Does anyone have cycling experience from Bucharest, Romania to Lviv in Ukraine (thrut north)? I know it's mountainous but it does not matter. How are the roads? Is accommodation easy? Are drivers friendly for cyclists? Many thank's.
Marc
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There are only two border crossings where you are allowed to cross on a bicycle between Romania and Ukraine: Sighetu Marmatiei (near Baia Mare) in the west, and Siret (near Suceava) in the east. The other border crossings are only for cars.
Romania is generally mountains or rolling hills, but cycling is enjoyable here. If you are coming from Bucharest, my advice would be cycling the Transalpina road over the Carpathians, and then going north through Transylvania to the Sigetu Marmatiei border crossing. The Transalpina is Romania’s highest road, but it is completely paved with asphalt now. The nearby Transfagarasan road is more famous internationally, but the Transfagarasan has too much traffic now (and a lot of big tour buses), so it isn’t so good for cycling.
From the Sighetu Marmatiei border crossing, you can reach the Ukrainian city of Uzhgorod in one or two days on a flat paved road. Then, from Uzhgorod to Lviv I recommend Ukraine’s H-13 road, which has some spectacular mountain scenery but is not challenging cycling. The asphalt on this road was recently redone, but there are hardly any cars, so it is very good for cyclists.
Accommodation in Romania is easy to find. In the countryside you can camp freely. In towns, you will always find a pension for around 20€/night.
Thank's Christopher. It's very informative for me.
Marc
Hey CC
We'll be touring there in a couple of months and were considering which pass to take.
Now we know.
May see you there
Thanks
F&W
Hello ,
in connection with roads in Romania, must pay attention to stray dogs and to drivers who, although more careful than a few years ago, may sometimes be unfriendly. Otherwise, I think you will have no problem, when we are not driving, we can be very helpful.
Hi, I have already cycled in Romania, along the Danube, as well as in the Balkans. I met some stray dogs there. In Romania, is it possible to buy cayenne pepper spray bottles? This would be useful against stray dogs. I intend to travel in August and September.
Thank's, Marc
Hi , Marc
So if you already travelled in Romania you know that usually the dogs from the edge of the road are not so agresiv but they like to bark and run along with bike weel. For this kind of dogs it enough to stop or just to slow down a bit and they give up .But you will go through the mountain so you have the chance to encounter sheep guardian dogs and they might be agresiv and hard to retain so for them (just in case)you can have the pepper spray which you can buy a can from 5€ to 20€ . If I'm available and if you want maybe I can help you around Bucharest during your visit .
Lucian
Thank you Lucian. I keep that in mind.
Marc
Hello Lucian,
My flight to Bucharesti is now booked. I will be at the Henri Coanda airport the 3 of august at 10 o'clock morning with Air Canada.
Instead to bike directly from the airport to north, I am planing to get Pitesti by train and start my trip from there.
So, I will get the shutle from the airport to north railway station in Bucharesti. There are many train from there to Pitesti. I will get one at 14h30 (it is ok for bike). I gess this will give me enought time from the airport to the north railway station.
Would it be possible for you to bring mi pepper spray ( a large can) and a 225g can of gaz, the systeme that screw? Obvioustly I pay you for that.
We can meet at the railway station before I get the train to Pitesti.
My e-mail adress is [email protected] it could be esier to communicate by e-Mail.
Marc Robert
Canada
Hi M
We just came from Romania and people and dogs were good.
Forget the spray. The few dogs that had a go at us we easily outbarked them. Even the sheep dogs
Hi Wendy ,
I'm glad that you enjoyed Romania , and about the pepper spray as I said is an option not a must. I was also traveling in the mountains without any problems .