Romania.
Flight from TLV
2h 34m
Best season
מאי–אוק
Avg temp
17°
Currency
lei RON · 1=₪0.672
Time zone
אותו זמן כמו ת״א
Language
רומנית; אנגלית נפוצה באזורי תיירות
Plug
C / F · 230V
Visa
אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה של עד 90 יום בתקופה של 180 יום באזור שנגן; נדרש דרכון תקף
Safety
בטוחה בדרך כלל לתיירים ולמשפחות; יש להיזהר מכייסים בעיר העתיקה, בתחבורה ציבורית ובאזורים עמוסים
Overview
🇷🇴Romania
🇷🇴Romania
Romania is one of the most versatile and accessible choices for Israelis, combining a relatively short flight to Bucharest with good-value shopping, nightlife, casinos, mountain scenery and historic towns. In the capital, visitors move between the Palace of Parliament, Old Town cafés, Calea Victoriei and the stores at AFI Cotroceni and Băneasa Shopping City, before heading to the bars or Grand Casino Bucharest. Beyond the city are the spectacular Transfăgărășan road, Bran Castle, Brașov’s lanes and the Carpathians, with skiing in Poiana Brașov and Sinaia during winter. Families love Therme București and easy road trips, while observant travelers can find Chabad, a synagogue and kosher options in Bucharest.
Places
Islands & sub-destinations in Romania
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Where to stay
Where to stay in Romania
Each area and who it suits best.
Bucharest, Old Town and University Square
Around Strada Lipscani, Macca-Vilacrosse Passage and University Square are the bars, restaurants and clubs many Israelis come for, with hotels such as Moxy Bucharest Old Town placing everything downstairs. It is an excellent car-free weekend base, but Thursday through Saturday nights are noisy, crowded and less comfortable for families with strollers.
Bucharest, Piața Romană and Dorobanți
The area between Piața Romană, Calea Dorobanților and Charles de Gaulle Square is polished, leafy and rich in cafés, boutiques and restaurants, with easy access to Herăstrău Park and hotels such as Sheraton Bucharest. It is calmer and more refined than Lipscani, but prices are higher and the Old Town requires a short ride.
Brașov Old Town
Around Piața Sfatului, Republicii Street and the Black Church, travelers get a handsome historic center, a café-lined pedestrian street and easy access to Bran, Râșnov and Sinaia. Radisson Blu Aurum sits conveniently at the center's edge, though rooms directly on the square can be noisy on weekends and Old Town parking is limited.
Poiana Brașov
This is Romania's leading ski resort and a popular Israeli winter choice, with the Postăvarul cable facilities, beginner lessons and spa hotels such as Teleferic Grand Hotel and Ana Hotels Sport. Summer is green and peaceful for easy trails, but there is no real town or substantial nightlife, while peak snow dates bring higher prices and queues.
Sinaia
This royal resort town revolves around Peleș Castle, Sinaia Monastery and the Cota 1400 and Cota 2000 cable cars, with classic properties such as Hotel Sinaia on Bulevardul Carol I. It is romantic and train-friendly from Bucharest, but evening options are limited and some hotels sit up steep slopes or far from the castle.
Sibiu Historic Center
Around Piața Mare, the Bridge of Lies and Nicolae Bălcescu Street, the mood is European, relaxed and photogenic, while Continental Forum is convenient for drivers. It is an excellent base for the Transfăgărășan or Saxon villages, but it is farther from Bucharest and Bran, with modest nightlife.
Year-round weather
Year-round weather in Romania
Temperature averages
Real climate dataינו
8°
0°
Cool
פבר
8°
-1°
Cool
מרץ
14°
4°
Cool
אפר
18°
7°
Recommended
מאי
21°
11°
Recommended
יונ
29°
18°
Excellent
יול
33°
20°
Hot
אוג
32°
20°
Hot
ספט
26°
16°
Excellent
אוק
19°
9°
Recommended
נוב
11°
4°
Cool
דצמ
7°
1°
Cool
Most pleasant weather: יונ · ספט
Peak season for Israelis (when everyone goes): מאי · יונ · יול · אוג · ספט · אוק. July and August are the main peak for Israeli families thanks to the school holidays, Carpathian weather and the seasonal opening of the Transfăgărășan road. May, June, September and Sukkot bring milder weather, fewer crowds and better value, while Hanukkah and January through March suit ski trips.
Based on a 3-year average · measured in Romania · Open-Meteo
This week in Romania
Measured in Romania
15°
Partly cloudy
Next 7 days
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Things to do
Things to do in Romania
On the map
Romania on one map
Every spot travelers love — tap a pin for photos, opening hours, navigation and booking.
Suggested plan
A perfect Romania itinerary
Day by day, so you can picture the whole trip.
- 1
Day 1
Classic Bucharest
Begin at Piața Victoriei and walk down Calea Victoriei past the Romanian Athenaeum, Revolution Square and Macca-Vilacrosse Passage. Continue into the Old Town for Stavropoleos Church and the striking CEC building, then have lunch around Lipscani or at a preconfirmed kosher restaurant in the Jewish Quarter. Around sunset, walk opposite the Palace of Parliament, then choose a Calea Victoriei wine bar or the nightlife along Strada Șelari.
- 2
Day 2
Palace, park and shopping
Prebook a Palace of Parliament tour and arrive 30 minutes early with an original passport, as entry is controlled and the meeting point depends on the booking. Then visit the Jewish Quarter's Choral Temple, Great Synagogue and Holocaust Memorial according to opening hours. Spend the afternoon in Herăstrău Park and the Village Museum, then shop at Băneasa Shopping City, where Israelis commonly seek brands such as Zara, Massimo Dutti, Nike and Tommy Hilfiger. Reserve an evening at Therme București; Galaxy suits families, while The Palm and Elysium are calmer adult choices.
- 3
Day 3
Sinaia and Peleș Castle
Take an early train from Gara de Nord to Sinaia and reach Peleș Castle before 09:30, ahead of day groups; reserve tickets and check seasonal closure days. Afterwards, walk down to Sinaia Monastery and have lunch in town or from a packed kosher meal. If conditions are stable, ride the cable car to Cota 1400 or Cota 2000 for the views, but do not count on it in high winds. Continue by evening train to Brașov and settle near Piața Sfatului.
- 4
Day 4
Bran, Râșnov and Poiana
Leave Brașov by 08:00 by car or small-group tour and reach Bran Castle at opening time, before queues and coach groups. Continue to Râșnov for views over the fortress and Bucegi Mountains, checking in advance which sections remain open during restoration. Spend the afternoon in Poiana Brașov: reserve ski lessons and gear ahead in winter, or choose a short forest trail or operating cable car in summer. Return to Brașov for dinner and an evening walk through the illuminated Council Square.
- 5
Day 5
Brașov Old Town
Start before 09:00 at the Black Church and Piața Sfatului, then pass through narrow Strada Sforii and hike or take the cable car up Mount Tâmpa for the classic red-roof panorama. Have lunch along pedestrian Republicii Street; kosher-observant travelers should bring packed food or use a kitchenette because the city has no dependable permanent kosher dining scene. In the afternoon, walk by Catherine's Gate and the White and Black Towers. End with coffee on the square, or take an evening train to Bucharest if the next day's flight is early.
- 6
Day 6
A season-based finale
In summer, with a car and only when the road is officially open, devote a long day to the Transfăgărășan, Bâlea Lake and the Carpathian hairpins; depart before 07:00 and avoid weekends if possible. In winter, choose a full ski day in Poiana Brașov, while shoulder seasons favor the Saxon villages of Viscri and Prejmer. Travelers returning to Bucharest can instead spend the day at AFI Cotroceni, the Ceaușescu Mansion and a final coffee in Dorobanți. Never attempt the Transfăgărășan while its gates are closed, and verify road and weather conditions the previous evening.
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Budget
How much does Romania cost?
Real ILS price ranges, so you know what to expect.
Round-trip flight from TLV
₪500-1,300 (holidays: ₪1,700+)
4-5-night package
₪1,500-3,200 per person
Mid-range hotel nightly
₪280-550 per room
5-star hotel nightly
₪600-1,250 per room
Restaurant meal
₪45-100 per person
Local beer
₪9-18
Coffee
₪7-14
Short taxi ride
₪12-30
Rental car daily
₪110-260 (excluding fuel)
Peleș and Bran entry
₪50-110 per site
Daily ski pass
₪170-230 (Poiana)
Daily budget per person
₪280-600 (excluding hotel)
Family, 5 nights
₪7,500-13,500 (including flights)
Good to know
Good to know before Romania
Getting around
From the airport
From Henri Coandă Airport OTP to central Bucharest, the train to Gara de Nord usually runs about every 40 minutes, takes roughly 25 minutes and costs around ₪5; continue by metro or Bolt. The 24-hour 100 bus serves Piața Victoriei and Piața Unirii in about 45-70 minutes for approximately ₪3-5. A metered official taxi or Bolt/Uber generally costs ₪55-100 and takes 30-60 minutes, while a prebooked private transfer is around ₪100-180 per vehicle. Direct Brașov shuttles cost roughly ₪100-170 per person and take 2.5-3.5 hours, or travel through Gara de Nord by train; driving to Sinaia takes about two hours, although weekend traffic on DN1 can add an hour or more.
Need a car?
A car is unnecessary for Bucharest alone: the metro is inexpensive, Bolt is convenient and central parking is troublesome. Couples combining Bucharest, Sinaia and Brașov can travel comfortably by train and use an organized Bran tour. Families or travelers adding Bran, Râșnov, Sibiu, villages and the Transfăgărășan gain valuable flexibility from a rental car, but winter driving requires proper tires and weather-aware planning.
Tips
Use Bolt or Uber and avoid drivers quoting verbal prices outside the airport or Old Town. Google Maps can be too optimistic about weekend travel on DN1; between Bucharest and Brașov, booking an InterRegio train in advance is often wiser. Park outside the pedestrian cores of Brașov and Sibiu, and in winter check the same morning whether Sinaia and Poiana cable cars are operating because of wind.
Kosher & Jewish
Chabad / community
Bucharest's principal Chabad center operates at the Yeshua Tova Synagogue complex, 9 Strada Tache Ionescu, near Piața Romană and hotel districts popular with Israelis. It generally provides prayers, advance-registration Shabbat and holiday meals, and traveler assistance; schedules and minyanim vary, so confirmation before flying is essential. Outside Bucharest, permanent infrastructure is much more limited, and travelers should not assume a year-round Chabad operation in Brașov.
Kosher food
Bucharest has kosher venues supervised through the community or Chabad, including Moise near the Great Synagogue and Bereshit in the Jewish Quarter area, but opening hours and certification can change and should be checked directly. Chabad and community points may provide advance-ordered packed food or meals, while larger Carrefour and Mega Image supermarkets stock some imported products bearing kosher symbols rather than a full kosher department. Observant Israelis heading to Brașov and the Carpathians commonly stock up in Bucharest on sealed bread, tuna, crackers and prepared meals, then choose an apartment with a kitchenette instead of relying on a local kosher restaurant.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance for Romania 🇷🇴
A hospital day in Romania can cost thousands. Full coverage with Hebrew support.
- Medical + hospital 24/7
- Trip cancellation
- Baggage
- Gadgets & pre-existing conditions
Currency & rates
Live rateCurrency & rates
Quick conversion at today's rate
Convert
You get
67.2
1 RON
₪0.67
100 RON
₪67.2
1,000 RON
₪671.7
Source: exchangerate-api · updated Sep 13 · refreshes daily
Visa & documents
Visa & documents for Romania 🇷🇴
What you need before you fly
- אין צורך בוויזה לישראלים לשהייה של עד 90 יום בתקופה של 180 יום באזור שנגן; נדרש דרכון תקף
- Passport valid 6 months
- Travel insurance, leave details for a quote
Local tips
Good to know about Romania
- 💳Cards and Apple Pay work almost everywhere, but keep 150 to 250 lei for markets, parking, and villages, and at ATMs always choose charging in RON while declining conversion to shekels.
- 🚕In Bucharest, order Bolt or Uber instead of taking a waiting taxi outside the airport or Old Town, as the fare is shown in advance and arguments are far less likely.
- 🚗Plan the DN7C Transfăgărășan drive generally from late June through October only, and still check road conditions that morning because snow, fog, or works can close the section near Bâlea Lake.
- 🏨For a Bucharest city break, stay around Piața Romană or Calea Victoriei rather than deep inside Lipscani, where party noise and cobbled streets make sleeping and handling luggage harder.
- 🎟️Reserve Therme București in advance, especially the Elysium area on weekends and during Israeli school holidays, and bring flip-flops because buying essentials there makes an otherwise good-value visit more expensive.
- 🏰Before traveling to Sinaia, check Peleș Castle’s official site for seasonal opening days and book the first entry slot to get ahead of groups arriving from Bucharest.
- 🎰For an evening at Palace Casino in Casa Vernescu, wear smart casual clothing, carry your physical passport, set a budget in lei beforehand, and do not photograph gaming tables without permission.
- ✡️For Shabbat or kosher food in Bucharest, contact Chabad Romania several days ahead because meals commonly require advance registration, and do not assume a vegetarian dish in a regular restaurant meets kosher standards.
- 🥾Even in July, pack a warm layer and rain jacket for Bâlea, the Bucegi Mountains, and Poiana Brașov, where sunshine can turn into wind and rain in under an hour.
- 📱Activate an eSIM before leaving Israel or buy an Orange or Vodafone SIM, and download offline maps for Moieciu and the Transfăgărășan because reception weakens in valleys and along mountain roads.
מאיה רוזן
Senior agent · Greece for 12 years
"For me, Romania is the holiday that surprises Israelis through its contrasts: a morning among Brașov’s stone buildings, an afternoon on the Transfăgărășan overlooking Bâlea Lake, and evening cocktails on Bucharest’s Lipscani Street. Israelis fall for it because dramatic nature, spa hotels, shopping, and comforting food still feel relatively affordable compared with Western Europe. My favorite moment is reaching the viewpoint above Bran Castle early, before the tour buses, then stopping for warm papanași with cheese and forest-fruit jam. Romania is easy to explore, but a well-planned route reveals far more than just Bucharest and Dracula."
Loves
My local secret is the village of Peștera in the Moieciu area, where you drive slowly past wooden homes and open views of the Piatra Craiului range, then stop for a home-style lunch at a local guesthouse. Visit on a weekday between May and October, around 10:00, when the light is beautiful and the trails are still quiet.
Skip
I would not build an entire day around Bran Castle or queue there at midday: its Dracula connection is largely marketing, and peak hours get extremely crowded. Reserve ahead, arrive at opening time, and continue to the Moieciu villages or Râșnov Fortress.
Boutique pick
I would start my signature day at 08:00 in Brașov’s Council Square, having coffee as the city wakes, then take the Tâmpa cable car up before the queues. At 11:30, drive via Râșnov to Peștera village for a country lunch and a short walk facing the Piatra Craiului mountains; around 17:00, return to Brașov for a stroll along Republicii Street. Finish at a spa hotel in Poiana Brașov or a wine bar in the Old Town, with no long drive after dark.
Client stories
What returning travelers say about Romania
"We started the morning at magnificent Peleș Castle and ended among the warm pools and palm trees of Therme București, a combination we never expected to find in Romania. It was an easy, indulgent couples’ break with just the right balance of nature, city life, and romance."
Noa and Ido, Tel Aviv
Couple · 5 nights · September
"The children could not stop talking about descending into Salina Turda and meeting the life-size dinosaurs at Dino Parc Râșnov. Romania gave us a packed family adventure without endless queues or the feeling that every day was destroying the budget."
Michal and Ori, Modi'in
Family with children · 8 nights · August
"We had cocktails among the rooftops of Bucharest’s Old Town and then carried on to a late show and dance floor at Control Club. The next evening we dressed up for Grand Casino Bucharest, and Romania turned out to be a far more varied friends’ getaway than we expected."
Roy, Daniel and Shahar, Rishon LeZion
Friends · 4 nights · June
"We drove past the peaks and waterfalls of the Transfăgărășan Highway, then slowed down for coffee opposite the colorful houses of Sibiu’s Grand Square. Romania’s roads required patience, but the scenery, historic towns, and prices made this one of our most memorable trips."
Rachel and Yossi, Haifa
Older couple · 9 nights · July
FAQ
Common questions about Romania
Do Israelis need a visa for Romania?
Israeli passport holders do not need a visa for a short tourist visit to Romania and may stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Before flying, check whether ETIAS has taken effect and review the latest entry requirements.
Are there direct flights from Israel to Romania, and how long is the flight?
There are year-round direct flights from Tel Aviv to Bucharest, with occasional services to Cluj-Napoca and other seasonal destinations in Romania; the Bucharest flight usually takes about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours. Book early for Israeli holidays, summer, and the Christmas market season, when fares rise quickly.
When is the best time to visit Romania, and how many days are enough?
May to June and September to early October offer the best conditions for a Romanian road trip, while July and August are peak family season and winter draws skiers to Poiana Brașov. Allow 3 to 4 nights for Bucharest, or 7 to 10 days for Romania including Brașov, Sinaia, Sibiu, and the Carpathians.
What is the best way to get around Romania?
In Bucharest, the metro, Bolt, and Uber are convenient and inexpensive, but a rental car is best for Peleș Castle, Brașov, Sibiu, and Transylvanian villages. Driving in Romania is fairly straightforward, although mountain roads such as the Transfăgărășan are seasonal and journeys often take longer than the map suggests.
How much does a vacation in Romania cost?
A four-night Bucharest break generally costs ₪2,200 to ₪4,200 per person sharing a room, including direct flights, a good hotel, meals, and local transport but excluding major shopping. A one-week Romania road trip with a rental car and comfortable hotels usually costs ₪4,000 to ₪7,000 per person, depending on season and accommodation level.
Is Romania safe for Israeli travelers?
Romania is generally considered safe, including Bucharest, Brașov, and Sibiu, but watch for pickpockets in Bucharest’s Old Town, at Gara de Nord, and on crowded transport. Israelis should avoid unlicensed street taxis, use ride-hailing apps, and check current Israeli travel advisories before departure.
What should first-time visitors not miss in Romania?
On a first trip to Romania, combine Bucharest’s Palace of Parliament and Old Town with Peleș Castle in Sinaia, Brașov’s historic center, and Bran Castle. With extra time, add Salina Turda, Sibiu, and the Transfăgărășan Highway when open, usually in summer and early autumn.
What are nightlife and casinos like in Romania?
Bucharest is Romania’s nightlife center, with bars along Lipscani and Selari streets, live events at Control Club, and upscale clubs such as Nuba and Face Club. Romania also has active casinos, notably Grand Casino Bucharest at the JW Marriott and Palace Casino at Casa Vernescu; bring a passport, dress smartly, and set a firm budget.
Are kosher food and Chabad available in Romania?
Chabad Bucharest assists with kosher meals, Shabbat, and holiday services, but advance booking is essential rather than relying on walk-in availability; Jewish services are also available in Brașov depending on the season. Kosher options elsewhere in Romania are limited, so observant travelers should bring sealed products and consider an apartment with a kitchen.
Is Romania better for families or couples, what should you pack, and what can it be combined with?
Romania suits both: families love Therme București, Dino Parc Râșnov, and Salina Turda, while couples enjoy Sinaia, Sibiu, and Carpathian spa hotels. Pack layers, a rain jacket, and proper walking shoes even in summer, and consider combining Romania with Budapest, Sofia, or Chișinău on a longer itinerary.