Cheap Train Tickets to Romania | Timetables & Prices

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Facts about Romanian trains

The total length of the Romania rail network spans 22,298 km (13,855 mi).
Romania’s first rail line connected Bucharest and Giurgiu and opened in 1869.
The first electrified line opened 15 years earlier than the Bucharest/Giurgiu line, but while its location was in modern-day Romania, it was part of the Austrian Empire at the time.
About a third of the country’s lines are electrified.

When arriving by train

Romania uses the Romanian Leu as its official currency. Some places will accept Euros, mainly those that deal with a lot of tourists, but most don’t, and the ones that do may charge you a high exchange rate. You can use debit cards and credit cards in the country, but it’s worth keeping a few Leu on you just in case.

Romanians are very friendly and will usually be happy to help if you need directions or have any other questions. Many of them speak English but don’t assume that all of them will. Keep a translation app on your phone just in case and prepare to do a lot of pointing and gesturing.

As it is part of the European Union, travelers from fellow EU nations shouldn’t have an issue accessing the country. Those outside of the EU should still be okay to visit the area, provided they don’t stay for more than 3 months and have a passport with at least 3 months of validity remaining at the time that they travel.

After departing your train and heading for the nearest restaurant to sate your appetite, you might want to try some of the local favorites. Traditional dishes in Romania include sarmale cu mămăligă, which is mince that has been rolled in pickled cabbage; Mici, a type of skinless sausage; and Papanași, which are like donuts but made with sweet cottage cheese and often served with lashings of cream and jam.

Booking Romanian train tickets with Omio

Ready to book a cheap train ticket in Romania? You’re just a few clicks away. Start by visiting the top of this page. You will see a search feature with a few simple options, including your departure location, arrival location, traveling dates, and applicable discount cards. Once you enter all of this information you just need to click “Search” and our system will present you with a list of all available cheap train tickets based on your preference.

Choose the train ticket that suits you the most (you can use our filters to sort by price if you want the cheapest possible train ticket) and then confirm. From here, you just need to pay (we accept a variety of currencies) and you’re ready to go. Your Romanian train tickets will be stored in your Omio account where they can be accessed as and when you need them.

Why you should book your Romanian train tickets with Omio:

Cheap train tickets for all popular Romanian trains.
We work with many different train companies to ensure the cheapest possible price.
Domestic and international routes in Romania.
An easy-to-use platform—no tech know-how or booking experience needed.
Pay in a variety of currencies.
Do everything on the Omio app or using the Omio desktop platform.
Store all of your tickets (including train tickets, flight tickets, ferry tickets, and bus tickets) in your Omio account.
Train tickets are stored digitally—no need to download and print.
Rapid booking process. It takes just a few clicks to find and purchase your Romanian train tickets.

Book your Romanian train tickets now to experience all of these benefits for yourself.

Bucharest, Romania. Credit: Pixabay

Most important train companies in Romania

As noted previously, CFR is the main train company in Romania. It’s the national rail company and the name you’ll see on most of the country’s domestic trains, with only a few exceptions. There are a handful of international providers dipping in and out though, and if you’re taking an international train—including sleeper trains—you could find yourself booking your train tickets with one of them. They include ÖBB, the national railway provider of Austria and likely the final stop on any journey from Bucharest to Vienna, and MAV, the national provider of Hungary which controls many trains in and out of Budapest.

Most important trains in Romania

There are three types of trains in Romania: domestic, international, and night. The train you find yourself on will ultimately depend on how far you need to travel and where you’re going;

| Domestic trains | International trains | Night trains |

Domestic trains

Domestic trains are the most common Romanian trains. They connect to towns and cities in the country and there are innumerable trains departing and arriving every day. These trains can be broken down into four different categories:

Regio (RE): Connecting many smaller destinations along key commuter routes, these trains used to be known as “Personal” trains. You don’t need a reservation and you can bring bicycles and heavy luggage on board. However, you must be prepared for a fairly slow and staggered ride, as they make multiple stops along the route.
InterRegio (IR): IR trains cover longer distances than RE trains and they also make fewer stops, so they arrive fairly quickly. You can purchase a bike ticket to allow you to bring a bicycle onboard and reservations are required on most routes.
Intercity (IC): These trains tend to be faster than the ones above. They are also usually more modern, as they are used to connect to major cities inside Romania. You will also find a number of IC train routes into neighboring countries.
Special (S): This class of train is typically reserved for tourists, as it covers more scenic routes. Check with the specific provider/train to learn about rules, as they can vary.

International trains

As noted above, IC trains occasionally cover international routes, including one that starts at Bucharest and ends in Budapest, making a couple of stops along the way. But it is not the only type of Romanian train that can take you over the nation’s borders.

EuroCity (EC) trains also cover these routes, including trains from Bucharest to Vienna, which make stops at cities like Debrecen and Budapest.

Night trains in Romania

Night trains in Romania are used for the longest domestic routes, as well as a number of international routes. These routes often use IR and IC trains, but they include sleeper compartments where travelers can spend the night, sleeping through most of the journey and waking up at their destination. The aforementioned trains to Vienna and Budapest are night trains, for instance. There are a few things that you need to know about night trains in Romania:

Some regional night train services use much older Romanian trains, so you may feel that you have just stepped back in time when you board the train and make your way to your sleeper compartment.
Domestic night train travel is usually very cheap, especially if you book your Romanian train tickets on Omio.
There are a few different seat/room options. The most basic of these is a standard seat that reclines. This is followed by a 6-berth couchette, whereby you will be sleeping in the same room as 5 other people. The most expensive option is a 2-berth room that you can also book privately.
Sleeper trains on international routes are usually more modern and may provide more amenities. However, they can also be a little more expensive.

If you want a unique way to travel, you can’t beat sleeper trains. Check the train schedule in Romania, see what’s available for the dates and times you want to travel, and then book your cheap Romanian train ticket on Omio.

The train network in Romania and major connections

The Romanian train network is very efficient and expansive, spanning most of the country. Not sure where you want to travel? Take a look below for some of the most popular destinations within Romania.

Popular train journeys in Romania

Bucharest to Constanta: You can cover this trip by train in less than 3 hours.
Bucharest to Cluj-Napoca: This is an extensive journey that spans 324 km (201 mi) and takes over 12 hours to complete on most routes.
Bucharest to Timisoara: There is one train per day departing for this route and it takes less than 11 hours to reach its destination on average.

Best cross-border trains from Romania

If you are prepared to board a night train and sleep through your journey, or you don’t mind making multiple changes, you can get pretty much anywhere in Europe from Romania. Some of the most popular options include:

Wherever you decide to go, and whether it’s a domestic train or an international one, book your cheap train tickets for Romania on Omio.

Brasov. Credit: Pixabay

FAQs

It depends on the type of train that you ride, but there are usually luggage rules in place. In most cases, you are allowed to carry a piece of hand luggage on the train provided it is no heavier than 30kg. You must also make sure that the luggage does not disturb any other passengers. Many trains in Romania have designated areas where you can store your luggage once you board.

You can book tickets for many trains in Romania using Omio. This is especially true for the international routes that take passengers to major cities like Bucharest, as well as ones that carry passengers out of Romania and into surrounding nations. Check Omio to see if we have the tickets that you’re looking for—it’s the cheapest way to book train tickets.

Yes, you are allowed to eat and drink on trains in Romania and some even have catering options so you can buy refreshments on the train. You can also buy concessions from the train station before you depart.

Yes, they are safe. However, if you are a tourist you should protect your valuables at all times and make sure you stay vigilant. Tourists are more vulnerable than locals as they tend to let their guard down and they are also targeted by scammers and pickpockets. The same rules apply across all European cities and not just Romania—it’s safe, but that doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind.

Yes, Romanian trains are very good. This is especially true for the more modern trains that connect major cities inside and outside the country. Some of the regional trains are a little older and may not be as impressive, but they are still comfortable and fairly well-maintained. What’s more, significant sums have been invested in Romanian railways over the last few years, so the situation is gradually improving.

There are toilets on nearly all of the modern fleets. You may not find working toilets on older trains though. That’s not to say that older trains don’t have toilets at all. Some of them do, but they are out of order. They may also not have what you need, such as a baby changing area or toilet paper. If you’re planning on boarding an older train for a long journey, you should use the train station facilities first, just in case.

Major railway stations in Romania usually have accessibility options for disabled passengers, including ramps. This is not always the case for older trains in rural areas, though. If you require any specialist support or assistance, we recommend calling the train station in advance to see if they have what you need. You can also contact the train provider, as they may be able to arrange for someone to assist you with boarding the train.

Main train stations in Romania

There are hundreds of railway stations in Romania. Many of these stations are small and located in rural areas, serving just a handful of connections and several hundred passengers every day. But there are a few big ones as well, as you will typically find a large station in all of the country’s major cities. Some of the biggest Romanian train stations include:

Bucharest North railway station: Known as Gara București Nord in Romanian, this is the largest railway station in Romania, and it’s from here that many domestic and international trains leave and arrive. Its history dates back to between 1868 and 1872 and it has a total of 8 platforms and 14 tracks. The station includes a wide range of amenities, including shops, restaurants, bars, cafés, and more. It’s a major station with a lot to offer, so if you find that you’re stuck waiting for a late train and have several hours to kill, you couldn’t be stuck in a better place.
Cluj-Napoca railway station: This is the main train in Cluj-Napoca. It is ideally located near the center of the city and it provides many connections, including to Bucharest. Cluj-Napoca railway station offers amenities such as comfortable waiting areas, shops, and cafes. There is an abundance of parking outside and you will also find plenty of toilets and ATMs inside, as well as places to convert some currency if required.
Timișoara North railway station: The largest railway station in the west of the country, Timișoara North railway station has 13 platforms and 14 tracks. Thousands of passengers pass through the station every day and it provides amenities such as a pharmacy, supermarket, waiting areas, toilets, and ATMs.
Brașov railway station: Located in Brașov, this station has a history dating back to 1873, though it was rebuilt in the early 1960s. It provides stops for both domestic and international trains and it includes 7 tracks, 4 platforms, and some basic amenities.

You can book train tickets for routes out of most Romanian train stations using Omio.

More information about trains in Europe

Europe is the place to be if you want to see the world through the window of a locomotive. It has some of the most-visited countries in the world, and it’s also home to cities like Paris, Berlin, Zurich, Madrid, and Lisbon, all of which sit firmly at the top of countless bucket lists. The connectivity of this continent is helped by its expansive, modern radio networks, with companies like Deutsche Bahn, Eurostar, Flixtrain, NS, ÖBB, and Ouigo being among the best in the world. What‘s more, when you book your train tickets throughout Omio, you’re guaranteed low prices, fast service, and complete accessibility across the board.

So, if you’re planning a European rail adventure anytime soon, make sure you book with Omio.

Popular journeys

Bucharest serves as a launching pad for many domestic and international journeys in Romania. The capital city is home to the country’s biggest station and thanks to the great connections outside of the station, it’s also a fantastic way to explore the city itself. If you’re traveling further afield, whether to explore cities like Timișoara or to venture into Transylvania (fictional birthplace of Count Dracula, real birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, and incredible Halloween destination) which encompasses cities like Cluj-Napoca and Brașov, you’ll likely find yourself in one of the country’s other major cities. Either way, there’s a lot to see and do in Romania and there’s definitely a lot more to this country than its bustling capital.