FAQ about Romania

If you already decided to visit Romania this is a useful Q&A:

Is Romania safe to travel?

Romania can be considered a very safe country since the violent crime rate levels are very low - lower than most of the Western Europe countries. Instead, be vigilant about the small crimes - the scams, the extra charged bills, the pirate taxi drivers and the thefts. You should take care in the train stations and public transport, in the nightclubs or any similar night entertaining activities. It is better not to show off with jewelry, expensive phones or watches. There are no armed attacks, as there are strict rules in what concerns the possession of firearms. More likely you will see public protests against corruption and the political class. Most of them are peaceful, so they will not interfere with you.

What currency should I take to Romania?

Even though Romania is a member of the EU, Romania's currency is not Euro, but the Romanian Leu. US Dollars and Euros may be exchanged both at banks or authorized exchange offices with good rates. Avoid exchanging at airports or hotels as the rates are much lower. One Euro is the equivalent of about 4.6 lei.

Payment in euro is not acceptable. You do not have to worry about credit or debit cards. ATMs exist everywhere. And you can pay by card in most of the restaurants and big shops.

Do I need a Visa for Romania?

Romania is a member of the European Union, but it is not part of the Schengen Area. Therefore, when crossing the border, you must present your identity card, your passport or visa. At the moment, those who come from most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, the US or Canada do not need a visa to enter the country.

If you are a citizen of the European Union, you only need the identity card.

How much does an average meal cost?

Meals in Romanian restaurants can be very consistent because they include potatoes, cabbage, meat, and spices. Also, coffee and pastries are good. The food is cheap and most meals cost about 10 Euro or less. However, in the top tourist cities such as Brasov, Sibiu or Sighisoara, a meal can be also 15-25 Euro.

How are the means of transport?

Most cities in the country and even small villages have train stations. Trains have sometimes delays, but the good part is that their transport is reasonable.

Traveling to cities is usually cheap. A ticket for the means of public transport is 2 lei (approx 0,50 euro), the one for the metro 5 lei (1,10 euro). The situation is different when it comes to taxi transport. In the capital, the taxi can be a real adventure. Some drivers can retake races, others require two or three times more. What you have to keep in mind is that you have to go with an official company, do not start without the taxi driver starting the taxi and check if the cost per kilometer is the one indicated on the car door. In this way, it is certain that you will not be cheated. Mobile apps are very useful. For example, Speed Taxi, Meridian Taxi, Star Taxi etc.

For distances less than 200 km, we recommend using the car or trains. For mediums (between 200 and 400 km), trains or buses, and for big ones, the plane. Romania has many airports: in Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Arad, Bacau, Baia Mare, Constanta, Craiova, Satu Mare, Oradea etc, and of course in its major city: Bucharest.

When is the best time to visit Romania?

Romania has Natural Wonders for every season so choosing may not be easy. You should consider that Romania temperature ranges from average low −5 °C (23 °F) in January to average high 29°C (73.4 °F) in August when scrolling through the offers.

You can visit Romania at any time during the year because every season has something to offer. In autumn you may find beautiful pastel colors in shades of brown, golden and rusty, which offer scenic landscapes both in cities and in the mountains.

A visit to the Black Sea is perfect starting with the end of June and ending with the beginning of September.

If you are a lover of winter sports, you should know that Romania has some ski resorts in Sinaia, Predeal, and Poiana Brasov, only two hours away from Bucharest.

We can say that the perfect time for trekking in the Carpathian Mountains is from mid-April to the end of October. But it depends on what you want to see. In winter, the scenery in the mountains is gorgeous and hard to forget.

Emergency number and healthcare in Romania

In Romania, the unique emergency number is 112. An operator will answer and ask if you want to talk to police, fire brigade or medical services.

When traveling to Romania, you do not have to worry about diseases or other problems that may affect your health. In terms of medical services, all hospitals are public and deal with both urgent cases and other non-priority issues. There are also private hospitals such as Regina Maria, MedLife, Sanador, Gral Medical, but do not deal with urgency, and the fees charged are high.

Pharmacies are everywhere, some with a non-stop service. You can easily find medicines without prescription. As for medical insurance, there is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that offers EU citizens insurance. Find more information in your city.

Is Romanian hard to learn?

Romanian it's mostly a romantic Language, similar to Spanish and Italian, but has Slavic in Turkish influences. In Romania, most of the people know a second language, like English, French or Spanish. So, you won’t have problems in communication with anybody if you decide to visit Romania.