family vacation. You don’t need a hotel with spa or massages, if you don’t use them anyway, right?

This is important to us as a family when choosing a hotel: family rooms or apartments (so we have enough space), Wi-Fi (mainly for travel planning), and a small kitchen (we like to cook ourselves).

Agoda or Booking.com offer good filters for location, budget, and amenities. These booking platforms also have flexible cancellation policies, which can be helpful if your plans change. Both offer loyalty programs that include discounts and exclusive offers (e.g., room upgrades or breakfast).

Before booking, I always read the latest reviews on TripAdvisor. For example, it can happen that you have found a great hotel, but there is a construction site nearby at the time of your trip. Pay attention to reviews regarding cleanliness, service, and noise levels and avoid booking hotels with such reviews.

Cluj-Napoca: Siesta Boutique Smart Suites (€€) – A modern hotel in the center of Cluj-Napoca, ideally located on a side street. This hotel is ideal for families as it offers apartments and family rooms, express check-in, laundry service, and Wi-Fi. Many attractions are within walking distance.

We loved the spacious and modern and climatized room (definitely necessary during summer), self-check-in and proximity to the Old Town, museums and restaurants in Cluj.

Note: Family rooms are generally reserved way in advance, so don’t hesitate too long with booking!

You need more recommendations on where to stay in Cluj-Napoca? Check out my complete hotel guide for Cluj.

Brasov: Schuster Boarding House (€€) – Beautiful hotel with medieval flair in the center of Brasov with family rooms, very good breakfast, airport transfer and shuttle service, and its own restaurant. We appreciated the walking distance to the main attractions in the Old Town of Brasov, great food and architecture of the hotel.

Book Schuster Boarding House here for a stylish and comfortable family holiday!

Bucharest: The Marmorosch Bucharest (€€) – For families who want to indulge in a bit of luxury at a reasonably affordable price, The Marmorosch is the ideal choice. The hotel is located in the center of the Romanian capital, near the Bucharest Athenaeum and only 300 meters from the nearest subway station. Here you will find large rooms, excellent breakfast, a swimming pool and outdoor pool, steam bath, and many great amenities.

This is one of the best hotels we have ever been as a family. We really enjoyed the comfortable rooms, the amazing breakfast, the pool, Netflix on our room and many more.

Please note that the Marmorosh is many months in advance completely overbooked, so make your reservation ASAP here.

As a native Romanian living in Germany for 18 years, I have started to really appreciate Romania as a family travel destination since becoming a mom. Romania is a country that literally has EVERYTHING: great amusement parks, castles and fortresses, amazing mountains and nature trails, great beaches, medieval cities, family-friendly restaurants and hotels.

I generally travel 1-2 times per year with my family to Romania and it really never gets boring.

If you are planning your first family vacation in Romania, I made a selection of activities below to help you plan your trip. I promise you will not spend a boring second in Romania!

Corvin Castle or Hunedoara Castle is one of the most important fortresses in Romania and Europe and has served as a film set several times. With its impressive architecture, mysterious rooms, and rich history, the castle captivates both adults and little adventurers.

Highlights like the Knight’s Hall, the 8 towers, the armory, the chapel, and the fairy room will impress not only children.

Corvin Castle can be easily reached by rental car or a booked tour. Tickets cost 7 € for adults and 1.5 € for children.

Make the most of your visit at Corvin Castle and book a guided tour!

If your children love water, you will enjoy visiting Therme Bucharest! The Therme offers 16 exciting water slides and a spectacular wave pool, while the constant temperature of 29-30°C and the 33°C warm thermal water guarantees a tropical paradise at any time of the year.

Between relaxing pool bars, saunas, and great sports opportunities at Europe’s largest city beach, every family member is guaranteed to find relaxation and fun. There are a total of 3 areas in the Therme: Galaxy, Palm, and Elysium. For the last 2 areas, note that you have to be at least 14 years old to use them.

The combination of wellness and adventure makes the Therme the perfect destination for families who want to relax in a tropical spa and amusement water park. We paid only €77 for 2 adults and 1 child.

Therme Bucharest is a quite appreciated location, so you should book your tickets in advance to make sure you can visit on your day of choice!

Dino Park Râșnov near Brasov is the largest dinosaur park in Southeast Europe with over 100 life-sized dinosaurs, including the spectacular replica of Hatzegopteryx thambema and a rare meteorite stone, while the interactive volcano and simulated earthquakes provide unforgettable learning experiences.

Adventurous children can enjoy exciting climbing paths, an exhilarating zip line, and 9D and 360° cinemas – all at family-friendly prices of only €7.50 for children and €10 for adults!

Dracula’s Castle is the most famous attraction in Romania and a must for vampire and mythology fans. This medieval fortress features secret passages, intimate chambers, and spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Inside the castle, visitors can explore the impressive Great Hall with its wooden beams and tapestries, the royal chambers once inhabited by King Ferdinand and Queen Marie, a hidden secret staircase connecting different floors, and the tower offering breathtaking views of the landscape. After exploring the interior, the beautiful royal gardens offer perfect photo opportunities and a peaceful place to relax.

A visit to Dracula’s Castle is definitely worth it for families with school-age children.

If you plan visiting the Dracula Castle during high-season in summer, it’s absolutely necessary to book your tickets in advance. Get the best price here!

The Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărnești, opened in 2005, is considered Europe’s largest and most ethical animal protection project. The sanctuary shelters over 130 bears rescued from captivity on 70 hectares of oak forest. The bears have the opportunity to climb, swim and being cared for by a qualified veterinary team.

For families with school-age children, the visit offers a unique opportunity to learn more about these majestic animals from a safe distance and under expert guidance.

A tour with a driver and qualified guide from Brasov can be booked for as little as €59.

The fascinating mud volcanoes of Berca, a unique geological and botanical reserve in the Romanian county of Buzău, offer visitors an astronaut experience like on the moon. Here, gases from 3000 meters deep, underground saltwater, and clay are pressed through the earth’s crust, forming conical structures that resemble real volcanoes, but emit cold mud instead.

For only €1 for adults and €0.25 for children, families can experience this constantly changing geological wonder, which creates a dynamic landscape through continuous gas emissions and offers new impressions with each visit.

You can ideally reach this destination from Bucharest and combine it with a day trip to the Romanian salt mine Slanic.

Mamaia Beach is the most famous beach resort on the Romanian Black Sea coast and the ideal place for a relaxed family holiday. The wide, fine sandy beach and the gently sloping shore are ideal for fun swimming hours. In Mamaia, there is also a good selection of family-friendly hotels offering large rooms, all-inclusive meals, and various activities for children.

Read my Mamaia Beach Guide to learn more about attractions, hotels and restaurants.

What you should not miss when you are at Mamaia Beach is the Aqua Magic Park. This is one of the most beautiful and largest water parks in Romania with 12 areas for guaranteed water fun. These include a water playground with an area of 1400 m2 as well as slides and pools with a depth of 40 cm, a baby pool, a multi-slide with 4 different colored 41 m long lanes, and a river ride (50 m long canyon circuit).

The entrance fees at Aqua Park Mamaia are reasonable: €16 / adult and €10 / child.

A visit to the fairy-tale park Calendar Stories near Sibiu is an unusual experience for families! The Park was inspired by an ancient Romanian story: according to the story, the 12 months of the year are actually “the 12 sons of the year”. Each month had a different name than the Roman calendar.

Children can wonder through the 12 lovingly designed houses, each telling its own legend, ride small boats, explore the park with the narrow-gauge railway, ride motorcycles or get goosebumps in the haunted house. Tickets cost only €7 for adults and €5 for children. Free parking is available.

A trip to Turda Salt Mine near Cluj-Napoca is one of the coolest adventures we had as a family in Romania. Here you can travel up to 120 meters below the earth’s surface via stairs or an elevator to explore the impressive tunnels and chambers of the mine. There is even a Ferris wheel, an amphitheater, and various sports and play areas built on an island of salt residues.

The salt mine has a constant temperature of 11 to 12 degrees, so be sure to pack a jacket. Entry costs only €8 per adult and €5 per child.

We recommend booking tickets in advance, as the salt mine is highly appreciated by families especially during summer months.

Learn more about other attractions near Cluj in my guide on the best day-trips from Cluj-Napoca.

A ride on the steam train Mocănița is an adventure for families like from another time! While the steam locomotive chugs through the fairy-tale Vaser Valley in the Maramures region, there is a lot for children to experience: hearing the loud hissing of the locomotive, feeling the rattling of the wheels, and looking for animals in the forest from the open wagons. The typical wooden architecture in the Maramures region also fascinates adults.

Along the way, you can stop, balance on small wooden bridges, skip stones in the river, or have a cozy picnic in nature. This trip can be easily done from Cluj-Napoca either by rental car or with a guided tour.

Book a guided tour to ride the Mocănița train for a hassle-free experience!

Although Romania has been an EU member since 2007, the euro is not yet available as a currency. The Romanian currency is the Lei (RON). With credit or debit cards (with Maestro or V-Pay symbol), you can withdraw money at designated ATMs (e.g., at the airport) and Romanian banks.

You should check with your bank before the trip to see if your debit card is enabled for payment abroad and what fees you can expect for transactions. This way, you avoid high fees.

Cash still plays an important role in Romania, so you should get a small amount of cash right after arrival. Avoid exchange offices and use ATMs or bank branches instead.

Romania is generally a safe travel destination and you will feel very comfortable here as a family. As in all tourist areas, you should take care of your valuables and take usual precautions.

Absolutely! Especially in the well-visited tourist areas like Transylvania, Bucharest, or the resorts on the Black Sea, families are well catered for. This means there are many hotels with apartments or family rooms, child-friendly food, entertainment programs, playgrounds, or swimming pools. In addition, there are also amusement parks in Romania where families with children can have a great time.

I hope this guide has provided enough inspiration for your next family holiday in Romania! Browse through destinations if you are a looking for a more detailed perspective.

From the beautiful beaches on the Black Sea to the medieval castles in Transylvania – Romania is an ideal travel destination for adventurous families.

There is so much to experience here: great amusement parks, beach life at the Black Sea, medieval castles, and taste delicious Romanian food.

If you need more help on planning your trip to Romania, check out my detailed step-by-step guide!

Drum bun! (Have a nice trip!)