Romania travel advice
Wildlife & nature
Anne Smellie from our supplier Volunteering With Bears at the Libearty sanctuary near Brasov shares her Romania travel advice: “Animal welfare has not taken a main stage in Romania, and this sanctuary is a real exception to the rule, working actively with passionate Romanian people in caring for mistreated bears. You work alongside upwards of 80 bears that have been rescued from circuses, tourist attractions and hunters. Many come with a shocking amount of baggage - kept in a cage they can’t turn around in so they can never hibernate, or blinded so they would never escape. It is a privilege to work in the beautiful foothills of the Carpathian Mountains and really make a contribution to a moving cause.”
Our Romania Vacations
Carpathian Mountains conservation & culture vacation
Wolves, bears & sightseeing
From
US $2179
8 days
ex flights
Romania vacation, the Beauty of Yesterday
Small group tour to rediscover enchanting rural Romania
From
£1595
11 days
ex flights
Transylvania vacation, Dracula tours in Romania
Follow the steps of Harker in search of count Dracula
From
€1159
7 days
ex flights
Transylvania self-drive vacation in Romania
Traditional Landscapes & Cultural Heritage - beyond Dracula.
From
£895 to £995
14 days
ex flights
Volunteering with bears in Romania
Volunteer at an inspiring bear sanctuary in Transylvania
From
£1045
7 days
ex flights
Biking vacation in Romania
Cycle through the beauty and mystery of Transylvania
From
US $2399
9 days
ex flights
Tips on memorable experiences
Romanian aristocrat Count Tibor Kalnoky from our supplier Transylvania Vacation Accommodation offers his Romania travel advice on some of the most memorable experiences during stays at one of his antique-filled traditional guesthouses: “Judging from the expressions I see on the faces of my guests that must be seeing a bear in the wild from rather close! I've experienced it hundreds of times now, and I still can't get enough... And then there are the wild flowers - especially the Lady Slipper Orchid, of which only one single specimen survives in the wild in Britain today. We have dozens. Or mixing with locals in the pub down the road that comes straight out of the 1950s. Another unique thing is our accommodation - the first heritage accommodation in Romania. It's like sleeping in a museum.”Seasonal travel tips
Tom Harari from our supplier Exodus shares his Romania travel advice, with diverse suggestions for every time of year: “The best experience is soaking up the atmosphere of the country itself. Horse-drawn carriages, alpine meadows where shepherds graze their sheep and make cheese, Saxon villages… it’s just like being in a fairy tale. Very few people realise that Romania rivals the Alps with high peaks, lakes, woodlands and pastures. Watching wild bears from hides is an experience that's hard to beat – spring is the best time. And in winter, the weather is normally crisp and clear with a coating of snow, a true Winter Wonderland. Plus there are Christmas markets and a chance to spend a night in the local ice hotel - pretty cool!”Health & safety in Romania
HEALTH
SAFETY
Our top Romania Vacation
Carpathian Mountains conservation & culture vacation
Wolves, bears & sightseeing
From
US $2179
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 29 Apr, 13 May, 3 Jun, 10 Jun, 1 Jul, 15 Jul, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 9 Sep, 16 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct
2023: 29 Apr, 13 May, 3 Jun, 10 Jun, 1 Jul, 15 Jul, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 9 Sep, 16 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct
Travel Team
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Romania tips from our travelers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Romania travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Romania travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
Swot up on your Bible if you are going to be taken round the painted monasteries!![]()
- Marin Sutton
"Be aware of language differences. Up in the mountains they do not speak Romanian - they speak Hungarian! Your Romanian phrase book will not help you here!" - Mark Stickley
"Be prepared to accept different standards of behaviour (e.g. smoking) than you might expect in Western Europe." - Martin Sutton
"Best date for the vacation is May/June, then the meadows are full of wild flowers." - Gerhard Loupal
"Hire a 4x4 to get around as there are so many places to go and see but the roads are the worst I've EVER experienced!" - Sophie Toth
"Be prepared to accept different standards of behaviour (e.g. smoking) than you might expect in Western Europe." - Martin Sutton
"Best date for the vacation is May/June, then the meadows are full of wild flowers." - Gerhard Loupal
"Hire a 4x4 to get around as there are so many places to go and see but the roads are the worst I've EVER experienced!" - Sophie Toth
Don't try to resist the potato bread - resistance is futile...![]()
- Angela Davidson
"In Transylvania, try to learn some Hungarian - very difficult but it's appreciated if you try! Have a walk around the villages, especially on a Sunday afternoon when there's lots of locals sitting on the seats outside their homes to say 'Hello' to." - Angela Davidson
"Bring your mosquito repellent if going in summer/autumn. Check your train ticket to ensure you were given ticket for the correct train time. Also worth getting 1st class ticket on the train." - Debbie Whelan
"For Transylvania, look into flights to Cluj or Timisoara rather than Bucharest - the train from there to Brasov is painfully slow." - Catherine Rowlands
"Get ready to leave behind television, and all kinds of electrical noise-pollution. Slow down, and relax - you will not get bored but refreshed without the usual non-stop bombardment of information. Open yourselves to nature and to meet new people." - Zsofia Van Assche Nagy
"Bring your mosquito repellent if going in summer/autumn. Check your train ticket to ensure you were given ticket for the correct train time. Also worth getting 1st class ticket on the train." - Debbie Whelan
"For Transylvania, look into flights to Cluj or Timisoara rather than Bucharest - the train from there to Brasov is painfully slow." - Catherine Rowlands
"Get ready to leave behind television, and all kinds of electrical noise-pollution. Slow down, and relax - you will not get bored but refreshed without the usual non-stop bombardment of information. Open yourselves to nature and to meet new people." - Zsofia Van Assche Nagy
More about Romania
The best time to go to Romania is spring or autumn, for wildflowers and fiery foliage. Winter brings snowy adventures, and in summer head to the mountains to escape the heat.
Prowl through our Romania travel guide and you'll discover there's much more to Transylvania and the surrounding regions than you might have first thought...
Find out how to make the most of your time in Romania with our interactive map, plus sample travel times and suggestions on what to see and do...
From intricately woven carpets, to karst mountains and UNESCO listed wooden churches, this is one country that won't leave you short of vacation activities...
The Carpathian Mountains are one of Europe’s most significant mountain chains, and yet the karst valleys, primeval forests and isolated villages remain locked in relative obscurity.
Navigating Romania’s roads as they cross the Carpathians from one historic region to the next is easy with route notes, local maps and overnight stays at locally owned guesthouses.
Joining an expert tracking guide is the best way to undertake bear watching vacations in Romania.
The eight UNESCO-listed painted churches of Romania are all nestled in the northeast of the country, surrounding the city of Suceava.
Romania has an array of activities to suit the whole gang. Fairytale castles, Halloween frights, hiking, biking and horse-drawn carts - and that's just Transylvania...
Treading lightly is best when it comes to vacations in Romania - one of Europe's poorer countries, but with huge riches when it comes to wildlife and habitats...
