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Motorcycle Adventures for the 21st Century |
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Romanian. The language is Latin-based and from the family of Romance languages, such as Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese. There are areas of the country where Hungarian and German are also widely spoken. |
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What is the official language? |
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Romania is a democratic parliamentary republic. The chief of state is the President. The head of government is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has a cabinet formed of Ministers. The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is appointed by the president with the consent of the Parliament. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Senate (137 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (332 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms). |
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What is the country’s political structure? |
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Romania possesses a free-market economy. Romania transitioned from Communism in 1989 with an obsolete industrial base. The decade between 1990 and 2000 was marked by a corruption-ridden large-scale privatization process. In 2000, the country emerged from a three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. The domestic activity, particularly in construction, agriculture and consumption has kept GDP growth at a positive pace. Macroeconomic gains, continuing disinflation, and the upcoming ascension into the European Union have contributed to the development of a middle class. Romania has a strong agricultural base, centered on wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, and livestock (sheep, cows, poultry). The country’s main industries are: textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, and petroleum refining. The country exports mainly textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products. Conversely, it imports machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, basic metals, and agricultural products. |
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What is the country’s economical structure? |
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Romania’s official currency is the Leu (plural Lei). The exchange rate has remained fairly constant over the past five years—3 lei = 1 US dollar. The Euro is also accepted in some places. |
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What is the currency? |
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As of 2006, US, Canadian, and EU citizens simply need a valid passport for entry if only staying up to 90 days. Over 90 days, travelers from these countries need to obtain a visa. Most other European citizens can enter without a visa. Both Australians and New Zealanders must have a visa prior to arriving into Romania. Visitors from other countries should contact the Romanian consulate’s local office for entry requirements. As visa requirements may change, it is advisable to confirm before leaving home. |
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What do I need for entry into Romania? |
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Yes—Romania is a safe country. The country has not had a war on its territory since 1945. In major cities, the potential for pick-pockets is similar to any major city in the world. In the countryside, the potential for theft is much smaller. If you ride a motorcycle, common sense precautions should be taken to secure your bike and your goods—as you would anywhere in the world. You should be attentive and cautious on the roads, however. With mostly two-lane roads and heavy traffic, highlighted by drivers who envision themselves as the next Michael Schumacher, Romania will test your skills and attitude. This is the one area where your safety is not to be taken lightly. |
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Is Romania safe? |
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Yes. Lodging is available, though not as standardized as in neighboring western European countries. Prices run the gamut from 15 to 200+ USD with payment accepted in Lei or Euro. Room standards range from a pull-out sofa in a living room with a separate bathroom off the porch to luxury accommodations. After a long riding day, it is wise to inquire about the availability of hot water (apa calda) in remote rural areas to avoid any surprises. In larger cities, you will find hotel chains - Best Western, Marriott, and Intercontinental. In all other locations, you will have the choice of a local hotel, motel or Bed & Breakfast (Pensiune). In many rural areas, people open their homes offering lodging and food as part of an agrotourism network. Usually these are wonderful experiences of hospitality and great opportunities to taste regional home-cooking. MotoRomania recommends the pensiuni for their availability (particularly plentiful around tourist attractions), low prices and services across the country. ANTREC is the agrotourism network similar to the Bed and Breakfast offering a single room as part of an addition to a family’s home or one of several well-appointed rooms with a separate entry and kitchen options. Inquire if there is the opportunity to purchase a meal – or if it is included in the lodging price. |
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Can I find lodging? |
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Romanian food is quite filling and functional, if not always imaginative. Cuisine has often been influenced by the surrounding (and in some cases, formerly invading) countries—Turkey, Hungary and Germany. The recipes reflect the country’s belief in wholesome eating from the land and the livestock, with predominantly pork and beef dishes as well as sides of fresh garden vegetables (cabbage, potatoes, lettuce, beans, etc.). Spring and summer yield plenty of fruits—apples, pears, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries, watermelons, plums, and peaches. Pastries filled with meat, cheese and sweets in addition to delectable layered cakes are a favorite in Romania. Therefore, watching calories cannot be on your list! Vegetarians could experience a certain level of frustration in selecting dishes. However, the salads are tasty with a natural dressing of oil and vinegar. Unfortunately, locating a good restaurant can be a bit of an adventure, particularly in the scenic countryside and in the mountains. In the larger cities expect varying degrees of services—both in quality and tastes. However, the pizzeria will often rescue the hungry, as there is no shortage of pizza restaurants across Romania! Cafes are available making for nice breaks offering drinks, ice cream and sweets. A visit to Romania is not complete without sampling the following items: Mici (spicy sausages tasted with mustard), Sarmale (cabbage leaves stuffed with rice, meat and herbs), Mamaliga (polenta served with sour cream and butter), Langosi (fried dough served with sour cream or herbed cheese). You will likely experience a taste of Romania’s renowned tuica—a powerful brandy usually made of plums. In the rural areas, hosts will often insist you try their homemade alcohol often twice distilled (to over 50% strength, even when diluted) to yield palinca. |
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How is Romanian food? |
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It depends. If you come from Western Europe or the U.S., Romania is relatively inexpensive. Lodging and restaurants are still a bargain. Consumer goods found in stores and supermarkets have reached prices similar to Western Europe, particularly since Romania is entering the European Union in 2007. For U.S. tourists, the price of gasoline is as high as in Western Europe. Below are a few actual prices (as of 2006): Romania's Gross Average Monthly Income: US$200 / €166 Liter of Gas = US$1.30 / €1.08 (Gallon of Gas = US$4.94 / €4.12) |
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How expensive is Romania? |
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Copyright ©2006-2007 MotoRomania.com. All photographs are exclusive property of MotoRomania.com. Any reproduction is prohibited without prior written consent. |
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It is varied in geographical terrain—wide plains on the western, eastern and southern areas, hills and the Carpathian mountains inland, and a high plateau in the center. The country also possesses a natural delta (Danube) and 225 km of coastline. Its lowest point is the Black Sea at zero meters, and its highest is the Moldoveanu Peak at 2544 meters. |
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Romania has temperate continental climate, characterized by four distinct season. It has sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms, and cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog. |
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The country has a total area of 237,500 sq km, of which 230,340 sq km comprise of land and 7,160 sq km of water. Comparatively, the country is about the size of Oregon. |
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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The country is located in Southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Hungary to the west, Ukraine to the north, the Republic of Moldova and the Black Sea to the east, and Bulgaria and Serbia to the south. Its geographical coordinates are 46 00 N, 25 00 E. |
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Where is Romania? |
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How large is Romania? |
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How is the weather/climate? |
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What is the country’s geography? |
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There are about 23 million people, distributed in several ethnic groups: Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census). The country has several religious denominations: Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census). |
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What is Romania’s population? |
