If you are planning a holiday from the UK, understanding Romania travel costs can help you work out how much spending money you will actually need.

Romania continues to offer very good value compared with many Western European destinations, but it is no longer the ultra-cheap destination it was ten or fifteen years ago. Prices in popular destinations such as Bucharest, Brașov, Sibiu and Cluj-Napoca have increased, particularly for accommodation and restaurants.

If you book a private tour, transport, your guide and sometimes accommodation may already be included. However, you should still allow some extra money for meals, entrance tickets, drinks and optional experiences.

The prices below are shown in British pounds (£) to make budgeting easier for UK travellers. They are approximate, as prices in Romania are charged in Romanian lei (RON) and exchange rates fluctuate.

A in depth look about the travel costs in Romania

How Much Do Hotels Cost in Romania?

Accommodation prices depend heavily on the city, location, season and hotel category.

As a general guide:

• 3-star hotel in a central location: around £70–£85 per double room per night
• 4-star hotel: approximately £75–£110 per double room per night
• Boutique or higher-end hotel: around £100–£155+ per night
• Small local guesthouse or pension: approximately £45–£70 per room per night

Prices can be noticeably higher during summer weekends, festivals and Christmas market season, particularly in cities such as Sibiu, Brașov and Cluj-Napoca.

One advantage of travelling around Romania is that smaller towns and rural areas often offer excellent guesthouses at lower prices than the major tourist cities.

Food and Drink

Romanian cuisine is hearty, affordable, and perfect for adventurous palates. Here’s what you can expect:

•Restaurants: A meal at a casual restaurant costs around £7–£9. A three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant averages £30.

•Groceries: Essential items such as bread (£0.60), milk (£1.30 per litre), and chicken breast (£2.70 for 500g) are significantly cheaper than in the UK. A kilogram of apples costs less than £1 .

•Local Delicacies: Don’t miss trying sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls) or mici (grilled sausages), available at street stalls for as little as £3 per portion .

•Drinks: A domestic beer in a bar costs about £2, while a bottle of wine in stores is around £6 .

How Much Does Eating Out Cost in Romania?

Food remains one of the areas where Romania offers particularly good value.

A simple lunch at a local restaurant will usually cost around £8–£10 per person, while lunch at a good restaurant is more likely to be around £10–£15.

For dinner, a realistic budget is approximately £17–£30 per person, especially if you order several courses or a glass of wine.

Typical prices include:

• Coffee or cappuccino: £2–£3.50
• Local beer: £2–£3.50
• Glass of Romanian wine: £3.50–£6
• Bottle of wine in a restaurant: approximately £13–£25+
• Traditional soup – ciorbă: around £4–£6
• Main course in a local restaurant: around £7–£12

You can certainly spend more in fashionable restaurants in Bucharest or in the historic centres of Brașov and Sibiu, but eating well in Romania does not necessarily mean spending a lot.

And food is very much part of the travel experience here. Trying sarmale, mici, ciorbă, local cheeses, Transylvanian dishes or Romanian wines is something we would definitely include in the holiday budget.

Transport in Romania?

Public transport is inexpensive compared with the UK.

A journey on a local bus, tram or metro will generally cost around £1 or less.

Taxis, Uber and Bolt are widely available in larger cities. A typical short journey within a city might cost around:

£4–£10 depending on the distance, traffic and demand.

If you prefer to explore independently, rental cars generally start at approximately:

£30–£55 per day before optional insurance and extras.

Automatic cars, SUVs and vehicles rented during the high summer season can cost significantly more.

Fuel is also worth considering if you intend to drive:

• Petrol: approximately £1.55 per litre
• Diesel: approximately £1.70 per litre

Fuel prices change frequently, so these figures should be considered a general guide.

If you are travelling on a private tour in Romania, transportation costs normally work differently. Fuel, use of the vehicle, road taxes, parking and the driver’s expenses are usually already calculated into the tour price.

How Much Are Entrance Fees in Romania?

Entrance tickets are easy to underestimate when planning a sightseeing holiday.

Romania’s most famous castles and attractions are not particularly expensive by UK standards, but visiting several attractions over a ten-day tour can add a noticeable amount to your budget.

As a rough guide:

• Bran Castle: around £20 per adult
• Peleș Castle: around £16 per adult
• Pelișor Castle: around £5 per adult
• Turda Salt Mine: approximately £12–£15 per adult
• Therme Bucharest – The Palm: approximately £17–£31
• Therme Bucharest – Elysium: approximately £21–£35

For a sightseeing day involving several paid attractions, allowing around:

£20–£35 per person for entrance fees is a sensible estimate.

However, many of Romania’s best experiences cost very little or nothing at all.

Walking through the medieval centres of Sibiu, Brașov or Sighișoara, exploring traditional villages, driving through spectacular mountain scenery or enjoying the landscapes of Transylvania can all be part of the holiday without adding much to your daily budget.

How Much Do Optional Experiences Cost in Romania?

Optional activities can add considerably to the experience of a trip, particularly if you are interested in food, wine, nature or local culture.

As a general indication:

• Romanian wine tasting: around £20–£25 per person
• Danube Delta boat trip: from approximately £35 per person
• Local food experience: approximately £17–£45 per person
• Private hiking or outdoor experience: approximately £85–£215+ per group
• Private day tour: from approximately £150 per group

These prices vary considerably depending on group size, duration and whether transportation and a private guide are included.

Other Travel Costs You Might Forget

There are also a few small expenses that can easily be overlooked when planning your Romania holiday:

• drinks and snacks during the day;
• hotel city taxes where applicable;
• souvenirs;
• local handicrafts;
• Romanian wine or food products to take home;
• tips and gratuities;
• travel insurance;
• optional museum sections;
• special exhibitions;
• airport transfers;
• single-room supplements;
• personal shopping.

None of these is likely to break the budget individually, but over a 7- or 10-day tour they can add up.

How Much Spending Money Do You Need Per Day in Romania?

This is probably the most useful figure for UK travellers.

If your hotel, breakfast and private transportation are already included in your tour, we would suggest allowing approximately:

£35–£60 per person per day

This should normally be enough for lunch, dinner, coffee, drinks and one or two entrance tickets.

If you enjoy better restaurants, Romanian wine, tastings, nightlife or additional activities, a more comfortable budget would be:

£60–£85+ per person per day

You do not necessarily need to spend this amount every day. One day might involve several entrance tickets and dinner in a good restaurant, while another may consist mainly of exploring villages, walking through a medieval town or enjoying the countryside.

Is Romania Expensive for UK Travellers?

In general, Romania still offers very good value for British travellers, particularly for restaurants, local transport and privately organised travel.

It is better, however, to think of Romania as a good-value destination rather than simply a cheap destination.

You can stay in comfortable boutique hotels, eat very well, travel with a private guide and experience castles, medieval towns, mountain roads, traditional villages and local food without reaching the costs normally associated with a similar privately organised holiday in Western Europe.

For many travellers, this combination of private travel, authentic experiences and relatively reasonable prices is one of Romania’s biggest advantages.

Tips for Budgeting

For a comfortable trip, budget around £50–£75 per day for food, transport, and activities. This figure can increase if you opt for luxury dining or guided tours.

Romania’s affordability, combined with its rich history and picturesque landscapes, make it an excellent choice for UK travelers looking for value without compromising on experiences. Plan your visit to enjoy this Eastern European gem!

Learn more about Romania on our blog here.