Home - Travel Destinations - Romania: The Ultimate Travel and Home Inspiration Guide
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Romania is a country of wild landscapes, medieval towns, soulful food, and warm hospitality. Whether you’re dreaming of drifting through the fairytale forests of Transylvania, exploring the Danube’s quiet corners near Orșova, or unlocking the energy of Bucharest, driving gives you the freedom to experience Romania at your own pace.
Below you’ll find everything you need to know about driving in Romania — plus links to our favorite destinations, stays, and recipes to help you plan a beautiful, immersive trip.
Romania is in Eastern Europe, bordered by Hungary, Serbia, southern Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Moldova, with the Black Sea along its eastern edge. Its capital city, Bucharest, is a lively mix of history, architecture, and modern energy — often the starting point for most travellers. From here, roads lead into mountains, forests, riverside towns, and fairytale regions that make Romania such a rewarding country to explore.
It’s a country of contrasts — mountains, rivers, medieval towns, and soulful food — best explored slowly and often by car.
Time zone: CET+1
Electric plugs: Type F, same as most of Europe
Driving side: right‑hand side
Safety level: Generally safe for travellers
Looking for your next stop? The guides below bring together our favourite places, stays, and flavours across Romania — from fairytale towns to quiet nature escapes and traditional dishes. Use this hub to dive deeper into the regions and experiences that interest you most.
Timișoara (Timisoara) surprised us at every corner — charming squares, hidden flower markets, vibrant cafés,...
Discover Bucharest through a different lens: where you stay becomes part of the story. This...
Wondering where to go next? Get simple, practical tips to choose the destination that feels...
Orşova – The place where two rivers meetA natural border between Serbia and Romania – Enjoying...
How to make Sarmale (the easy way) This Sarmale recipe is inspired by a traditional...
Transylvania – A beautiful province in RomaniaMention Transylvania to anyone in conversation, and the immediate...
You’ll require a fully valid license that you’ve held for a minimum of one year. EU and EEA licenses are acceptable, along with International Driving Licenses (though they aren’t obligatory). Driving a car in Romania mandates being at least 18 years old.
Driver’s checklist:
It’s recommended to secure written permission from the registered owner if you’re not the vehicle owner but will be driving the vehicle.
If you are involved in an accident in Romania, dialing 112 is the quickest way to seek assistance. This number connects you to an English-speaking operator who will gather your information and dispatch the necessary emergency services.
Renting a car requires a minimum age of 21. For drivers under 25, expect a young driver’s surcharge from rental firms. Additionally, the maximum age for car rental is typically 70.
Always drive on the right and overtake on the left, except for trams which you overtake on the right, unless on a one-way street or when space doesn’t allow it. When near a tram stop without a pedestrian area, stop 5 meters from the end carriage and wait until tram doors close. At roundabouts and in built-up areas, yield to vehicles from the right.
Parking in most towns and city centers, especially near tourist attractions, usually requires payment. It’s advisable to have loose change as card payments might not be available.
Although not consistently enforced, the official rule is to park facing traffic, typically on the right side of the road.
In built-up areas, using the horn is prohibited between 22:00 (10:00 PM) and 06:00 (6:00 AM).
To travel on motorways and state roads in Romania, you’ll need a vignette (rovinieta). The vignette is linked to your license plate and is then registered in the Romanian database.
You can obtain one at a petrol station or conveniently purchase an e-vignette online. These vignettes are available for 7-day, 30-day, 90-day, or 12-month validity periods, providing access to these roads for the specified duration.
Alternatively, buy your e-vignette online at roviniete.ro website. The first day of validity can be chosen when buying your vignette.
In Romania, the national speed limit is 130km/h on major roads outside built-up areas. On main roads outside built-up areas, the speed limit typically ranges from 90km/h to 110km/h. Within built-up areas, the speed limit is set at 50km/h.
Extra toll fees are required for certain Danube bridges, in addition to the vignette. This applies to the following bridges:
On Romania’s roads blanketed with snow, ice, or black ice, winter tires become mandatory. They should be installed on all wheels and bear the M+S or M&S marking. Winter tires are required to maintain a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm on at least two-thirds of the tread width for safe and legal usage. Studded tires are permitted on public roads covered with snow, ice, or black ice, but they must be officially approved or homologated for use in these conditions.
Like Romania, there are more European countries where winter tires are mandatory subject to snowy or icy weather conditions. For example Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, and Slovakia.
In countries such as France, Italy, and Spain, winter tires are mandatory only when indicated by specific road signs.
European countries where winter tires are legally mandatory include Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, and Slovenia.
Winter tires are not mandatory in Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Lead replacement petrol (95 & 98 octane), unleaded petrol, Diesel, and LPG are accessible. Carrying petrol in a can is allowed (ensure it’s empty when exiting Romania). Tax is due on fuel in the vehicle tank when leaving Romania. Numerous stations accept credit cards; verify usage in Romania with your card provider beforehand. Payments are generally in the local currency, Romanian Leu (RON).
If your vehicle has more than two wheels, you have to have the following safety equipment in your car:
Wearing seatbelts in the front and rear seats is mandatory in Romania. Failure to wear one incurs an automatic fine.
Children under 12 aren’t permitted to travel in the front passenger seat, and those up to age 3 must use an appropriate restraint based on their size. Any child shorter than 150cm and under 13 years old must utilize a restraint or booster seat as required by law.
Outside built-up areas during the day, all vehicles must utilize dipped headlights, and it’s advisable for all vehicles to use them in situations of poor daytime visibility regardless of the location.
Dipped headlights, also known as low beams, are the standard headlights on vehicles that illuminate the road without causing glare to oncoming drivers. They provide adequate visibility without blinding other motorists.
Daytime use of dipped headlights is mandatory. Riders and passengers on machines of 50cc and above must wear crash helmets as it’s compulsory.
Romania enforces stringent drink driving laws for road safety. It maintains a zero-tolerance policy, setting the blood alcohol limit at 0.00%. To comply, complete avoidance of alcohol is necessary not only when driving but also the day after consuming alcohol if you plan to operate a vehicle.
Romania has a way of staying with you — through its landscapes, its flavours, and the small moments you collect along the road. I hope this guide helps you explore the country with confidence and curiosity, and gives you a few ideas for the places, stays, and dishes you’d love to experience next.
If you’ve travelled through Romania before, or if you have a favourite spot, story, or tip to add, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. And if this guide helped you plan your trip, feel free to share it with someone who might be dreaming of Romania too. Your experiences and insights help make this space even more welcoming for future travellers.
