Romania joined the Schengen Area in January 2025, so travellers arriving from other Schengen countries no longer face border checks. Citizens of the EU, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most other Western countries can enter visa-free for stays up to 90 days.
By Air
Most international visitors arrive at Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) in Bucharest, around 16km north of the city centre. A second Bucharest airport, Băneasa (BBU), handles some low-cost and charter traffic. Regional airports at Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași, Sibiu, and Constanța all receive direct flights from Western European hubs, which is worth considering if you're heading straight to Transylvania or Moldavia.
From London or Paris, direct flights to Bucharest take around 3 hours. Budget carriers including Wizz Air and Ryanair operate extensively to Romanian airports.
From Bucharest airport, take the dedicated express train (Line 13) to Gara de Nord — it runs every 40 minutes and costs around 8 lei. Avoid the unofficial taxi touts inside arrivals; use the official metered kiosks or a ride-hailing app.
By Train
The overnight Dacia Express (EN 347) connects Vienna Hauptbahnhof with Bucharest Nord, departing Vienna around 19:40 and arriving in Bucharest roughly 19 hours later via Budapest. It's a scenic, hassle-free option with couchette and sleeper compartments. Budapest to Bucharest takes around 15 hours by direct train.
The Bosphorus Express connects Istanbul with Bucharest (approximately 18 hours), though reliability varies.
By Bus
Long-distance coaches connect Bucharest and other major Romanian cities to much of Western Europe. Journey times are long — London to Bucharest is around 36–40 hours — but prices are low. FlixBus and several Romanian operators run these routes.
By Road
Romania is accessible by car from Hungary (the Nădlac and Borș crossings are the busiest), Bulgaria (Giurgiu and Calafat across the Danube), Serbia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Foreign driving licences are accepted. Drivers must purchase a Rovinieta road tax vignette, available online at roviniete.ro or at border crossings and petrol stations.
By Sea
There are no regular passenger ferry services to Romania, though some cruise lines include the Danube Delta as a stop.