About

Salut! I’m Calin.

If you are looking for a generic travel guide written by someone who spent a weekend in Bucharest 5 years ago, you are in the wrong place.

But if you want honest, on-the-ground advice from a local journalist who actually lives, works, and raises a family here, welcome to Romania Experience!

Calin exploring local landmark "God's Bridge" with his son
On the top of the hill, at the top of “God’s Bridge” in Romania, together with my son

Why Trust This Website? The internet is full of outdated travel wikis and AI-generated articles that get the facts wrong. I built Romania Experience to be the antidote to that (well, I built it well before that was even a thing!)

I Live Here: Currently based in Constanta, I have also lived in Bucharest and Drobeta Turnu Severin. I know the difference between life in the capital and life in the provinces – and I also travel extensively through the country and understand both the people living here and what tourists/expats want or expect.

I Have the Receipts (Literally): When I write about the Cost of Living in Romania, I’m not guessing. I’m opening my banking app, I’m looking at my utility bills, grocery costs, and so on.

Professional Background: I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. I don’t just “blog” – I research, verify, and update my content to ensure you have the safest, most accurate information possible.

Experience Since 2013: I founded this site over a decade ago. I have watched Romania change, join the EU mainstream, and evolve. I help you navigate these changes, from Digital Nomad Visas to finding the best hidden gems in the country.

What is “Rawmania”?

Calin hiking in Romania with his young son
Exploring Romania with my son to give you up-to-date reports.

While I help you with the practical stuff (visas, money, safety), my true passion is what I call Rawmania.

This is the wild, unspoiled, and authentic side of my country. Beyond the busy streets of Bucharest and the tourist castles of Transylvania, there is a Romania that is raw and beautiful.

My goal is to help you find it as well, no matter if we’re talking about a hidden fishing spot by the Danube or a quiet beach on the Black Sea that isn’t on the tourist maps yet.

My Promise to you is that every article on this site is written by a human (me!), based on real experiences or at least extensive research from me. If I recommend a restaurant, I’ve most likely eaten there, or at the very least talked with a trustworthy local/traveler who loved it or read countless reviews and looked at photos and videos to ensure that it is the right thing to recommend. If I explain a law, I’ve read the legislation or dealt with the paperwork myself.

Join the Community If you are planning to move here or just visiting, don’t go it alone:

I also run various other websites based on my passions, one of them being traveling the world (and Romania, of course!). If you want to check my travel blog, it’s called Nomad Not Mad – I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time spent there, too.