Romania experienced a minimalist growth of its tourism during the first half of 2025. The Balkan country welcomed 5.79 million tourists, up just 0.1% compared to the same period last year, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Overnight stays, however, grew more strongly. Overnights went up 2.3% representing 11.58 million units. It is perceived as a favorable evolution as it shows visitors staying longer in Romania.
The bright spot was however foreign arrivals. Roughly 1.11 million international visitors came to Romania in the first six months of the year, a 5.5% increase year-over-year. Although international arrivals represent only 19.2% of total arrivals.
Foreign tourists meanwhile accounted for about 2.34 million overnight stays, up 5.2% from 2024, with the average stay stretching 2.1 days compared to 2.0 days for domestic travelers.
Top source markets for foreign tourists included Germany (104,800 arrivals), Italy (103,000) and the United Kingdom (72,700). INS analysts noted that Romania’s entry into the Schengen Area on January 1, 2025, may have contributed to smoother travel for Europeans, though the institute cautioned that year-over-year comparisons may be less precise due to the change in border reporting.
Bucharest remains Romania’s top tourism city
At the regional level, Bucharest remained the country’s tourism powerhouse. Romania’s capital recorded 953,900 arrivals and 1.93 million overnight stays in the first half of 2025.
Brașov County, gateway to popular medieval towns, followed with 635,600 arrivals and 1.18 million overnight stays. Constanța County, Romania’s Black Sea hub, drew 366,200 tourists and nearly 977,000 overnight stays. The city still remains a summer magnet, particularly for domestic travelers.
Other counties also posted strong performances earlier in the year: Cluj County, a cultural and tech hub in Transylvania, counted some 280,000 arrivals in the H1 2025. Prahova County, known for its ski resorts and wineries, registered more than 134,000 arrivals in the first quarter.
Nationwide, the net occupancy rate for tourist accommodations stood at 25.7%, marginally higher than a year ago.
While growth was slight, Romania’s tourism industry appears to find its right tempo in 2025, driven by longer stays from foreign visitors.
