| Birth Date: | 23 January 1939 |
| Birth Place: | Bucharest, Romania |
| Death Date: | 1 December 2008 (aged 69) |
| Death Place: | Bucharest, Romania |
| Height: | 188 cm |
| Weight: | 88 kg |
| Sport: | Canoe sprint |
| Club: | Dinamo București |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
Aurel Vernescu (23 January 1939 – 1 December 2008) was a Romanian sprint canoeist. He competed at the 1960, 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics and won three medals with a silver in 1972 in the K-4 1000 m and two bronze medals in 1964 in the K-1 1000 m and K-4 1000 m events. He served as a flag bearer for Romania at the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympics.
Vernescu also won eleven medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with four golds (K-1 500 m: 1963, 1966; K-1 4×500 m: 1963, K-2 500 m: 1966), five silvers (K-1 1000 m: 1963, K-1 4×500 m: 1970, 1971, K-2 500 m: 1966, 1970; K-2 1000 m: 1966), and one bronze (K-1 4×500 m: 1966).
Vernescu took up kayaking aged 13 and in total won 42 national titles. He retired from competitions in 1972 to become a kayaking coach and administrator.