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With a mix of varied history, breathtaking nature, and castles straight out of a fairy tale, Romania is surely an underrated tourist destination. To get the most out of your trip, however, it’s wise to get insights into the pros and cons of going at different periods of the year.
Considering things such as budget, low season, high season, and activities and events during the year are all factors that can either make or break your journey. It all depends on your preferences.
So whether you wish to know the busiest month in Romania or simply when to avoid heading there, follow along as we explore all this in greater detail and so much more. Let us be your guide!
The Best Time to Visit Romania
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The best time to visit Romania is in summer, during the June–August period. The temperatures vary between highs of 83.8°F and lows of 57.2°F.
The weather’s perfect for visiting castles and churches, as well as taking part in other outdoor activities. Romanian summers are hot, but that’s when the entire country comes alive.
Note that these months see large crowds, high accommodation prices, and heavier road traffic than usual. On the bright side, daylight hours are much longer, allowing travelers ample time to enjoy the country’s landmarks and nature.
Summer also arrives with a plethora of fresh vegetables and fruits for both locals and visitors to enjoy. It’s also a lively festival period, with a wide range of events scattered around the country.
In June, the Traditional Crafts Fair takes place in Bucharest, drawing in artisans at the Village Museum.
July has the Maidens’ Fair, an old festival known for villagers dressed in traditional costumes — head to Gaina Mountain Plateau for dances, music, and even finding a partner.
Then there’s the Sighisoara Festival of Medieval Arts and Crafts, honoring crafts, music, and of course, the medieval arts. In August, you can enjoy the Sibiu Traditional Crafts Fair, featuring woodcarving, pottery, and textile embroidering, to name a few.
Dance at Prislop is worth a bookmark in your calendar — a traditional festivity, the event features villagers parading in traditional costumes all the way to Prislop Pass.
Cheapest Time to Visit Romania
The cheapest time to visit Romania is in mid-January. Budget-minded folks can take advantage of cheaper flights and versatile accommodation rates.
Being a cold winter month, January sees temperatures between 34.7°F and 22.1°F. The country is quite grim at this time, but the month kicks off with Bucharest’s Festival of Urban Culture, followed by Agnita’s Run of the Lole Festival, making the atmosphere more playful.
Romania’s Unification Day is also a big event honoring the unification of Romanian Principalities. Also, if you’re looking for a low-cost ski getaway, heading to Romania at this time should do the trick.
If skiing isn’t your thing, but you wish to enjoy Romania’s winter idyll, opt for the traditional sleigh riding between Transylvanian villages — keep your eyes peeled for potential tracks of the above-mentioned animals.
Least Busy Time to Visit Romania
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The least busy time to head to Romania is either in April or May and September or October. The shoulder months in spring allow visitors to enjoy the awakening of nature.
On the other hand, the fall shoulder months are the perfect limbo period after the summer craze and the yet-to-start winter season, enabling travelers to take advantage of the still relatively mild temperatures and marvel at the autumnal harvest colors.
Moreover, the harvest season allows travelers to take advantage of tasty and, more importantly, fresh produce. Occasional rainfall is possible, though.
In smaller cities, public transportation may be reduced in the low season months. May hosts the Sâmbra Oilor, honoring the sheep herds’ departure in the pastures.
Romania’s best wine event, Revino Wine Show, is a great chance to try some local wines and simply enjoy your glass discoveries. In September, there’s Răvășitul Oilor, celebrating the herds’ return from the pastures.
The George Enescu Classical Music Festival is all about classical music and breathtaking performances in Bucharest.
October visitors can attend the Revino Gourmet Show and enjoy some of the country’s finest cheeses, wines, and cured meat. Of course, Halloween parties and festivities can’t go unnoticed, honoring Count Dracula.
April and May have temperatures fluctuating between highs of 73.9°F and lows of 42.1°F. Being comfortable fall months, September and October see temperatures between 42.3°F and 76.3°F.
Worst Time to Visit Romania
The worst time to go to Romania is in winter (December–March). Low temperatures make many activities challenging, and ice and snowy roads make travel difficult.
As the weather can cause travel disruptions, you may be required to be flexible with your schedule. Also, expect certain trails and attractions to close down or be difficult to access due to the harsh conditions.
That said, going to Romania in winter provides you with white landscapes you can’t see in any other season. From frozen lakes to snow-capped peaks, Romania gets picturesque beyond recognition.
The ski season slowly picks up in December, depending on the snowfall conditions, with Poiana Brasov being one of the preferred Romanian ski resorts.
December also hosts a plethora of Christmas markets in most cities. Then, there’s the Iași Festival of Winter Traditions, Brasov Winter Festival, and Timișoara Festival of Lights, both adding holiday magic to an otherwise slow-paced and cold period.
If you wish to take things slowly, February is ideal for indoor activities such as touring landmarks, heading to museums, and dining at some of the best local-approved restaurants.
To spice up your winter itinerary, consider attending some of the following February events: Prejmer Pancake Festival, Iasi Exotic Plants Show, Classix – Iasi Classical Music Festival, Brasov Festival of Spring Jewelry and Ornaments (yep, it’s in February).
March gives visitors winter’s cold climate with glimmers of spring.
Festivals worth being on your cultural radar include the Romanian Pop Music Festival, Massif – Poiana Brasov ski slopes – Music Festival, and Jazz in the Tram, where you get to listen to live jazz music while being on the Timisoara Sightseeing Tram.
If you go at the beginning of March, make sure to follow the Martisor tradition, including red and white cords to mark the start of the spring season (fun fact: Mărțișor is a diminutive form of March).
The December–February period sees average temperatures between highs of 39.4°F and lows of 26.1°F. In March, temperatures slowly increase with daily highs of 50.9°F and evening lows of 32.5°F.
This may be the worst time to visit Romania, but to us, it doesn’t sound bad at all!
Things to Consider
Bucharest, Romania – August 10, 2014: Tourist visit the capital city of Romania on 10th of August 2014 in Bucharest/Bilciu/Shutterstock
Besides knowing the best time to visit Romania, here’s what else you need to learn to ensure you have a hassle-free stay:
- While Romania shares both sea and land borders with Ukraine, the situation for the time being remains normal. That said, it’s advisable not to enter Romania via Ukraine.
- While most visits are trouble-free, always exercise common sense as you would anywhere in the world. The risk of petty theft is present everywhere. Bag snatching and pickpocketing may occur in bigger cities such as Bucharest, especially on public transport or in other crowded areas such as railway stations.
- Certain medical facilities may provide substandard care, especially in more remote areas, which is why getting suitable travel insurance and checking if it covers everything you need is a must.
- Make sure to store your valuables in a safe place. Carry a copy of your passport at all times. Avoid walking alone, especially at night. Never leave your drinks unattended in bars or clubs.
- Bucharest has a solid metro system. Other cities are serviced by other public transportation options, such as trams and buses. The country has a nice network of inter-city trains as well.
- Common scams include fraudsters introducing themselves as police officers and asking to see your ID. If you’re not sure whether you’re approached by an authentic police officer, ask to see their identification just to be on the safe side. ATM scams are common, so opt only for reliable ones.
- Driving conditions may be poor, especially in more remote areas. Also, driving laws are strictly followed, and there are regular police patrols conducting checkups.
- It’s not unheard of taxi drivers to try to overcharge foreigners — usually, taxis should display their prices on one side of the vehicle together with their company’s name, so make sure to check these things before you begin your ride.
- Changing money on the street is considered illegal — you should do so only in recognized exchange offices, hotels, or banks.
- In regards to LGBT activities, Romania remains very much conservative, so keeping a low profile may be best.
- Taking photos of military sites is illegal.
- Drug offenses are treated very seriously and include jail time of up to 20 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Timisoara, Romania – 06.19.2021: View with Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedrala Mitropolitană Ortodoxă) seen from Victory Square, in Timisoara/Cristi
Is Romania cheap for a holiday?
Romania is one of the most budget-friendly European destinations. For a three-day trip to Bucharest, you’ll need $300 if you’re traveling solo, $500 if you go with a partner, and $650 if you’re traveling as a four-member family.
Hotel prices range between $90 and $230. For eating at restaurants and public transportation, we suggest setting aside $35 per day per person. Note that these are all approximations and could undergo alterations over time.
What is typical Romanian cuisine?
Typical Romanian dishes include: ciorba de burta (traditional tripe soup), ciorba radauteana (Radauti soup), mamaliga (polenta), salata boeuf (boeuf salad), zacusca (Romanian vegetable spread), chiftele (traditional meatballs), frigarui (Romanian kebab), sarmale (cabbage rolls or stuffed vine leaves), and placinte (Romanian pies).
What are 10 interesting facts about Romania?
Here are 10 interesting facts about Romania:
1. Romania has the world’s second-largest administrative building — the Palace of Parliament.
2. It has Europe’s first electrified castle, Peleș Castle.
3. Timișoara was the first European city to get electric street lamps.
4. It has Europe’s largest rock sculpture, the statue of King Decebalus.
5. At 78 meters high, the Săpânța-based Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel is said to be the tallest oak structure in the world.
6. Scarisoara Ice Cave is home to the second-biggest underground glacier in the southeastern European region.
7. Thanks to its well-known ritual dance Căluşul, the country is on the UNESCO List of Immaterial Cultural Heritage.
8. The Cluj Napoca-based Baciu Forest is said to be one of the most paranormal and haunted forests in the entire world.
9. Romania’s name has its roots in the Latin language (“Romanus,” meaning “citizen of the Roman Empire”).
10. Not only is Romania’s Danube Delta the largest in Europe, but also the most well-preserved one.
Does Romania have natural disasters?
Being a seismically active region, Romania is susceptible to earthquakes, but the last major earthquake was in March 1977. Other disasters which may occur include heat waves, droughts, heavy precipitation, flooding, and landslides.
How many days are enough for Romania?
This entirely depends on what you hope to achieve from your stay, but we believe spending at least a week in Romania is enough to see the major highlights, attend interesting events, explore nature, and discover cool villages.
Over to You — Book Your Trip Today!
| 👍 Best Time to Visit | June-August |
| 💲 Cheapest Time to Visit | January |
| 🗓️ Least Busy Time to Visit | April-May & September-October |
| 👎 Worst Time to Visit | December-March |
The best time to visit Romania is in summer, during the June–August period. The climate’s perfect for visitors wanting to make the most of their stay — events are in full swing, and visiting major points of interest is on the table, but note that humidity lurks from the side.
Also, prices skyrocket, so book your stay well in advance. The cheapest time to visit Romania is in mid-January. While Romania isn’t an expensive destination, if you don’t wish to strain your budget, take advantage of all budget-friendly options available at this time.
The least busy time to head to Romania is either in April or May and September or October. Spring and fall are ideal for travelers who wish to enjoy Romanian natural beauty and major landmarks without fighting large crowds or coping with summer’s/winter’s more extreme climate.
The worst time to go to Romania is in winter (December–March). The weather is awful and cold, and you’re more than likely going to try to spend as much time indoors rather than soaking in Romania’s beauty.
That said, the Christmas markets and winter-based sports compensate for the lack of nice weather. From exciting mountain ranges to the plethora of cultural festivals and majestic sites, you’ll see that whenever you visit Romania, you’ll have a great time!