In the early stages of a short rented bike excursions into Romania & Hungary. I was hoping some people have some advice or recommendations on these 2 countries, as in where to ride and where to hire the bike please ?

Hi,I rode through Hungary a couple of years ago,very friendly people.
I spent a few days in Budapest then travelled SW to Lake Balaton before heading into Croatia,some good roads in the Lake Balaton area & it is more like an inland sea it is so big,worth a visit.
Andy

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Andy L

From the midnight sun to the silk & rhubarb roads, 2014
I am not an adventure rider, just a biker that has adventures.

I echo what Holodragon says.

I rode Hungary in spring 2008 and it was a nice experience.
Rode from my town in Italy to Lake Balaton and I found a good atmosphere, friendly people, roads in good conditions and (especially on the southern bank of the lake) nice towns full of hangouts and clubs.
Just watch out for Police patrols with radars, I found many of them over the three days I stood there.
If you go to the northern bank of Lake Balaton and you're into historical stuff, don't miss the visit to Tihany village that has a pleasant abbey on a hill surrounded by an outstanding view of the waters.
On South-Western Balaton, the Keszthely palace deserves a 2-hours visit, also.

Never been to Romania, though.

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré

When are you thinking of going Siggsy?

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Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

Echo that cooment re Eger. Currently sitting around a fire just north of Eger enjoying some bulls blood.
Great roads in this area.
Look for the cellars dug into the cliffs

Me and a mate rode through Romania twice in 2008.

From zaged , to timisora (there is a very good camp site there)
Camping International Timisoara-prices

We then rode down towards lugog , sibu , got lost in the carpathian mountains at night "bad lands" I recommend stay away from this area.

later on to bucharesti , then on to constanta , which has a very good motorway.

Our final goal was Varna Bulgaria , to get there you travle through mangalia , this is the coast boarder from Romania to Bulgaria.

Most roads in Romania were terrible , even the new roads were warped , loads of lorries all day and night .
The cities were hectic with poor roads again.

Up in the mountains , a half decent pot holed road would suddenly turn to rubble without warning.

Its a good job we both had R1100, R1150 GS BMW'S or we would be in trouble with the harsh riding conditions.

There were major road repairs in operation , but very long traffic hold ups . Half hour at a time on the mountain roads .

From what scenery we could see its a very changeable country , from flat fields , to green high mountains.

I cant vouch for the people , apart from friendly garage attendant's

The country is worth a visit , but give extra time in riding around .

Hungary was a pleasant ride through to Romania good motorways.
Austria is always worth a ride around , as is Germany.

Bulgaria is completly different to Romania , good roads , friendly people , and breath taking countryside.

Very modern cities , and people who live there .

The country villages are more like England 500 years ago , you still see thresher machines , and horse driven carts .
The folk are very friendly , especially if you learn there language .

Dobra utro (good morning ) Dobra de en (good afternoon ) Dobra verche (good evening ) .

Try the home brew Rakia , its like fire water , but you soon get hooked .

We both enjoyed our trip from England to Bulgaria riding around Eastern Europe . I hope you have as good trip and bring back with you great memories .

uggtek

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" RIDE IT, STRIP IT, REBUILD IT ,THEN LEARN FROM YE MISTAKES!! "

Had a quick look at my diary of a motorcycle trip from UK to Romania in 2006 and I recommend the following places in Romania:

Sapanta, near the border with Ukraine, with its amazing "Merry Cemetery" with colourfully painted carved wood tombstones showing how the "occupants" met their ends - sometimes by unusual means! Also a monastry nearby built totally of wood is well worth a visit.

The roads around Viseu de Sus in NW Romania: fantastic mountainous motorcycling country with amazing scenery and very friendly people.

Our time in that corner of Romania was one of the best parts of our journey through 14 countries. In 2006 there were horse carts everywhere and people working the fields with scythes and pitchforks. It has no doubt changed in 4 years but I expect there is still a lot of that way of life.

Road surfaces ranged from bad to good and what motorised traffic there was drove very fast and very badly - but thats just part of the adventure. Our 1996 Triumph Trophy 900 handled it all fine with pillion and heaps of luggage.

A highlight of Hungary was Eger, a baroque town with a castle and famous for its Bulls Blood red wine. Delightful roads with little traffic in Hungary if you get away from the main highways.

Cheers

John

we loved riding through Hungary
but did not enjoy Romania .

Hi, Rode both last summer, camped in NW Hungary at BikerCamp Route66 which i recommend. Unlike most of the other posts i prefered Romania mainly for the trail riding and would also recommend visiting Bulgaria. beware of riding through Ordea, this was a scary place on a motorbike. AndyB

When are you travelling there Siggsy?

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Wild Transylvania

We are about to enter Ukraine from Russia on the final leg of our RTW trip. We intend to enter Romania from Ukraine then Hungary - does anyone know the current situation regarding vignettes for riding roads in these Romania and Hungary ?

Thanks Martin

PS any other tips would be welcome

sorry for the late reply all.. i was intending to ride romania / hungary this year, but other trips came along to good to miss. Theres a chance of riding it next year. Its definatly a trip high on my list. Thanks all for the resonses

Hey Martin,

In Hungary you need to buy a vignette for only €4. When riding your bike in Romania there is no need for a vignette.

Good luck,

Richard