CraiovaArt Museum (Jean Mihail Palace)
The museum in the centre is housed in the Jean Mihail Palace, built between 1900 and 1907 to plans by Paul Gottereau. Besides Romanian and European painting, it has a Brâncuși room with seven sculptures.
Car rental Craiova
Rent a car in Craiova
30 offers, pickup at the airport or in town.30 offers from verified partners. Pick up at Craiova Airport, about 7 km from the centre, or in the city.
- Guaranteed model
- Full insurance
- Instant confirmation
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Rent a car Craiova
Why rent a car in Craiova
On Mașini La Cheie you compare car rental offers in Craiova from verified companies, with pickup at Craiova International Airport (CRA) or in the city. You choose the pickup point in the search, and you see the exact address on the car's page before you book.
The airport is in the east of the city, on the road to Pitești. From here, on the Craiova–Pitești Expressway and then the A1, you reach Bucharest in about three hours.
Why Mașini la Cheie
Car rental in Craiova, with no hidden costs
Guaranteed model
100%
the car you book
What you see in the photo is exactly the car you get at handover.
Guaranteed model
Cars with a guaranteed model carry the "Guaranteed model" label, and you get exactly the model you chose.
Rarely, a car can become unavailable for external reasons, such as damage, an unexpected extension of the previous rental or a technical fault. In that case we offer you a similar car and only swap it with your confirmation.
Instant confirmation
You only see the cars free on your dates and get confirmation right after you book.
Verified partners
2 rental companies, each one checked by our team.
A clear price from the start
The price in the search is the final price, with all costs included.
Reviews
Reviews from our customers
Cars for rent in Craiova
Cars available in Craiova
How it works
How to rent a car in Craiova, in 3 steps
- Step 1
Choose the right car
Tell us where and when you need a car, then compare the models and prices available in Craiova.
- Step 2
Book online
Confirm the booking from your phone or laptop, and the pickup details arrive by email.
- Step 3
Pick up the car and go
Get the keys from the partner, choose your route, and at the end return the car at the agreed place.
Craiova attractions
What to visit in Craiova and nearby
Craiova
CraiovaNicolae Romanescu Park
The largest park in Craiova covers over 96 hectares and was designed by the Frenchman Édouard Redont. You will find lakes linked by cascades, an island with two bridges, a hippodrome and a zoo.
115 km from CraiovaHorezu Monastery
The most important foundation of Prince Constantin Brâncoveanu, a model of the Brâncovenesc style, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. You get there in about two hours and 45 minutes.
110 km from CraiovaBrâncuși Ensemble in Târgu Jiu
The Table of Silence, the Gate of the Kiss and the Endless Column are Brâncuși's tribute to the heroes of the First World War, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2024. You get there in about two hours and 20 minutes.
120 km from CraiovaPolovragi Cave
The cave opens into the Olteț Gorge, a gorge about 3 km long with sheer walls, and inside it stays at around 9 °C all year. Legend has it that Zalmoxis lived here.
125 km from CraiovaTismana Monastery
The church was consecrated in 1378, and the monastery is the oldest monastic settlement still in use in Wallachia. It stands on a rock from which water falls about 40 m towards the Tismana river.
150 km from CraiovaDecebalus Rock Sculpture and the Danube Gorges
The 55 m face of the Dacian king is carved into the rock at the Small Cauldrons (Cazanele Mici), near Orșova, where the Danube narrows between walls of stone. You see it best from the riverside road or from a boat.
Pickup points
Where to pick up your car in Craiova
Pick up your rental car at Craiova Airport or choose the city in the search. The exact pickup point is shown on each car's page.Pick up your rental car at Craiova International Airport or search by city and see the offers for Craiova. You choose the pickup and the return point right in the search. All the handover details, including the exact address and how you get to the car, are shown on the car's page and in the booking confirmation.
Airport · CRACraiova Airport
Landing at Craiova International Airport? Choose it as your pickup point and hit the road right after your flight. You reach the centre in about 15–20 minutes or head straight for Pitești.
Find cars at Craiova Airport
CityCraiova
Search for Craiova and see the cars available for your dates, with the exact pickup point on each car's page. If you want to return the car in another city, choose "Different location" and see the fee before you book.
Find cars in Craiova
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Rental cars in Craiova, by type of trip
For trips to Bulgaria, excursions to the foothills of Oltenia and days around town, we recommend a car category for each.
Recommended:Sedan
Cross-border
Car rental with cross-border travel from Craiova
Heading to Vidin or Sofia? The Calafat–Vidin Bridge is about an hour and 40 minutes away, and Sofia around five hours. A sedan gives you comfort on long drives.
- Choose Bulgaria in search
- Bridge toll paid separately
- Bulgarian vignette online
Recommended:SUV
Foothills of Oltenia
SUV rental in Craiova
Taking the family to Horezu, Polovragi Cave or Tismana? An SUV or a crossover has room for everyone and the luggage and is comfortable on the foothill roads.
- Room for family
- Comfort on mountain roads
- Includes crossover models
Recommended:Hatchback
Around town
Hatchback rental in Craiova
Got errands around Craiova or want to get from the airport to your hotel quickly? A hatchback slips easily through traffic and finds a parking space in the centre more easily.
- Easy to park
- Low fuel use in town
- Nimble in traffic
Driver's guide · Craiova
Driving, parking and traffic in Craiova
Answers for anyone renting a car in Craiova: how to get around, where to park and where it is worth heading.
When a rental car helps
Central Craiova is easy to explore on foot. A rental car helps when you land at the airport with luggage, have errands in several parts of the city or want to head to Târgu Jiu, Horezu, the Danube or Bulgaria.
Traffic in Craiova
With a navigation app you find your way around Craiova easily. At rush hour, traffic is heavier on the roads into the centre, so it pays to leave a little earlier. The airport is on the DN65, towards Pitești, so from there you set off for Bucharest without crossing the centre.
When traffic is lighter
In town, traffic is lightest at midday, in the evening and at weekends, while weekday mornings and afternoons are the busiest. For the mountains or the Danube, leave early in the morning so you get back in daylight.
Driving rules
The rules are the same as everywhere in Romania: 50 km/h in town unless signposted otherwise, seat belts for all passengers, phone only with hands-free and zero tolerance for alcohol. Craiova has trams, so take care at junctions and stops.
Parking in Craiova
Paid spaces are signposted, and the rate is shown on the signs. You pay at the meter, by SMS to 7420 or in the TPark app. In the centre there is the underground car park by the National Theatre, which fills up quickly, and you will find large car parks at Electroputere Mall and Promenada Mall.
Roads from Craiova
The Craiova–Pitești Expressway has been fully open since July 2025, and from Pitești you continue on the A1 to Bucharest. There is no motorway to Calafat, and towards Drobeta-Turnu Severin and Timișoara you take the national road. All cars on Mașini La Cheie have a valid road vignette.
Day trips from Craiova
The closest is Calafat, about an hour and 40 minutes away, where you cross the bridge to Vidin. For a full day, Târgu Jiu is about two hours and 20 minutes away, and Horezu, Polovragi and the Danube Gorges about three hours. The Transalpina is usually open only in summer, so check the road first.
Which car to choose for Craiova
In town, a hatchback parks easily in the centre. To Bucharest or Bulgaria, a sedan is comfortable on long journeys, and for Horezu, Polovragi and Tismana, with family and luggage, choose an SUV or an estate.
What to do after an accident
If anyone has been hurt, call 112. When only two cars are involved, both with valid RCA (third-party) insurance, and the damage is material only, fill in the joint accident report (constatare amiabilă). Otherwise call the Police. Craiova Municipal Police is at Strada Amaradia 32-34. Then let the rental company know and follow its steps.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions about car rental in Craiova
Can't find the answer?
Our team replies quickly.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Craiova?
Renting a car in Craiova costs from 18 € a day, and the average price is 46 € a day. On Mașini La Cheie you compare offers from 2 rental companies in Craiova, with full insurance included in the price shown. The daily rate drops the longer you rent the car.
Can I pick up the car at Craiova Airport?
Yes, you pick up the car right at Craiova International Airport (CRA) if you choose the airport as the location in the search. If your plane lands outside the company's opening hours, the handover has a fee shown on the car's page. All the offers are on the Craiova Airport car rental page.
Can I leave the country with a car rented in Craiova?
You can leave the country with a car rented in Craiova if the rental company allows trips outside Romania: tick "I am travelling abroad" when you search, choose the country and see the costs upfront. For Bulgaria, the Calafat–Vidin Bridge toll and the Bulgarian vignette are not included in the price.
Do you have to pay a deposit when you rent a car in Craiova?
It depends on the offer: some cars in Craiova can be rented without a deposit and others with one, and you see the amount on the car's page before you book. When a deposit applies, you pay it to the rental company at pickup, by card or in cash, and you get it back once you return the car undamaged.
Can I pick up the car at night or at the weekend in Craiova?
Yes, in Craiova you can collect the car at night or at the weekend too, including at the airport. You choose the time in the search; if it falls outside the rental company's opening hours, a handover fee is added, shown on the car's page. On the road, the Mașini La Cheie team answers the phone 24/7.
Book a car in Craiova
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