| location | |
 | |
| flag | |
 | |
| Short dates | |
| Capital | Bucharest |
|---|---|
| Form of government | republic |
| currency | Lei (RON) |
| surface | 238,000 km² |
| population | 22.4 million |
| languages | Romanian (official language), Hungarian, German |
| Religions | Romanian Orthodox 87%, Catholics, Protestants |
| power grid | 220V / 50Hz |
| Phone code | 40 |
| Internet TLD | .ro |
| Time zone | UTC 2 |
Romania is a state in Southeast Europewho on Black Sea lies. Romania borders Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, the Ukraine and Moldova. Romania is a member state of the European Union.
Regions
Romania is administered centrally and, like France, is divided into many small administrative units (Jewțe) structured. However, travelers are best guided by the historical regions:
- Sathmar and Maramureș
(Maramureș). 
Historically, the region belonged to Hungary for most of the time until the 20th century, until the region finally fell to Romania after 1945. Maramureș is famous for its wooden churches, eight of which are world heritage sites.
- Bucovina (Bucovina).Region in the north on the border with Ukraine (where the historical region continues). The famous UNESCO World Heritage Site Moldavian monasteries lie in the Bukovina around Suceava.
- Moldova (Moldova).The region is located in the northeast of the country. It borders on the to the east Republic of Moldova (Moldova).
- Transylvania (Transylvania).also known as Transylvania (Transilvania or Ardeal), is located in the center of Romania and was settled by German settlers - the so-called Transylvanian Saxons - from the 13th century. The name probably goes back to the seven most important cities founded at that time. The region is characterized by a rich cultural history from ancient fortresses to medieval town centers, castles and fortified churches up to the present day. On the eastern and southern fringes of Transylvania, the Carpathian Arch forms a wild mountain landscape with the highest peaks in the country.
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- Screeching area (Crișana).lies in the north-west of the country and borders on Hungary. The region is named after the river of the same name. The main city in the region is Oradea.
- Banat.This westernmost province is probably the most economically developed in Romania. It has beautiful baroque towns and traditional German villages in the western plains and huge mountain forests in the east.
- Dobruja (Dobrogea).covers the entire Black Sea coast including the Danube Delta. The region borders in the south Bulgaria. Most important city in the region is Constanțawhich was already important in Roman times. The historical region of Dobruja extends into northern Bulgaria. In the Dobruja there were about 40 communities inhabited by Germans until 1940.
Cities
- 1 Bucharest (Bucureşti).
Capital of Romania. Much historical heritage has been lost and replaced by communist concrete buildings. - 3 Krajowa (Craiova). Center of Little (western) Wallachia with magnificent buildings from the beginning of the 20th century.
- 4 Timisoara (Timisoara). The historical, economic and cultural center of the Banat. In 2021, Timisoara will be European Capital of Culture.
- 7 Cluj-Napoca (Cluj-Napoca). The second largest city in Romania is located in the northeast of Transylvania.
- 9 Schässburg (Cetatea Sighișoara).the old town, which is well worth seeing, is a world heritage site.
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Other goals
nature
Romania is rich in wild, lonely natural landscapes that are barely developed for tourists. They are ideal hiking areas far away from the tourist crowds.
- 1 Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park (Cheile Nerei - Beușnița).Karst landscape made of limestone over a length of 22 kilometers along the Nera valley with a height of between 200 and 1116 meters. Steep limestone cliffs tower up the banks of the river. The most impressive are Cârșa Căprariului, Cracul Turburii, Cârșa Șoimului, Begul Mare, Cârșa Rolului. A large number of grottos, caves and karst lakes can be found here. The Peştera Dubova, Peştera Voii, Gaura Hicleană and Peştera Rolului caves are some of them. Not far from Gaura Hicleană are the La Coveţi whirlpool kettles. Two cave lakes Ochiul Beiului (German Meerauge) and Lacul Dracului (German Teufelssee) can be found in the karst area of the Neratal. The Cascadele Beușniței waterfalls with a height of five meters are unique in Romania.
- 2 Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park (Parcul Național Domogled - Valea Cernei).The thermal spring rises at the foot of the Domogled mountain and feeds the Herkulesbad bathing and climatic health resort. The Banat Sphinx and the Cerna Waterfall are among the most significant natural beauties that the national park is home to. The national park is characterized above all by the spectacular karst landscape, the largest of its kind in Romania. The warm caves in the Domogled – Valea Cernei National Park are unique in Romania and extremely rare in the world. The climate of the caves is tropical with an air temperature of 35–45 degrees Celsius, which results in a unique fauna.
- 3 Cozia National Park (Masivul Cozia).The Cozia National Park is located in the Southern Carpathians, on both sides of the Olt River. The reserve is a true nature museum with untouched ecosystems. Here you will find one of the most valuable collections of alpine, subalpine, heat-loving, endemic and rare plants.
- 5 Slătioara Secular Forest (Codrul secular Slătioara).The reserve is a high forest untouched by civilization in a mountainous location. The trees that make up this reserve are among the oldest in Romania and even in Europe. The main species are spruce, fir and beech.
- 6 Tibles Mountains (Munții Țibleș).Lonely mountain landscape. There are no markings in the Tibles Mountains. In the months of June to the beginning of September, however, you will meet many shepherds there who will be happy to show you the way if you want to hike there.
- 7 Danube Delta (Delta Dunării).Is the second largest river delta in Europe (after the Volga delta) and for the most part a nature reserve. 80% of the delta is in Romania, 20% in Ukraine.
- 8 Apuseni Natural Park (Parcul Natural Apuseni).
The mountains are located in the west of the country and many caves have formed in the soft limestone. - 9 Retezat National Park (Parcul National Retezat). The oldest national park in Romania is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and awaits you with 2,000 meter high mountains, glacial lakes, caves and a lot of untouched nature in the middle of the Carpathian Mountains.
- 10 Transfagarasan (Transfăgărăşan).picturesque pass road over the Carpathian Mountains, which connect Wallachia and Transylvania.
- 12 Turda Salt Mine (Salina Turda), St. Salinelor 3, municipiul Turda.huge and very interesting show mine with a mine museum.
Churches
You can find Romanian Orthodox churches like “sand on the sea” all over the country. The most important examples, outstanding in their style, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- 1 Moldavian monasteries (Bisericile pictate din nordul Moldovei).The monasteries are a group of Romanian Orthodox monasteries. Its construction was initiated in the 15th and 16th centuries in Bukovina. A part is characterized by detailed wall paintings on the outer walls. These were intended to convey scenes and parables from the Bible to the people who were then ignorant of writing and reading. Both the architecture of the monastery churches, which are often surrounded by square protective walls, and the fresco paintings themselves reveal strong Byzantine influences (icon painting). The architectural style is partly strongly influenced by the Gothic.
- 2 Fortified churches (Biserici fortificate din Transylvania).In Transylvania, around 150 fortified churches and fortified churches, which were built to defend against Turks and Tatar incursions, have been preserved, some in very good condition.
- 3 Wooden churches in the Maramureș (Maramureș). The churches in the Maramureș region of northern Transylvania are a group of nearly a hundred Orthodox and occasionally Greek Catholic churches. They are tall wooden structures with characteristic tall, slender bell towers. The still preserved wooden churches in the region were built between the 17th and 19th centuries. Eight were classified as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1999 due to their religious architecture and wooden building traditions.
- 4 Horezu Monastery (Mănăstirea Horezu), Str. Mănăstirii 164-164 A, 164 B, sat aparținător Romanii de Jos; oraș Horezu.is a Romanian Orthodox nunnery. The monastery, built in the Brâncoveanu style, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. It combines Italian-Venetian and oriental style elements.
Castles
- 1 Dacian fortifications in the mountains of Orăştie (Fortărețe dacice din Munții Orăștiei).The six Dacian fortresses (Sarmizegetusa Regia, Costeşti-Cetăţuie, Costeşti-Blidaru, Piatra Roşie, Bănița and Căpâlna) in the Orăştie Mountains were built in the 1st century BC. Built to protect against Roman conquest, it played an important role in the Roman-Dacian wars as a defensive system for Decebalus.
- 2 Bran Castle (Castelul Bran), Moșoiu Traian St., general 495-498, sat Bran; comuna bran.The Bran Castle (Bran) near Kronstadt / Brașov is presented in many tourist guides as Dracula's castle and is one of the biggest tourist magnets in this area. With Dracula or better the historical role model Vlad III. The beautiful complex has nothing to do with Țepeș, but that doesn't change the fascination of the visitors. Of course, there is a large tourist market at the foot of the castle, but mostly goods and souvenirs from local production are still on offer. The birth house of Vlad Țepeș can be visited in Schässburg / Sighișoara near the hour tower. Bram Stoker, the author of "Dracula", who, by the way, has never been to Transylvania, was inspired for his book by medieval reports about this prince.
- 3 Hunedoara Castle (Castelul Corvinilor), Str. Curtea Corvineştilor 1-3, municipiul Hunedoara.The very worth seeing castle is one of the most important secular buildings in Transylvania. The rock castle was built on the remains of a fortification from the 14th century. It is located on a limestone rock and is also presented in many tourist guides as Dracula's castle. Today a museum has been set up in the building. The castle is also used as a film set. A large number of Romanian and international film productions were shot on the castle grounds.
- 4 Banffy Castle (Castelul Bánffy de la Răscruci), Str. Principală 484, sat Răscruci; comuna Bonțida.Once known as the Versailles of Transylvania, this castle was the most spectacular in the region centuries ago.
- Dracula, or its historical role model Vlad III., can be found everywhere, even if little of it has been proven with certainty: His alleged birthplace is in Sighișoara (German Schäßburg), the castles Bran and Hunedoara also advertise with the prince
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background
The history of Romania as a unified state is still relatively young. For centuries, independent principalities such as Wallachia or Transylvania existed in the area of today's Romania - terms that are also known to Germans who are unfamiliar with travel and which arouse certain associations. After the country managed to free itself from the influence of the neighboring great powers, Moldova and Wallachia declared themselves independent as the Kingdom of Romania on March 26, 1881.
Fighting on the side of the Entente in the First World War, the young kingdom was able to expand its national territory considerably as a result of the French peace treaties and received, among other things. Transylvania, which has so far mainly been settled by Germans. Fatally, the political leadership of the country decided in the Second World War, after feeling betrayed by Soviet Russia, in favor of an alliance with the Axis powers. The defeat in World War II resulted in final loss Moldova to the USSR.
After the Second World War, Romania became part of the Eastern Bloc and the country's economy and politics were reshaped according to socialist ideas by the statesman Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej. After his death in 1965, when Nicolae Ceaușescu came to power, the darkest chapter in Romanian history began. In his megalomania, supported by a massive personality cult, projects such as the enormous Parliament Palace in Bucharest were carried out, which completely overwhelmed the Romanian economy and led to even staple foods becoming scarce in the country because they were exported to support Romanian finances had to. The state secret service Securitate proceeded with ruthless severity against dissidents, including abroad. Above all, the 200,000 citizens of Romanian origin who were of German origin suffered under the regime, which is why the Federal Republic of Germany ransomed them to Romania against payment of not inconsiderable sums of money, from which the saying still arises today: "The three most important export goods of Romania are oil, Jews and Germans."
When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989, Ceaușescu died under circumstances that have not yet been clarified. The conversion to a market economy overwhelmed the already economically troubled country, pictures of street children in Romania filled the screens of German televisions for years. Romania has been a member of the European Union since 2007, but is one of the economically weakest countries there and the political standards are still far from western standards, even if Romania has recently tried to fight corruption in the country.
Today, two main groups of the population come to Romania: tourists who enjoy the overwhelming nature and historical buildings of the country, and pensioners who benefit from the very low cost of living in the country without having to leave the EU. The tourist infrastructure in the country is still very weak, but the country is still quite natural and you can get into conversation with locals without being ripped off as a tourist.
getting there
Citizens of the EU and Switzerland can enter the country without a visa with a passport or identity card. Romania has been a member of the EU since 2007 and has ratified the Schengen Agreement. However, the border controls to the neighboring EU member states (Hungary and Bulgaria) have not yet been suspended.
By plane
The Henri Coanda Airport (IATA: OTP) in Otopeni Bucharest is the largest airport in the country and offers the most international connections and is served by practically all major European airlines. Other international airports of some importance that are also served by German-speaking countries are in Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara, Iasi, Bacau, Târgu Mureș ("Transilvania") and Sibiu (Sibiu). There are also smaller, regional airports in Craiova, Constanța, Oradea, Satu Mare, Baia Mare, Arad and Suceava.
Tarom is the national airline of Romania and flies to all active airports in Romania. Another local company is the low-cost airline Blue Air (Bucharest base). The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air maintains a base in Timișoara and also serves other cities in Romania (including Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest, Tărgu Mureș).
Germanwings flies from many German cities exclusively to Bucharest; Lufthansa (Regional) also from Munich to Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu and Timișoara; Austrian Airlines from Vienna to Sibiu and Iași. The low-cost airlines Wizz Air and Blue Air offer direct flights to the smaller airports.
By train
There are no direct train connections to Romania from Germany or Switzerland; however, there is a daily night train Vienna. The best way to get to Romania from the German-speaking area is to change trains in Budapest. from where trains run to Romania several times a day. Usually you have to plan a night drive. Trains from Budapest to Bucharest also stop in Alba Iulia, Sighișoara and Brașov, among others. From Budapest there are also connections to Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca and Sibiu. The train connections from the other neighboring countries are poorly developed - there is a daily night train from Belgrade and one from Sofia to Bucharest. If the destination in Romania is not exactly the capital, you can often get there faster with long-distance buses.
Balkan Flexipass
A cheap way to travel through the Balkans could be the Balkan Flexipass be. You can travel on the national rail networks of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania (trains operated by REGIOTRANS only), Serbia, the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey. It is possible to take several train journeys per day of travel. It is valid for 3, 5, 7, 10 or 15 freely selectable days within a month. The passport is issued as a paper document, for 1st or 2nd class. It is reduced for young people (under 28) and seniors (60). 3 days 2nd class without reduction € 84, 15 days 2nd class without reduction € 252 (05/2020)
By bus
There is now a dense network of bus connections from private providers between the larger cities and to Western Europe. The largest providers of long-distance bus connections between Germany and Romania are Eurolines and Pletl.
Smaller towns, on the other hand, are often very difficult to reach by bus.
In the street
The classic route from the German-speaking area leads over Budapest. From Budapest you take the M3 to enter the Maramureș or northern Transylvania. To travel to southern Transylvania or Bucharest, take the M5, M43 from Budapest and the Romanian A1 from the border. A German driver's license is sufficient and the green insurance card is not necessary for EU citizens, but recommended. At the border you have to have a vignette, the so-called Rovinieta, to buy. If you are caught en route or when leaving the country without a vignette, this will result in high penalties.
While there are some border crossings in Hungary, Moldova and Serbia that also serve local traffic, there are only a few road border crossings with Ukraine (none at all in the Danube Delta). There are two fixed bridges to Bulgaria (at Calafat and Giurgiu) and only a few ferries across the Danube; along the land border in Dobruja, the border crossing density is again somewhat higher.
By boat
Theiss, Muresch, Siret, Pruth and Danube are the navigable rivers of Romania. Especially the Danube and the Danube-Black Sea Canal are heavily used by shipping. Boat trips on the Danube and especially in the Danube Delta are popular. The most important means of arrival are Danube cruise ships. Some Danube ferries between Bulgaria and Romania are mainly important for regional traffic.
Constanța is the most important Black Sea port with irregular passenger and car ferries, etc. from Istanbul, Odessa or Chornomorsk.
mobility
Own vehicle
In Romania, 0 per mille applies in road traffic. Car and RVs and trucks must be on national roads and highways toll pay. This is collected via a (now virtual) vignette. For cars, the weekly vignette costs 3 euros, the monthly vignette 7 euros, the 3-month vignette 13 euros and the annual vignette 28 euros. Motorcycles are toll-free. The vignette ("Rovinieta") can be purchased at border crossings, petrol stations, post offices or online. The proof of payment must be kept as it has to be presented during controls.
Pay attention to the validity of the vignette, there is a risk of fines of up to 150 euros if there is no valid vignette. Since the end of 2006, driving with dipped headlights has been mandatory on open-air roads, including during the day. In addition to a pharmacy and breakdown triangle, you also have to have a fire extinguisher and spare lightbulbs with you in your car. The penalties for traffic offenses have increased dramatically, so you should stick to the rules. Overall, police checks are quite frequent; Penalties cannot be paid immediately either. In addition to an annoying loss of money, a lost half-day at a Romanian bank is due for the transfer of the fine.
Tips on how to behave in traffic
Those traveling by car will quickly notice that road traffic is much faster and more reckless than in Germany. Overtaking takes place with and without vision, speed limits are only a recommendation and whoever has the more expensive car has priority. If the oncoming traffic lights you with a flasher, you should say thank you with a hand signal and wait for a police officer to be on the route in front of you.
When driving in the dark, you should be particularly vigilant, as many vehicles are on the road without lights or with insufficient light. Side streets often do not have reflective delineators. Horse-drawn carts are also part of everyday life on highways. All in all, everything must be expected in road traffic, i.e. unlit vehicles of all kinds, including carriages and large agricultural equipment without lighting, pedestrians, dogs, etc. with generally unpredictable traffic behavior. The driving style in Romania is usually chaotic and traffic rules are often ignored. So it can happen that a vehicle comes across as a wrong-way driver even at night and without lighting in a one-way street! It also happens that those who caused accidents become physical! You should therefore always drive carefully and always notify the police in the event of an accident. When leaving the border, damage caused by an accident that has not been recorded by the police can otherwise lead to problems.
In the meantime, the situation has improved to the extent that there is liability insurance for all vehicles (statement applies with reservations!). In the event of an accident, hit-and-run still occurs and, especially at night, the arrival of the called police and ambulance is only expected after 30 minutes or more. This also applies in part to large cities.
If the police stop the car, the hazard warning lights must be switched on! Furthermore, you should always listen carefully or communicate differently. A stay in the area, even with a simple accident recording, can easily take a whole day. Parking tickets can also be paid in euros, so it is advisable to carry euro bills with you.
Road conditions
The European roads are now in a passable condition, but the traffic, especially on the transit routes, is hellish. This is especially true for the route from Arad to Sibiu on which there is a lot of heavy traffic. The motorway network is still in the process of being set up, so far there are almost 235 km of motorways, the A1 from Bucharest to Pitesti (113 km), the plan is to extend this via Sibiu-Deva-Timisoara-Arad via Nadlac to Hungary and the A2 from Bucharest to Fetesti (120 km) the completion to Constanza (220 km) was completed in summer 2012. Furthermore, the Autostrada Transilvania A3 is under construction and is currently the largest infrastructure project in Europe. It will connect Brașov-Sighișoara-Cluj-Oradea-Bors with Hungary via (415 km). Completion is planned for 2013. Work is underway on the Carpathian motorway to extend the A3 from Brașov to Bucharest (174 km). The completion should have been in 2010, but is a long time coming.
The condition of the main roads is relatively good. However, many local access roads, especially in rural areas to small villages, are in poor condition with potholes, are often unpaved and, in wet weather, are difficult to pass without an off-road vehicle. Abbreviations via secondary roads should therefore be taken with caution, it is generally advisable to stay on the national roads (DN).
Most Street signs are not made of a reflective material like in Germany, but simpler. That means in the dark it can happen that one quickly overlooks one. Furthermore, it should be clear to everyone that there are fewer road signs in Romania than in Germany, but the signage on country roads is sufficient. So the principle applies, "Where there is 40, 40 is driven!"
In the big cities there are often traffic jams and driving is extremely spirited, but beyond that, traffic jams or the like are a rarity.
fuel
As in Central Europe, there are diesel ("Motorina"), super petrol ("Premium 95") and super plus ("Premium 98" or "Premium 100"). You are usually refueled. You only have to get out to pay. The gas station attendant is usually a very helpful person. During the time you pay, he cleans the car windows and if you point gently at the tires, he also adjusts the air pressure. But one should remember that one slips him or her a little something. Tactically, it should be advised to do this before leaving the vehicle. Make sure to lock your vehicle, even if you are only gone for a few seconds.
By train
Train travel in Romania is very cheap, but not particularly fast either. All larger towns are connected to the rail network. Numerous express trains run between the major cities. In 2011 the four train types up to now were replaced by a three-tier system:
- The ordinary passenger trains that stop at all subway stations are now called Regio (R). However, they are also used over longer distances and are correspondingly long on the road (up to 10 hours); Average speed 35 km / h to 50 km / h.
- The D trains are called InterRegio (IR), they are a little faster, only stop in cities and larger towns. On longer journeys, they also carry sleeping or couchette cars. Average speed 75 km / h.
- InterCity (IC) is the most comfortable and fastest category. The trains are only used on a few routes between larger cities; Average speed 87 km / h.
For Romania that is InterRail-Ticket a bad buy as the tickets are so cheap anyway. InterRail is only worthwhile if you visit other countries besides Romania and / or you want to save yourself the constant purchase of single tickets. All faster trains are subject to a surcharge.
Reservation cards are required for all InterRegio and InterCity trains. You can buy these in so-called "Agentie de Voiaj" (C.F.R.) or at the train station, but you only get the tickets there shortly before departure. Usually there is only a certain contingent available, so it is advisable to buy the tickets early.
There are major price differences between the train types - for the 170 km Bucharest-Brașov route, you pay 24 RON (5.30 euros) in the R, 48 RON (10.60 euros) in the IR. If you have enough time, you can save here. Frequent drivers can consider purchasing a "Cardul TrenPlus" - it costs 100 RON (22 euros) and you get a 25% discount for 1 year.
Children, students and pensioners are entitled to discounts.
Anyone who speaks Romanian can find more information at this weblink. There is also an online timetable information, which is actually self-explanatory and therefore largely understandable even without knowledge of Romanian (enter date, approximate departure time, departure and destination, click on "cauta trenuri" to send).
taxi
Driving a taxi is much cheaper than in Germany. Often the official tariff is only 30 to 50 cents per kilometer. It is advised official taxis only to use. In many cities, they have also written down the tariffs that taxi drivers adhere to. But you should take a map of the hotel with you, as the driver then knows better where you want to go. With taxis you can save a little if you pay in euros, but you should always keep an eye on the taximeter.
By bicycle
A cycling holiday in Romania is of course still a bit adventurous, but definitely possible. On bikeromania.de there is extensive information and literature on cycling in Romania to be found. Bikeromania is a German private initiative to promote cycle tourism in the country. The aim is to develop additional sustainable sources of income for the rather poor country.
Driving on normal country roads is not recommended as there is usually no cycle lane. With a very good map, you can find secret routes, e.g. through Transylvania, which can be extremely beautiful.
Due to the rapid expansion of the trunk roads, cycling on secondary roads is very possible, even if there are often unpaved roads to drive.
The supply of spare parts (as of 2016) is only guaranteed for current material in large cities. In the northeast is the (allegedly) only specialist shop within a hundred kilometers in Botoșani (as of 2015) with very friendly and competent employees.
activities
- hike: In the many lonely national parks there are marked hiking trails in impressive landscapes.
- Swimming: In the region Dobruja are the famous seaside resorts on the Black Sea.
language
Unlike the mostly Slavic languages in the surrounding countries, it is Romanian a Romance language related to French, Spanish and Italian. The meaning of simple sentences or individual terms can thus be easily guessed for those familiar with the language. In the north of Romania, in Transylvania, there are occasional German language islands. The German immigrants are referred to as "Sachs" or "Saxony". Therefore, one can always face the question that one is considered a Saxon. However, it should be clear that the German immigrants, e.g. from the Carpathian region, actually come more from the Lower Rhine region. Generally speaking, younger people have a basic command of English.
The Romanian people are usually very helpful to travelers. However, illiteracy is to be expected in rural areas. So it is not always appropriate to use a map to try to ask the locals where a certain place is. A Romanian dictionary can be quite helpful. Trying to speak German doesn't hurt, many Romanians speak a few words. Especially in the Banat and Transylvania, where some places even only have German names (Nitschdorf, Liebling, etc.)
to buy
Das Preisniveau in Rumänien ist für im Lande hergestellte landwirtschaftliche Produkte, Obst und Gemüse, Tiere, Wein und Dienstleistungen recht niedrig. Es gibt starke Preisunterschiede zwischen Stadt und Land! Beispielsweise kostet im Dorfcafé ein Espresso circa 50 Cent (Preisstand Juli 2005). Märkte finden in Städten fast täglich statt, wo man frisches Gemüse und Obst aus der Umgebung bekommt. Importierte Waren sind teilweise teurer als in Westeuropa. In ländlichen Gegenden gibt es überwiegend kleine Tante-Emma Läden. Größere Lebensmittel-Märkte gibt es in Städten. Metro, Real, Kaufland, Penny, Plus und andere in Deutschland nicht bekannte wie Carrefour, Cora, Intermarché, Billa, nur um einige zu nennen, sind vertreten. Des Weiteren entstehen oder gibt es in den größeren Städten, riesige mehrstöckige Einkaufszentren ab 30.000 m² Fläche. Da die Konkurrenz recht gering ist, sind die Preise auch recht hoch. Trotzdem kann ich jedem nur empfehlen sich mal so ein Einkaufszentrum (Mall) anzusehen, die "Julius-Mall" in Timisoara ist auf jedenfall sehenswert.
Am 1. Juli 2005 wurde die Landeswährung ROL ("Lei vechi" - alte Lei) durch die neue Währung RON ("Lei noi" - neue Lei) ersetzt, wobei vier Nullen gestrichen wurden. Obwohl die Umstellung schon einige Zeit her ist, rechnen weite Teile der Bevölkerung immer noch in der alten Währung. Das führt gelegentlich zu Verwirrungen, wenn jemand beispielsweise als Preis "100" sagt, damit "100.000 ROL" meint, womit er sagen will, dass es 10 RON kostet. Gegenüber Ausländern werden Preise zwar meist in RON genannt, wenn ein Preis allerdings absurd hoch erscheint, sollte man nachfragen.
money
Es ist problemlos möglich, mit Banknoten (Euro oder Dollar) einzureisen und diese bei Wechselstuben zu tauschen. Beim Abheben von Geld am Bankautomaten sollte man darauf achten, dass die Karte in Landeswährung (RON) belastet wird und nicht in Euro. Dann zahlt man die Gebühren, welche man mit seiner deutschen Bank vereinbart hat; lässt man hingegen den Automaten die Umrechnung vornehmen wird immer ein (auch in Vergleich zu Wechselstuben) sehr ungünstiger Kurs berechnet.
Geldautomaten sind in ländlichen Gegenden nicht sehr verbreitet. Darüber hinaus kann es vorkommen, dass diese leer sind. Es empfiehlt sich daher, sich in größeren Städten mit Landeswährung einzudecken.
Bei größeren Käufen (50 Euro und mehr) akzeptieren viele Verkäufer auch direkt Euros. Allerdings sollte man den aktuellen Wechselkurs selbst kennen und damit rechnen, dass nur die passende Summe in Scheinen akzeptiert wird.
kitchen
Die rumänische Küche ist zugleich traditionsreich und voller Einflüsse aus der bewegten Geschichte des Landes: Mit Ungarn hat man den Gulasch (heißt in Rumänien "tocană") und die gefüllten Paprika gemein, mit Griechenland die Weinblätterröllchen (oder auch aus frischen oder milchsauren Weisskohlblättern mit Füllung gerollten "sarmale", das Auberginenmus ("vinete"), Creme von gegrilltem Gemüse ("zacuscă") und die Schafskäsegerichte, mit der Türkei die sauren Suppen ("ciorbă") und die auf Honig basierenden Süßspeisen wie "baclava" und "sarailie".
Zu den meisten rumänischen Gerichten passen die vielfältigen Weine, die im Land wachsen und von den Abertausenden von Kleinproduzenten vor allem im Herbst und Winter sehr günstig zu erwerben sind.
Die im Land gebrauten Biere sind nicht zu unterschätzen, da diese wie die restliche Küche sehr von unterschiedlichen Einflüssen beherrscht wird. Was einen deutschen Biertrinker etwas überraschen wird sind die Bierflaschen. Hier gibt es nicht nur die in Deutschland üblichen 0,5 l Flaschen, sondern auch 2 l Flaschen.
Beliebtester Likör ist die "vișinată" auf Sauerkirsch-Basis, berühmtester Schnaps die "țuică" (gesprochen: zuika) oder "palincă" aus Pflaumen oder Treber. Die beiden letztgenannten werden oft von der ländlichen Bevölkerung in Eigenregie hergestellt und sind nicht für jeden verträglich.
Gerade bei der älteren Landbevölkerung ist es Brauch ein Gläschen zur Mahlzeit zu nehmen. Lassen sich sich ruhig darauf ein, gerade die "țuică" ist eine Wohltat. Aber nicht zu viel, da in Rumänien die 0,0-Promillegrenze gilt.
In Lokalen ist darauf zu achten, dass es meist nicht möglich ist getrennt zu bezahlen. Abgerechnet wird pro Tisch, daher kann man sich diese Frage oft sparen.
Man sollte sich im Übrigen darauf einstellen, dass man mehr als eine Bedienung hat. In der Regel werden Bestellung und Bedienung von unterschiedlichen Personen gemacht. Das Nachordern sollte daher nur bei der Bedienung gemacht werden, bei der vorher schon bestellt wurde.
nightlife
Das Nachtleben von Bukarest steht dem anderer europäischer Metropolen nicht nach. Eine unzählige Anzahl von Clubs, Bars, Diskotheken und Kneipen bieten für jeden Geschmack etwas. Auch am Schwarzen Meer, insbesondere Mamaia, gibt es ein wildes Nachtleben. Im Rest des Landes geht es etwas ruhiger zu, je größer die Stadt desto mehr ist los. Ausgegangen wird vor allem von Donnerstag bis Samstag.
Auch den Liebhabern klassischer Musik wird einiges geboten. So zählt die Wikipedia 18 philharmonische Orchester, 9 Opernorchester und ein Operettenorchester.
accommodation
Überall in Rumänien lassen sich gute Unterkünfte aller Kategorien, von sehr einfach bis zum Luxushotel finden. Dabei ist das Angebot in den Städten natürlich größer als auf dem Land. Fernseher, Klimaanlage und Internet gehören zum Standard in Hotels. Auf dem Land sind oft an den Hotels Margeriten statt Sterne als Kategorie angegeben, das System funktioniert aber gleich und es gibt 1 bis 5 Margeriten, die nach einem klaren System verteilt werden. In den meisten größeren Städten sind mittlerweile auch Ableger von internationalen Hotelketten anzutreffen.
Überall anzutreffen sind auch pensions (rumänisch pensiune) and private room (With cazare ausgeschildert). Privatzimmer sind meist sehr günstig und bieten manchmal sogar Familienanschluss.
camping ist nicht sehr verbreitet. Am Besten ist die Versorgung mit Zeltplätzen noch in Siebenbürgen. Im Rest des Landes gibt es kaum Plätze und auch die Zeltplätze aus der Vorwendezeit am Schwarzen Meer sind im wesentlichen geschlossen worden. Beim Zelten in der Wildnis sollte man daran denken, dass es in Rumänien noch Bären gibt.
Ein besonderes Erlebnis - wenn auch eher einfacher Natur - kann die Übernachtung in einem monastery be. Manche der Klöster bieten einfache Zimmer an.
Learn
Die meisten Rumänen erwerben nach zwölf Jahren die Hochschulreife und sehr viele von ihnen studieren auch. Bucharest, Klausenburg, Timisoara and Iași verfügen über Universitäten, die auch Bachelor- und Master-Studiengänge anbieten. Ausländische Studierende müssen in der Regel Studiengebühren zahlen, die allerdings zum Glück nicht mit denen angelsächsischer Länder vergleichbar sind.
Work
Das gesetzlich festgelegte Mindestgehalt liegt in Rumänien bei 1050 Lei, das sind etwa 250 Euro Netto/ Monat.Dabei gibt es starke Schwankungen: die höchsten Durchschnittslöhne haben die Bank- und Versicherungsangestellte mit 840 Euro Netto/ Monat, der niedrigsten Lohn wird in der Holzverarbeitung bezahlt und entspricht dem oben genannten Mindestgehalt. Die Löhne sind stark unterschiedlich je nach Landesteil. So kann die gleiche Arbeit in Bukarest mit einem mehrfachen entlohnt werden wie im Nordosten des Landes. Wenn man sich die Lebenshaltungskosten anschaut und mit den Löhnen vergleicht fragt man sich oft, wie man mit den offiziellen niedrigen Einkommen auskommen kann. Eine Erklärung ist die relativ große Schattenwirtschaft. Fast jeder hat Nebeneinkommen, die steuerlich nicht deklariert werden. Rumänien ist eines der korruptesten und daher ärmsten Länder der Europäischen Union. (Alles Stand 2015)
public holidays
| Next appointment | Surname | importance |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 1st January 2022 and Sunday January 2, 2022 | Anul nou | New Year |
| Montag, 24. Januar 2022 | Ziua Unirii Principatelor Române | Tag der Vereinigung |
| Freitag, 30. April 2021 | Vinerea Mare | Karfreitag (orthodox) |
| Sonntag, 2. Mai 2021 and Monday, May 3, 2021 | Paștele | Ostern (orthodox) |
| Saturday 1st May 2021 | Ziua muncii | Labor Day |
| Dienstag, 1. Juni 2021 | Ziua Copilului | Kindertag |
| Sonntag, 20. Juni 2021 and Montag, 21. Juni 2021 | Rusaliile | Pfingsten (orthodox) |
| Sunday 15th August 2021 | Adormirea Maicii Domnului | Assumption Day |
| Dienstag, 30. November 2021 | Sfântul Andrei | Tag des heiligen Andreas |
| Mittwoch, 1. Dezember 2021 | Ziua națională (Ziua Marii Uniri) | Tag der Einheit (Nationalfeiertag) |
| Saturday 25 December 2021 and Sunday 26 December 2021 | Crăciunul | Christmas |
security
Die Wahrscheinlichkeit, in Rumänien Opfer einer Straftat zu werden, ist kaum höher als in Westeuropa. Das Land kann als sicheres und gastfreundliches Reiseland bezeichnet werden. Wer der Landessprache nicht mächtig ist, wird des Öfteren übers Ohr gehauen. Reisende sollten die gleiche Vorsicht walten lassen, wie auch in anderen Ländern. Lass keine Wertsachen im Auto, auch kein Autoradio. Vertraue keinen Fremden, auch wenn diese sich als "Freunde" oder "Reiseführer" anbieten. Diebstahldelikte sind relativ häufig. Allein reisende "Herren" sollten besondere Vorsicht bei spontanen "Damenbekanntschaften" walten lassen.Des Weiteren sollte auf keinen Fall auf der Straße Geld gewechselt werden, egal wie gut der Kurs ist, die Chance betrogen zu werden ist extrem hoch. In Städten gibt es überall offizielle Wechselstuben oder Banken zu guten Kursen ohne Kommission.
health
Für Rumänien sind Impfungen gegen Tetanus, Diphtherie und Hepatitis A empfohlen, aber nicht zwingend. In Bukarest sollte man vom Genuss großer Mengen Leitungswasser absehen. Vorsicht bei Eis im Straßenverkauf! Medikamente bzw. Hausmittel (Solletti und Cola) gegen Durchfall kann man mitnehmen oder natürlich auch vor Ort kaufen.
climate
In Rumänien herrscht ein gemäßigtes Kontinentalklima. Die Sommer sind in der Regel sehr heiss, teilweise bis zu 40 °C. Die Winter sind meist sehr kalt mit Temperaturen bis zu –25 °C.
respect
Sollte man in jedem Land gegenüber den Menschen mitbringen, auch nicht anders in Rumänien.
Post and Telecommunications
Internet cafes sind mittlerweile auch in kleinen Orten anzutreffen und kosten pro Stunde ab 2 RON. Zum Teil können in Hotels Computer mit Internetanschlüssen gratis verwendet werden, auch WLAN ist in Hotels und Kaffeehäusern weit verbreitet.
Da Rumänien EU-Mitglied ist, können seit 2017 deutsche und österreichische Mobile phones ohne Roaminggebühren benutzt werden. Ansonsten kann sich das Erwerben einer SIM-Karte eines rumänischen Mobilfunkbieters rasch lohnen, da die Roaminggebühren oft ein mehrfaches ausmachen (betrifft vor allem schweizerische Mobilfunkanbieter). Vorausgesetzt, das eigene Handy ist SIM-lock-frei. Für etwa 17 RON erhält man zum Beispiel bereits eine neue SIM-Karte mit ca. 50 Gesprächsminuten auf das gesamte nationale Fest- und Mobilnetz. Eine Registrierung der Personalien wird nicht verlangt und das Prozedere in einer Filiale dauert nur wenige Minuten (Stand April 2011).
Foreign missions
In Rumänien
Deutschland unterhält neben seiner Botschaft in Bucharest Konsulate in Timisoara (zuständig für die Kreise Arad, Bihor, Caraș Severin, Maramureș, Mehedinţi, Satu Mare, Sălaj und Timiș; entspricht etwa den Regionen Banat, Kreischgebiet as Sathmar und Maramureș) und in Sibiu (zuständig für die Kreise Alba, Bistrița-Năsăud, Brașov, Cluj, Covasna, Harghita, Hunedoara, Mureș und Sibiu; entspricht ungefähr der Region Transylvania)
Die österreichische Botschaft für Rumänien befindet sich in Bucharest. Honorarkonsulate gibt es in Timisoara and Sibiu.
Die Schweiz unterhält nur eine Vertretung in Rumänien: die Botschaft in Bucharest. Ihr Konsularbezirk umfasst ganz Rumänien und Bulgarien.
Von Rumänien
- In Deutschland
- Botschaft von Rumänien in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Dorotheenstrasse 62–66, 10117 Berlin. Tel.: (0)30-21239555, Email: [email protected]. Konsularbezirk umfasst Berlin, alle Neuen Länder und Norddeutschland.Geöffnet: Mo-Fr 8.00–14.00 Uhr, an rumänischen Feiertagen geschlossen.
- Generalkonsulat von Rumänien in Bonn, Legionsweg 14, 53117 Bonn. Tel.: (0)228-6838111, Email: [email protected]. zuständig für die Länder Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz und Saarland.Geöffnet: Mo, Mi–Fr 8.00–14.00 Uhr; Di 13.00–19.00 Uhr.
- Generalkonsulat von Rumänien in München, Richard-Strauss-Straße 149, 81679 München. Tel.: (0)89-553348, Email: [email protected]. zuständig für die Länder Bayern und Baden-Württemberg.Geöffnet: Mo, Mi, Do 8.00-14.00 Uhr; Di 12.00-18.00.
- Honorarkonsulate gibt es darüber hinaus in Hamburg, Kassel, Leipzig, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Stahnsdorf und Stuttgart. Diese erfüllen jedoch nur eingeschränkt konsularische Aufgaben.
- In Austria
- Botschaft von Rumänien in der Republik Österreich, Prinz-Eugen-Straße 60, 1040 Wien. Tel.: (0)1 505.32.27-200, (0)1 503.89.40-200, (0)1 503.89.41-200, (0)1 505.16.28-200, Email: [email protected]. Geöffnet: Mo-Fr 9.00–17.00.
- Konsularabteilung, Theresianumgasse 25. Tel.: (0)1 503.24.65, (0)1 505.23.81, (0)1 230.95.10, Email: [email protected]. Geöffnet: 8.30–14.30; Mo, Mi, Fr: Personalausweise und Reisedokumente, notarielle Beurkundungen, Visa; Di, Do: Geburtsurkunden, Dokumente für Eheschließung, Sterbeurkunden, Visa. Konsularbezirk umfasst ganz Österreich.
- Honorarkonsulate gibt es in Eisenstadt, Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz und Salzburg.
- In Switzerland
- Botschaft von Rumänien in der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft, Brunnadernstrasse 20, 3006 Bern. Tel.: (0)31-3513639, Email: [email protected], [email protected]. Konsularbezirk umfasst die ganze Schweiz.Geöffnet: Mo, Mi 12.00–17.00; Di, Do 9.00–14.00.
- Honorarkonsulate gibt es in Genf, Lugano und Zürich.
- Für Südtirol
- Consolato Generale di Romania a Milano, Via Gignese 2, 20148 Milano. Tel.: (0)2.40074018, Email: [email protected]. zuständig für Lombardei und Trentino-Südtirol.
literature
Web links
- Video über Rumänien
- Rumänisches Tourismusamt, Budapester Str. 20a, 10787 Berlin, Tel. 030/241 90 41
- Romania.org Erstes Portal für Rumänien-Reisende, seit 1996
- {https://www.uncover-romania.com/ Sehenswürdigkeiten in Rumänien]
