Many holidaymakers travel to Romania with their own car or rent one at the airport and... may feel a little overwhelmed by the parking situation in some cities. Therefore, here are some useful tips and information.

And first of all: don't be tempted to imitate the sometimes creative parking style of some locals. A car can be towed away very quickly (for example from fire lanes, in front of hospitals, at intersections, pedestrian crossings, etc.) and can only be recovered by paying a fee. The problem is that you first have to find out where your car has been taken... and that can become quite a challenge 🙈

# Relaxed parking in Brăila 🥰
Brăila is located in southeastern Romania and has around 150,000 inhabitants. There are almost always enough parking spaces, even in the city center, and all public parking in Brăila is free of charge.

# The neighboring city of Galați... not quite as relaxed 😅
Galați is also located in southeastern Romania and has around 300,000 inhabitants. In many parts of the city (the center as well as residential areas), parking is paid (Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM–8:00 PM). Payment can be made at parking machines or via SMS (a Romanian phone number is required). IMPORTANT: If you do not pay, it usually takes only a short time before you find a nice yellow or orange wheel clamp 😅 on one of your front wheels. The removal fee is 200 or 300 lei (approximately €40 or €60), depending on the time of day.

# Brasov – allow plenty of time to find a parking space
In the center of Brasov and nearby areas, finding a parking space is difficult at almost any time of day. There are only a few parking spaces, and because of the many one-way streets, the search can take quite a while. Don't be in a hurry here! Parking is paid (Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM–8:00 PM) and can be paid at parking machines, via SMS (one hour per SMS; multiple SMS messages can be combined, but a Romanian phone number is required), or through an app (including 24-hour parking). Paid parking is available throughout the city, so always pay attention to the signs.

# Timisoara, European Capital of Culture 2023... modern technology 😁
Parking in the city center is also paid here, but the search for parking offenders is handled in a very modern way. A specially equipped camera car regularly patrols the streets and parking areas. It automatically reads license plates and checks in real time whether parking has been paid. We do not know the exact process, but we assume that drivers without a valid parking ticket receive a fine very quickly.

# Bucharest... no words 🙈
Parking in Bucharest is easy: either at your hotel parking lot or about 20 km outside the city 😁. Anyone who has ever driven in Bucharest knows that you need plenty of time, patience, and a relaxed attitude, as the traffic often resembles that of large Italian cities. In many districts, the city center, and around shopping malls, traffic is usually very heavy (GPS: "Your destination is 800 meters away. Estimated travel time: 48 minutes."). Parking is paid and can usually be paid at parking machines, via SMS (Romanian phone number required), or through an app. Depending on the district (especially the Old Town), finding a parking space can be very difficult or extremely expensive (for example, 300 lei (€60) for 24 hours in a private parking lot). Our advice is clear: choose a hotel with free parking and then explore the city on foot or by taxi, Uber, bus, or metro. It is well worth it!

# In the countryside and in small towns
Things are usually much more relaxed here. You park and that's it 😊. However, always keep an eye on local signs, especially near tourist attractions, as paid parking may also apply there.

# Finally... the idea: simply don't pay the fine!!!
This almost never works because in most cities, in addition to the parking ticket, you will also receive a nice yellow (or orange) wheel clamp on the driver's front wheel. The removal fee varies depending on the time of day or night. Therefore, if parking fees apply, it is definitely in your own interest to pay them.

If you have experiences with parking in other Romanian cities, feel free to share them in the comments!

# One more thing: the Romanian vignette (Rovinieta)
To use Romania's motorways and national roads (mandatory for all cars), you need a vignette. The vignette (Rovinieta) can be purchased online up to one month in advance (including a German-language interface). The prices are reasonable: €3 for 7 days, €7 for 30 days, €13 for 90 days, and €28 for one year. Rental cars usually already include a valid vignette, but it is always worth asking. More information is available here:

https://www.roviniete.ro/de/

The Metropolitan Cathedral “The Holy Three Hierarchs”, Victory Square, and the Romanian National Opera in Timisoara, in the city center.

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Images and wonderful impressions that we received today from Ms. Traxl, from her (current) journey through Romania.

Coming from Hungary, the route led through Timisoara, the Bigar waterfall, and then to the Danube, along which the journey is currently continuing.

Thank you very much for the beautiful pictures and we wish you a continued safe journey and a lot of fun on your holiday in Romania 😊

In the background, you can see the historic Water Palace (Palatul Apelor), built in 1901, and Trajan Bridge (Podul Traian). * A vaporetto is originally a public water transport service / water bus in Italy, used especially in and around Venice to reach the city and the surrounding lagoon.

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Visit the European Capital of Culture 2023 in western Romania and the historic region of Banat.

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://xn--urlaub-in-rumnien-2qb.de/

Timișoara, located in western Romania, is always beautiful and well worth a visit 🥰

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://welcome-to-romania.com

Timișoara cultural program 2026: three major events we want to highlight! 🌟

The city of Timișoara continues its series of high-caliber cultural projects in 2026. From the wide range of projects, we’ve picked three central pillars that represent the areas of music, tradition, and urban development.

Here is the key information about each event:

JAZZx Festival

📅 Date: July 01 – July 05, 2026
📍 Location: Piața Libertății (main stage)
Details: international and contemporary jazz acts. Access to all concerts is free of charge.

View of the southern part of the city center / old town of Timisoara. On the left side of the picture (with the green area) is Piata Unirii (colloquially Domplatz, translated “Unification Square”), with the Catholic Cathedral / St. George’s Cathedral (on the right side of the square, orange in the picture).

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://welcome-to-romania.com

On the way from Timisoara to Sibiu or from Cluj Napoca to Sibiu (both on the highway), or of course also in the opposite direction, you should not miss a detour to Alba Iulia.

https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de/en/uir/destinations-romania-alba-iulia/

Pictures from these days from the city of Timisoara in western Romania. Especially in spring / May, visiting this city is a wonderful idea.

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de

Tradition and customs in the Banat—those who see the pictures without knowing the history of the Danube Swabians might believe they are somewhere in Germany, in the Swabian region. But no, these photos are from Romania.

Images from the Kirchweih festival in the community of Liebling, located in Timiș County in the historic Banat region. In the German communities of Banat, Kirchweih festivals are traditionally celebrated. On this occasion, the beautiful Swabian folk costumes are worn. If you travel through Banat from summer to autumn, visiting a Kirchweih festival is well worth it.

We thank Mr. Frank Schleßmann for providing these wonderful images and the accompanying text/explanation.

Our visit in July 2025 took us to Schwabenland — more precisely, to the Swabian restaurant Schwabenland in the village of Charlotenburg (the only round village in Romania), in the historical region of Banat, Timis County.

Delicious Swabian specialties (cheese spätzle, Maultaschen soup, ...) in a wonderful, peaceful atmosphere — just perfect 🥰

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://rotravel24.com

In addition to a guest garden with a Playground, the restaurant also has a small museum showcasing the past and present of the Swabians from the Banat — the homeland of the Banat Swabians in Romania.

If you want to visit Charlotenburg, you can find this place in the Romanian Banat, Timiș County.

Charlotenburg (or Sarlota, also Barita) is a village in the commune of Bogda, Timiș County. It is the only "round village" in Romania.

The village was founded by 32 families (171 people) who immigrated from Baden-Württemberg, Alsace-Lorraine, and the German-speaking Trentino. Its existence is mainly thanks to Count Karl-Ignaz von Clary and Aldringen, who was appointed President of the Banat Administration in 1769. The village was designed and built in a circular shape, with an inner diameter of 210 meters.

We thank Mr. Frank Schleßmann for providing these images and the corresponding (partial) text/explanation.

A plane tree, planted exactly 25 years before the birth of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (nicknamed Sissi) and now already 213 years old (again, the tree).

The tree stands in the city of Buzias in Timis County, in the magnificent garden with a round wooden pavilion, whose construction was commissioned in 1875 by Emperor Franz Joseph for Empress Sissi.

A place with history, a lot of history, and we would love to know what this tree has seen in its lifetime and especially whom it has met 🥰

A small town in Banat with its own airport... well, actually just with its own airplanes, which probably belong to the owner of the café/restaurant.

Buzias in Timis County is alive with the charm of the past: Emperor Franz Joseph commissioned the construction of a magnificent garden with a round wooden pavilion here for Empress Sissi in 1875 (more about this in a future post).

And for 20 years now, right next to it, there has been La Aeroport, the only airport/airplane restaurant in Romania. Both are definitely worth a visit.

The place is also perfect for children and families, as you can not only enjoy a coffee, ice cream, or more under the airplanes... but one airplane is also ready to take the little guests on a journey into the realm of fantasy ✈️🥰

Lugoj (Hungarian: Lugos, German: Lugosch) is a town in Timis County in the historical region of Banat. It consists of the town of Lugoj and the villages of Maguri and Tapia.

The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, also known as the "Church with Two Towers," is a Romanian Orthodox church located on Victory Square in Lugoj. The church was built between 1759 and 1766 in Baroque style. It is one of the most significant Baroque buildings in the Banat.

Pictures from July 2025

Camping, guesthouse, museum, and much more ... Casa Ferch in the town of Deta, located just under an hour south of Timisoara in western Romania, is DEFINITELY worth a visit.

Wir visited the house / campsite in early July 2025. It is run by a couple from Vienna, we were warmly welcomed and fed ... it was pure hospitality and warmth and ... it was perfect!

Over coffee, cake, and lunch, we met many guests as well as residents of the region in the following hours: Austrians, Banat Swabians from Timisoara, and many more! It felt as if we had always lived there 🥰 Thanks again to Margit, her husband, to the Swabian "Hansi traveling the whole world," and everyone we had the pleasure of meeting.

📍 Casa Ferch, Victoriei Street 29, Deta, Romania

More about Casa Ferch Deta and / or "With Hansi around the world" ( https://www.youtube.com/@MitHansiumdieWelt )

Vacation 2026 in Romania, Heide Reisen SRL, Stuttgart and Sibiu / Hermannstadt, info@heide-reisen.de, 0162 258 44 94 and +40 758 928 928

Contact: https://heide-reisen.de

Your specialist for Transylvania, city tours in Brasov / Kronstadt, Sighisoara / Schässburg, Sibiu / Hermannstadt, and Timisoara. Execution of day trips for private groups, Transfagarasan premium tour, experiencing Transylvanian Saxons - the land and the people, event: Zorabia 3.0 Whiteparty with German hits and a drone show on August 2nd, and much more ...!

Beautiful pictures from Timisoara from this weekend, the Orthodox Easter. Sooooo many Easter eggs, a feast for every bunny and visitor 🥰

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de

A wonderful journey by bicycle through Romania in the summer of a previous year. The part presented here passes through the counties of Arad, Timiș, and Caraș-Severin.

The route: Nadlac (in the west, border with Hungary) > Arad > Lipova (the bridge, a bit adventurous) > Timisoara (in German Temeswar) > Pischia (in German Bruckenau) > Moravita > Gradinari.

We thank Mr. Franz Bauer for granting permission to use these pictures. In the summer of 2021, he visited almost all of Romania by bicycle, and we have reported and will continue to report on this journey.

Now in spring, it's simply beautiful! Timisoara (German: Temeswar, also Temeschwar or Temeschburg) is located in western Romania in the historical region of Banat and is the capital of Timis County.

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de

The city was the European Capital of Culture in 2023. Spring / summer pictures from previous years.

Pictures from mid-July 2025, in the evening, from Timisoara in western Romania.

A city full of life — it’s wonderful to stroll through the city at temperatures between 28°C (7 PM) and 22°C (midnight), stop for a coffee or a cool drink, or try an Indian chicken masala in coconut milk (our tip 😊) at one of the many restaurants, street cafés, or wine bars.

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://welcome-to-romania.com

Timisoara, a picture from yesterday (March 23, 2026). Spring is beginning, and it is the best time to plan a trip or, of course, to undertake one.

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de

The Muntele Mic Massif is a mountain group in the Retezat-Godeanu Mountains, which belong to the Southern Carpathians.

It is located between the Tarcu Mountains, the Godeanu Mountains, and the Retezat Mountains. The highest peak is Varful (Mount) Muntele Mic at 1,802 meters high. It is a small but popular ski resort in Banat, 130 km from Timisoara. There are six (6) slopes with different levels of difficulty: Borlova 1, Borlova 2, Valsanu, Nordica, Isai, Felix.

Muntele Mic is also popular with hikers in summer and is easily accessible by car.

We thank Ms. Corinna Haisch Coliev for sending the pictures / text. We also thank Muntele Mic Online for the permission to use the pictures.

Spring is arriving throughout Romania and, of course, also in Timisoara in western Romania. Pictures from last Friday, March 6th, 2026.

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://willkommen-in-rumänien.de

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://welcome-to-romania.com

Lugoj (Hungarian: Lugos, German: Lugosch) is a commune in Timiș County in the historical region of Banat. It consists of the town of Lugoj and the villages of Măguri and Tapia.

The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, also known as the "Church with Two Towers," is a Romanian Orthodox church located at Victory Square in Lugoj. Built between 1759 and 1766 in Baroque style, it is one of the most remarkable Baroque buildings in Banat.

We thank Ms. Corinna Haisch / Adriana Weimer for sharing and allowing us to use these images.

A walk through Timisoara... "The Little Vienna"... at the end of April 2025. The city on the Bega River is a cultural center in western Romania. As one of the few cities, it has three different theaters: a German, a Hungarian, and a Romanian one.

https://discover-timisoara.com | https://welcome-to-romania.com

We thank Mr. Frank Schleßmann for sending these beautiful pictures (April 24, 2025).

Cluj-Napoca (in German Klausenburg, in Hungarian Kolozsvár) is (probably*) the second largest city in Romania and the capital of Cluj County in Transylvania.

https://welcome-to-romania.com | https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de

Cluj-Napoca, with about 400,000 inhabitants, is the unofficial capital of the Transylvania region. The city has universities, a vibrant nightlife, and many buildings from the times of Hungarian and Saxon rule. Around the main square, Piata Unirii, are the Gothic St. Michael’s Church and an equestrian statue of King Matthias Corvinus, who lived in the 15th century. The baroque Banffy Palace is now a museum displaying Romanian art.

Cluj-Napoca has an international airport and is located in northwestern Romania.

* It could also be Iasi or Timisoara or ... !? Unfortunately, there are no exact figures.

We thank the city of Cluj-Napoca for allowing us to use these pictures.

In Romania, too, Valentine's Day is becoming more and more widespread, although February 24th, "Dragobete" day, is still the real Romanian Valentine's Day (more on this on February 24th).

The Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889) wrote a variety of love poems, which can be read in German at the following link.

http://www.deutsche-liebeslyrik.de/europaisc.../eminescu.htm

Picture: Timisoara, Paul Calescu