UNESCO Werelderfgoed in Bucovina en Transsylvanië

Welcome to Romania, a country of contrasts and great diversity. While travelling through the country, you will discover great differences in all aspects, from landscape to life style.

While life in the cities resembles more and more the life style of western Europe, life in the country side is still slow and in connection to nature. Provinces like Maramures and Bucovina are known for their traditional lifestyle and architecture. A visit here will transport you 100 years back in time, to a period when all work was still done by hand or with the help of animals. Locals still live in wooden cottages, grow their own crops and livestock and practice old crafts such as weaving, embroidery or wood carving. Both Maramures and Bucovina are famous for their UNESCO heritage sites.

Transylvanian villages might look a bit less traditional and that is result of the typical architecture, heavily influenced by the German and Hungarian settlers from the middle ages. Wooden cottages are an exception here, but the colourful brick houses, sometimes hundreds of years old, create the unique charm of these villages. Many of the villages in Transylvania are home to spectacular fortified churches, protected by UNESCO.

The Romanian cities, whether big or small are great places to spend a few of days or use as basis for day trips. The medieval towns of Brasov, Sibiu and Sighisoara are some of the most charming places to be, due to their perfectly preserved centres. The bigger cities Timisoara, Cluj and Iasi are very active on cultural level and are the hubs of development in the country.

Bucharest, Romanias capital is one of the most authentic European cities, that has not yet been adapted for big scale tourism. There is a lot to see and do in Bucharest, from visiting museums to discovering the different old and new neighbourhoods.

However, Romania has more to offer than culture since the country is home to some of the most spectacular nature in Europe. From high mountains to plains and a Delta, from forests to meadows and sandy beaches, it is all to be found in Romania. Trekking and cycling are the best ways to take in the breath-taking landscapes.

The Carpathian mountains are one of the last true wildernesses on the continent, with populations of bears, wolves, lynxes, deer or wood grouse still roaming their forests. The Danube Delta, the youngest Romanian territory, is home to the largest biodiversity in Europe. This immense wetland is a UNESCO natural reserve, inhabited by hundreds of species of birds, fish and plants.

Currency
The LEU (RON), aproximateexchange rate (December 2018) : 1 €= 4,64 lei; 1 £= 5,15 lei

Bank cards
Bank cards and credit cards are widely accepted in Romania. When visiting remote destinations it is best to carry cash.

Tips
Giving tips is a standard practice in Romanian bars and restaurants. The recommended amount to tip is 10%, but clients are free to give more or less, according to how happy they are with the services.

Time difference
The time in Romania is GMT + 2.

Drinking water
Tap water in Romania is generally safe to drink, although it will often taste like chloride.  Bottled water is largely available for affordable prices.

Safety
Romania is one of the safest countries to travel to in Europe. For details about general safety check:

https://safearound.com/europe/romania/

We advise travellers not to drive after dark since there are no street lights in most of the places. Locals tend to walk , cycle or drive vehicles that don’t have lights on the roads which increases the risks for accidents.

Capital
Bucharest/Bucuresti

E.U. Membership
Romania is a member of the E.U since 2007

Population
Approximately 20 million

Surface
238.931 km²