Romania is one of the few countries in Europe where not having a car is not a handicap. It is sometimes an advantage.
The trains go through the Carpathians. The buses go everywhere else. The maxitaxi goes where neither dares. And somewhere between Bucharest and Brașov, on a slow InterRegio with a view that would cost you three times as much in Switzerland, you will wonder why you ever thought you needed to rent a car.
Here is everything you need to know.
Your options at a glance
| Transport | Best for | Cost (approx.) | Book via |
| Train (CFR) | City to city, scenic routes | 5-25 EUR | cfrcalatori.ro |
| Intercity bus | Smaller towns, cross-border | 5-20 EUR | autogari.ro |
| Maxi-taxi | Villages, last-mile connections | 4-8 EUR | Ask locally |
| BlaBlaCar | Long distances, flexible | 5-15 EUR | blablacar.ro |
| Bolt ride | Within cities | 7-20 EUR | Bolt app |
| Uber ride | Within cities | 7-20 EUR | Uber RO |
Please note: A Bolt ride across central Bucharest typically runs between 7 and 20 EUR depending on traffic and time of day. Always check the app before you go, compare with Uber before booking, prices for the same trip can differ significantly.
By train
Cheap, scenic, occasionally slow. The Bucharest–Brașov route cuts through the Carpathians in a way that makes you put your phone down. The overnight train to Cluj is an experience worth planning around.
Book at cfrcalatori.ro – up to 30 days in advance. Same-day tickets at the station.
2026 Note: Trackwork on some routes runs May-September. The trains still run. They just run differently. Check before you go.
A special mention: the Mocănița
If you have time for one detour, make it the Mocănița – a narrow-gauge steam train that still runs through the forests of Maramureș in northern Romania. It is not fast. It is not efficient. It is one of the most beautiful train journeys in Europe and almost nobody outside Romania knows it exists.
By bus
For towns the train doesn’t reach – Vama Veche, Bucovina monasteries, villages in Maramureș – the bus fills the gap reliably and cheaply.
Book at autogari.ro or buy at the station.
By maxitaxi
No app. No website. No schedule you can find online. The maxitaxi is a shared minibus that connects towns and villages on routes that exist mostly in local knowledge. You find it by asking at the bus station or asking a Romanian.
It costs almost nothing. It goes almost everywhere. It is one of the most authentically Romanian travel experiences available.
In cities
Bucharest has a metro, cheap, reliable, covers the main areas. Get a multi-trip card at any station.
Bolt works well in every major Romanian city. Use it instead of street taxis.
The honest part
Traveling without a car means you will miss some things. Remote monasteries. Mountain passes. Villages with no bus connection on Sundays.
But it also means you will talk to people. You will share a train compartment with someone who insists on feeding you. You will arrive somewhere unexpected on a maxitaxi with three farmers and a dog.
Some of the best Romanian travel happens in transit.
For accommodation along the way, search hotels in Romania on Booking.com.
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Secrets of Romania 