Cheap flights to Romania

Romania is very old and, at the same time, startlingly new. Bordered by Hungary, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria and Serbia, it also has a stretch of the Black Sea coast. EU membership in 2007 has opened up the country and increasing numbers of UK and Irish flyers are searching for cheap flights to Romania.

The popular notion of Romania is as Vladislav Dracula’s homeland, the nobleman who inspired the name of the vampire in Bram Stoker’s famous novel, but there is so much more to this country than Bran Castle (where Vlad is said to have lived).

Its capital is Bucharest, known not only for its historic city centre – in the 19th century, it was known as “Little Paris” and it even has l’Arc de Triomphe – but also for the Palace of Parliament, the world’s second-largest building (after the Pentagon), built by Nicolae Ceausescu.

Brasov is the second-largest city. Close to the city centre, Poiana Brasov is the country’s largest ski resort, with ten miles of runs. One of Romania’s most famous tourist attractions are the painted monasteries of Southern Bucovina (near the Ukrainian border), many of them Unesco-listed.

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Romania climate

The climate in Romania is temperate, with four seasons. The spring is pleasant with cool mornings but warm days. Summer is warm especially in the lowlands of eastern and southern Romania. Temperatures often hit 30 degrees in July and August. The mountains are always cooler. The autumn months are cool and dry (the foliage rivals New England for vibrancy). Winters can be cold, particularly in the mountains. Snow may fall between December and mid-March.

When is the best time to fly to Romania?

Peak season:

The summer months, July and August, are high season.

Off season:

In general, the winter months; however, this is when skiers and snowboarders step off their Romania flights and head for the slopes of Poiana, Sinaia (known as Carpathians Pearl), Busteni, Predeal and Azuga.

Shoulder season:

Spring and autumn are great, shoulder-season times to visit Romania. They’re outside peak season but the weather is usually pleasant.

Getting around Romania

CarpatAir and Tarom offer domestic Romania flights.

Most of the major car-rental companies are represented in Romania.

Public transport is decent. Several bus companies offer reasonably priced services between the cities and there is a well-developed railway network as well. Tickets are inexpensive. Finally, taxis are plentiful. It’s a good idea to settle on the fare in advance.

How long is the flight to Romania?

All flights to Romania from Hong Kong originate from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Flight times depend on different factors, including the number of stops. From the Hong Kong International Airport to Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP), the flight can take up to 23h 10min with a single stop at the Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, Qatar. Flights offering two stops pass through the Hamad International Airport and Istanbul Airport (IST). This flight takes up to 47h 25min. You can also find a flight with two stopovers at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The flight takes up to 21h 50 min. If you’re flying to the Iasi International Airport (IAS) in Romania from Hong Kong International Airport, your flight will likely have two stops, in Hamad International Airport and Otopeni Airport. It takes 30h to 33h 30min.

Where can you get direct flights to Romania from?

Hong Kong International Airport is the only point of origin for flights to Romania. You’ll not find direct flights, but airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines offer Romania flight deals to Bucharest Otopeni Airport with a single stop. These offer the fastest way to fly to Romania from Hong Kong. You can also find cheap flights to Romania from Hong Kong International Airport to Iasi International Airport stopping in Frankfurt, as well as two-stop flights with stopovers in Munich and Vienna.

What is the best way to travel around Romania?

There are many ways you can travel around Romania depending on your needs. The transport system in Romania is designed around light rail, bus, and train networks. For long distances, a train is the suitable means of transport. Train tickets from Bucharest to Brașov cost from HK$58.19. If you’re making trips across town or in small villages, Maxi Taxis are the preferred option. These are small bus-like vehicles operated independently. A trip to Otopeni from Bucharest can cost around HK$9.70. For getting around town, there is a local bus service. A bus ride around Bucharest can cost from HK$2.33. If you want to travel around the city, the light rail system is an alternative to the bus.

What are some things to do in Romania?

Romania is known for its preserved medieval towns and fortified castles and churches. Visitors can choose from many different things to do while in the country, including visits to heritage sites. Dracula Castle's in Transylvania, popular with visitors, was a medieval fortress that also served as home to Romania’s Queen Mary. It was completed in the 13th century to offer protection against invaders to Brașov, a nearby city. The castle has four floors with 57 rooms that visitors can explore. Each room contains historical clothing, furniture, and armour. However, if you love the outdoors, you can soak in the sun at the golden sand strips of the Black Sea, which you can find south of the Danube Delta. The city of Constanta offers the entry point to Mamaia, a popular beach in Romania. You could also hike in the Carpathian Mountains, which offer trails for both beginners and skilled hikers.

Do I need a passport or visa to fly to Romania?

For a stay of up to 15 days, Hong Kong citizens don’t need a tourist visa to enter Romania. You can apply for a Romanian Visa online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

What is good to know if travelling to Romania?

• Bran Castle, towering over the countryside, is near the medieval town of Brasov, and is synonymous with Dracula. Although the castle never belonged to Prince Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s famous vampire, he is believed to have visited there several times. The castle, with the nearby village museum, is one of Romania’s most popular tourist attractions where you can buy vampire wine, statues and paintings of Vlad and sweaters. Vlad’s “real” castle is in Poenari, Central Romania. The fortress sits high on a cliff, an imposing set of ruins, above the Arges River. According to legend, it was into this river that Vlad’s first wife threw herself rather than be captured by the advancing Turks.
• Brasov is a beautiful old town, home to the Piata Sfatului (House of the Council) which hosts The Gold Stag, an international music festival.
• Poiana Brasov is a ski resort about 14km (9 miles) away. Other ski resorts in the country include Sinaia, known as the Pearl of the Carpathians.
• Bucharest is one of those beautiful European cities that is described as “the Paris of …” The city boasts the second-biggest building in the world – Palace of the Parliament or the People’s House – built by Ceauşescu. It houses the Romanian Parliament and National Museum of Contemporary Art. The Arcul de Triumf (Triumphal Arch) is also worth a look. It was built in 1935, modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The Memorial of Rebirth is newer, unveiled in 2005 to commemorate the victims of the Romanian Revolution of 1989. It is often called “the toothpick and the olive”.
• The famous painted monasteries of Moldovita, Sucevita, Humor and Voronet are in the north.
• Romania has more than one third of Europe’s mineral and thermal springs. Spas include: Mangalia, Neptun, Eforie Nord and Covasna.