Overview
Romania is one of Europe's most rewarding and underrated destinations, pairing the buzzing capital Bucharest with the castles and mountain scenery of Transylvania, the cobbled squares of Sibiu and Brașov, and the wild waterways of the Danube Delta. It sits within easy reach of the UK, with several nonstop routes and typical flight times of around three hours, so it works just as well for a long weekend as for a fortnight's road trip. This page pulls together live fares for cheap flights to Romania alongside guidance on when to fly and which airport to choose.
Best time to fly to Romania
Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September and October) are the sweet spots, with warm days, cooler evenings and thinner crowds at the popular castles. July and August turn hot, especially in Bucharest and on the Black Sea coast around Mamaia, while winter brings reliable snow to Carpathian ski resorts such as Poiana Brașov. Fares tend to rise around Easter, the school summer holidays and the Christmas markets — check the When to book chart above to see how prices shift across the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
Bucharest Henri Coandă (OTP) is the principal gateway and the natural choice for the capital, Transylvania and the coast. Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) is handy for northern Transylvania and Maramureș, while Timișoara (TSR) serves the west of the country. Smaller airports at Iași, Sibiu, Bacău and Craiova also receive UK flights on selected routes.
Airlines and routes
Wizz Air operates the widest UK–Romania network, flying from London Luton, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester and other airports to Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași, Sibiu and beyond. Ryanair also links a number of UK airports with Romanian cities, and for Bucharest you have British Airways from London Heathrow plus the Romanian flag carrier TAROM. Most journeys are flown direct; where there is no nonstop option you can connect through a hub such as Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich or Amsterdam. Reckon on roughly 3 hours 15 minutes from London and around 3 hours 20 minutes from Manchester.
Popular places to visit in Romania
- Bucharest: a lively capital of grand boulevards, Belle Époque cafes and the vast Palace of the Parliament.
- Brașov & Bran Castle: a picture-perfect Saxon town that makes the ideal base for the castle marketed as Dracula's.
- Sibiu: a beautifully preserved medieval centre with pastel squares, museums and easy access to the Făgăraș mountains.
- Painted Monasteries of Bucovina: UNESCO-listed churches in the north-east covered inside and out with vivid frescoes.
- Danube Delta: Europe's largest wetland, a maze of channels and reed beds best explored by boat from Tulcea.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Romania
- Be flexible with dates — Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday departures are usually cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
- Compare regional departures; a low-cost flight from Luton, Manchester or Bristol can undercut a nonstop from your nearest airport.
- Travel in the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn, when both fares and hotel rates ease off.
- Book city breaks around one to two months ahead and use the price charts on this page to judge the timing.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa to visit Romania for tourism and can stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; your passport should be valid for the whole of your trip. From 2026 the EU's ETIAS travel authorisation is expected to apply to UK visitors, so check the latest entry requirements before you book. Romania is now a full member of the Schengen area but not the eurozone — the currency is the Romanian leu (RON), and while cards are widely accepted it pays to carry some cash in smaller towns. From Bucharest airport a train and the express bus 100 run to the centre, with ride-hailing apps also available. For the best value, book early for peak dates and use the price charts on this page to time your booking.
