Book cheap flights to Romania

With summer (June – August) providing the best weather in Romania, the country’s beaches, castles, museums and parks are at their busiest. If you can handle the crowds, make sure to book your hotel rooms well in advance and be prepared for high accommodation rates. Avoid the peak tourist season in Romania by visiting during spring (April – May) and autumn (September – October). Temperatures range from moderate to warm during these months. Some of the museums, monasteries and attractions usually have shorter hours or are closed. The latter part of May is the perfect time to go birdwatching in the Danube Delta. Winter (November – March) is the quietest period in Romania. This changes between mid-December and early-March, when the snowfall reaches its peak, making this the best time to go skiing. The museums and castles in the smaller towns will only be open on weekends or close for the season.

South African passport holders require a visa to enter Romania. Visa processing takes a considerable amount of time, so make sure to have this sorted out before your departure date. For more information on the required documents, contact the Romanian Embassy in Pretoria (phone: 27 12 460 6941).

The South African Embassy is in Bucharest.

Address: 26-28 Stirbei Voda, Union International Business Centre, 2nd Floor, Bucharest

Phone: 40 21 313 3725

Email: madibas@dirco.gov.za

Check with your doctor about getting all the necessary routine vaccinations before departing for Romania. Additionally, depending on your activities while abroad, you may need vaccines and medication for hepatitis A (spreads through contaminated food and water), hepatitis B (spreads through sexual contact, contaminated needles and blood products) and rabies (spreads through the bites of animals).

While exploring the cities and towns of Romania, avoid dimly lit areas. If you are lost, the locals reportedly go out of their way to be helpful, so you are encouraged to ask them for assistance.

Make sure to reject any offers on the streets, as prostitution and solicitation is illegal in Romania. If caught with any individual involved in such business, especially if that individual is underage, you will be charged with a crime related to human trafficking and sexual assault.

There is a large population of wild animals in Romania. If you encounter any bear cubs or other young animals, make sure to avoid them and leave the area immediately, as interacting with the young will result in getting attacked by the adult. When camping, do it in the open rather than under the trees to avoid encountering bears.