Romania

Romania lies in southeastern Europe, bordered by Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary, with a Black Sea coastline to the east. Its capital, Bucharest, is home to roughly two million people. Romanian — a Romance language — is the official tongue, and the currency is the Romanian leu (RON). The country blends Latin heritage with Central and Eastern European influences, reflected in its architecture, cuisine, and folk traditions across distinct historical regions: Transylvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia.

Romania is an EU member state and joined the Schengen Area in 2024. Citizens of most EU and EEA countries, as well as many other nationalities including the United States, Canada, and Australia, may enter visa-free for short stays. Travellers should consult Romania's official border police or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for nationality-specific requirements and permitted stay durations.

Bran Castle, perched on a rocky bluff in Transylvania, is associated with the Dracula legend and remains one of the country's most-visited landmarks. The painted monasteries of Bucovina — including Voroneț, known for its vivid exterior frescoes — are UNESCO-listed. The medieval citadel of Sighișoara is among Europe's best-preserved inhabited medieval towns. The Danube Delta, Europe's second-largest river delta, supports over 300 bird species. The Transfăgărășan mountain road offers dramatic high-altitude scenery across the Southern Carpathians.

Romania has a continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm to hot, with temperatures typically ranging from 24 °C to 35 °C in the lowlands; the Black Sea coast tends to be slightly cooler. Winters are cold, with averages of −3 °C to −10 °C in mountain regions and milder but still frosty conditions in Bucharest. Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) offer the most comfortable conditions for travel. Pack layers if visiting mountain areas at any time of year.

• Birthplace of gymnast Nadia Comaneci, first perfect-ten scorer.
• Home to Europe's heaviest building, Bucharest's Palace of Parliament.
• Danube Delta hosts Europe's largest pelican colony.
• Romanian is the closest living language to ancient Latin.
• Transylvania contains Europe's last significant wild brown bear population.

• romania.travel — official national tourism authority website
• mae.ro — Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visa and consular information
• politiadefrontiera.ro — Border Police, entry and border regulations
• insse.ro — National Institute of Statistics, official country data
• cfrcalatori.ro — CFR Călători, national rail passenger services