Trains in Romania

Trains in Romania service every town and city in this seriously underrated country! The Romanian rail network is the 4^th largest and most dense in Europe. Even in villages you're often no further than 10km from a railway station. Comfortable, relaxing and easy to use, trains are the most popular and rewarding way of getting around Romania.

Train types in Romania

You can travel freely throughout Romania on trains operated by the Romanian railway company CFR (Căile Ferate Române). In addition to these domestic services, there are international trains to nearby countries. You can find times for Romanian trains in the Interrail timetable and in Romanian timetables.

Regional and Intercity trains in Romania

Regio (RE)

Slow trains with frequent stops, connecting smaller towns and villages along commuter routes.
Bicycles permitted on board. You need to buy a bike ticket.
Formerly known as "Personal" trains.
No reservation required.

InterRegio (IR)

Faster trains covering longer distances, stopping at important towns and cities.
Bicycles permitted on board. You need to buy a bike ticket.
Formerly known as "Rapid" and "Accelerat" trains.
Reservations are required on many routes.

Intercity (IC)

Fast trains connecting the main cities in Romania.
They also link to international destinations, mainly Budapest.
Reservations are required.

Special (S)

Vintage tourist trains on scenic routes.
Exceptional conditions apply.

Night trains in Romania

Intercity (IC) and InterRegio (IR) night trains

Couchettes and sleepers added to Intercity and InterRegio trains on overnight routes.
Reservations are required.

EuroNight (EN)

International night train connecting Bucharest with Budapest (Hungary) and Vienna (Austria).
Reservations are required.

Reservations for trains in Romania

How can I make reservations for trains in Romania?

At local train stations
Online: through the Interrail Reservation Service.
Phone: through the Deutsche Bahn booking centre. You can call DB 24/7 on +49 1806 996 633.

For more information about train reservation costs on Romanian railways, check our list of domestic train reservation fees.

International train connections to and from Romania

Here are some direct train routes linking Romania with popular cities in other European countries:

Route	Which train?	Duration	Reservations
Brasov to Budapest (Hungary)	Intercity / EuroNight	13 - 14 hours / 13.5 hours (overnight)	Required
Bucharest to Budapest (Hungary)	Intercity / EuroNight	15 hours / 16 hours (overnight)	Required
Bucharest to Sofia (Bulgaria)	International Express	9.5 hours	Required
Bucharest to Vienna (Austria)	EuroNight	19 hours (overnight)	Required