Cost To Visit Romania: Travel Budget Guide (2026)
Planning to visit Romania? Learn how much money you will need for hotels, food, transportation, and attractions—plus seasonal price changes, day trip costs, and realistic daily and weekly budgets.
There are many things that can affect the cost of your trip to Romania—when you go and what type of traveler you are will also play a part. This guide breaks down the daily cost of what you can expect to spend when visiting Romania, so you can plan your travel budget.
Is Romania Cheap To Visit?
Yes, Romania is typically cheaper on the ground than the U.S. for hotels, restaurants, and many activities—especially outside Bucharest. Within Europe, Romania is generally considered budget-friendly, often offering excellent value for mid-range travelers.
Your total cost depends most on lodging style, how much you move around the country, and whether you book private tours vs. trains/buses.
Compared to many European countries, Romania tends to have:
- Lower hotel prices (especially outside major tourist hot spots)
- Affordable restaurants and cafés
- Low-cost attractions (castles, museums, historic sites)
Costs rise most when you:
- Choose private drivers/tours daily
- Stay in top-rated boutique hotels in peak months
- Build a multi-city route with lots of paid transfers
Romania uses the Romanian leu (RON). Prices below have been converted from RON and are only shown in $ (USD) for ease of use for our U.S. audience.
Romania Vacation Costs
Below is a detailed expense breakdown for accommodations, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.
Avg. Accommodation Cost
Peak
- Budget Travelers: $40–$80 per night
- Mid-Range Travelers: $90–$170 per night
- Luxury Travelers: $220–$500+ per night
Shoulder-Season
- Budget Travelers: $35–$70
- Mid-Range Travelers: $80–$150
- Luxury Travelers: $200–$450+
Off-Season
- Budget Travelers: $30–$60
- Mid-Range Travelers: $70–$130
- Luxury Travelers: $180–$400+
Tip: Bucharest and the most popular Transylvania bases can cost more than smaller cities like Sibiu, Brașov outskirts, Cluj, or Oradea.
Food Cost
Budget Travelers
- Breakfast: $4–$10
- Lunch: $8–$14
- Dinner: $12–$22
Mid-Range Travelers
- Breakfast: $10–$18
- Lunch: $14–$25
- Dinner: $25–$55
Luxury Travelers
- Breakfast: $18–$30
- Lunch: $25–$45
- Dinner: $70–$150+
Easy savings: bakeries/coffee shops for breakfast, then one nicer dinner every couple nights.
Transportation Cost
Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport (OTP) → City Center
- Train/bus: $2–$6
- Taxi/rideshare: $12–$30
- Private transfer: $45–$90+
Getting around Bucharest + major cities
- Metro/bus/tram single rides: $0.75–$2
- Day passes: $3–$8
- Taxi/rideshare short rides: $4–$12
- Taxi/rideshare longer rides: $12–$25+
Trains between popular cities (great value)
- Bucharest ↔ Brașov: $12–$30 round trip
- Bucharest ↔ Sibiu: $18–$45 round trip
- Bucharest ↔ Cluj-Napoca: $25–$70 round trip
- Brașov ↔ Sighișoara: $10–$25 round trip
Car rental (useful for rural Transylvania / Maramureș)
- Compact car:
- Off-Season: $25–$45/day
- Shoulder: $30–$55/day
- Peak: $40–$75+/day
- Fuel + parking (typical daily): $10–$25
Private driver / guided transport
- Half-day: $80–$160+
- Full day: $140–$280+
Attractions
- Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle): $12–$20
- Peleș Castle (Sinaia): $10–$22 (ticket type varies)
- Parliament Palace (Bucharest): $12–$25 (tour type varies)
- Old Town Bucharest walking: free
- Village Museum (Bucharest): $4–$10
- Transylvanian castles/fortresses (varies): $3–$15
- Sighișoara historic center: free (some sites extra)
- Salt mines (e.g., Turda/Slănic): $8–$15
- Guided city tour (optional): $20–$60+
Day Trip Costs
| Day Trip | Transportation Cost (Round Trip) | Top Attraction | Attraction Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinaia (from Bucharest) | $10–$30 (train) • $140–$260 (tour/driver) | Peleș Castle | $10–$22 |
| Brașov (from Bucharest) | $12–$30 (train) | Old Town + viewpoint area | Free–$10 |
| Bran (from Brașov) | $6–$18 (bus/taxi) | Bran Castle | $12–$20 |
| Sighișoara | $10–$25 (train from Brașov area) | Medieval citadel streets | Free–$10 |
| Turda (from Cluj-Napoca) | $6–$18 (bus) • $60–$150 (tour/driver) | Turda Salt Mine | $8–$15 |
| Snagov (from Bucharest) | $10–$35 (rideshare/taxi) • $60–$140 (tour) | Monastery & lake area | Free–$8 |
| Bucharest highlights | $0–$8 (metro/bus) | Parliament Palace tour | $12–$25 |
Daily Budget
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $65–$115 |
| Shoulder | $60–$105 |
| Off-Season | $55–$95 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $130–$230 |
| Shoulder | $120–$210 |
| Off-Season | $110–$190 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $220–$520+ |
| Shoulder | $200–$450+ |
| Off-Season | $180–$400+ |
Weekly Budget (7 Days)
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $280–$560 | $140–$245 | $35–$110 | $60–$160 | $515–$1,075 |
| Shoulder | $245–$490 | $130–$230 | $30–$100 | $55–$150 | $460–$970 |
| Off-Season | $210–$420 | $120–$210 | $30–$95 | $50–$140 | $410–$865 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $630–$1,190 | $245–$420 | $60–$160 | $90–$240 | $1,025–$2,010 |
| Shoulder | $560–$1,050 | $230–$385 | $55–$150 | $85–$220 | $930–$1,805 |
| Off-Season | $490–$910 | $220–$350 | $50–$140 | $80–$210 | $840–$1,610 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $1,540–$3,500+ | $420–$1,050+ | $120–$420+ | $160–$500+ | $2,240–$5,470+ |
| Shoulder | $1,400–$3,150+ | $385–$950+ | $110–$380+ | $150–$450+ | $2,045–$4,930+ |
| Off-Season | $1,260–$2,800+ | $350–$840+ | $100–$340+ | $140–$420+ | $1,850–$4,400+ |
Flight Cost
Flight cost depends on where you’re departing from, the season, and the airline. Major international airports will have cheaper flights than smaller airports. Most U.S. travelers fly into Bucharest (OTP), with some routes connecting via major European hubs.
Average round-trip flight ranges from the U.S.:
- Peak: $650–$1,200
- Shoulder: $550–$1,050
- Off-Season: $450–$900
You can save money on flights by signing up for cheap flight alerts from Jetsetter Alerts.
Romania Travel Seasons
Peak Season
Romania’s peak season is June–August, when demand and pricing are highest—especially for Bucharest weekends and popular Transylvania bases—so the best-located hotels tend to book up first during summer.
Shoulder-Season
Romania’s shoulder season is April–May and September–October, and it’s often the best value—weather is comfortable for city breaks and exploring Transylvania, hotel rates are usually better than peak summer, and crowds are lighter.
Off-Season
Romania’s off-season is November–March, which is typically the cheapest stretch for many city stays, but temperatures are colder and rural touring can be less convenient—still a great pick if your focus is museums, cafés, and low-crowd sightseeing on a budget.
- Why it’s cheaper: better hotel deals in Bucharest and many Transylvania bases.
- Tradeoff: colder weather and shorter daylight.
Yes—for most travelers, easily. Romania is generally budget-friendly on the ground, and $2,000 can cover a comfortable week for many people, even with several paid attractions and trains between cities.
- Budget Travelers (7-day total): $410–$1,075
- Mid-Range Travelers (7-day total): $840–$2,010
- Luxury Travelers (7-day total): $1,850–$5,470+
If you’re trying to stay closer to $2,000, the main thing to watch is stacking too many private drivers/tours back-to-back—trains and buses are usually far cheaper.
- Use trains/buses instead of private drivers when possible
- Stay in guesthouses or mid-range hotels outside the most touristy blocks
- Mix bakeries and casual restaurants with fewer “tourist menu” dinners
- Bundle attractions in the same area (castles/fortresses) to reduce transport spend
- Travel in shoulder season for better hotel pricing and fewer crowds