Travel Essentials › Romania
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types C and F; 230 V, 50 Hz. Emergency: One number for everything 112. Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants is customary; round up taxi fares. Tap water: Generally safe to drink in cities; bottled water recommended in rural areas.
Types C and F; 230 V, 50 Hz
| One number for everything | 112 |
Around 10% in restaurants is customary; round up taxi fares.
Greetings. A handshake is standard; close friends may exchange cheek kisses. Nodding your head can mean the opposite of what you'd expect in some rural areas (a slight, old-fashioned local quirk), so listen to words rather than relying on gestures.
Hospitality. Being offered țuică (plum brandy) or homemade food, especially in rural areas, is a sign of hospitality; accepting at least a little is polite.
Dress at religious sites. Cover shoulders and knees when visiting Orthodox churches and monasteries; women may be asked to cover their heads at some sites.
Romania is safe for tourists, with violent crime against visitors extremely rare; petty scams and pickpocketing in Bucharest's Old Town and around Gara de Nord station are the main things to watch for, and the country's reputation for scams from the 1990s-2000s has largely faded.
Taxi overcharging. Some drivers manipulate meters or take detours; use Uber or Bolt instead of hailing a street taxi.
Fake tour guides. In Bucharest's Old Town, people posing as official guides offer tours that turn out to be overpriced or unofficial; book through a reputable company instead.
Phony police / document checks. Rare but reported: people posing as plainclothes officers ask for documents or money; ask for ID and never hand over your passport on the street.
Women travelers. Solo women travelers generally report feeling safe in Romania; standard nightlife precautions apply (don't leave drinks unattended) and avoid walking alone late at night in quieter areas.
Legal · Mostly Safe
Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2001 and discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited, but Romania does not yet recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions, despite a European Court of Human Rights ruling requiring some legal recognition; a civil-partnership framework is expected to be introduced in 2026 under EU pressure, but social attitudes remain more conservative than in Western Europe, especially outside Bucharest and Cluj.
| Coffee (café) | RON 15 | $3.30 |
| Local bus or tram ride | RON 3.5 | $0.78 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | RON 50 | $11 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | RON 120 | $26 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | RON 300 | $66 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | RON 250 | $55 |
2026-09
Mid-May to mid-September gives the warmest, longest days for exploring Transylvania's castles and countryside, with September-October offering fewer crowds and beautiful autumn colors.