Romania on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Romania is very good on a budget, with cheap trains, guesthouses and set lunches. Plan on about 270 lei per person per day (bed 110, food 90, sights 40, transport 30 lei).
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | lei110 | lei250 | lei550 |
| Food & drink | lei90 | lei180 | lei350 |
| Sights & tickets | lei40 | lei90 | lei150 |
| Local transport | lei30 | lei70 | lei150 |
| Per person, per day | lei270 | lei590 | lei1,200 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Romania day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk Bucharest's Old Town (Lipscani) and visit the Stavropoleos Monastery church
- Walk Calea Victoriei past the Romanian Athenaeum and Revolution Square
- Explore Brașov's Piața Sfatului, Strada Sforii and the Schei district
- Hike up Mount Tâmpa in Brașov instead of taking the cable car (about 1 hour)
- Wander Sighișoara's citadel and climb the covered Scholars' Stairs
- Walk Sibiu's Piața Mare and Piața Mică and cross the Bridge of Lies
Cheap eats
- Meniul zilei (set lunch): about 35–50 lei
- Mici with mustard and a beer: about 30–40 lei
- Papanași: about 25–35 lei
- Sarmale with polenta at a simple restaurant: well within a 50–80 lei main
- Covrigi (pretzels) and pastries from bakeries: a few lei
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in family guesthouses (pensiune) in the old towns, about 150–250 lei a room, often with breakfast, or in hostels in Bucharest, Brașov, Sibiu and Cluj, where dorm beds are much cheaper. Brașov and Sibiu have the best choice.
Getting around cheaply
CFR trains link Bucharest, Sinaia, Brașov, Sighișoara and Cluj for about 50–120 lei per leg, though they are slow. In Bucharest, the metro costs about 5 lei and the express bus links the airport with the centre cheaply. Buses (from Brașov's Autogara 2, for example) reach Bran. Share a rental car for the Saxon villages.
A sample budget day
- Morning: walk Brașov's Piața Sfatului and the Black Church (about 25 lei)
- Lunch: meniul zilei (about 40 lei)
- Afternoon: hike up Mount Tâmpa and explore the Schei district (free)
- Evening: mici and a beer, then papanași (about 60 lei)
- Total: about 125 lei plus your bed (110 lei), so roughly 240–270 lei
More ways to save
- Book train tickets online in advance for the best seats on busy routes.
- Choose a guesthouse with breakfast and kitchen access.
- Visit Bran early or on a weekday to avoid queues and wasted time.
- Travel in May, June, September or October for good weather and lower prices than August.
- Pay by card in towns, but carry small cash for village churches and markets.
- Drink local beer and wine rather than imported brands.
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Common questions
Can you visit Romania on a budget?
Easily: guesthouses, CFR trains and set lunches keep a day around 270 lei.
How do I get from Bucharest airport to the centre cheaply?
Take the express bus to the centre, or the train link where available; both are far cheaper than a taxi.
What can you do for free?
Walk the old towns of Bucharest, Brașov, Sighișoara and Sibiu, and hike up Mount Tâmpa.