Transylvania is a region in Romania that is north of the capital of Bucharest. Our family chose to take a train from Bucharest to Brasov to begin our exploration of Transylvania.
Exploring this region felt like stepping into a fairy land. Majestic mountains, enchanting castles, dense forests, quaint towns… we were enraptured by its beauty. Campgrounds are dotted throughout the region and make an easy place to lay your head at night, so that you can continue to explore off the beaten path the next day.
A note for camping in Romania is that we did bring our own tents while backpacking through Eastern Europe with our family of six. So, we were prepared for camping whether tent supplies were provided or not.
8 Tips for Camping in Romania
Rent a car.
Although there are trains and buses around Transylvania, many campgrounds in Romania are far from public transportation, so you will need your own wheels to reach them. Keep in mind that to rent a car you will need to have a valid international driver’s license in order to rent a vehicle. We have been able to rent vehicles in other countries using a drivers license that has English on it only without an official international license, but in Romania it was needed to rent a vehicle. Helpful tip: we applied for an international driver’s license through International Drivers Association online and it was super easy, and we were able to use the digital license right away to rent a vehicle.
Most campgrounds don’t need a reservation.
When camping in Romania, know that campgrounds are abundant around the Transylvania region. In one instance, we stopped at one campground which seemed incredibly full, and we chose to not pursue camping there because we prefer quieter places. But we were able to drive another 15 minutes to find one that more suited our family style. In another case, I called one campground that seemed extremely popular, and which had an elaborate website (not true for most), but they told us to just show up because there was availability.
Without a reservation, you can just show up on their doorstep with your tent and ask to stay for the night. They will give you instructions for where you can put your tent down as some places segregate camper vans and tents. Other hosts let us pick our own spot on the property.
How to pay for camping in Romania.
Make sure you have cash! In remote areas it is easiest to pay with cash, and more often then not it was required to pay with cash as cards were not accepted. On the other hand, most campgrounds were willing to take Euros as well as Lei. So, be prepared to not use your credit card. Do remember that camping in Romania is not necessarily expensive. Our cheapest night with 2 adults, 4 kids, two tents, and a car was 100 lei (around USD $20 or 20 euros), and our most expensive night was 180 lei.
Charges are different at different locations.
Some campgrounds charge just for the tents, some charge per adult and per child, some include the car as a charge, etc. It will vary per place, but in the end, camping with a tent is the cheapest type of accommodation you can find for a large family.
Campgrounds vary in size and environment.
We camped across Transylvania and had very different camping experiences. For example, we camped on the side of the road coming down the Transfagarasan highway in a campground that provided an outhouse, a spigot, and a picnic table., but in another spot we camped in a field that used to be used for horses next to renovated horse stables. We camped in a large backyard of a house that had been turned into a campground. Every kind of campground is out there. But across Transylvania, the main similarity we saw was that of the kindness of the hosts welcoming us to their campground.
Temperature shift.
We were in Romania at the beginning of July. It was pleasant, warm weather during the day. But sleeping in a tent at night meant that we felt the temperature shift when the sun went down. We were visiting at one of the hottest times of the year for Romania, and yet we still needed an extra layer of clothing at night to sleep inside our sleeping bags
Laid-back atmosphere for arrival and departure.
Across all the campgrounds we stayed at, we were welcomed no matter the time we arrived (although always before dark so we can’t speak into that) and hosts were willing to allow us to stay an extra day if we changed our plans. Along with the laid back attitude, came a wonderful hospitality. Hosts were willing to sit and talk with us about their lives, about Romania, and get to know us and our children. Our understanding of Romanian history and culture grew just by staying at campgrounds around Transylvania. Our hosts even offered us wonderful advice on places to explore and see in the surrounding areas.
Be prepared with all your needs before you arrive at the campground.
We found each campground to have different amenities available. And as such, we had to be prepared with our food, water, tent supplies, and anything else we might need during our stay.
Our experience in the campgrounds in regards to amenities provided was extremely varied: Several campgrounds had laundry facilities for extra charge. A couple had grills and sinks for washing dishes. There were spots we could camp right next to a picnic table and others that had you walk to a table in a space designated for eating if you wanted to sit at a picnic table.
We also saw several campgrounds with playgrounds, trampolines, and even a campground with a restaurant. Like I mentioned, most campgrounds do not have websites, so google reviews are the best way to go to find out what is available at the location, but even then, I didn’t always find out what the experience would be like with children. Overall, I can say that our family was extremely thankful for how well received we were with our large family and how kind hosts were with our children.
For a specific example of camping in in Romania, read our post on Camping on the Transfagarasan. This involved camping along one of the most beautiful roads in Romania. Each experience is going to be different, but don’t get too worried. Use these tips and feel confident that you can camp with your family in a new place!