Romania is a country located in Southeastern Europe, bordered by Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Moldova, along with a coastline along the Black Sea. Known for it diverse landscape (such as the Carpathian Mountains, Danube River and Danube Delta), rich and complex history influenced by Dacian, Roman, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Soviet rule, folklore, medieval castles (like Bran Castle; the castle, along with the ruler of Wallachia: Vlad the Impaler, that inspired the story of Dracula), traditional music and dance, and vibrant festivals.
Its capital, Bucharest, is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeastern part of the country. It is often called 'Little Paris' due to its historical architecture and vibrant cultural life. The city is home to many museums, theatres, universities, and historic landmarks such as the Romanian Athenaeum and Revolution Square, alongside the Palace of the Parliament (the second-largest administrative building in the world), and possesses a mix of neoclassical, Art Deco, communist-era, and modern architecture.
UTC+2 daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October.
Earthquakes (particularly in the Vrancea seismic zone), floods, landslides and storms.
For traffic and related offences;
Many fines are eligible for a reduction (often 50%) if paid within a short period (sometimes 48 hours, sometimes 15 days) after the fine is issued. Fines can be paid at local administrative offices or treasuries ('Trezoreria Statului'), online via official sites, or at the post office in some cases, and for non-residents, fines would often be sent to their home address (or via postal or electronic communication). In addition, Romania uses a driver‑penalty points system that applies to tourists using a licence recognised under Romanian law. Exceeding certain numbers of points can lead to licence suspension.
The official languages of Romania are Romanian, but Hungarian, Romani, Ukrainian, German and English are also spoken.
Vehicles drive on the right in Romania, while overtaking is done on the left. The minimum age to drive is 18, but it's 21 to rent a car, though some rental companies might allow 18-year-olds to rent (for an extra fee). Drivers usually need to have held their license for at least one year, and a young driver surcharge may be applied for drivers under 25. UK drivers don't need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Romania, unless they have an older paper licence, or one that was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man.
Many roads, including motorways, are well maintained, but secondary roads can be narrow, winding, or less well surfaced, especially in remote or mountainous regions. Dipped headlights must on during daytime when outside urban areas, on motorways and expressways. Be alert when driving since animals, carts, pedestrians might appear suddenly, especially in villages, and if travelling in winter, make sure to use winter tyres, and snow chains for mountainous areas. Be mindful as some roads, especially mountain passes, may close during winter (e.g. Transalpina).
Petrol (Benzină; 95 octane, 98 - 100 octane) and diesel (Motorină) are widely available at many major stations, with 'premium diesel' and LPG available as well. Major brand fuel stations tend to have good fuel quality, multiple grades, modern pumps, while smaller/rural stations may have fewer options and older pumps. Also; stations on highways tend to be more expensive than those off the motorway, stations on highways are ofter open 24/7, while small rural stations may have limited opening hours, some stations have self‑service pumps, where pre‑authorisation may occur, and card payments are usually accepted, but for smaller/urual stations, cards are sometimes less reliable.
Zero tolerance for all drivers. Driving under the influence is severely punished.
Mandatory for all seats if belts are fitted.
Children under 12 or under 150cm tall must use an appropriate child restraint or booster seat in the back seat of a vehicle, with children under 3 specifically requiring an appropriate child restraint.