Useful information about Romania, including all the things to know before leaving for a trip or a holiday in this state of Europe with the capital Bucharest.
Romania in a nutshell
- Capital: Bucharest
- Area in sq km: 237,500
- Population: 22,303,000 (first half 2001)
- Religion: Orthodox, with Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim minorities.
Where is it
Romania is bordered by Ukraine to the north, Moldova to the east, Hungary and Serbia to the west, Bulgaria to the south and is bathed in the east by the Black Sea.
The country is crossed by the Carpathian Mountains and the Transylvanian Alps which form a curve in the central part. Inside there is the fertile Transylvanian basin delimited to the north west by Apuseni mountains.
Along the border with Serbia and Hungary, flat strips stretch, the eastern section of the Pannonian lowlands, and further south, the banat.
To the south towards the Danube valley lies Wallachia, (once arid and steppe, now largely cultivated) while towards the border with Moldova the Carpathians slope down.
On the Black Sea coast lies the marshy Dobrujah, bordered by the end of the Danube.
Hydrography
The Danube marks most of Romania's borders with Serbia and Bulgaria and flows into a large delta (the largest in Europe) in the Black Sea. Other important rivers are the Somes, the Mures, the Siret, the Olt , the Arges, the Jiu and the Prut (on the border with Moldova).
Climate
Romania's climate is continental with a strong seasonal temperature range, which becomes more moderate towards the coastal area.
Population
The majority of the population is made up of Romanians with a substantial minority of Hungarians who are in Transylvania and on the border with Hungary. There are other minorities of Germans, Jews, Ukrainians, Russians, Serbs. Bulgarian, Turkish and Roma minorities are endangered.
Time zone
In Romania, compared to Italy, the clock hands must be moved one hour forward throughout the year.
Spoken language
The official language of Romania is Romanian. There are minorities of Hungarian, Ukrainian and German native speakers who have their own schools where Romanian is taught as a second language.
Recommended readings- Bucharest (Romania): what to see in the capital
- Apuseni (Romania): the highest mountains in the Western Carpathians
- Romania: useful information
Economy
Economic and social reforms are underway which seek to overcome the delay in economic growth that has taken place in past decades.
The agricultural sector, once predominant in the country's economy, has decreased its percentage of importance, now only 15% of the gross domestic product, leaving more space for the tertiary and industrial sector, represented by the chemical, textile, metallurgical industry, food and oil refining. Romania joined the European Union on January 1, 2007.
When to go
The rather harsh winter in Romania is recommended only for a mountain holiday in ski resorts, for the rest of the country the months from May to September are more suitable.
Necessary documents
To enter Romania you need an identity card valid for expatriation or a passport for up to 90 days of stay.
Phone
To call from Italy to Romania the number is 0040 followed by the prefix without the 0 and the desired number. From Romania to Italy the number is 0039 followed by the prefix and the number.
Electricity
The electric current is 220 volts.
Currency
The official currency of Romania is the new Leu (Ron). Credit cards are accepted in the most important hotels and clubs.
How to get
plane
The Romanian flag carrier Tarom, Alitalia, Carpatair and Blue Air operate direct flights between Italy and Romania.
Car
The itinerary passes through Austria and Hungary or Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary.
Bus
With Eurolines, departures from some Italian cities to Romania, or with the Atlassib company, departures from Turin to Constanta, from Bari to Bucharest, from Taranto to Suceava and Braila.
Train
Every day from Venice station a train leaves for Budapest with a carriage for Bucharest.
