OTP
Bucharest
Henri Coandă Intl.
Brașov 2.5 h · Sibiu 4 h · Cluj 6 h · Suceava 6 h · Tulcea (Delta) 4 h
Search flights OTP →
Getting here
How to reach the Carpathians — 2026.
Romania has six international airports inside or next to the Carpathians, plus an excellent overnight train from Vienna and a flat-out drive from Munich. Here are 50+ direct routes flying this year, with smart booking links to the cheapest option per route.
Or jump straight to the full guide for your way of travelling:
The six airports worth knowing
Most guests fly into OTP (Bucharest) or CLJ (Cluj). SBZ (Sibiu) is the closest to the Saxon Triangle. TSR (Timișoara) is best for Hunedoara. SCV (Suceava) is for Bucovina. IAS (Iași) is for the north-east.
CLJ
Cluj-Napoca
Avram Iancu Intl.
Apuseni 1 h · Maramureș 3 h · Sibiu 3 h · Brașov 5 h
Search flights CLJ →SBZ
Sibiu
Sibiu Intl.
Saxon Triangle 0.5 h · Brașov 2.5 h · Cluj 3 h
Search flights SBZ →TSR
Timișoara
Traian Vuia Intl.
Hunedoara 2 h · Sibiu 3.5 h · Apuseni 3 h
Search flights TSR →SCV
Suceava
Ștefan cel Mare Intl.
Bucovina monasteries 0.5–1 h
Search flights SCV →IAS
Iași
Iași Intl.
Moldova region · Bucovina 2 h
Search flights IAS →Direct routes — 2026
Selected current direct connections, grouped by departure region. Frequencies and seasonality change — always re-check before booking.
On Wizz-Air-dominated routes the Search link goes directly to Wizz Air. Otherwise it opens Skyscanner — you can also Compare on Kiwi.com.
The full guide →Germany · 13
| From | To | |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt FRA | OTP | |
| München MUC | OTP / CLJ / SBZ | |
| Berlin BER | OTP / CLJ | |
| Hamburg HAM | OTP | |
| Köln/Bonn CGN | OTP / CLJ / SBZ | |
| Düsseldorf DUS | OTP / CLJ | |
| Stuttgart STR | OTP / CLJ | |
| Dortmund DTM | OTP / CLJ / SBZ | |
| Memmingen FMM | OTP / CLJ / TSR | |
| Nürnberg NUE | OTP / CLJ / TSR | |
| Hannover HAJ | OTP | |
| Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden FKB | CLJ | |
| Friedrichshafen FDH | OTP |
Austria & Switzerland · 4
UK & Ireland · 8
Benelux & France · 6
Italy · 6
Spain & Portugal · 5
Nordic · 4
Middle East & Mediterranean · 4
By car
From Munich, Vienna or Budapest, driving is realistic and the border crossings are quick (no more queues since Schengen in March 2024). Munich → Brașov ≈ 13 h with one overnight in Budapest. Bring your registration and green card. Buy a rovinieta at the border for €4.
The full guide →Preferred partner
Autonom
The largest Romanian operator, our direct partner. Clean fleet, full insurance included, automatic on request. Desks at all six airports.
Book on autonom.com →We can also book through our partner at a fixed price — fully insured, automatic optional. Ask us at trip planning.
Compare car rentals →By train
ÖBB Nightjet runs Vienna → Bucharest several times a week (about 19 hours, includes a couchette). The day train via Budapest is faster (16 h) but less restful. Inside Romania, IR/CFR trains connect Bucharest with Brașov (2.5 h), Sibiu (5 h), Cluj (8 h). For the Saxon Triangle, take the train to Sighișoara and we pick you up.
The full guide →Compare trains & buses →By coach
FlixBus runs Munich → Cluj (15 h) and Vienna → Sibiu / Brașov (12 h) several times a week. Cheap, surprisingly comfortable, often arrives at 6am — let us pick you up.
The full guide →Compare trains & buses →Driving from Europe — the routes
Since Romania joined Schengen there are no border queues left on the main corridors. All routes below enter on the A1 motorway at Nădlac and assume one comfortable overnight stop.
Munich / southern Germany
Salzburg → Vienna → Budapest → Nădlac (A1) → Sibiu → Brașov
≈ 1,250 km to Brașov · 13–14 h driving
Vignettes: Austria + Hungary + Romania (rovinieta)
Sleep in Budapest or Győr; you reach the Saxon villages by the next afternoon.
Berlin / northern Germany
Dresden → Prague → Brno → Budapest → Nădlac (A1)
≈ 1,450 km to Sibiu · 14–15 h driving
Vignettes: Czechia + Hungary + Romania (add Slovakia if you route via Bratislava)
Two relaxed days with a night in Brno or Budapest.
Vienna / Austria
Budapest → Nădlac (A1) → Arad → Sibiu
≈ 830 km to Sibiu · 8–9 h driving
Vignettes: Hungary + Romania (rovinieta)
Doable in one long day — leave by 7am and you arrive for dinner.
Milan–Venice / northern Italy
Trieste → Slovenia → Hungary (M7/M0) → Nădlac (A1)
≈ 1,150 km to Sibiu · 11–12 h driving
Vignettes: Slovenia + Hungary + Romania (rovinieta)
Overnight around Lake Balaton splits the drive beautifully.
Driving in Romania — what to know
Romanian roads are better than their reputation and the scenery pays for every kilometre. These are the rules and realities that actually matter — bookmark this before a roadtrip.
Rovinieta (e-vignette)
Required on all roads outside towns, for every car. It is electronic — no sticker — bought online (roviniete.ro), at any petrol station or at the border, for a few euros per week. Rental cars usually include it; if you drive your own car, buy it before you leave the border area. Cameras enforce it automatically.
Zero alcohol — really zero
The legal blood-alcohol limit is 0.00‰. One beer with dinner and driving is an offence. Checks are frequent; plan a designated driver or walkable evenings.
Lights & equipment
Dipped headlights are mandatory outside towns day and night. The car must carry two warning triangles, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and a reflective vest — rentals come equipped.
Speed limits
50 km/h in towns, 90 on national roads, 100 on express roads, 130 on motorways (car). Village limits start at the white name sign — and villages can run into each other for kilometres. Speed cameras and average-speed checks are increasingly common.
Plan with real speeds
On national roads you will average 50–60 km/h — trucks, villages and mountain curves. Add 20–30% to what your navigation app promises. Our roadtrip planner already estimates conservatively.
Mountain passes close in winter
The Transfăgărășan and Transalpina — the two famous high roads — are typically closed from late October until June. We show the live Transfăgărășan status on the site; always check before routing over a 2,000 m pass.
Winter rules
Winter tyres are mandatory whenever roads are covered by snow, ice or slush — in practice: always, November to March in the mountains. Snow chains may be required on marked sectors.
Country-road realities
Expect horse carts, free-running dogs, pedestrians on the roadside and the occasional pothole on minor roads. Drive defensively after dark; overtake carts with real clearance.
Fuel, payments, tolls
Petrol stations (Petrom, OMV, MOL, Rompetrol) are dense and card payment is universal. Keep some lei in cash for village shops. Besides the rovinieta the only extra tolls are a few Danube bridges (e.g. Fetești on the way to the coast, Giurgiu–Ruse into Bulgaria).
If something happens
The single emergency number is 112. Carry your licence, registration and green insurance card; police checks are routine and polite — have documents at hand.
After you land
We meet you at any of the six airports. Pick the option that fits your trip.
Information current for 2026. Routes and frequencies change.