Romania holidays

Culture and history

Age and position are highly respected in Romania, and family is the foundation of society. The main religion is Eastern Orthodox. Traditional Romanian arts and crafts include wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery, dance and richly varied folk music. Bad Romanians include Vlad the Impaler and Nicolae Ceausescu, while good ones include Edward G Robinson, Nadia Comaneci and Ilie Nastase. Interestingly, Romania is the world's second-largest grower of plums (behind China), many of which end up as plum brandy!

History-wise, Romania's past has recently been extended with the discovery of 34,950-year-old human remains in a cave, but the first written evidence of the country was in Herodotus' Histories of 440BC. After the Romans' brief occupation mining for gold and silver in the second century AD, the Goths, nomadic Huns and Avars took their turns to move in. The Middle Ages introduced some notable characters such as Vlad III the Impaler and Stephen the Great, who ruled for a remarkable 47 years. Battles, revolutions, monarch rule and the Hapsburg Empire followed from the 1500s until, in 1878, Romania was recognised as an independent state. In the First World War they started out neutral but eventually gave their support to the Allies. And despite trying to remain neutral in the Second World War, poor diplomacy led to the loss of much of its territory and eventual embroilment. The country fared little better post-war. After Communists forced King Michael I to abdicate in 1947, Romania became a republic, and when negotiations for Soviet troops to leave were successful, Nicolau Ceausescu took the helm. Faced with a vast national debt, he introduced harsh austerity measures, agricultural collectivisation and severe political repression. Ever-more draconian measures led to his execution during the Romanian Revolution of 1989. 18 years later the nation's situation had stabilised considerably and it was welcomed into the European Union.

Things to do

All aboard for a river cruise of the Danube, one of Europe's longest rivers. Visit the great cities and landscapes of the Balkans, including Romania's bordering countries of Hungary, Croatia and Bulgaria, before sailing on to the Black Sea.

Explore the capital on a walking tour of Bucharest, strolling its tree-lined boulevards and visiting its excellent museums, or wander the streets of medieval villages, where folk crafts and folk tales still thrive to this day.

Marvel at the magical Peles Castle, step back in time at ASTRA in Sibiu one of the largest outdoor museums in Europe and spot rare birdlife along the stunning Danube Delta and its protected wetland habitat.

Flight time

It takes around three hours to fly from London to Bucharest.

Currency

Leu - In Romania, they use the leu or lei (RON), which is divided into 100 bani. Travellers cheques and Bank of England notes can be exchanged at banks, exchange bureaux and in some hotels. It is also possible to exchange euros into RON at banks and exchange offices.

Passports and visas

It’s a good idea to carry a photocopy of your passport. You do not need a visa.

Visit GOV.UK for more advice on passports and visas.

Phrases

Hello – Salut 
Yes – Da
No – Nu
Please – Va rog
Thank you – Multumesc
Excuse me - Pardon
Goodbye – La revedere 
Good evening – Buna seara
I’m sorry about last Wednesday – Mi pare rau in legatura cu miercurea trecuta

Timezone

Romania is two hours ahead of GMT.

Electricity

Sockets take small, two-pin plugs so you’ll need an adaptor to use British appliances. We suggest you bring one with you as they’re not widely available in Romania.

Language

Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan -

Unsurprisingly, Romanian is the official language although in some areas Hungarian and German are also spoken. Few people speak English but your Saga Host will help you out if necessary.

Tipping

Hotel staff will expect tips in Romania. A maid is usually tipped 4 lei per day and a hotel porter 2 lei per bag. In restaurants waiters are poorly paid and a tip of 5-10% for their service is valued. Taxis run on meters, but it is usual to round up the fare.

Climate

It’s mild and pleasant from April to October. Summers can be hot, especially in the south, but sea breezes cool the Black Sea coast.

Health

As health information can change at any time, we’d advise you to consult your GP at least 12 weeks before departure.

Country-specific information and advice on possible health risks is also published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office provides important health and safety information for British nationals travelling abroad.

Population and size

The population of Romania – currently around 19 million – has fallen by three million over the past decade as some Romanians have migrated to richer European countries.
At 238, 391 square kilometers, Romania is, as near as makes no difference, the same size as the UK.

Smoking

Smoking is banned in public places.