12 Best Places To Live In Romania

Romania is a country in southeastern Europe with a rich culture, outstanding natural sites and preserved old towns and sites. In recent years, many expats looking for affordable housing, modern conveniences and quick access to the rest of Europe have moved to Romania.

Sections

Best Places To Live In Romania

City	Reason
Bucharest	Best for work
Timișoara	Best for affordability
Bucharest, King Michael 1 Park	Best for families
Bucharest, Old Town Lipscanni	Best for immigrants
Timișoara	Best for retirement
Cluj-Napoca	Best for young adults
Cluj-Napoca, Centre or Zorilor	Best for students
Bucharest	Best for food and nightlife
Brasov	Best for singles
Timișoara	Best for weather
Constanta	Best for beaches
Sibiu	Best for mountains

Best Places To Live In Romania for Work

Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is one of the best cities for expats to consider when moving to Romania to work. Bucharest also has a large existing expat community which can help with the culture shock some expats experience when they relocate.

The main industries for work in Bucharest are construction, engineering, IT, communications, software development or teaching English.

There are plenty of English speakers in the country and many digital workers also enjoy living in the city due to the co-working spaces, cafes and high internet speeds.

Oradea is another potential option for relocators looking for job options. The city has undergone massive economic development in recent years and is considered one of the safest cities in Romania, though do keep in mind that costs may be higher here.

Cheapest Places To Live In Romania

Romania is a fantastic country for expats hoping to relocate with a smaller budget. One of the best cities to consider for affordability is the city of Timișoara which is located in western Romania.

Timișoara is known to be a haven for digital nomads as it is easy to travel around and there are plenty of English speakers. There are also fast internet speeds and, as mentioned earlier, it is one of the best cities for those hoping to relocate with cost in mind.

Keep in mind that though the cost of living and housing is low it has also been reported that wages can also be low which may explain why it’s such a haven for digital nomads.

Best Places To Live In Romania for Families

Bucharest, also known as ‘Little Paris’, is a fantastic option for expats hoping to relocate to Romania with family in tow. The city is known to be good for families due to the many public spaces available such as playgrounds and parks.

The best neighbourhoods in Bucharest for families are around King Michael 1 Park (Herăstrău Park), Kiseleff Park or Floreasca Park. These areas are leafy and suburban and offer proximity to international schools as well as being well-connected to the centre of the city.

Brasov is another good city for families to consider when relocating. Brasov is filled with history and culture with lots of exciting sites and museums to explore and the city boasts a great quality of life.

Best Places To Live In Romania for Immigrants

The capital is also the best city in the country for immigrants. Bucharest has a lot of renowned attractions and draws in plenty of tourists and expats each year.

The cost of Bucharest is generally lower than in many Western cities and there are also plenty of housing options and good public transportation. The downtown neighbourhoods of Bucharest – such as Old Town Lipscanni – are popular with single immigrants and digital nomads, while the northern neighbourhoods are typically more popular with families.

As well as Bucharest, immigrants hoping to relocate to Bucharest could consider the city of Cluj-Napoca. There are plenty of English speakers in the city as well as a large international student population which makes it popular with young adults and immigrants.

Best Places To Live In Romania for Retirement

Romania is a popular place for many expats to retire to as the country offers a high quality of life, low cost of living and plenty of outstanding natural sites. Timișoara is a great country of choice for those hoping to retire to Romania as the city is packed full of culture and beautiful landscapes.

Timișoara has good public transportation with plenty of buses and trams running through the centre of the city. There is also good access to neighbouring countries such as Serbia and Hungary through the international airport in Timișoara.

Iași is another potential option for expats hoping to retire in Romania – this university city has a laid-back atmosphere and is Romania’s fourth largest city. As such you can expect it to have the modern conveniences of any modern city, with lots of dining and entertainment choices.

Best Places To Live In Romania for Young Adults

Cluj-Napoca is a definite stand-out choice when it comes to picking a city which is good for young adults. The city has some renowned universities and is home to a large international student population.

There are plenty of amenities in the city which are easily accessible and Cluj-Napoca also has a reputation for being a safe city. The party scene in Cluj-Napoca appeals to a lot of young adults; you can expect there to be many festivals throughout the city as well as lots of underground creative installations for art, music and theatre.

Constanta is a good city of choice for young adults looking for a more relaxed atmosphere and lifestyle – there’s plenty of work available in the tourism industry and the city is known for its outstanding seafood and coastal resorts.

Best Places To Live In Romania for Students

Cluj-Napoca is also one of the most popular cities in Romania for international students. Commonly known as Cluj, the city offers an exceptional nightlife scene as well as good education and work opportunities.

Some of the educational institutions in Cluj-Napoca are the most prestigious in Romania – for example, the city is home to Babes-Bolayi University, Cluj-Napoca Technical University, Cluj-Napoca University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and Sapientia University.

Most international students choose to live in the Centre or Zorilor – keep in mind that Cluj-Napoca is one of the most expensive cities in Romania, particularly when it comes to accommodation costs.

Best Places To Live In Romania for Food and Nightlife

Bucharest is the top city in Romania for food and nightlife lovers. The capital city is known for housing many delicious restaurants and eateries across a range of cuisines.

Romanian cuisine tends to be very hearty. Notable dishes include meat and vegetable soup, tripe (ciorbă de burtă) calf foot soup, or fish soup.

The nightlife in Bucharest has a good reputation and there are several good clubs and bars for partiers to enjoy. The cost of going out in Bucharest is affordable in comparison to other countries and many clubs close in the early morning.

Best Places To Live In Romania for Singles

Brasov is one of the largest cities in Romania and has a spectacular atmosphere due, in large part, to the architecture of the city – Brasov is home to Bran Castle (also known as Count Dracula’s Castle) which was built in 1388 and still draws hundreds of visitors.

Brasov is a great location for singles. Not only is the city extremely picturesque but it’s also in a good location in the country; very close to the capital city as well as being on the doorstep of the Carpathian Mountain Range.

There are plenty of English speakers in the city as well as a thriving tourism industry. Brasov is also an affordable city which is especially beneficial for single people.

Bucharest is another great option for singles though the capital is one of the more expensive cities in Romania. There are plenty of benefits to living in the capital though, such as the active job market, the high quality of life and the existing expat community.

Best Places To Live In Romania for the Weather

Romania experiences a lot of pleasant weather and has a temperate climate for the majority of the year. During the winter, temperatures can drop to below minus three degrees Celsius and the typical warmest temperature in summer is between twenty-two and twenty-four degrees.

Timișoara is one of Romania’s larger cities and is a great choice for those hoping to enjoy some of the best weather Romania has to offer. The seasons that offer the largest amount of sun are summer and early autumn.

You should expect there to be a relative amount of cloud cover in Timișoara during day-to-day life as is typical over much of Romania.

Best Places To Live In Romania Near Beaches

Romania isn’t a completely landlocked country, it shares a coastline with the Black Sea to the southeast. Constanta is a city located on the shore of the Black Sea with a long and rich history.

It’s one of the best cities for beach-lovers due to its close proximity to the shoreline and there is plenty of different beaches for expats to discover and explore in the surrounding areas.

One of the most well-known and well-liked beaches is Mamaia Beach which is also known as ‘The Pearl of the Romanian Rivera’. Mamaia Beach is known for having lovely sandy beaches, clear turqouise waters and a range of different resorts and hotels nearby.

Sulina is another good option – the town and port is located between Danube and the Black Sea and the only way to get to the town is through the waterways. It has plenty of history, though those who are hoping for quick access to the rest of the country should keep the lack of roads in mind.

Best Places To Live In Romania Near Mountains

Mountain-lovers should absolutely consider relocating to Romania. A third of the country is covered in mountains and there are plenty of cities and towns that offer quick access to them.

Sibiu is one of the best cities to consider for those hoping to relocate somewhere close to mountains. The town has a charming atmosphere with cobbled, narrow streets and Saxon architecture while also offering plenty of outdoor activities and opportunities for trailing, hiking and climbing.

Brasov is another good option for those looking for an atmospheric city with plenty of charm and close access to the outstanding mountain range that covers most of Romania.