transport in iasi - Healthy is the new cool. Give it a try!

Healthy is the new cool.
Give it a try !
Iași, România
7-16 July 2016
Survival Guide
Content

About Romania

About Iași

Transport

How to get to Romania

Travelling by air

Travelling by car

Travelling by train

Travelling by boat

How to get from Bucharest to Iași

Practical information

Communication

What to bring

Useful words and expressions

Contact
About Romania
About Romania

At 238,391 square kilometers, Romania is the ninth largest country of the
European Union by area, and has the seventh largest population of the
european union with 20.1 million people.

Its capital and largest city is Bucharest , the sixth largest city in the EU with
about two million people. Romania shares a border with Hungary and Serbia
to the West, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the North - East, and
Bulgaria to the South.

In the middle ages, romanians lived in three distinct principalities:
Wallachia(romanian: Tara romaneasca— Romanian land"), Moldavia (
romanian: Moldova) and Transylvania.
About Romania
About Iasi
About Iasi

Located in a hilly area of the
north eastern part of Romania,
respectively in the central zone
of Moldavia, Iasi has a
population of 290.422, being the
forth largest city in Romania.

The city was the capital of the
Principality of Moldavia from
1564 to 1859, then of the United
Principalities of Wallachia and
Moldavia between 1859-1862
and Romania between 19161918.
About Iasi

Known as the
cultural capital
of Romania, the
city of great
loves, the city
on sevenhills,
Iasi is a symbol
of romanian
history. The
historian
Nicolae Iorga
said "there
should be no
romanian who
does not know
of it".
About Iasi

The second largest university centre in Romania, Iasi is home to the oldest
romanian university and accommodates over 75,000 students in 5 public and 7
private universities.
About Iasi

The social and cultural life
revolves around the “Vasile
Alecsandri “National Theater
(the oldest in Romania), the
Moldova State Philharmonic,
the Opera House, the Tatarasi
Athenaeum, a famous
Botanical Garden (the oldest
and largest in Romania), the
Central University Library
(the oldest in Romania), the
high quality cultural centers
and festivals, an array of
museums, memorial houses,
religious and historical
monuments.
About Iasi

The Palace of Culture in Iasi
represents the last and most
eastern manifestation of the
European neogothic style,
expression of romanticism in the
"official" architecture specific to
the end of the century. The city
of Iasi is a perfect combination
of history and new, of dynamic
day-life and peculiar night life.
About Iasi
Transport
HOW TO GET TO ROMANIA?

You can decide to arrive to Romania by several ways: by train, by air, by road
and by sea. It depends on your desired level of comfort. Flying it's the best
way to get to romania, but maybe the most expensive, unless you are coming
from a long distanced country.

The national air company is air transport Tarom which has flights in major
urban centers. They serve many destinations, mainly european and middle
eastern ones.

Due to the fact that Bucharest is the centre point of the airway network, it
might be possible to have to return here if you want to flight to other cities.
Transport

If you're coming by plane, you will arrive at one of the Bucharest's airports ( (
( Bucuresti Baneasa, Bucuresti Otopeni), or to other major city airport ( Iasi,
Cluj-Napoca, Timisoara etc).

The international airport Henri Coanda is 18 km from the center of the capital
and it has been recently modernized becoming one of the finest airports in
europe.

You will find here major air companies such as Air France, Lufthansa, British
Airways etc that operate direct flights from here to all over the world .

You can use http://www.skyscanner.net to find the cheapest flight for you.
Transport

If you fly to Bucharest airport:

Do not exchange all of your money in Bucharest airports, because a lot of
exchange offices there are tourist traps (you will get a very low rate for euro or
they will have hidden commissions) exchange only a few euros for the bus ride).

We also do not recommend you to take taxi rides from the airport to the north
railway station “Gara de Nord". Most of the taxi cabs there are illegal and don't
belong to a company, so you will get charged triple for the ride or even more (30100 euro). Even those who have a license will overcharge you for being a tourist.

Tip: make sure if you choose a taxi that you agree on the price with the driver,
because you might be extra charged for the ride. The best way to pay the correct
price, which is quite reasonable, by the way, is to ask the driver to set the meters.
Transport

Also you can take an express line to Gara de Nord (north railway station).
Take the 780 line express (linda expres 780) bus that stops in both airports
(the price for a return ticket - 2 trips - is 7lei/ 1.7 euro).

Tip: buy the ticket first, it's just 1,7 euro

Many romanians speak fluent English (mostly young people) or at least they
know the basics, so don't hesitate to ask for directions if you're not sure
where you're going.
Transport

TRAVELLING BY TRAIN

CFR operates services from many european cities to Bucharest. First and
second class sleepers are available. The wiener waltzer takes around 20 hours
from basel to bucharest, operating in summer only (june to september).
There are sleeping cars from vienna to both Bucharest and Constanta on the
Black Sea coast. There are also through trains from other eastern european
cities.

More information http://www.cfrcalatori.ro/
How to get from Bucharest to Iasi
*BY CAR

The trip by car from Bucharest to Iasi takes around 5-6 h, depending on your
speed. Navigation is not difficult if you have a GPS. Some roads aren't that good
but if you stick to the european ones there should be no problems.
*BY BUS

Another possibility is to travel by bus from Bucharest to Iasi. The price and timing
are similar to the train ones (around 20 euros, 6-8 h).

For more information just visit http://www.autogari.ro/

Note: there are also regular buses to/from Athens and Thessaloniki (Greece),
Istanbul (Turkey), Chisinau and Balti (Republic of Moldova), Prague (Czech
Republic) and Budapest (Hungary). You can also travel, by bus, from Iasi to Italy,
Spain, Greece, France, Germany etc. If you need any more information about
transportation, just drop us an email and we will provide it to you.
How to get from Bucharest to Iasi
*BY TRAIN

There are several trains on the route Bucharest – Iasi/Iasi – Bucharest. The
train ticket is about 90 lei (about 20 euros) and you can get more information
directly from the train station.

Once you will arrive in Iasi, you will be welcomed by us and led to the Local
BEST Group Iasi.

!!! You can also send us and email or find us on facebook and we will provide
you more information once you are in Romania.
Practical information
TRANSPORT IN IASI

The city of Iasi has a wide net of public transport. That's why it is quite easy
to get from one location to another. You have to buy tickets in advance from
newspaper stands or special stands that have a big "Vindem Bilete" sign.

The price of one fare is 2 lei( 0,45 euro). The ticket must be stamped when
used.

There are many taxi companies in town. Prices vary between 2 lei/km (0.45
euro) during the day and 2.2 lei/km (0.50 euro) during the night. There is also
a starting price representing the cost for 1km.
Practical information
THE WEATHER

The climate is highly temperate and continental with temperatures varying
between -25 Celsius degrees and +40 Celsius degrees and an average rainfall
of 500 and 600 mm per year and regular eastern winds.

In July - August the weather is usually hot and sunny, the temperature is
around 35 celsius degrees, but sometimes it mai rain or get cooler at night.
Choose your clothes adequately.

Also be prepared with equipment for some mountain hiking (easy routes).
Practical information
HEALTH

We strongly recommend you to have a travel - health insurance.

In Iasi are many hospitals if anything were to happen ( hopefully not :D )

EMERGENCY NUMBER : 112
Practical information
MONEY

THE NATIONAL CURRENCY IS THE LEU (RON)(PLURAL LEI). FOREIGN CURRENCY
CAN ONLY BE EXCHANGED AT BANKS OR AUTHORIZED EXCHANGE OFFICES. THE
BANK COURSES CAN HAVE FLUCTUATIONS. THESE ARE THE CURRENT EXCHANGE
RATES (AT THE TIME WE WROTE THIS SURVIVAL GUIDE, FEBRUARY 2014):

1 EUR = 4.50

1 USD = 4.02

For updated information about exchange rates, visit
http://www.cursvalutar.ro/

There is a slight variation from one exchange office to another. You can find
exchange offices (including traveler checks) almost everywhere opened all
week.
Practical information
PRICES IN PUBS/RESTAURANTS:
PRODUCT
PRICE IN LEI
PRICE IN EURO
COFFEE
2,5 – 5,0
0,55 – 1,11
BEER (0.5L)
3,5 – 8,0
0,77 – 1,8
SOFT DRINKS
3,0 – 10
0,68 – 2,25
MINERAL WATER
2,5 – 5,0
0,55 – 1,11
VODKA (shot)
7,0 – 10
1,55 – 2,25
PIZZA
10 – 30
2,25 – 6,70
HAMBURGER
5,5 – 10
1,22 – 2,25
Practical information
PRICES IN STORES:
PRODUCT
PRICE IN LEI
PRICE IN EURO
CIGARETTES
11 - 20
2,44 – 4,44
BEER (2L)
5,5 – 10
1,22 – 2,25
SOFT DRINKS (2L)
3,5 – 8
0,77 – 1,77
2,5 – 5,0
0,55 – 1,11
VODKA (1L)
15 – 35
3,33 – 7,77
CONDOMS
6 – 14
1,33 – 3,11
MINERAL WATER (2L)
Every price here is approximate so that you can have an idea about how
much you would need. The prices may vary depending on the store you go
and also by the currency on that month.
Communication

You can use your own gsm mobile phone in romania with the roaming service.
Always make sure you check the prices for making and receiving calls with
your home operator. Usually they are quite expensive.

If you plan to use the phone a lot while in romania we recommend you to buy
a pre-paid sim card from a romanian operator ( Orange, Telekom or
Vodafone). You can make cheaper calls and receive as many calls as you want
for free. The sim cards are quite cheap (depending on the initial credit - from
2,5 to 10 euro) and rechargeable . Before you buy a sim card make sure your
mobile phone is not sim-locked on your home operator.

EMERGENCY NUMBER 112
What to bring

Documents (passport/ id card, visa if required).

Travel and health insurance. If you're from an EU member country make sure
to request and bring your european medical card.

We will cover your basic living expenses (food, housing, etc) and all group
activities. However, it is advisable to bring some money in case you might
want to make some extra expenses like souvenirs, etc.

Medicine (some medicine from your country could require a prescription
here).

Fancy clothes for parties, a warm sweater or hoodie (because it may be cold
sometimes), comfortable shoes (especially for girls), a towel and a toothbrush
and whatever you need for you own confort.

A camera and a cable for it.

A lot of happiness and something originally from your country if you want to
impress us.
Useful words and expressions

Hi / Hey / Hello

Salut / Buna

How are you ?

Ce faci ?

Good morning

Buna dimineata

Good afternoon

Buna ziua

Good night

Noapte buna

See you tomorrow

Ne vedem maine

See you later

Ne vedem mai tarziu

My name is …

Numele meu este …

Bathroom

Baie
Useful words and expressions

Where is ( … ) ?

Unde este ( … ) ?

How do I get to ( … ) ?

Cum ajung la ( … ) ?

What time is it ?

Cat e ceasul ?

I need help !

Am nevoie de ajutor !

May I have the menu, please ?

Imi puteti da meniul, va rog ?

How much is it ?

Cat costa ?

Thank you !

Multumesc !

Cheers !

Noroc !

I am sorry !

Imi cer scuze
Contact

Main Organiser
Laura Erhan

President of BEST Iasi
Mădălina Lăcătîș

Phone : +40 724 450 987

Phone : +40 755 085 574

E-mail : laura.erhan@BEST.eu.org

E-mail : madalina.lacatis@BEST.eu.org