Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

ROMANIA 593

serves Braşov and Târges

Mureş. Buses also leave for

various destinations around

the country from opposite

Gara de Nord.

Tickets for local buses,

trams and trolley buses can

be bought at street kiosks

and should be vali dated

once on board.

TRAVELLING BY CAR

Driving in Romania is an

unsettling experience, as

Romanian drivers are very

impatient, rely ing on tail-

gating and frequent use of

horns to intimidate other road

users. In rural areas, horses

and carts are a major hazard,

partic ularly at night when

they may not have lights.

Drivers are required to carry

an EU or international licence,

Green Card insurance or

its equiv alent and vehicle

registration documents.

Car hire is available in most

towns and cities. Major rental

companies are: Ecoline Car

Rental, Prima and PanTravel.

Taxis are also plentiful in

bigger towns and cities.

However, passengers should

insist on the meter being used,

or agree on a fare in advance.

RAIL TRAVEL

Most international and

domestic trains arrive and

depart from Bucharest’s Gara

de Nord, which lies north of

the centre. There are four

classes of Romanian train –

Intercity is the quickest and

most comfort able; Rapid and

Accelerat tend to stop more

frequently; Personal trains

are slow, uncomfortable

and best avoided. The first

three cate gories require seat

reserva tions. Although it is

not yet possible to book

tickets online, the national

railway website, CFR, has a

railway time table for the

whole coun try. Visitors can

book tickets through the

agency Wasteels, which

has an office in Bucharest.

DIRECTORY

DOCUMENTATION

http://www.ec.europa.eu

EMBASSIES AND

CONSULATES

Australia

14–18, Buzeşti St,

Bucharest.

Tel (21) 316 7558.

United Kingdom

24 Jules Michelet,

Bucharest.

Tel (21) 201 7200.

United States

7–9, Tudor Arghezi St,

Bucharest.

Tel (21) 200 3300.

VISITOR

INFORMATION

http://www.romaniatourism.

com

In Your Pocket

http://www.inyourpocket.com

EMERGENCIES

Ambulance, Police

Tel 112.

HEALTH AND

SECURITY

Emergency Clinic

Hospital

Calea Floreasca 8,

Bucharest.

Tel (021) 599 2300.

Calea Bucureşti 25-27,

Braşov.

Tel (0268) 320 022.

COMMUNICATIONS

Bucharest Main

Post Office

St Matei Millo 10,

Bucharest.

Cyber Café

St Republicii 58, Braşov.

Green Hours

Calea Victoriei 120,

Bucharest.

ARRIVING BY AIR

TAROM

http://www.tarom.ro

Wizzair

http://www.wizzair.com

RAIL TRAVEL

CFR

http://www.cfr.ro

Wasteels

Tel (021) 317 0369.

http://www.triptkts.ro

TRAVELLING BY

BUS

Bucureşti Militari

141 Iuliu Maniu, Bucharest.

Tel (021) 220 8440.

C&I Bus Terminal

35 Ritmului, Bucharest.

Tel (021) 250 8669.

Filaret Bus Station

1 Gara Filaret Square,

Bucharest.

Tel (021) 336 0692.

TRAVELLING BY CAR

Ecoline Car Rental

Al Vlahuta St 10,

Braşov.

Tel (0268) 546 137.

http://www.ecoline.ro

PanTravel

St Grozavescu 13,

Cluj-Napoca.

Tel (0264) 420 516.

http://www.pantravel.ro

Prima

11 C Robescu, Ap. 10,

Sector 3, Bucharest.

Tel (021) 316 1080.

http://www.primarent.ro

ARRIVING BY AIR

Bucharest’s two international
airports are both north of the
centre. The smaller Aurel
Vlaicu (Băneasa) airport is
closer and is used by budget
airlines such as Wizzair. Larger
car riers, such as Romania’s
national airline TAROM, use
the bigger Henri Coandă
Otopeni air port, which lies
16 km (10 miles) from the
centre. Sibiu, Timişoara, Cluj-
Napoca and Constanța all have
inter national airports served
by less frequent flights.

TRAVELLING BY BUS

Instead of a central bus

station, Bucharest has six

smaller bus stations located

around the edges of the city.

Of these, Filaret Bus Station

serves Thessaloniki, Athens

and southeastern Romania;

Bucureşti Militari serves

northern destinations includ-

ing Sibiu; C&I Bus Terminal

Romtelecom card sold at
post offices such as the
Bucharest Main Post Office
and at news paper kiosks.
Mobile phones with roaming
will function everywhere,
but those visitors staying
longer in the country are
advised to buy a local pre-
paid SIM to reduce the cost
of calls. Even the smallest
towns usually have at least
one Internet café. Green
Hours in Bucharest and
Cyber Café in Braşov are
among these. Hotels, cafés
and restaurants in larger
cities often provide Wi-Fi
access for those with laptops.