Romania is large and the distances between its main attractions are considerable. A combination of trains for intercity travel and buses for smaller towns works well, though renting a car opens up the countryside considerably.
By Train
CFR Călători (cfrcalatori.ro) operates the national rail network. The system has improved in recent years but trains are often slower than the schedules suggest — delays of 30–60 minutes are common on provincial routes. That said, trains are cheap: a 100km second-class ticket costs around €3–7.
Two service tiers matter to travellers: - InterRegio (IR) — stops at major towns only, relatively comfortable, worth the small premium - Regio (R) — stops everywhere, slow, crowded on busy routes
Book online through cfrcalatori.ro for a small discount; tickets can be bought up to 6 hours before departure. Seat reservations are compulsory on some trains — check when booking.
Key intercity routes: Bucharest–Cluj-Napoca (around 8–9 hours by IR), Bucharest–Timișoara (7–8 hours), Bucharest–Iași (5 hours).
By Bus and Maxitaxi
Buses and shared minibuses (maxitaxi) fill the gaps the trains miss. They're often faster than trains on shorter regional routes and reach villages with no rail service. Buses depart from autogări (bus stations), usually near the train station. Arrive 20–30 minutes early, especially on minibuses — they fill up and leave when full.
Flixbus now covers major Romanian cities at reasonable prices.
By Car
Renting a car is the best way to reach the Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, explore the Carpathian villages, or discover the Danube Delta's edge. Roads between major cities are improving — there are stretches of motorway (autostradă) connecting Bucharest with Pitești, Ploiești, and towards Cluj — but secondary roads can be rough and potholed. Expect slow average speeds on mountain routes.
Romanian law requires dipped headlights at all times, including during the day. The blood alcohol limit is zero. Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on regular roads, 100 km/h on expressways, 130 km/h on motorways. Speeding fines are issued on the spot. Winter tyres are required from 1 November to 31 March; in mountain areas, carry snow chains.
The Rovinieta road toll vignette is mandatory for all foreign vehicles using Romanian roads. Buy it online at roviniete.ro or at the border crossing.
In Cities
Bucharest has a functioning metro (4 lines), trams, and buses. A single journey card costs very little. Ride-hailing apps (Bolt, Uber, and local alternatives) work well and are far preferable to hailing street taxis, which sometimes overcharge tourists. If you take a street taxi, insist on the meter.