Roemenië - Romania

Roemenië (Roemeens: România) is 'n land aan die westelike oewer van die Swart See; behalwe vir Dobruja, dit is noord van die Balkan-skiereiland. Dit is 'n land met groot natuurlike skoonheid en diversiteit en 'n ryk kulturele erfenis, insluitend 'n verskeidenheid etniese, taalkundige en belydende groepe. Roemenië betower besoekers met sy skilderagtige berglandskappe en ongerepte landelike gebiede, maar ook met sy historiese stede en besige hoofstad. Daar het aansienlike ontwikkeling plaasgevind, veral sedert dit by die Europese Unie in 2007. Dit kan tog sommige van die besoekers wat gewoond is aan Wes-Europa, verbaas. Dit het ses kulturele en een natuurlike UNESCO wêrelderfenisgebiede.

Roemenië is 'n groot land wat soms skokkend kan wees met kontraste: sommige stede is werklik modern, terwyl sommige dorpe blykbaar uit die verlede teruggebring is. Alhoewel dit belangrike kulturele ooreenkomste met ander Balkanstate het, word dit as uniek beskou as gevolg van sy sterk Latynse erfenis, wat in elke deel van die Roemeense samelewing weerspieël word, van sy kultuur tot sy taal. Dinge waarvoor Roemenië bekend is, sluit in: die Karpatiese berge, wyn, middeleeuse vestings, Dacia-motors, Dracula, gevulde koolblare (sarmale), die Swart See, sonneblomlande, geverfde kloosters en die Donau-delta.

Verstaan

Met 'n Swart See-kus in die ooste, word dit begrens deur Bulgarye na die suide, Serwië na die suidweste, Hongarye na die noordweste, Moldawië na die noordooste en Oekraïne in beide die noorde en die ooste. Terwyl sy suidelike streke gewoonlik gesien word as 'n deel van Suidoos-Europa (Balkan), Transsilvanië, die grootste streek, is in Sentraal-Europa.

Die land geniet sedert die kommunistiese tydperke beter standaarde, met buitelandse beleggings wat toeneem.

Geskiedenis

Sien ook: Romeinse Ryk, Bisantynse Ryk, Oostenryks-Hongaarse Ryk, Tweede Wêreldoorlog in Europa, Koue Oorlog Europa

Die gebied tussen die Suidelike Karpaten en Donau is sedert die aanbreek van die mensdom bewoon. Die menslike oorskot wat in Peștera cu Oase ('The Cave with Bones') gevind is, radiokoolstof dateer uit ongeveer 40.000 jaar gelede, is die oudste bekende Homo sapiens in Europa

In die ou tyd was die gebied van die huidige Roemenië hoofsaaklik bewoon deur Daciese stamme, wat 'n merkwaardige, hoewel nie baie bekende, kultuur was nie. Die Dasiese koninkryk het in die 1ste eeu vC die hoogtepunt van sy mag bereik, toe hul koning Burebista vanaf sy magsbasis in die Karpatiese gebergte regeer oor 'n uitgestrekte gebied wat strek van Sentraal-Europa tot die Swart See. Die intrige netwerk van vestings en heiligdomme gebou rondom die Daciese hoofstad Sarmisegetuza, in die suidwestelike Transsylvanië van vandag, is deur die eeue heen relatief goed bewaar en is dit nou 'n UNESCO-wêrelderfenisgebied.

In 106 nC, na twee fel oorloë, is die Dasiërs onder leiding van koning Decebalus deur die Romeinse legioene onder keiser Trajanus verslaan en het die grootste deel van hul vaderland deel geword van die Romeinse Ryk onder die naam "Dacia Felix".

Omdat die gebied baie ryk was aan natuurlike hulpbronne (veral goud), het die streek voorspoed onder die Romeinse regering gehad: stede het vinnig ontwikkel, belangrike paaie is gebou en mense van regoor die Ryk het hulle hier gevestig. Daarom, hoewel die Romeinse heerskappy slegs 169 jaar geduur het (106-275 nC), het 'n bevolking met 'n kenmerkende Latynse kultuur, karakter en taal ontstaan.

In die vroeë Middeleeue het Hongare hulle begin vestig in die gebied wat vandag bekend staan ​​as Transsylvanië, wat uiteindelik deel van die Koninkryk van Hongarye, en later die Oostenryks-Hongaarse Ryk. Duitsers het hulle ook in daardie gebied (in verskeie golwe) en in Banat gevestig, sommige kom al in die 12de eeu. Om hulself te beskerm teen die gereelde invoer van Tartar en Turke, het hulle versterkte stede en kastele gebou, waarvan baie steeds staande bly. Suid en oos van die Karpaten is die vorstedomme Wallachia en Moldawië in die 14de eeu geskep. Vanaf die 15de eeu val hulle (en ook 'n ruk Transsylvanië) onder die heerskappy van die Ottomaanse Ryk.

Vir 'n kort tydperk in 1600 het Michael the Brave (Mihai Viteazu) oor al drie die owerhede regeer en sodoende kortstondig die de facto heerser van 'n verenigde Roemenië. Sy unie het 'n rukkie later uitmekaar geval.

'N Roemeense nasionale herlewingsbeweging het in die laat 1700's in Transsylvanië begin en oor die Karpate gevee en die 1859-unie van Moldawië en Wallachië geïnspireer en sodoende die prototipe van 'n moderne Roemenië geskep. In 1918-1919 Transsilvanië en Oos-Moldawië (die huidige Republiek Moldawië) was verenig met Roemenië.

In 1940, nadat hy 'n deel van sy gebied (Oos-Moldawië en Noord-Bukovina) aan die USSR verloor het as gevolg van die Molotov-Ribbentrop-verdrag, het Roemenië by die Asmoondhede aangesluit en deelgeneem aan die Duitse inval van 1941 in die USSR. 855,000 Roemeense soldate, vlieëniers en matrose het tot by Stalingrad en die Kaukasusberge geveg en daarna saam met die Duitse leër teruggetrek terwyl hulle meer as 30% gesneuwel het. Drie jaar later, oorval deur die Sowjets, het Roemenië 'n wapenstilstand onderteken. Van Augustus 1944 tot 9 Mei 1945 het twee Roemeense leërs, 540,000 sterk, aan die kant van die Geallieerdes teen die Asmagte geveg en dele van Hongarye, Tsjeggo-Slowakye en Oostenryk bevry, terwyl hulle meer as 160,000 slagoffers gely het. Behalwe vir Duitsland, het Roemeense weermagte alle ander gesamentlike as-weermag aan die Sowjetfront oorskry, en word die vierde grootste Geallieerde Europese bydraer nadat die wapenstilstand in Augustus 1944 onderteken is (na die USSR, die VSA en Groot-Brittanje).

Die Sowjet-besetting na die oorlog het gelei tot die vorming van 'n kommunistiese 'volksrepubliek' in 1947 en die abdikasie van die koning. Tussen 1947 en 1965 word Roemenië gelei deur Gheorghiu Gheorghiu-Dej, wat gedurende die grootste deel van sy regering 'n pro-Sowjet-houding gehad het. In 1965 word hy opgevolg deur Nicolae Ceaușescu, wat minder entoesiasties teenoor die Sowjetunie was en 'n meer neutrale buitelandse en binnelandse beleid as sy voorganger gehandhaaf het; maar sy Securitate-polisiestaat het deur die 1980's toenemend onderdrukkend en drakonies geword. Ceaușescu is omvergewerp en laat in 1989 tereggestel.

Voormalige kommuniste, hergroepeer aan die Front of National Salvation en later die Roemeense Party vir Sosiale Demokrasie, het die regering oorheers tot die verkiesing in 1996, toe hulle van die mag gevee is deur 'n woelige koalisie van sentriese partye, die Demokratiese Konvensie van Roemenië (DCR). Na mislukte hervormings en interne binnegevegte het die DCR die verkiesing ten gunste van die Sosiaal-Demokratiese Party (PSD) verloor. Albei groepe het probeer om die bande met Hongarye, wat in die 1980's diep gebreek was, te wysig, toe Ceaușescu die groot Hongaarse gemeenskap aangemoedig het om die land te verlaat of hulle verban het (5000 Hongare het Roemenië per jaar verlaat).

Wat die ekonomiese, sosiale en politieke ontwikkeling betref, vaar Roemenië goed in vergelyking met sy buurlande (met die uitsondering van Hongarye), maar daar is nog 'n paar maniere om die ontwikkelingsvlak te bereik wat die Wes-Europeërs geniet.

Praat

Sien ook: Roemeense frase

Die amptelike taal van Roemenië is Roemeens, limba română, wat 'n Romaanse taal is, naby Latyn en Italiaans. Dit is geformaliseer in die laat 19de en vroeë 20ste eeu. Sowat 10% van die Roemeense woordeskat is van Slawiese oorsprong en minder as 5% van Turks, Hongaars of Duits.

Minderheidstale wat in Roemenië gepraat word, is Hongaars, Duits, Turks en Romaans (die taal van die Roma, of sigeuners). Russies en Oekraïens kan ook in die Donau-delta gehoor word. Frans was voorheen die tweede bekende taal in Roemenië, omdat dit in elke skool voorheen verpligtend was; dit is egter meestal deur Engels vervang. 'N Goed opgeleide Roemeens wat aan 'n gemiddelde universiteit gegradueer het, kan gewoonlik Engels en 'n ander Europese taal praat, soos Frans, Duits, Italiaans, Spaans of Russies. As u egter die algemene toeristeroetes verlaat, is Roemeens die enigste manier om inligting te vra. Dit sal nie so 'n probleem wees nie; leer 'n paar basiese woorde en vra hulle om die antwoorde te skryf.

In Transsilvanië daar is 'n groot Hongaarse minderheid (17,9% van die bevolking volgens die sensus van 2011), en mense praat Hongaars in hul daaglikse lewe. Provinsies waar Hongaars algemeen gepraat word, en waar die etniese Hongare eintlik die meerderheid van die bevolking is, sluit in Harghita, Covasna, en Mures. In sekere dele van Cluj, Bihor, Satu Mare, Brasov, Sibiu en ander Transylvaniese provinsies is daar dorpe of dorpe met 'n Hongaarse meerderheid of pluraliteit.

Alhoewel sommige Russies praat as gevolg van Roemenië se verlede as deel van die Oosblok, moet u nie daarop reken nie. Ongeveer 4% van die Roemeniërs verstaan ​​Russies, maar slegs ongeveer 2% mag dit magtig wees. Die kans om een ​​te ontmoet is klein, want die administrasie van Ceaușescu en daaropvolgende leiers het die aanleer van die taal opsioneel gemaak, eerder as verpligtend, en vandag het Engels Russies grotendeels verdring as die tweede keuse taal onder jonger mense.

Die meeste opgeleide Roemeense kan moontlik 'n sin maak vir ander gesproke Romaanse tale, soos Frans, Spaans en Italiaans. Ander Roemeense kan Spaans en Italiaans verstaan ​​as gevolg van gewilde TV-sepies uit Italië en Latyns-Amerika.

Streke

Stede

• 44.432526.1038891 Boekarest (București) - die hoofstad van Roemenië, waarin megalomaniese monumente, insluitend 'House of the People', gebou tydens Ceaușescu se bewind, middeleeuse buurte uitkyk
• 45.66666725.6166672 Brașov - geleë in die suidooste van Transsylvanië, en sy belangrikste besienswaardighede is die middeleeuse middestad, die nabygeleë luukse oord Poiana Brașov en die nabyheid aan die Râșnov vesting en die Semels Kasteel.
• 46.76666723.5833333 Cluj-Napoca - die grootste stad in Transsylvanië, 'n belangrike ekonomiese sentrum en ook 'n baie jeugdige stad, aangesien dit een van die grootste universiteite in Europa het.
• 44.16666728.6333334 Constanța - Roemenië se belangrikste Swart See hawe en een van die belangrikste kommersiële hubs in die streek. Die noordelikste distrik, Mamaia, is een van die beste vakansieoorde in die Swart See.
• 47.15694427.5902785 Iași - die tweede grootste Roemeense stad, dit was die hoofstad van die Moldawiese vorstedom tot 1861 en toe kort hoofstad van Roemenië. Vandag bly dit een van die belangrikste ekonomiese en kulturele sentrums in die land.
• 45.79277824.1519446 Sibiu - een van die mooiste stede in die streek, dit het die bes bewaarde historiese terreine in die land, talle museums en uitstallings, naby die pragtige Făgăraș-berge, om watter redes dit die Europese hoofstad van 2007 geword het.
• 46.21694424.7911117 Sighișoara - die stad se middestad, die Sighișoara Citadel, is die laaste bewoonde middeleeuse citadel in Europa en een van die bes bewaarde.
• 47.65138926.2555568 Suceava - die hoofstad in Bukovina en die Middeleeuse hoofstad van Moldawië; dit kan gebruik word as vertrekpunt vir besoek aan die Geskilderde kloosters van die streek.
• 45.75972221.239 Timișoara - die grootste dorp in die Banat streek, een van die welvarendste en gemoderniseerde stede in Roemenië; hier begin die Roemeense anti-kommunistiese rewolusie in 1989.

Ander bestemmings

• 45.76972222.9202781 Corvin Castle - Goties-Renaissance-kasteel is soms (verkeerdelik) beskou as 'n bron van inspirasie vir Dracula's Castle
• Skigebiede van 45.3525.5513892 Sinaia, 45.50444425.5783333 Predeal, 45.59722225.5519444 Poiana Brașov, 44.87861122.4141675 Băile Herculane
• 45.524.256 Transsylvaniese Alpe binne die Karpate
• 47.77833325.7127787 Geskilderde kloosters
• Saksiese dorpies met versterkte kerke in Transsylvanië: 46.13972224.5236118 Biertan, 45.88611123.6530569 Câlnic, 46.225.210 Dârjiu, 45.71666725.76666711 Prejmer, 46.18333324.96666712 Saschiz, 46.0525.113 Viscri
• 45.08333329.514 Donau Delta

Gaan in

Uit Roemenië is dit maklik om byna alle dele van die wêreld te kom: dit word bedien deur 'n verskeidenheid vervoertipes en -ondernemings.

Toelatingsvereistes

Roemenië is daartoe verbind om die Schengen-ooreenkoms hoewel dit dit nog nie gedoen het nie. Vir burgers van die Europese Unie (EU) of Europese vryhandelsgebied (EFTA) (d.w.s. Ysland, Liechtenstein, Noorweë en Switserland), is 'n amptelik goedgekeurde ID-kaart (of 'n paspoort) voldoende vir toegang. Ander nasionaliteite benodig gewoonlik 'n paspoort vir toegang.

Reis na / van enige ander land (Schengen of nie) van / na Roemenië sal die normale immigrasie-tjeks tot gevolg hê, alhoewel daar nie van douanekontrole afgesien sal word as u na / van 'n ander EU-land reis nie.

Doen navraag by u reisagent of by die plaaslike ambassade of konsulaat van Roemenië.

Burgers van Kanada, Japan en die Verenigde State word toegelaat om in Roemenië te werk sonder om 'n visum of enige verdere magtiging te bekom vir die periode van hul 90 dae visumvrye verblyf. Hierdie vermoë om visumvry te werk, strek egter nie noodwendig na ander lande nie.

As u 'n visum van buite u eie land moet bekom, probeer dit dan van 'n ander plek langs Boedapest af kry, waar dit 3 tot 4 dae kan duur. Van Ljubljana die proses kan soms op 'n dag gedoen word omdat dit nie so besig is nie.

Met die vliegtuig

Roemenië het 17 burgerlike lughawes, waarvan 12 bedien word deur geskeduleerde internasionale vlugte. Die belangrikste internasionale lughawens is:

• Boekarestse 44.57111111111126.0851 Henri Coandă (Otopeni) lughawe (OTP ^IATA) is die grootste en besigste, dit vlieg na byna al die groot stede in Europa, na enkele Midde-Oosters hoofstede, na alle ander Roemeense stede, maar geen direkte vlugte na die VSA; Behalwe tradisionele vervoerondernemings, vlieg sommige goedkoop lugdienste soos Easyjet of Vueling op hierdie lughawe.
• Die 45.8121.3380555555562 Traian Vuia Internasionale Lughawe (TSR ^IATA) in Timisoara is die tweede grootste in die land; dit vlug na verskeie groot stede in Duitsland, Italië, Oostenryk, Hongarye, Griekeland, Oekraïne, Moldawië, Frankryk, Verenigde Koninkryk sowel as na verskillende stede in Roemenië. Die lughawe is 'n fokusstad vir goedkoop Wizz Air. Lufthansa en Austrian Airlines is ook belangrike aanbieders op die lughawe.
• 46.78509223.686123 Cluj Internasionale Lughawe (CLJ ^IATA), die grootste lughawe in Cluj-Napoca, Transsilvanië. Word bedien deur 'n groeiende aantal vlugte vanaf verskillende Europese bestemmings; dit is een van die vele middelpunte van goedkoop Wizz Air, wat daagliks na meer as 10 bestemmings vervoer. Lufthansa bedien ook die lughawe.
• Ander kleiner internasionale lughawens is geleë in:
  • Sibiu (vlugte na Oostenryk, Duitsland, Brittanje, Italië en Spanje op Lufthansa, Oostenrykse en Blue Air). Fokusstad vir Blue Air.
  • Bacau (vlugte hoofsaaklik na Italië en Londen op Blue Air. Sekondêre spilpunt vir Blue Air).
  • Constanta - Die enigste Roemeense lughawe wat deur Ryanair bedien word (na twee Italiaanse bestemmings). 'N Paar inkomende seisoenale huurvlugte en enkele seisoenale binnelandse vlugte vanaf Transsylvanië en Boekarest bedien ook hierdie lughawe.
  • Iasi - Een daaglikse vlug na Wene en een na Boedapest
  • Targu-Mures - Wizz Air-fokusstad, met vlugte na Hongarye, Duitsland, Brittanje, Italië, Frankryk, en Spanje. Binnelandse vlugte na Boekarest word bestuur deur TAROM.
  • Arad - Vlugte vanaf Milaan.
  • Baia Mare - Slegs binnelandse vlugte vanaf Boekarest.
  • Oradea - Slegs binnelandse vlugte vanaf Boekarest.
  • Satu Mare - 'n Handvesvlug vanaf Antalya (somer seisoenaal) en binnelandse vlugte vanaf Boekarest
  • Suceava - Slegs binnelandse vlugte vanaf Boekarest.

Daar is drie belangrike Roemeense lugdienste:

1. TAROM, die Roemeense vlagdraer, gevestig in Otopeni in Boekarest.
2. Blou lug, die enigste Roemeense goedkoop lugdiens, gebaseer in Boekarest met 'n sekondêre middelpunt in Bacau en 'n fokusstad in Sibiu.

Roemenië het al hoe aantrekliker geword vir laekostedraers. Blue Air, 'n Roemeense goedkoop lugredery, bedien verskillende bestemmings in Europa vanaf Boekarest (Aurel Vlaicu-lughawe), Arad, Targu Mures en Bacau. 'N Hongaarse lugredery, WizzAir, bied direkte vlugte van Londen Luton na Boekarest aan. Verskeie ander, insluitend Ryanair vlugte na Roemenië bedryf. EasyJet vlugte vanaf Londen, Milaan, en Madrid.

Met die trein

Roemenië is relatief goed verbind met die Europese spoorwegnetwerk. Daar is daagliks internasionale treine na München, Venesië, Wene, Boedapest, Zagreb, Belgrado, Sofia, Istanbul, Chișinău, Kiev, en Moskou. Maar vanweë die swak gehalte van die spoorinfrastruktuur in die streek, neem treinreise op lang afstande baie tyd.

Tog is treine die ideale manier om stede in Wes- en Sentraal-Roemenië te bereik, soos Brasov, Sighisoara, Oradea of Cluj-Napoca afkomstig van Sentraal-Europa.

Internasionale treine na Roemenië sluit die EuroCity-treine en nagtreine (relatief hoë standaard) in. Roemenië is deel van die Eurail slaag aanbod.

'N Goedkoop manier van of na Roemenië kan reis Balkan Flexipass.

Met die bus

Al is Roemenië nie tradisioneel gesien as 'n 'busland' nie, word busse 'n meer en meer gewilde manier om die land vanuit die buiteland te bereik, veral vanuit die Balkan en die voormalige USSR, maar ook uit Wes-Europa, bv. Duitsland en Switserland. Al is treine steeds die gewildste manier om vanuit Sentraal-Europa na Roemenië te kom, is treindienste na die Balkan en die voormalige USSR vanweë goeie diens van 'n aansienlik swakker gehalte en is dit minder gereeld (veral omdat spoorweginfrastruktuur in hierdie lande 'n baie armer as die infrastruktuur van Roemenië). Om hierdie rede het 'n klomp private busoperateurs (soos reNNen.ro, VioTur.ro , Zgr.ro, claudiutravel.ro, Waltrans of Royal-tour.ro) bied nou vinniger en gemakliker busdienste van en na stede soos Chișinău, Kiev, Odessa, Sofia, en Istanbul.

Dit is 'n algemene reël dat u bus of trein moet gebruik: as treine net so gereeld en teen dieselfde prys beskikbaar is, en dieselfde tyd neem, gebruik dit beslis. Oorweeg anders die busse.

Vir alle inligting oor busse in Roemenië en aanlyn besprekings en kaartjies (dws roosters en pryse) kan u dit gebruik Autogari.ro ("Autogari" is die Roemeense woord vir busstasies). Hulle aanvaar ook betaling met kredietkaart.

Per boot

Cruises op Donau is beskikbaar, maar baie duur, vanaf Passau of Wene en met 'n finale bestemming in die Donau-delta. Hierdie vaarte sal in elke groot hawe langs die pad, in Oostenryk, Hongarye, Serwië, en Roemenië. Sodra u in die Delta is, kan u met vinnige bote of vissersbote op eindelose kanale reis om groot kolonies pelikane, hyskrane of klein trekvoëls te aanskou. U kan 'n plaaslike gereg geniet, vissersborsie, berei met verskillende vissoorte, maar pas op, hulle gebruik die Donau se rivierwater!

Dit is die enigste manier om deur die Donau-delta te reis, en die enigste manier om by die stad Sulina uit te kom.

Daar is veerbote oor die Donau vanaf Bulgarye in verskeie hawens: vanaf Bechet aan Oryahovo (daagliks) en vanaf Zimnicea aan Svishtov (slegs oor naweke). Van Calafat aan Vidin daar is nou 'n verkeersbrug wat maklik met die motor bereikbaar is.

Na wat verneem word, is daar (maar nie bevestig nie) veerbootverbindings oor die Swart See vanaf Varna in Bulgarye tot Constanța. Die veerdiens tussen Odessa en Constanța werk tans nie meer nie.

Met die motor

U kan maklik Roemenië inry vanaf lande in die Weste, maar as u uit die Ooste kom, sal u deur Moldawië moet ry, en u kan daar probleme ondervind. Daar is nie 'n direkte grensoorgang tussen Oekraïne en Roemenië in die suidoostelike hoek van Roemeens Moldawië nie (Reni/Galati), moet u via Giurgiulesti gaan, wat in Moldawië is ('n klein stuk van ongeveer 500 m). Moldawiese grensbeheerbeamptes vra moontlik tye vir geld (ekologiese belasting, padbelasting ...). As u uit die noorde (Oekraïne) kom, kan dit ook baie tyd in beslag neem; tye kan wissel van een tot meer as vyf uur.

Die padinfrastruktuur is redelik beskeie in vergelyking met Wes- en Sentraal-Europa. Daar is min snelweë en net in die suide van die land. Die voordeel hiervan is dat die meeste Europese paaie, waarop u meestal sal reis, goed onderhou word en met 'n E, gevolg deur 'n nommer (bv. E63), pragtige paaie is en 'n skouspelagtige natuurskoon van berge, valleie en woude kruis. Die paaie veral in Transsylvanië is bo-op die ou Middeleeuse roetes gebou en daar is altyd iets om voor te stop en te besoek. Bestuurders word gekonfronteer met baie rotondes, beide in dorpe en buite. Die reël vir hulle is eenvoudig: motors wat reeds binne die rotonde is, het voorkeur, diegene buite moet wag.

Let veral op die paaie wat Roemenië aan sy westelike grense koppel, want die verkeer is swaar en die meeste paaie het een, of hoogstens twee, bane in elke rigting, en in sommige dele is dit nie verlig nie.

Te voet en per fiets

Aan die Oekraïens-Roemeense grens is daar net een punt waar 'n mens te voet kan oorsteek: Solotvino-Sighetu Marmației. Die brug oor die Tisa is oud en 'n mens kan 'n interessante punt van toeriste sê.

Kry rond

Om Roemenië deur te kom is relatief moeilik en ondoeltreffend vir die groot afstande wat in hierdie land afgelê moet word (dit is per slot van rekening die tweede grootste land in Sentraal-Europa, na Pole). Die vervoerinfrastruktuur het heelwat verbeter, alhoewel paaie 'n swak punt bly. Daar is drie operasionele snelweë wat Boekarest verbind met die see en onderskeidelik met die stede Pitești en Ploiești, en verskeie ander in aanbou. Treinreise het egter dramaties verbeter. Verskeie treinspore is besig met verskeie opgraderingsprojekte, wat die verkeer op hierdie lyne voorlopig effens traag maak.

Met die trein

Roemenië het 'n baie digte spoorwegnetwerk wat bykans elke stad en 'n aansienlike aantal dorpe bereik. Alhoewel 'n mate van modernisering plaasvind, is hierdie netwerk nie in 'n baie goeie toestand nie, met lae snelhede en beperkte treinfrekwensie op baie roetes. Tog bly treine die beste opsie vir langafstandreise.

Die meeste treine word bestuur deur die staatsvervoerder, Căile Ferate Române, afgekort as (SN) CFR. Baie sekondêre lyne word uitsluitlik deur private ondernemings bedryf: Regiotrans^{[voorheen dooie skakel]}, Streek^{[voorheen dooie skakel]}, Oordragboek, en Servtrans.

Treine loop oor die algemeen sonder groot vertragings, behalwe op lyne waar daar herstelwerk gedoen word of tydens abnormale weer (swaar sneeustorms in die winter, hittegolwe of oorstromings in die somer).

Treintipes

Drie hoofsoorte treine is beskikbaar: Regio, InterRegio, en Intercity. Die laaste twee soorte bied redelike voorwaardes, maar Regio treine word die beste vermy.

• Regio (R)

Dit is baie stadige treine wat op byna elke stasie stop (ook in die middel van nêrens). Die pryse is vuil goedkoop, maar hulle lewer 'n uiters basiese diens en is soms ongemaklik (geen sitplekbespreking, geen ventilasie om van te praat nie, soms druk, geen toilette in sommige treine werk nie, swak beligting).

Hulle het gewoonlik motors in die voorstedelike of dubbeldekker uit die 1970's, met 4 sitplekke per ry. Die meeste bied nie die 1ste klas aan nie (maar as hulle dit doen, word dit sterk aanbeveel om 'n 1ste klaskaartjie te kry, sal dit minder druk en minder ellendig wees as die 2de klas).

Westerse Desiro en Franse Z-tipe DMU's is op sommige roetes bekendgestel, waaronder Suceava-Cacica, Craiova-Sibiu, Sibiu-Brașov, Cluj-Teiuș-Brașov, Cluj-Bistrița, Brașov-Sfântu Gheorghe. Z-tipe motors bied 'n gemakliker sitplek, maar 'n uitsmyterende rit, wat in teenstelling met Desiro se verbetering is. Aangesien hierdie nuwer treine ontwerp is vir kortafstandreise, moet u ongemaklik wees as u vir 'n lang tyd ry.

Die meeste treine wat deur private ondernemings bedryf word, word ook as Regio beskou. Hulle is gewoonlik skoner as CFR Regio-treine, maar ry selde op dieselfde roetes.

Voorbeeld: Boekarest-Brașov (166 km) met die Regio-trein kos ~ 23 lei in die 2de klas, duur ongeveer 4 uur en het tot 31 stopplekke

• InterRegio (IR)

Semi-stadige treine wat op medium- en langafstandroetes ry, en net in dorpe stop. Dit is goedkoop (alhoewel byna twee keer so duur as Regio) en bied wisselende toestande.

Onlangs opgeknapte motors is op verskeie roetes bekendgestel, waaronder Boekarest-Târgu Jiu en Boekarest-Brasov. Baie beskou hierdie motors egter net so ongemaklik, indien nie meer nie, as ouer motors, met net 'n verbetering visueel element. Daar is min bagasieruimte en min beenruimte in vergelyking met die 1980's-waens.

Sommige InterRegio-treine het verbindingsmotors na bestemmings op sekondêre lyne; nadat hulle van die InterRegio-trein geskei het, hardloop hulle as RegioExpress (RE).

Voorbeeld: Boekarest-Brașov (166 km) met die InterRegio-trein kos 47 lei in die 2de klas, c. 2 uur 45 minute, tot 8 stopplekke

As 'n keuse tussen Intercity-treine (klassieke motors of "Săgeata Albastră" - Blue Arrow DMU's) aangebied word, is dit raadsaam om klassieke motors te kies, aangesien dit vinniger en gemakliker treine is. Săgeata Albastră is klein dieseltreine met 3 motors met stadiger diens (topsnelheid van 120 km / h vergeleke met 160 km / h).

Voorbeeld: Boekarest-Brașov (166 km) met die Intercity-trein kos 58 lei in die 2de klas, ongeveer 2½ uur, drie haltes

• Nagtreine

Die meeste InterRegio-treine wat snags ry, het ook rusbankkarre (met ses of vier beddens) en slapende motors (met drie, twee of een bed). Toestande is relatief goed.

Voorbeeld: Boekarest-Satu Mare (782 km), ~ 142 lei / bed (ses beddensbank), 14 uur

Kaartjies kry

Kaartjies vir CFR-treine word by treinstasies en CFR-besprekingsagentskappe verkoop (agentie de voiaj CFR) in enige aansienlike stad (gewoonlik in die sentrale gebied). By hierdie besprekingsagentskappe en op enkele groot stasies is dit moontlik om tot ses maande voor die tyd kaartjies te koop vir enige binnelandse roete en vir internasionale treine wat deur Roemenië reis.

Dit is ook moontlik om kaartjies vir binnelandse roetes aanlyn te kry via CFR's wat relatief ingewikkeld is besprekingswerf met tot een maand vooruit.

Alle treintipes behalwe Regio en RegioExpress vereis sitplekbespreking (moet nie verwar word met gevorderde kaartjiebespreking nie).

Verskeie afslag is beskikbaar:

• vir klein groepies (10% vir 2 mense, 15% vir 3, 20% vir 4 en 25% vir 5)
• vir groot groepe (25% vir groepe van meer as 30 mense)
• vir die koop van retoerkaartjies (10%)
• vir aankoop van voorafkaartjies (13% vir meer as 21 dae vooruit, 10% vir 11-20 dae vooruit, 5% vir 6-10 dae)

Mense wat op CFR-treine aan boord gaan sonder 'n kaartjie vanaf stasies waar kaartjiesverkopers is, kan beboet word en moet duurder kaartjies direk by die treinpersoneel koop.

Op lyne wat deur privaatoperateurs bestuur word kaartjies gewoonlik met die trein uitgereik.

Vir opgedateerde roosterinligting oor CFR-lyne, sien CFR se roosterwerf. Vir roosters op lyne wat deur ander maatskappye bedryf word.

'N Volledige pryslys volgens afstand en treintipe is aanlyn beskikbaar^{[voorheen dooie skakel]}.

Toeriste spoorweë

Verskeie skilderagtige smalspoorlyne bestaan ​​in bergagtige gebiede, maar togte is hoofsaaklik beskikbaar vir klein groepies en nie vir individuele toeriste nie. 'N Opvallende uitsondering is die Valea Vaserului-spoorweg in Maramureș waar toeriste daagliks in die middel van die somer en naweke in die vroeë somer-herfs loop.

Groepe kan ook die voormalige Roemeense koning se persoonlike trein of Ceaușescu se privattrein huur, maar hierdie reise is redelik duur.

Met die motor

Met die motor of bus reis is die maklikste manier om te gebruik, en 'n oorgrote meerderheid, meer as 60% van buitelandse toeriste, gebruik hierdie manier van vervoer. Die stuurwiel is aan die linkerkant en Europese bestuurslisensies word deur die polisie erken. Vir Amerikaners is 'n paspoort, 'n geldige Amerikaanse bestuurslisensie en 'n geldige internasionale rypermit nodig vir motorhuur. As u met u eie motor ry, moet u 'n plakbelastingplaatjie (die "Rovinieta") vanaf die grens of vanaf die naaste vulstasie koop. As u sonder een ry, sal u 'n ernstige boete opdoen.

Huur kan duur wees; vermy die groot internasionale huurmaatskappye, sowel as die "vriendelike" inwoners wat bereid is om hul eie motor vir u te huur. Huur in Boekarest en regdeur die land vanaf € 20-30 per dag (sonder brandstof) vir 'n klein luikrug, gaan ongeveer € 65-90 vir 'n gemiddelde motor of kreupel SUV en kan tot € 170-200 styg vir 'n luukse sedan of 'n luukse sportnutsvoertuig. U kan die huur geweier word tensy u 25 jaar of ouer is.

Hoewel Roemeense oor die algemeen vriendelik en beleefd is, is dit nie altyd van toepassing op hul bestuurstyl nie. Snelheid kom voor, jong (onervare) bestuurders wat met prestasievoertuie ry, is algemeen in stede, kwaai bestuurders is die norm in die hoofstad en die ongeluksyfers is een van die hoogste in die Europese Unie.

Stadspaaie is geneig om oorvol te wees, veral in Boekarest. Wees versigtig vir gevare, soos dubbelparke, voetgangers, skielike rem om 'n slaggat te vermy, of rondloperdiere wat die pad binnedring (in landelike gebiede). Die meeste interstadsroetes is tweespoorpaaie wat deur alles gebruik word, van vragmotors uit kommunistiese tyd tot moderne sportmotors. Beplan dus vir langer rytye as in ander dele van Europa.

Boekarest het 'n baie digte en druk stadskern, met smal, kronkelende paaie, hoofsaaklik in die 19de eeu gebou, met min verkeer in gedagte. Die paaie word elke dag deur meer as 1 miljoen motors versmoor - dit is moontlik om 2 uur te neem om binne 20-25 minute te loop. GPS of plaaslike gids is 'n noodsaaklikheid. Die beste manier om binne Boekarest te reis, is per openbare vervoer (omdat dit baie goedkoop en betroubaar is) of per taxi.

Die Roemeense polisie het nou hoëtegnologiese radars om vinnige motoriste vas te trek. Spoedbeperkings is gewoonlik 100 km / h buite 'n stad en 50 km / h of 70 km / h binne beboude gebiede. Sommige polisie-eenhede is toegerus met voertuie, terwyl ander die standaard Dacia Logan-motors is. Alhoewel dit skaars is, het sommige snelwegpatrollies BMW-fietse. Op hoofpaaie flits motoriste in die teenoorgestelde rigting soms hul hoofliggies om te waarsku dat hulle 'n radarstrik verbysteek wat net voor u kan lê. Also many national roads and motorways are discreetly watched by Police Puma helicopters. Even small offences are subject to heavy fines by the traffic police (Poliția Rutieră), they may even take one's driver's license for an irregular passing. Both hidden and visible speed cameras are becoming common on major roads and highways. Policemen sometimes seem to be more lenient with locals, than with foreigners — however, stricter fining applies for locals than for foreigners (for locals, as few as two or three minor offences will have their licence suspended for six months). Bribing is ill-advised as most patrol cars have recording equipment, so for a foreigner it is not recommended to attempt this get-away technique - it can easily land you in jail.

The Romanian police have a zero tolerance policy on drunk driving - controls are very frequent - and basically any amount of alcohol in your blood counts as drunk driving.

If you are involved in a car accident while driving and someone is hurt you must stop and wait for the traffic police. Driving away from the scene is considered hit-and-run. Accidents with no injuries can be solved with yourself and all parties involved having to go to a police station and make a statement, but, if in doubt, better phone 112 (Emergency Services) and ask for directions. In most of the cases, after an accident it is mandatory to take a blood test to establish if the drivers had consumed alcohol. Refusal to undergo this test is almost certain to land you in jail - the punishment is usually more harsh than the one for drunk driving.

Many important roads were once medieval trade routes which go straight through the centre of many villages. Passing while driving is the norm rather than the exception as slow moving trucks, horse drawn carts, and non-moving herds of cows often frequent village main streets.

Tolls

Electronic vignette can be bought on the official website.

Vignette prices by period (as of July 2020)

Vehicle	Vehicle description	1 day	7 days	30 days	90 days	12 months
	Motorcycle	Vry
	M1 category motor vehicle (passenger car with full mass <3500 kg)	—	€3	€7	€13	€28
	N1 category motor vehicle (freight vehicle with full mass <3500 kg)	—	€6	€16	€36	€96
	Light truck (freight vehicle with 3.5 t < full mass < 7.5 t)	€4	€16	€32	€92	€320
	Medium truck (freight vehicle with 7.5 t < full mass < 12 t, ≤3 axles)	€7	€28	€56	€160	€560
	Heavy truck (freight vehicle with full mass > 12 t, ≤3 axles)	€9	€36	€72	€206	€720
	Heavy truck with many axles (freight vehicle with full mass > 12 t, >3 axles)	€11	€55	€121	€345	€1210
	Vehicle for the carriage of passengers with more than 1 8 seats and maximum 23 seats	€7	€20	€52	€120	€320
	Vehicle for the carriage of passengers with more than 23 seats (including driver)	€7	€35	€91	€210	€560

Types of roads

A lot of road infrastructure has been constructed in the past few years, and changes appear rapidly. Therefore, check up te date online sources before you go, as information might get outdated quickly.

• Motorways (autostrada)
  • A1 - planned to connect Bucharest with cities in southern Transylvania and then proceed to the western border; the only part completed so far is the 126-km-long stretch between Bucharest and Pitești opened in 1973. The Arad—Timișoara section was opened at the end of 2011.
  • A2 - connects Bucharest with the Black Sea ports of Constanța and Agigea. This means that you can avoid Constanța, if you're going to the other resorts on the seaside.
  • A3 - is supposed to cross Transylvania diagonally from north-west to south-east and then head south to Bucharest. The Borș - Brașov segment, also called the Transylvania Motorway, is the largest road project in Europe; it will connect the Hungarian-Romanian border with Oradea, Zalau, Cluj-Napoca, Targu Mures, Sighisoara and Brasov. As of 2015, only a few sections of the A3 are in use: a 55-km stretch between Bucharest and Ploiesti in the south and a 52-km section between Campia Turzii and Gilau, which is part of the southern section of the Transylvanian Highway.

The speed limit on motorways is 130km/h.

• Expressways (drum expres) - Basically non-grade separated/semi-grade separated dual carriageway. The only completed expressways are the 60-km-long Bucharest - Giurgiu (DN 5) road, The Ploiesti Bypass (DN 1), the Cluj East bypass, the Bucharest - Henri Coanda International Airport stretch of the DN 1 (which is grade-separated). The speed limit on expressways is 100 km/h.
• National roads (drum național), including European Roads (drum european). In the absence of motorways the national roads remain the most important element of the Romanian road system, as they connect the main cities in the country. Most of them are in reasonable condition, and most of the trunk network has been rehabilitated. Many have 4 non-separate lanes near cities, some have 3 or 4 non-separate lanes throughout (such as Bucharest-Comarnic and a large part of E85) but many have only two lanes — one per traffic direction (a notable example is DN1 Câmpina-Brașov — the 100-km mountain stretch can take 3-5 hours to cross during weekends and holidays. The speed limit on national roads is 100 km/h.
• Other roads - county (drum judetean) and rural (drum comunal) roads are owned and maintained by either regional or local authorities. These roads mainly link trunk roads with very small towns or villages - few running for more than 30-40 km. The situation of county roads is highly dependent on each of the counties involved — while in Ilfov or Constanta these roads are of decent-to-high quality, in other regions such roads are in a poor to very poor condition compared with national roads. Rural roads are of even shorter nature (under 10 km), some of them being one lane of traffic only, others being covered in gravel only. The speed limit on these roads is 90 km/h.

Vir almal roads, when in a city, town or village, the speed limit is 50 km/h (unless clearly otherwise posted). As such, driving a National Road becomes a constant accelerate-and-brake adventure, one having to be constantly spotting speed limit signs, city limit markers and the behaviour of other drivers.

Met die bus

Bus can be the least expensive method to travel between towns. In the Romanian towns and cities, you can usually find one or several bus terminals (autogara). From there, buses and minibuses depart for the towns and villages in the nearby area as well as to other cities in the country. You can find timetables on the autogari website.

Minibuses are usually very uncomfortable; some buses are old and slow. Schedules are not tightly followed, and delays of over an hour are not uncommon, especially for inter-city buses. Romanian roads are in a rather bad shape, with most of the trunk network being made of one lane per way roads (fairly similar with British rural roads), and only about 250 km of expressway. Most minibuses employed are small, crowded, 14-seat vans (some converted from freight vans), with some longer routes employing 20-seat mini-buses. For commuter and suburban routes, expect an overcrowded van (25 passengers riding a 14 seat van is quite common, with 40 passenger loads not being unheard of), with no air-conditioning, which stops several times in every village. Inter-city bus travel is only slightly better - most vehicles used are also converted vans, or, at best, purpose-build minibuses, with only some being air-conditioned. Seating is generally crowded, and in most cases there is no separate compartment for luggage. Most have no toilets on board, calling for 30 minutes stops every 2-3 hours. All in all, the experience of travelling by minibus is quite similar to that of travelling in a Russian or Ukrainian marshrutka.

However, buses are the best solution for a number of routes badly served by the railway network, namely Bucharest - Pitești - Râmnicu Vâlcea, Bucharest - Alexandria, Bucharest - Giurgiu, and Pitești - Slatina.

The comfort of vehicles is steadily improving, at least in Transylvania along the longer routes serving larger cities. You will find buses from respected companies (such as Normandia, FANY of Dacos en waltrans) which offer punctual and reasonable, though not always sparkling, conditions, and on which a luggage compartment will always be available. Toilet stops still need to be made, but they happen usually in places where you can also buy food or drinks. On Fridays, Sundays, and close to national holidays, these buses tend to be overcrowded, so a reservation by phone might be necessary.

Buses inside the cities are often crowded. This gives pickpockets good opportunities. The pickpocket problem seems to be not essentially worse than in any other European city. Please, pay attention.

Met die taxi

Taxis are relatively inexpensive in Romania. It costs about 1.4-2 lei/kilometre or slightly more, with the same price for starting. The very low prices make taxis a popular way to travel with both locals and travellers (it can be cheaper than driving your own car) - so during rush hours it may be hard to find a cab (despite Bucharest having almost 10,000 cabs).

A notable exception is the Fly Taxi company that operates from the Henri Coanda (Otopeni) Airport. The price for a ride from the airport to the city centre can be about 70 lei. Either call a taxi by phone to pick you up near the airport or chose the 783 bus line to get into the city. Alternately, you can go to the departure terminal to avoid expensive airport taxis. To do this, after you exit baggage claim, immediately turn right. Literally dozens of taxi operators will approach you and ask if you need a taxi, having marked you as a foreigner (it's their job to do so, after all). Be polite, shake your head no and keep walking. You will pass though about 200 m of shopping and service areas in a little mini-mall connecting the two terminals, and will then arrive at the 2nd level of the departures terminal. Walk out the door and you will see plenty of taxis dropping off passengers. Flag one down and make sure the fare posted on the side is less than 2 lei/km. They are not supposed to pick up there, but you aren't doing anything wrong by trying, and not many drivers can say no to 30 lei for a trip back to the city centre that they were going to make anyway. Just make sure they use the meter. Some taxi drivers use remote controls in their pockets that raise the tariff price suddenly by small increments that are otherwise unnoticeable until the end of the fare. It might be easier to negotiate the tariff price upfront based on your destination and pay that amount at the end.

Kiosks for reasonably-priced cabs can be found inside the arrivals terminal, and the police are constantly watching for pirate taxi drivers. Kiosks are a safe and reliable to hitch a €10 trip by taxi to downtown Bucharest.

Be careful to look at the cost posted on the outside of the taxi, and then to look at the meter to see that you are being charged the same fare. Be especially careful in Bucharest, where some taxis post 7.4 lei instead of 1.4, but the 7 looks very much like a 1. Ask if you're not certain - they are obliged to post and clearly state the tariff up-front. All taxis moet have a license - a large, oval metal sign bolted on the sides of the car, featuring the city markings, and a serial number inscribed, usually using large numbers. Do not use any taxi without those markings. Also, do not use a taxi with a license from another city (for example, never use an Ilfov taxi in Bucharest or a Turda taxi in Cluj-Napoca).

The driver may try to cheat you if he sees you are a foreigner. Insist that he will use the meter, or have a Romanian guide with you. Don't negotiate the ride fee in advance, as it may be 2-4 times higher (even more) than the real fee (even if it would seem cheap to you). Check whether it is going in the right direction, follow the way on a map (if you have any!) Do not take cabs from the cab stand in railway stations, unless they are from a reputable company and do not take any of the services of those offering you a cab ride in the train station. They may end up being amazingly expensive (up to €50 for a cab ride that would normally be around €3). If you need a taxi from the train station (or airport), order it by phone from a reputable company (see the city pages for the cities you want to visit) - most dispatchers speak some English as do many taxi drivers.

Ride-hailing is available in Romania and the following are the most anticipated providers:

• Bolt. Includes many towns. (updated Jul 2020)
• Uber. Works in Bucharest. (updated Jul 2020)

Met die vliegtuig

Air travel as a means for domestic transport is becoming more and more popular as increased competition resulted in lower prices (sometimes less than the cheapest train or bus ticket). This, coupled with an improved airport infrastructure leads to increases in the number of passengers compared to past decades.

Two airlines offer domestic flights in Romania - Tarom, with a hub in Bucharest and "no-frills" Blue Air with its domestic hub in Bucharest.

In 2010, Bucharest and Timisoara were linked by up to 12 daily flights (operated by Blue Air and Tarom - Tarom operated some of the flights on the routes with A310 wide-bodies), Bucharest and Cluj by up to 10 daily flights (operated by Tarom and Blue Air), Bucharest and Iasi by up to 4 daily flights (operated by Tarom), Bucharest and Oradea, Bucharest and Sibiu, and Bucuresti and Satu Mare by 2-3 daily flights (operated by Tarom), Bucharest and Suceava and Bucharest and Baia Mare by 1 daily flight (operated by Tarom). Bucharest and Arad are also connected through a daily flights by Blue Air. Constanta and Bacau, owing to the short distance from Bucharest, only see flights a couple of times per week. Frequencies on Saturdays may be reduced, especially to smaller cities.

Prices can begin from as low as 40 lei one way if booked in advance with Blue Air, or through a Tarom 'Superspecial' fare. Even 2-3 days before the flight, it is not uncommon to find tickets for under €35-€50 with a little shopping around. While Tarom style themselves as full-fare full-frill airlines, Blue Air considers itself a low fare carrier, and subsequently, has followed the model of not allowing price aggregation through reservation systems (a la Ryanair, Easyjet or Southwest), and as such, tickets for their flights will not be available through booking engines such as Orbitz or Kayak, but only directly through their website.

Some airports may be fairly distant from city centers, and, while some larger ones have adequate public transport (Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara, Oradea), in some (such as Craiova or Iasi) you have to rely on taxis. Even so, a taxi fare from any airport downtown should not cost more than €5-10 outside of Bucharest.

Hitchhike

Hitchhiking is very common in Romania, and some experienced hitchhikers say it's the easiest country in eastern Europe. Usually, if you are in the right spot, you don't have to wait longer than 5 minutes. During weekends you may need a bit more patience, as roads are a little emptier. Locals also use this method on a regular basis, especially for shorter distances (up to 50 km). It is not uncommon for people (especially students) to hitchhike intercity (Bucharest-Sibiu, Timisoara-Arad and Bucharest-Ploiesti are particularity common hitchhiking destinations). Increase your chance to be picked up by using a paper with the city where you want to get to - it may save you some time especially if travelling intercity. A good spot is a bus station, road-split, or close to the city limits. Nevertheless, many if not most people will stop (provided they drive alone) - you may end up getting a ride in a 1970s rusty old Dacia or in a brand new Mercedes, in a semi-articulated truck or in a company car belonging to a big corporation. Hitchhiking is typically not dangerous (the highly aggressive, fast and disorderly driving style of Romanians may be more of a danger), but take usual precautions when using this conveyance. Inside city limits, it is not advisable to hitchhike using the traditional thumb-up hand signal, as many drivers may believe you are flagging a taxi or a route-taxi (mini-bus), and not stop. Use a destination paper instead.

It is customary to leave some money for the ride (so called 'gas money', about 1-2 lei/10km), but if you are a foreigner you will not be expected to leave money and nobody will get upset. Most truck drivers and company car drivers will refuse payment altogether. Furthermore, if you tell the driver where you want to get in a city, he or she will make a detour just to drop you off where it best suits you. Say "Mulțumesc"(Mooltsoomesck) (thank you) at the end.

Most Romanians are very talkative, and even if their English, French, German, whatever is extremely rusty, many will more likely than not tell you their entire life story, discuss the entire football season and/or talk politics (usually starting from discussing the poor state of roads even while on a freshly repaired road). In the end, however, hitchhiking is a mostly enjoyable experience, and, if lucky, you may even get yourself invited for lunch or dinner, offered a room for a night, or just meet some very interesting people along the way.

Sien

Whether you're looking for stunning landscapes, ancient cultural traditions, bustling city life or beautiful historic heritage; no visitor to Romania needs to search for things to see. This country is home to a range of top sights, especially when you'd like to get a feel for the old Europe, the time of monasteries and castles.

Cities and castles

The country's lively capital Bucharest does not top the average traveller's wish list, but if you're willing to look, this city's controversial mix of building styles might just amaze you. Go see the largest parliament building in the world, the 1935 Romanian version of the Arc de Triomph or visit one of the many museums. The impressive Bran Castle, dramatically situated on a Transylvanian hill top, is widely associated with the famous tales of Count Dracula and one of the country's main tourist draws. While there's no clear evidence of this castle being the model for Bram Stoker's stories, the castle surely fits the book's descriptions and has a fascinating recorded history of its own. Yet, there are other interesting examples, including the Neo-Renaissance Peleș castle naby Sinaia en Corvin castle naby Hunedoara. The still inhabited citadel of Sighișoara is easily among the most beautiful ones of its kind. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, it still features many characteristics of a medieval fortified town and is a charming town to visit. Other fine historic towns include Timișoara, the country's second city, the popular mountain resort Brașov en Sibiu.

Natural attractions

For a more natural experience, head to the Danube Delta, considered to be the most well preserved and one of the largest river deltas in Europe. While it mostly consists of extensive wetlands, it in fact holds 23 different ecosystems. It lies on route for a number of main migratory routes, and more than 320 species of bird can be found here in summer. Besides water systems, Romania is also home to the largest European populations of bears and wolves, inhabitants of its vast untouched forests. Die Rodna National Park and Biosphere Reserve en Retezat National Park are excellent places to experience the country's rugged lands, old-growth forests and stunning mountainous landscapes, or hike to beautiful water falls in Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park.

Countryside and monasteries

When planning your trip, make sure to include one of the many monumental monasteries and churches, such as the one in Horezu, a World Heritage Site known for it Brâncovenesc style architecture or Curtea de Argeș the most representative Byzantine style monastery in Romania, also royal necropolis where are buried the all kings of Romania. Or, head to Southern Bukovina to see some of the wonderful and famous Painted Monasteries. Another fascinating region is Maramureș, listed by Unesco and popular among visitors for its wooden churches en Merry Cemetery. A trip to some of these more remote places of worship comes with the bonus of easy exploration of Romania's lovely countryside where -despite rapid development- old traditions and craftsmanship are still alive.

Itineraries

The following are some possible itineraries for travelling in Romania:

• Transylvania Triangle Train Tour
• If you like to drive, follow the stunning Transfăgărășan Road, “the best road in the world” according to Top Gear, for some spectacular views and lots of challenging curves. Or you could try the Transalpina Road, the highest one in Romania (2145m), also known as King Road.

Doen

• Go to church - Romania is one of the most religious countries in Europe, and the Orthodox church is omnipresent. You will certainly want to visit some churches and monasteries for their beauty and history, but why not take the chance to experience an Orthodox mass? The congregation is usually standing and it is perfectly normal to show up only briefly during the mass so you can come and go at your leisure without disturbing anyone. Show up at any church on Sunday morning, stand quietly in the back and observe. Be suitably dressed, see the section "Respect".

You will experience bible readings, prayers and other rituals accompanied by a short sermon explaining the text. You are not likely to understand much, but you can notice the varying levels of involvement among church-goers, visible in how long and where people stay at the mass, and how often they sign themselves with the cross, or even genuflect. Organized congregation singing is not common but is conducted by a choir with each church-goer joining when he feels like. The choir singing can be captivating, the quality usually reflects the importance of the church.

The altar has sections with doors that open and close depending on the church season. You will also see candles sold, they are lit in or by the church in separate trays for the souls of either dead or living people. Try to find out about special holidays and rituals, perhaps the distribution of holy water by the truckload at the baptism of Christ (Boboteaza) or midnight masses at Christmas or Easter (the Orthodox Easter may be off by one or a few weeks compared to the Western). Weddings are often Saturdays, the ritual is very colorful and interesting.

• Hiking trails come in a wide range of levels, from easy to seriously challenging. From flat delta areas to rugged terrains, the country's national parks make for great starting points and excellent vista's.
• Winter sports - the Romania mountains house a number of popular winter sports resorts, such as Poiana Brasov (close also to Bran castle), Sinaia en Predeal. While increasingly popular, also among locals, these places remain fairly off the beaten track for most international winter sports fans and remain budget friendly.

Koop

Geld

Exchange rates for Romanian lei As of January 2020: US$1 ≈ 4.3 lei €1 ≈ 4.8 lei UK£1 ≈ 5.6 lei Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available from XE.com

The national currency of Romania is the leu (plural lei), which means lion in Romanian. The leu is divided into 100 bani (singular ban). On 1 July 2005, the new leu (code RON) replaced the old leu (code ROL) at a rate of 10,000 old lei for one new leu. Old ROL banknotes and coins are no longer legal tender but can still be exchanged at the National Bank and their affiliated offices.

Coins are issued in 1 (gold), 5 (copper), 10 (silver), and 50 (gold) bani denominations, but 1 ban coins are rare, despite store prices ending a lot of times with 99 bani. Do not expect exact change from store clerks, unless your total spending divides by 5 bani. When grossly short on change, clerks may also provide small coffee bags, oranges or similar as substitutes, but they may not accept it back as tender. Banknotes come in denominations of 1 (green), 5 (purple), 10 (red), 50 (yellow), 100 (blue), 200 (brown), and 500 (blue and purple) lei denominations, are made of polymer plastic, and, except for the 200 lei, correspond to a euro banknote in size. However, 200 and 500 lei banknotes are not common.

When exchanging money, use exchange bureaus or to use cash machines (which will provide ready access to most foreign bank accounts). Absolutely avoid black market transactions with strangers: in the best case scenario, you might come out ahead by a few percentage points, but that rarely happens. Most black marketers are con men of one sort or another, who will either leave you with a bankroll that turns out to be full of worthless Polish złotys, or will engage you in conversation for a few minutes, awaiting the arrival of their partners who will pretend to be the police and try to con you into handing over your wallet and papers. (This con game is known as a maradonist.) Exchanging money in the street is also illegal and in the worst case scenario, you might spend a night in jail. It is not recommended to exchange money in the airport either - they tend to overcharge on transactions and have very disadvantageous rates - you should use a card and the ATM for immediate needs (taxi/bus) and exchange more money later while in the city.

You should shop around a bit for good exchange rates. Some exchange offices in obvious places (such as the airport) may try to take advantage of the average tourist's lack of information when setting the exchange rate, and it is not advisable to use them, as the exchange rates may well be quite unrealistic. Prior to leaving for Romania consult the website of the National Bank of Romania for a rough estimate of what exchange rates you should expect. Typical exchange offices should not list differences larger than 2-3% from the official exchange rate. Also, when picking an exchange office, make sure it has a visible sign saying "Comision 0%"; Romanian exchange offices typically don't charge an extra commission apart from the difference between the buy and sell rates, and they are also required by law to display a large visible sign stating their commission, so if you don't see such a sign or if they charge something extra, keep going. Choosing a reasonable exchange office, which is not hard to do with the data in this paragraph, can save you as much as 10%, so this is worth observing. Changing money at a bank's exchange office is also a good idea.

Costs

Romania is relatively cheap by Western standards, you can buy more in Romania than you can in Western Europe and North America, especially local products. Although you can expect food and transport to be inexpensive in Romania, buying imported products such as a French perfume, an American pair of sport shoes or a Japanese computer is as expensive as in other parts of the EU. Clothing, wool suits produced in Romanian, shirts, cotton socks, white and red wine bottles, chocolates, salami, a wide range of local cheese, inexpensive leather jackets or expensive and fancy fur coats are possible good buys for foreigners.

Transactions

Romanian transactions generally take place in cash. Although some places will accept Euro or USD, it is not advisable as you will generally be charged an additional 20% paying by this method, although this is changing. The best method is to pay using local currency - lei (RON). Most Romanians have either a charge card or a credit card - however, they are generally used at ATM machines - on-line payments are relatively new, and some companies still look at them with suspicion - so much so, that they will make you pay on delivery. You can however pay by card in many shops and in most supermarkets. Accepted credit/debit cards are: MasterCard, Visa, American Express (in some places - although this is rapidly expanding because of a very aggressive campaign by American Express) and Diners Club (usually only in hotels, and even then expect stares and incredulity that such a card even exists). Almost all transactions at POS machines (supermarkets, shops etc.) will ask you to enter the card's PIN as well.

Most small towns have at least one or two ATMs and a bank office, with large cities having hundreds of ATMs and bank offices. (It is not uncommon to see three bank agencies next to each other in residential neighborhoods of Bucharest). ATMs are also available in many villages (generally at the post-office or the local bank-office). Romanian for ATM is bancomat. Credit cards are accepted in large cities, in most hotels, restaurants, hypermarkets, malls. Do not expect to use a credit card at any railway station or for the public transport (the subway and RATB of Bucharest, for example, are cash-only because they consider that card transactions would slow down the queues at the ticket booths). Gas stations and a great number of other stores accept Visa and MasterCard. It is advisable to always have a small sum of money in cash (about 50 lei or even more), even in large cities. It is not possible to withdraw any common currency (like euros or dollars) besides lei.

Romanian businesses are not mandated to provide you with full change for every transaction, and frequently their tills are short of small coins in particular. Fortunately many prices are in round multiples of 1 leu, and they are almost always in multiples of 10 bani. Even if a store can change, say a 100 lei note, they might ask you for smaller change first. For very small amounts (say 20 or 50 bani) they might sometimes insist on you buying something of that worth instead of giving you change.

Tipping

Die tip is usually 5-10% of the bill and is expected in restaurants, coffee shops, taxi, hair dressers.

Prices

Romania is generally very cheap, and is probably the cheapest country inside the EU, though it's still more expensive that neighboring Ukraine. However, inflation has struck Romania in many places, and some prices are as high or higher than those in Western Europe, but this is often reserved to luxuries, hotels, technology, and, to an extent, restaurants. However, raw food, transport, and accommodation remain relatively cheap, as does general shopping, especially in markets and outside the capital. Bucharest, as with every capital in the world, is more expensive than the national norm, particularly in the city centre. In the past 2-3 years, Bucharest has become increasingly expensive, and it is expected to do so for some years. However, travellers from Nordic countries will find all the prices in Romania to be amazingly low, especially transport (short and long distance), restaurant food and drinks.

Supermarkets and convenience stores

A good place to shop for food are farmers' markets, although hypermarkets have become popular in Romania such as Auchan, Billa, Carrefour, Cora of Kaufland.

Different from supermarkets are neighbourhood grocery stores called 'alimentară'. The stores are dim, old Communist-era shops that can be cheaper. These shops, which can best be compared to British cornershops, may be convenient if living in the suburbs or in smaller towns. Despite their seemingly poorer appearance, they sell good-quality food. In 'alimentara', expect strange systems of payment or selection: you may not be able to take items off of the shelf yourself, or one person may tally up your total before another handles the cash, etc. Many locals however actually prefer these establishments, since they offer a personal touch, with many salespeople remembering the preferences of each buyer, and catering specifically for their needs.

Opening hours are extremely predictable and amazingly long. Some shops will have a "non-stop" sign - meaning they are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Shops that are not open 24 hours are usually open 08:00 - 22:00/23:00, with some keeping open in summer until 02:00 or 03:00. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are open 08:00 - 22:00/23:00 as well, except during some days before Easter and Christmas, when they remain open through the night. Pharmacies and specialized shops are usually open 09:00 - 20:00/21:00, sometimes even later while farmers' markets usually open their doors at 07:00 and close at 17:00 or 18:00.

The countryside fair

A traditional countryside shopping is the weekly fair (târg, bâlci, or obor). Usually held on Sunday, everything that can be sold or bought is available - from live animals being traded amongst farmers (they were the original reason why fairs were opened centuries ago) to clothes, vegetables, and sometimes even second hand cars or tractors. Such fairs are hectic, with haggling going on, with music and dancing events, amusement rides and fast food stalls offering sausages, "mititei" and charcoal-grilled steaks amongst the many buyers and sellers. In certain regions, it is a tradition to attend them after some important religious event (for example after St. Mary's Day in Oltenia), making them huge community events bringing together thousands of people from nearby villages. Such fairs are amazingly colorful - and for many a taste of how life was centuries ago. One such countryside fair (although definitely NOT in the countryside) is the Obor fair in Bucharest - in an empty space right in the middle of the city, this fair has been going on daily for more than three centuries.

Eet

Romanian food is distinct yet familiar to most people, being a mixture of Balkan cuisine en Central European cuisine, but it has some unique elements. The local dishes are the delicious sarmale, ardei umpluți (stuffed peppers), mămăligă (pr. muhmuhliguh, polenta), bulz (traditional roasted polenta, filled with at least two kinds of cheeses, bacon and sour cream), friptură (steak), salată de boeuf (finely chopped cooked veggies and meat salad, usually topped with mayo and decorated with tomatoes and parsley), zacuscă (a yummy, rich salsa-like dip produced in the fall) as well as tocană (a kind of stew), tochitură (pr. tokituruh, an assortment of fried meats, and traditional sausages, in a special sauce, served with polenta and fried eggs), mici (pr. michi, with a ch sound like in the word "chat"; a kind of spicy sausage, but only the meat, without the casings, almost always cooked on a barbecue, but may also be cooked with hot water vapours; often served with beer during picnics - mici și bere), roe salad, various mashed beans varieties like iahnie (the h is loud).

Other dishes include a burger bun with a slice of ham, a slice of cheese and a layer of French fries, ciorbă de burtă (white sour tripe soup), ciorbă rădăuțeană (very similar to ciorbă de burtă, but with chicken instead of tripe), ciorbă țărănească (a red sour soup, akin to borș but with the beet root being replaced by fermented wheat bran, with lots of vegetables), Dobrogean or Bulgarian salads (a mix of onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, white sauce and ham), onion salad - diced onion served in a dish, tomato salad - diced tomato with cheese, șorici (pig skin - boiled and sometimes in stew), and drob (haggies) - a casserole made from lamb or pork liver and kidneys. Local eclectic dishes include cow tongue, sheep brain (Easter), caviar, chicken and pork liver, pickled green tomatoes and pickled watermelon.

Traditional desserts include pască (a chocolate or cheese pie produced only after Easter), sărățele (salty sticks), pandișpan (literally means Spanish bread; a cake filled with sour cherries), and cozonac (a special cake bread baked for Christmas or Easter). Bread (without butter) comes with almost every meal and dill is quite common as a flavoring. Garlic is omnipresent, both raw, and in special sauces (mujdei is the traditional sauce, made of garlic, olive oil and spices), as are onions.

Generally, there is good street food, including covrigi (hot pretzels), langoși (hot dough filled with cheese and various other optional seasonings like garlic), gogoși (donut-like dough, coated with fine sugar), mici (spicy meat patties in the shape of sausages), and excellent pastries (many with names such as merdenele, dobrogene, poale-n brâu, ardelenești), thin pancakes filled with anything from chocolate and jam to bananas and ice cream. Very popular are kebab and shawarma (șaorma), served in many small shops.

Popular Romanian snacks that are readily available in shops are pufuleți (very cheap and delicious corn-made snacks) and sunflower seeds, but usual snacks like potato chips and various nuts are also common. Common sweets are halva, halviță, rahat (Turkish Lokum - "rahat" is also commonly used as an euphemism for feces, meaning that you might hear Romanians talk about rahat a lot when being angry, but they do not actually refer to anything commonly considered edible) and colivă, a boiled wheat dish commonly used in religious mourning rituals.

Most restaurants in Romania, especially in more regional areas, only serve Romanian food, even though it is similar to Western European food. Especially in Bucharest, there is a wide variety of international food, especially Mediterranean, Chinese or French. There are also fairly plentiful international fast food chains. The interesting truth about these is that they are just nominally cheaper than restaurants, with the quality of the food being of an international standard but quite much lower than that served in restaurants. Therefore, go for the restaurants when you can - they provide a much more authentic and quality experience at prices that aren't much higher.

Vegetarian and vegan travellers can easily find a tasty dish suitable for them if they ask for mâncare de post (food suitable for religious fasting). Because Romanians are in their large majority Eastern Orthodox Christians, fasting involves removing of all the animal products from their meals (meat, dairy products or eggs). Even though Lent seasons only cover a small part of the year, you can find fasting food throughout the year. However, most Romanians are unaccustomed with vegetarianism or veganism; still, you can find such "mâncare de post" all year round; some Romanians fast also outside Lent, on most Wednesdays and Fridays, as part of their orthodox faith.

Drink

Wine

Romania has a long tradition of making wine (more than 2000 years of wine-making are recorded), in fact Romania was in 2014 the 12th largest producer of wine in the world. The best wineries are Murfatlar, Cotnari, Dragasani, and Bohotin. Its quality is very good and the price is reasonable: expect to pay 10-30 lei for a bottle of Romanian wine. Several people in touristic areas make their own wine and sell it directly. Anywhere you want to buy it, it is usually sold in glass bottles of about 75 cl. Many of the monasteries produce and sell their own wine. Most of the individuals wine makers, including monasteries, will allow you to taste it first, but some may not.

Beer

Like all the countries with a strong Latin background, Romania has a long and diffused tradition of brewing beer, but nowadays beer is very widespread (even more so than wine) and rather cheap compared to other countries. Vermy bier in plastiek-PET-houers, en gaan bier in glasbottels of blikkies. Die meeste internasionale handelsmerke word onder 'n lisensie in Roemenië gebrou, dus smaak dit heel anders as in Wes-Europa. Sommige biere wat onder lisensie gemaak is, is nog steeds goed - Heineken, Pilsner Urquell, Peroni. U kan maklik besef of 'n bier in Roemenië of in die buiteland gebrou is en dan ingevoer word deur bloot na die prys te kyk: ingevoerde biere is baie duurder as die Roemeense (A Corona, byvoorbeeld, kan 12 lei wees, terwyl 'n Timisoreana, Ursus of Bergenbier van 'n volle 1/2 liter-grootte sal 2-4 lei wees. Sommige van die algemeenste lagers wat u mag vind, is redelik smaakloos, maar daar is goeie brouers. Ursus lewer twee smaakvolle biere, die pils is redelik goed en die donker bier (bere neagră), Ursus Black, is 'n sterk vrugtige soetbier, soortgelyk aan 'n donker Tsjeggiese bier. Silva produseer bitter biere, beide dit Silva oorspronklike pils en sy Silva donker laat 'n bitter nasmaak in jou mond. Bergenbier en Timisoreana is redelik goed. Al die ander bierbiere wat u kan vind, soos Gambrinus, Bucegi of Postavaru, is smaakloos (volgens sommige verbruikers). Ciuc is 'n baie ordentlike en bekostigbare pilsner, wat nou deur Heineken besit word. Verwag om ongeveer 2-3 lei te betaal vir 'n bottel bier in die supermark en dubbel in 'n kroeg.

Geeste

Die sterkste alkohol is palinca, met ongeveer 60% suiwer alkohol en is tradisioneel in Transsylvanië, die volgende is țuica ('n soort brandewyn gemaak van pruime - vir die beter gehalte, tradisionele weergawe - maar alternatiewelik van appelkose, wynreste, of basies enigiets anders - 'n stedelike legende beweer selfs dat u 'n sekere soort winterbaadjie (pufoaică) kan brou om țuică, maar dit is eerder 'n bewys van Roemeense humor). Die sterkte van țuica is ongeveer 40-50%. Die beste țuica, gemaak van pruime, is tradisioneel vir die Pitești gebied. Sterk alkohol is redelik goedkoop, met 'n bottel vodka wat tussen 10 lei en 50 lei begin. 'N Transsylvaaniese spesialiteit is die 75% bosbessie- en suurkersie-palinca (palincă întoarsă de cireșe negre), beter bekend as vișinată - maar word gewoonlik deur plaaslike inwoners gehou vir vieringe, en dit is moeilik om te vind.

Slaap

Om 'n akkommodasie in Roemenië te vind, is baie maklik, vir elke prys. Sodra u by die treinstasie aankom, sal daar op al die toeristeplekke mense na u toe kom om te vra of u 'n akkommodasie benodig, of u kan dit vooraf bespreek. Diegene wat u by die stasie verwelkom, praat dikwels Engels, Frans en Italiaans. Daarbenewens sal u dikwels vind as u op straat loop kazare op die huise geskryf, dit beteken dat hulle vir u 'n kamer in hul eie huis sal huur. U kan beter in die groot stede (Boekarest, Cluj-Napoca, Brasov en Iasi) 'n akkommodasie bespreek, want dit sal moeilik wees om rond te dwaal op soek na slaapplek, maar oral sal u geen probleem vind nie enigsins.

Soos in die meeste lande, is dit dikwels goedkoper om akkommodasie direk by die hotel te kry (persoonlik of vooraf via die internet) eerder as deur besprekingsagentskappe. 'N Toenemende aantal selfs klein hotelle sal besprekings via die internet aanvaar. Soek na die plaaslike amptelike webwerwe vir toeristegidse wat 'n lys met hotelle en / of bed-en-ontbyt bevat, en doen navraag by die webwerf: die meeste het inligting in Engels, baie het formele besprekingswebbladsye. Pryse vir viersterhotelle is baie dieselfde as in die res van Europa, beslis in Boekarest, terwyl driesterhotelle en daaronder kan 'n bietjie goedkoper wees. 'N Kenmerk van die Roemeense akkommodasiepryse is dat baie bed-en-ontbytondernemings (sonder enige hotelsterrating) in werklikheid meer as of selfs duurder is as twee of drie-ster hotelle. Die meeste lyk meer modern as hotelle.

Landelike toerisme is relatief goed ontwikkel in Roemenië. Daar is 'n nasionale vereniging van landelike gastehuiseienaars, ANTREC wat akkommodasie op meer as 900 plekke regoor die land aanbied.

Leer

Die oudste Roemeense universiteit is die Universiteit van Iasi, gestig in 1860 (die Middeleeuse skole in Boekarest en Iasi word nie as universiteite beskou nie). Boekarest, Iasi en Cluj word beskou as die grootste en mees gesogte universiteitsentrums, met nuwer opvoedingsentrums soos Timisoara, Craiova en Galati wat uitkom as stede met 'n toenemend groter studentepopulasie. As u met 'n mobiliteitsbeurs (Erasmus / Sokrates of soortgelyk) kom, is dit baie belangrik om so gou as moontlik na die Internasionale Kantoor van die Roemeense Universiteit te gaan, aangesien Roemeense papierwerk baie indrukwekkend is en dit 'n tydjie neem om verwerk te word. As u van plan is om in Roemenië te studeer, word dit sterk aanbeveel om u eie akkommodasie te vind. Die meeste universiteite bied geen akkommodasie nie, en as hulle akkommodasie bied, is die voorwaardes soms verskriklik (3-4 persone wat 'n kamer deel, met 'n gang van 50 of meer wat die storte en toilette deel, is nie ongehoord nie - dit gebeur omdat akkommodasie wat deur universiteite aangebied word, meestal gratis is (€ 15-20 per maand) vir Roemeniërs, en u gewoonlik kry waarvoor u betaal.

Die onderwysstelsel is op die beste sedert 1990 middelmatig (Roemenië het nie goed gedoen in een van die PISA-evaluasies nie, aangesien dit in die onderste derde van die Europese lande was), maar die afgelope dekade is hervormingspogings gedoen. Bywoning is 10 jaar verpligtend. Universiteite het die aantal subsidies begin verminder, sodat studente steeds meer die onderrig moet betaal (onderrig is egter baie laag - € 500 per jaar is die norm). Met enkele uitsonderings is onderrigmetodes aan universiteite verouderd, met formalisme, diktasie en memorisering as die belangrikste instrumente wat gebruik word - wat lei tot lae gehalte van baie instellings (geen Roemeense universiteit het dit in die Sjanghai-indeks gehaal nie). Daar was egter baie ernstige hervormingspogings, met sommige universiteite (veral die Universiteit van Boekarest, die Universiteit van Iasi, die Babeș-Bolyai Universiteit in Cluj en die Universiteit van Timișoara) wat beter onderrigstandaarde en interaktiwiteit tussen studente en onderwysers opgelê het - hoe veel daar ook al gevorder is moet selfs daar gedoen word. Vir die meeste vakke is programme beskikbaar in Roemeens en Hongaars, afhangende van die universiteit. Sommige programme is beskikbaar in Engels, Frans en Duits. Laerskole en middelbare skole word ondersteun deur die begroting van plaaslike owerhede. Soos met die meeste lande, kla onderwysers oor klein salarisse. Geletterdheid is byna universeel. Volgens 'n EU-kommissie-studie praat ongeveer 30% van die Roemeense Engels (50% in stedelike omgewings) en 25% Frans (40% in stedelike omgewings). Duits word ook deur ongeveer 3-5% van die bevolking gepraat (1% het dit as moedertaal).

Bly veilig

Hoewel geweld teen buitelandse toeriste skaars is, beteken dit nie dat u u gesonde verstand tuis moet laat as u besluit om in Roemenië vakansie te hou nie. Oor die algemeen is misdaad beperk tot klein diefstal en algemene bedrogspul, en nie veel anders wat die toeris aangaan nie. Waar u ook al in die land is, vra betroubare inwoners na die omgewing, hulle gee u graag 'n paar wenke.

Alhoewel rasvooroordele in Roemenië bestaan, veral teenoor diegene wat soos Roma ("sigeuners") lyk, is haatmisdade skaars. Sommige homofobiese vooroordele bly steeds, byvoorbeeld 'n jaarlikse gay-trots-parade in Boekarest was die afgelope jaar die toneel van gewelddadige betogings.

Telefoonnommers vir noodgevalle

Roemenië gebruik die pan-Europese standaardnommer 112 vir alle noodoproepe sedert 2004. Dit is dus die enigste nommer wat u vir polisie, ambulans en die brandweer moet onthou.

Klein misdaad

Roemenië is redelik veilig, met baie min geweldsmisdaad. Sakkery en swendelary (soos taxi-swendelary of vertroue-truuks) is op 'n wyer skaal aanwesig, dus moet u veral op druk plekke (soos treinstasies, sommige markte, stedelike openbare vervoer) versigtig wees. Hou u geld of waardevolle artikels in die binnesakke van u rugsak en hou u handsak altyd dop in die drukke gebiede. Wanneer u met 'n taxi ry, moet u altyd die prys per kilometer wat aan die buitekant van die motor staan, lees en onthou, want sommige bestuurders kan probeer om voordeel te trek uit die feit dat u nie die pryse ken nie.

Diere

Roemenië het 'n baie groot bevolking van wilde diere, insluitend een van die grootste populasies wilde bere in Europa. Bere is dodelik, en selfs diegene wat nader aan stede woon en vullishouers buit, moet nie genader word nie. Dit is algemeen vir beertjies om stadsbuurte naby bergwoude te besoek op soek na voedsel (soos in Brașov). As sodanig is dit redelik maklik om 'n beer of wolf op te spoor. Alhoewel dit gewoonlik nie gevaarlik is nie, kan sulke diere aggressief raak as daar nie omgesien word nie. As u 'n beer of wolf raaksien wanneer u stap, is dit raadsaam om stadig om te draai en stadig anderpad te loop. Plaaslike herders raai mense aan wat wil kampeer om in die oopte eerder as onder bome te kampeer om die bere te vermy. Moet onder geen omstandighede probeer om die dier te hardloop of te voer nie, want dit kan gedisoriënteerd raak en aanval. In 2006 is 6 mense deur wilde diere in Roemenië doodgemaak. Daar was ook gevalle waar toeriste beerwelpies teëgekom het en probeer het om daarmee te voed of daarmee te speel. In sommige gevalle blyk dit 'n noodlottige fout te wees. As u toevallig enige soort jong diere teëkom, moet u weet dat hul ouers êrens naby is. Die beste ding wat u kan doen, is om die gebied so gou as moontlik te verlaat, net so snoesig en oulik soos beerwelpies, hul ouers is nie. Bere is uiters aggressief as hulle welpies het en sal op die geringste aanduiding van 'n bedreiging vir hul welpies aanval. Dit is een van die belangrikste oorsake van aanvalle deur mense op mense.

Wilde diere soos rondloperhonde kan ook 'n probleem in Boekarest en ander groot stede vorm, waar hulle wydverspreid is. Sommige is miskien nie aggressief nie, maar wees versigtig met diere in die pak en saans. Sommige mense word van nabygeleë huisvestings versorg en dit kan veral territoriaal wees en soms sonder waarskuwing aanval. Die aantal rondloperhonde neem af, maar is steeds relatief hoog, en in die algemeen is dit die grootste fisieke gevaar, veral in afgeleë gebiede.

Roemeense boere gebruik ook honde om skape op te pas en te beskerm. Dit sal u heel waarskynlik sien as u naby plase, grondpaaie of landelike gebiede loop. U kan sien dat dit skaaphonde is, want boere heg gewoonlik stokke wat horisontaal hang onder hul nekke. As u een van hierdie honde teëkom, lyk dit dalk eers bang en kan dit agtertoe kyk. Dit is inderdaad bang, maar dit is nie op soek na terugtog nie; hy is op soek na sy ander doggy vriende! As u aanhou om na hul gebied te loop of na watter trop skape hulle ook al beskerm, sal hulle beslis meer verdedigend raak, en daar is geen twyfel dat meer en meer sal verskyn as u nader aan die trop kom nie. In sulke situasies moet u eenvoudig terugtrek. Dit is ook nie die moeite werd om jouself te verdedig nie, want Roemeense boere sal baie kwaad word. As u in 'n landelike gebied is, oorweeg dit om te wag vir 'n perdekar of motor vir hitchhiking: dit is die beste manier om sulke gebiede oor te steek.

Korrupsie

Sommige besoekers kan korrupte polisiemanne teëkom (Polițiști) en doeanebeamptes (Vameși, Ofițeri de vamă) eerstehands, al blyk dit 'n afnemende probleem te wees. Dit kan aanloklik wees om omkoopgeld te betaal (mită of șpagă) om dinge tydens u besoek glad te maak, moet u dit vermy, aangesien dit slegs tot hierdie probleem bydra. Dit is ook onwettig om omkoopgeld te gee sowel as om dit te ontvang. Buitelanders kan strenger vonnisse in Roemenië kry.

'N Goeie raad vir die situasie waarin u gevra word om omkoopgeld te betaal (of net voorgestel), is om die voorstel beleefd te verwerp en duidelik te verklaar dat u dit nie sal doen nie. As u geteister word, neem 'n vinnige en vasberade houding in, en dreig dat u onmiddellik die polisie sal skakel. Dit sal amper seker maak dat wie om omkoping vra, stop en jou alleen laat.

Bly gesond

Kraanwater is gewoonlik drinkbaar, maar die meeste mense verkies om eerder gebottelde water te drink.

Gesondheidssorg

Die toestande in Roemeense hospitale kan wissel van baie skoon en sprankelend, met al die nuutste tegnologiese instrumente, tot die donker, donker en koue. Sommige hospitale kan egter, soos hierbo genoem, ongemaklik wees met swakheid, temperatuurprobleme (warm in die somer, koud in die winter) en verouderde toerusting, hoewel mediese personeel gewoonlik ervare is. U sal gewoonlik nie probleme ondervind soos 'n ernstige gebrek aan netheid nie.

U reisgesondheidsversekering kan onvoldoende blyk te wees as die mediese toestand ernstig is. In hierdie geval word u gevra om vir die mediese dienste te betaal, en die pryse is nie baie laag in vergelyking met Wes-Europa nie.

Burgers van die Europese Unie word gedek deur die Nasionale Gesondheidsorgstelsel van Roemenië, mits hulle 'n Europese kaart vir gesondheidsversekering van E111 het, verkrygbaar van hul eie nasionale gesondheidsorgowerheid en geldig vir alle EU-lande.

Tandheelkundige prosedures in Roemenië, veral in privaat klinieke, is van uitstekende gehalte. Trouens, baie Wes-Europeërs kom na Roemenië om hul tande te laat doen vir die kwart van die prys wat hulle in hul tuisland betaal. Kwaliteit is besonder hoog in klinieke in Transsilvanië en Boekarest.

Respek

Roemeense is nogal gasvry. Op die platteland en klein dorpies verwelkom hulle buitelandse toeriste, en soms kan hulle u selfs vir 'n middagete nooi. Soos gewoonlik met die bure van die Balkan in Roemenië, sal Roemeense daarop aandring dat hulle iets aanbied, want "nee" beteken soms nie "nee" nie, en hulle beskou dit as beleefd dat u dit weier en beleefd.

U moet normale voorsorg tref om eers u gashere te bestudeer. Dit is algemeen dat vriende en familie albei wange soen tydens groet of afskeid. Respek teenoor bejaardes word baie waardeer en is 'n goeie weergawe van u karakter. Die frases wat gebruik word om vriende sowel as vreemdelinge te groet, is 'Bună ziua' (Boo-nah Zee-wah) wat 'Goeie dag' of 'Goeie middag' beteken. Soggens en saans verander die frase onderskeidelik in "Bună dimineața" en "Bună seara".

Op strande dra mans speedo's of kortbroeke, terwyl die voormalige meer algemeen is onder die 40's, en laasgenoemde meer gewild by die jonger skare. Dames is geneig om string bikini's aan te trek, terwyl toplose sonbad al hoe wyer word.

Weerhou u van opmerkings dat Roemeens 'n Slawiese taal is of selfs verwant is aan Hongaars, Turks of Albanees. Mense vind dit miskien nogal aanstootlik; in werklikheid, soos reeds genoem, Roemeniërs Moenie spreek vokale en medeklinkers op dieselfde manier uit as enige van hul bure.

Roemeniërs waardeer ook buitelanders wat nie aanvaar dat Roemenië deel van die Russiese Ryk of die Sowjetunie was nie (dit was slegs 'n lid van die Oosblok).

Vermy die etniese vyandigheid tussen die Roemeense en die etniese Hongare. Hongare oorheers in sommige gebiede in Transsilvanië, en tussen etniese geweld het soms in die vroeë negentigerjare uitgebreek.

Ander minderheidsryke streke sluit in Dobrogea, waar Tatare, Turke en Oekraïners vandag nog woon, en ook die weste van die land, waar daar 'n klein aantal Serwiërs, Slowake en Duitsers is. Byna alle Jode het die land in die dekades na die slagting verlaat.

'N Ander baie aanstootlike wanopvatting maak geen verskil tussen die Roemeense en die Roma-mense nie (wat gewoonlik Sigeuners genoem word, hoewel hierdie term neerhalend beskou word). Die verwarring van die twee etniese groepe kan baie mense aanstoot gee omdat daar nog steeds baie vooroordeel teenoor die Roma is.

Roemeniërs hou dalk nie daarvan dat Roemenië as 'n Balkan-land bestempel word nie vanweë 'n ietwat negatiewe beeld van die streek. Dit is ook nie heeltemal geografies korrek nie, want die grootste deel van Roemenië (behalwe Dobrogea) lê buite die Balkan-skiereiland.

Verbind

Selfone

Mobiele telefone kom oral in Roemenië voor. Daar is vyf netwerke - vier GSM / 3G (Orange Roemenië, Vodafone, Telekom en DigiMobil). Orange en Vodafone het byna volle nasionale dekking (98-99% van die oppervlak van die land), terwyl die Duitse Telekom vinnig uitbrei.

Tariewe is gemiddeld vir die Europese Unie (0,08-0,30 € / min, 0,04 € per SMS). Beide voorafbetaalde kaarte en intekeninge is beskikbaar, en daar is spesiale opsies vir afslag op internasionale oproepe met sommige prysplanne. Roaming is beskikbaar, maar is, soos in die meeste van die EU, taamlik duur. Voorafbetaalde kaarte of herlaaikodes kan in byna elke winkel, platteland of stedelik, gekoop word.

Op voorafbetaalde SIM's kan u ekstra opsies ("ekstraop extraiune") aktiveer vanaf € 5 (24% BTW) in totaal = 27-32 lei, met 'n geldigheidsduur van 30 dae, wat duisende (200 -3000) minute en SMS'e bevat binne dieselfde netwerk en tot 100 minute buite die netwerk, insluitend die meeste vaste landnetwerke in die Europese Unie en twee of drie mobiele netwerke.

toegang tot die internet

Internettoegang is vinnig, algemeen beskikbaar in stedelike omgewings en groei in landelike omgewings. Breëbandinternet is wyd beskikbaar in stede en dorpe, via kabel-, DSL- of tuisgemaakte klein of mediumgrootte ISP's wat UTP-verbindings bied. Snelhede is meestal soos Wes-Europa of die VSA, met 1-4 Mbit / s stroomaf vir nie-metropolitaanse toegang is die norm - met pryse tussen € 9-25 vir 1-4Mbit / s, met plaaslike toegang aansienlik vinniger (10- 50 of selfs 100Mbit / s). Die snelhede neem toe, en huistoegang vir 4Mbit / s is beskikbaar teen ongeveer € 10 per maand.

Internetkafees is in die meeste dorpe en stede en dorpe beskikbaar - maar in groot stede daal hul getalle weens die goedkoop beskikbaarheid van huistoegang. In landelike gebiede is openbare internettoegang beskikbaar in 150 afgeleë dorpies (in sogenaamde 'telesenters'). In hierdie 'telesenters' word toegang deur die staat gesubsidieer en daarom beperk. Rekenaars is gewoonlik nie beskikbaar in biblioteke of op openbare plekke soos treinstasies nie.

Draadlose toegang neem toe, veral in Boekarest, Brașov, Sibiu, Bistrița, Timișoara en Cluj, met WiFi beskikbaar in universiteitsgebiede, lughawens, openbare pleine, parke, kafees, hotelle en restaurante. Betaal-onderweg-WiFi is ook op baie plekke beskikbaar. As u onseker is, soek na plazas naby die stadsaal, groot parke of ander belangrike geboue. Die meeste (indien nie alle) McDonald's-restaurante in Roemenië het toegang tot WiFi nie, en so ook die meeste 3-ster (en hoër) hotelle.

Mobiele internet is goedkoop beskikbaar deur al die selfoonondernemings (met behulp van Roemeense simkaarte). Gekombineerde 3G / GPRS / EDGE-toegang kos 40-80 lei per maand met 'n kap van 5-10 GB.

Kabel TV

Kabel-TV is ook baie beskikbaar, en ongeveer 85% van alle huishoudings is verbind. Alle hotelle wat u 'n TV-stel voorsien, het kabel-TV of digitale TV.