Romania travel costs: A complete guide for visitors

A trip to Romania is more affordable than you think, as the country is a real hidden gem among European travel destinations. Whether you’re planning your trip individually or prefer to book a package tour, I put together a complete guide on Romania travel costs. I’ll show you what the individual components of a trip to Romania cost and what budget you should calculate with.

I am a native Romanian and travel each year with my family to this beautiful country. I will show you from an insider’s perspective what traps you should watch out for and what budget you actually need so you can enjoy your stay in Romania.

I often hear this here in Germany: “I don’t know anything about Romania, I’d rather fly to Spain!” To that, I have to say: Use your vacation days wisely to see more of the world! Romania is a diverse travel destination, where you can explore medieval towns, enjoy beautiful hikes in the Carpathians, and relax on fine beaches with sunshine guarantee.

Here are five compelling reasons why Romania is perfect for an exciting vacation:

1. Discover picturesque castles and fortresses (Dracula’s Castle in Bran, Peleș Castle)
2. Experience breathtaking mountain peaks in the Carpathians (Bucegi Sphinx, Omu Peak)
3. Explore unique flora and fauna (Danube Delta, Zărnești Bear Sanctuary)
4. Relax on the fine sandy beaches of the Black Sea
5. Enjoy excellent Romanian cuisine and award-winning wines

There are many ways to explore Romania. Some prefer an all-inclusive package tour for a hassle-free experience, while others enjoy planning an individual vacation. These different travel styles, along with local conditions, directly affect your travel costs – which I will explain in detail in this blog post.

How much does a trip to Romania cost? Let’s start with some good news: Compared to the most popular European travel destinations, Romania is still in the affordable price range – which also benefits independent visitors. The advantage? You can plan and travel according to your budget and preferences, without being tied to fixed packages like on an all-inclusive trip.

For example, you can visit Dracula’s Castle during the day, enjoy a drink in a bar in Brașov in the evening, treat yourself to a luxury apartment for the night, and the very next day travel to Bucharest and stay in a hostel with like-minded toursts.

What travel costs should you expect? The typical expenses for a trip to Romania include transportation, accommodation, food, and activities. Here’s my detailed price check for an independent trip to Romania, with specific price examples. This includes a one-week itinerary for 2 persons visiting 3 destinations in Romania.

Costs	Prices
Flights	354 €
Hotel	615 €
Trips	355 €
Train tickets	38 €
Food & drink	390 €
Uber / Taxi	100 €
Total costs	1.852 €

There is a wide range of package tour options available for Romania. You can choose between group or individual tours, self-driving trips with a rental car, or flight packages with optional trips. Customized tours, where you select your own destinations, and 10-day round trips are also very popular.

When it comes to meal plans, there are plenty of options, including half board, full board, or all-inclusive. Most package tours to Romania include breakfast or half board, while all-inclusive options are mainly available for beach vacations on the Black Sea.

Below, you’ll find a detailed cost breakdown of popular package tours to Romania, categorized by trip duration, key destinations, and included services.

Duration	Included costs	Total costs (2 persons)
8 days round trip	Transportation, hotel, breakfast included, 3 times dinner, trips, travel guide included	3.998 €
10 days round trip with rental car	Flights, hotel, rental car	2.346 €
9 days round trip	Flights, hotel, transportation, half-board, trips, accompanied by a travel guide	3.916 €

Since Romania has been a member of the European Union since 2007, one might assume that euros are accepted there. However, you can actually only pay using the local currency, RON, or with a debit or credit card. Euro cash is accepted in rare cases at some top tourist attractions and in major cities.

You’re probably familiar with this situation: After arriving at the airport, you quickly look for a taxi to take you to your hotel. That’s usually easy, as plenty of taxis are waiting outside the terminal.
Before starting your ride in Romania, it’s best to ask about the fare. Otherwise, you might be charged exorbitant prices, such as a flat rate of € 100 at the end of the journey. A taxi ride should generally cost no more than € 20–25 (100 to 120 RON).

Book you airport transfer in advance to avoid overpriced taxi rides!

Last year, there were increasing reports of scams on Booking.com. Several customers reported receiving duplicate payment requests. Criminals can intercept booking data and hotel details, then contact travelers to steal their credit card or bank information.

Here are 3 tips on how you can you protect yourself from such scams:
1. Ignore additional emails asking for payment details again. If you’re unsure, simply call the hotel.
2. Payment processing always happens through the booking platform. If you suspect an issue with the payment, contact customer service directly.
3. Do not respond to SMS, chat, or WhatsApp messages claiming to be from the booking platform.

One last piece of advice: I always compare hotel ratings and reviews on Tripadvisor before booking. This also me to get an overview of what is really important for me when choosing a hotel. For example, a hotel should have best ratings in being clean and quiet otherwise I would not spent my money on a stay here.

If you want to save money, I recommend booking a rental car with airport pickup before your trip. This way, you get the best conditions (insurance, additional driver, etc.) and can compare offers at your leisure. If you don’t do this, you might end up facing numerous extra charges (e.g., airport surcharge) on-site. Some companies take advantage of tourists who immediately need to rent a car and charge them extra fees.

Romania travel costs for railway are very low compared to other European destinations. For example, an intercity train ride from Bucharest to Sinaia (140 km) costs just €10 per person. You can conveniently buy train tickets online from the Romanian railway company: https://www.cfrcalatori.ro/en/.
Especially in the mountain regions like the Carpathians, traveling by train is a great way to enjoy the beautiful scenery while also doing something good for the environment.

I’ve often flown from Dortmund to Cluj-Napoca or Bucharest with the low-budget airline WizzAir. Back when I was a student, my travel budget was very tight, so I was always looking for good deals. As with many budget airlines, it’s important to check the conditions and additional services (e.g., in-flight meals and drop-off baggage) carefully. A flight from Germany to Romania costs about 80 €, which is saving you a great deal of money.

Every popular tourist attraction nowadays has a well-stocked souvenir shop. However, many of these souvenirs end up forgotten in a drawer after the trip. That’s why I recommend thinking in advance about what kind of souvenir you really want to bring home.
You can find amazing items at local farmers’ markets, including culinary delights like sausages, honey, or Romanian plum brandy (Pălincă), which are inexpensive and a better choice as a gift.

Planning is EVERYTHING when it comes to traveling and especially to saving money. Before your trip, think about the top three tours you definitely want to do and book a guided tour and/or entrance tickets for them.
By planning ahead, you can also find out which days certain attractions, such as the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, offer discounted entry—saving you real money.

Romanian cuisine has a lot to offer—from hearty meat dishes to delicious vegetable-based meals, not to mention amazing cakes and pastries. Restaurants serving traditional Romanian food are usually cheaper than modern fast-food chains. To save money, choose a restaurant located outside the main tourist streets. Farmers’ markets and small grocery stores also offer great budget-friendly options.

Find out more about Romanian food here.

Whether you choose an independent trip or a package tour, Romania offers a budget-friendly and relaxing vacation with extraordinary experiences. As a travel destination, Romania can definitely compete with popular European locations—except you’ll need a much smaller travel budget!
Here’s a cost comparison to help you decide:

Type of vacation	Costs
Independent trip (1 week, 2 people, 3 destinations)	€1,841.28
8-day round trip (2 people)	€3,998
9-day adventure trip (2 people)	€3,916
10-day self-drive round trip (2 people)	€2,346

Drum bun! (Have a nice trip!)