AEnjoy your meal and take your time. After all, you’re on holiday. Unless you’ve got a train to catch, there’s usually no need to rush.
EATING PRICE RANGES
The following price ranges refer to an average main course.
€ less than 20 lei
€€ 20–40 lei
€€€ more than 40 lei
GLBTI Travellers
Public attitudes toward homosexuality remain generally negative. In spite of this, Romania has made significant legal progress in decriminalising homosexual acts and adopting antidiscrimination laws.
AThere is no legal provision for same-sex partnerships.
ABucharest remains the most tolerant city in the country, though here, too, open displays of affection between same-sex couples are rare.
AThe Bucharest-based Accept Association (www.acceptromania.ro) is an NGO that defends and promotes the rights of gays and lesbians at a national level. Each year in June the group helps to organise the six-day festival Bucharest Pride, with films, parties, conferences and a parade.
Health
Romania is a relatively safe country and visitors are not subject to any major health dangers that one wouldn’t find in any other European country.
Before You Go
Health Insurance
AEU citizens are entitled to free emergency medical care provided that they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), available from health centres or via www.dh.gov.uk in the UK.
ACitizens from other countries will likely have to pay cash upfront for any medical treatment and then seek reimbursement later from their private or public health insurers.
ABe sure to save any and all paperwork provided by the hospital to present to your insurance company along with any reimbursement claim.
Vaccinations
There are no vaccinations required to enter Romania.
In Romania
Availability & Cost of Health Care
Every Romanian city or large town will have a hospital or polyclinic that handles emergencies. In rural areas, the nearest hospital may be quite some distance away, though local people will be able to advise the best course of action.
ARomanian hospitals and medical centres may not look promising from the outside, but rest assured if something does go wrong, you will receive relatively prompt, professional care.
AIf you need to go to the hospital, be sure to bring your passport, credit card and cash, as you may be required to prepay for services. EU citizens should bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). You’ll likely have to pay out of pocket for any medications, bandages or crutches, as the case may be.
ARomanian health care, particularly in public hospitals, is generally affordable by Western European (and certainly American) standards. Rates can be much higher in private clinics, though the quality of the care may be better as well.
Infectious Diseases
Rabies
Rabies cases are thankfully rare but still a concern given the number of stray dogs on the streets. If bitten by a homeless dog, seek medical attention within 72 hours (most main hospitals will have a rabies clinic).
Tickborne Encephalitis
Ticks are common in Romania’s grasslands and open areas. Tick-borne encephalitis is a rare but debilitating virus that attacks parts of the brain. If you’re planning on spending time hiking and camping in the open air, consider a vaccination.
Tap Water
Tap water is generally considered safe to drink in Romania, though nearly everyone drinks bottled water: it's cheap and available everywhere.
Insurance
ATravel insurance is not compulsory to enter Romania but a decent policy that covers medical expenses, theft or loss is always a good idea.
AWorldwide travel insurance is available at www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-insurance. You can buy, extend and claim online anytime – even if you’re already on the road.
Internet Access
Finding a Computer
Finding a computer to use for a few minutes of internet access has gotten harder as many hotels have dropped the former practice of making a computer terminal available for guests.
ALarger hotels will sometimes have a 'business centre', though this may incur an added fee.
AThe situation with internet cafes is much the same. As more Romanians purchase their own computers, the number of internet cafes has dropped.
AInternet cafes normally charge 4 to 6 lei per hour.
AOther options include the tourist information offices, which may have a terminal available for a few minutes of gratis surfing, or the local library.
AIn this guide, we’ve used [internet] to indicate hotels that have computers available for guests.
Wi-fi
Romania is well-wired, and the majority of hotels, above a basic pension or guestroom, invariably offer some form of internet access, normally wi-fi, for you to use with your own laptop, smartphone or tablet device.
Many bars, cafes and restaurants offer free wi-fi for customers, though the strength and reliability of the signal can vary considerably. McDonald's and KFC outlets nationwide offer free wi-fi for customers.
AIn this guide, we’ve used [wi-fi] to identify hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars that have wi-fi access for guests.
Legal Matters
Foreigners in Romania, as elsewhere, are subject to the laws of the host country. While your embassy or consulate is the best stop in any emergency, bear in mind there are some things it cannot do for you, like getting local laws or regulations waived because you're a foreigner, investigating a crime, providing legal advice or representation in civil or criminal cases, getting you out of jail, or lending you money.
A consul can usually issue emergency passports, contact relatives and friends, advise on how to transfer funds, provide lists of reliable local doctors, lawyers and interpreters, and visit you if you've been arrested or jailed.
Romanian police take a dim view toward illegal drug use of any kind, including cannabis, as well as obvious displays of public drunkenness.
Money
ATMs
ATMs (cash points) are everywhere and give 24-hour withdrawals in lei with a variety of international bank cards, including Visa and MasterCard.
ARomanian ATMs require a four-digit PIN.
ABefore leaving home, inform your bank where you're going, so the card security company does not (protectively) block your card once your Romanian transactions start coming through.
Credit & Debit Cards
International credit and debit cards, including Visa and MasterCard, are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops in cities and large towns. In rural areas, you'll often need to pay with cash.
AAmerican Express cards are typically accepted at larger hotels and restaurants, though they are not as widely recognised as other cards.
ACredit-card transactions require a PIN number, so it's best to work the details out with your bank prior to departure.
AYou will need to have a valid credit card if you plan to hire a car.
ACredit cards can be used to get cash advances at most banks.
Currency
The Romanian currency is the leu (plural: lei), listed in some banks and currency exchange offices as RON. One leu is divided into 100 bani. Banknotes come in denominations of 1 leu, 5 lei,10 lei, 50 lei, 100 lei, 200 lei and 500 lei. The coins come in 50 bani and relatively useless 10 bani pieces.
AThe leu is a stable currency that has more or less held its own with respect to the euro and US dollar in recent years.
ADespite the fact that Romania is a member of the EU, the euro does not circulate. There is little point in converting your money into euro prior to arrival, since you will have to convert it to lei anyway.
ASome large hotels may quote rates in euro, but this is done for the convenience of international travellers. Hotel bills paid for with a debit or credit card will be charged in lei at the prevailing exchange rate.
ATry to ke
ep small-denomination (1 leu and 5 lei) notes on hand for shops, transport tickets, cafes and tips for waiters. Using the 100 lei notes that ATMs often spit out can be difficult in practice.
Money Changers
The best place to exchange money is at a bank. You'll pay a small commission, but get a decent rate.
You can also change money at a private exchange booth (casa de schimb) but be wary of commission charges and always ask how many lei you will receive before handing over your bills.
You will usually need to show a passport to change money, so always have it handy.
Never change money on the street with strangers; it's almost always a rip-off.
Tipping
ARestaurants Tip 10% of the bill to reward good service.
ATaxis Drivers won't expect a tip, but it's fine to round the fare up to reward special service.
AHotels Tip cleaning staff 3 to 5 lei per night or 20 lei per week to reward good service. In luxury hotels, tip doormen and concierges 5 to 10 lei for special assistance as warranted.
APersonal services Tip hairdressers and other services around 10%.
WHO'S ON THE BILLS
One strike against the EU is the standardised currency, which makes cross-Europe travel a little less exciting than it once was. For now, the portraits on Romania’s money still tell a tale of the country’s history.
1 leu: Nicolae Iorga (1871–1940) The cofounder of the Democratic National Party was renowned as a rare voice against fascism as WWII loomed. He was eventually tortured and executed.
5 lei: George Enescu (1881–1955) Famous for composing ‘Romanian Rhapsodies’ (1903), he left Romania after communism took over.
10 lei: Nicolae Grigorescu (1838–1907) Romania’s best-known painter progressed from Ruben copies to originals of traditional scenes around Romania.
50 lei: Aurel Vlaicu (1882–1913) The first Romanian to excel in flight (vampires included), he died in the crash of his Vlaicu II in 1913.
100 lei: Ion Luca Caragiale (1852–1912) This playwright was happy to mock everyone with his rather ironic stabs at the modernising of Romania at the end of the 19th century.
200 lei: Lucian Blaga (1895–1961) Poet, playwright, essayist, philosopher, professor and diplomat.
500 lei: Mihai Eminescu (1850–89) The mere mention of this national poet inspires Romanian pride. He suffered from manic-depressive psychosis and died at age 38.
Opening Hours
Shopping centres and malls generally have longer hours and are open from 9am to 8pm Saturday to Sunday. Museums are usually closed on Monday, and have shorter hours outside high season.
Banks 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 1pm Saturday (varies)
Museums 10am to 6pm Tuesday to Friday; 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
Offices 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 1pm Saturday (varies)
Post Offices 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday; 8am to 1pm Saturday (cities)
Restaurants 9am to 11pm Monday to Friday; 10am to 11pm Saturday and Sunday
Shops 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 2pm Saturday
Post
The Romanian Postal Service (www.posta-romana.ro) is slow but reliable and fine for sending letters and nonessential parcels home. Buy stamps in post offices, as letters must normally be weighed to determine correct postage.
Delivery time within Europe is one week; overseas letters will take seven to 10 days.
Public Holidays
If you'll be travelling during public holidays it’s wise to book ahead, as some hotels in popular destinations may be full.
New Year (1 and 2 January)
Orthodox Easter Monday (April/May)
Labour Day (1 May)
Pentecost (May/June, 50 days after Easter Sunday)
Assumption of Mary (15 August)
Feast of St Andrew (30 November)
Romanian National Day (1 December)
Christmas (25 and 26 December)
Telephone
Local & International Calls
Romania has a modern telephone network of landlines and mobile (cell) phones. It's possible to receive and make direct international calls from anywhere in the country. Romania's country code is 40.
AAll Romanian landline numbers have 10 digits, consisting of a zero, plus a city code and the number.
AThe formula differs slightly depending on whether the number is in Bucharest or outside of Bucharest. Bucharest numbers take the form: 0 + two-digit city code (21 or 31) + seven-digit number. Outside of Bucharest, numbers take the form: 0 + three-digit city code + six-digit number.
AMobile-phone numbers can be identified by a three-digit prefix starting with 7. All mobile numbers have 10 digits: 0 + three-digit prefix (7xx) + six-digit number.
Mobile Phones
Romanian mobile (cell) phones use the GSM 900/1800 network, which is the standard throughout much of Europe as well as in Australia and New Zealand and many other parts of the world. This band is not compatible with most mobile phones in North America or Japan (though multiband phones do work across regions). Ask your provider if you're uncertain whether your phone will work.
AUsing your own phone and SIM card in Romania could expose you to expensive roaming fees, particularly for long calls or data downloads. A cheaper option is to buy a prepaid Romanian SIM card, which gives you a temporary local number and charges local (cheaper) rates for calls, texts and data transfers. These cards only work with phones that are 'unlocked' (able to accept foreign SIM cards).
APrepaid SIM plans start at about 20 lei per card and usually include some bonus minutes. They are offered by all three of Romania's main carriers: Vodafone (www.vodafone.ro), Telekom Romania (www.telekom.ro) and Orange (www.orange.ro).
ABuy prepaid SIM cards at any provider shop or independent phone seller. You can top up cards at phone shops, newspaper kiosks and even some ATMs. Shops around the country also sell new or used phones that can be used in conjunction with local prepaid SIM cards.
AThe situation is more complicated if you have a smartphone like an iPhone or Android device that may not be easily unlocked. With these phones, it's best to contact your home provider to consider short-term international calling and data plans appropriate to your needs.
AEven if you're not using your smartphone as a phone, it still makes a handy wi-fi device. Switch off the 'data roaming' setting to avoid unwanted roaming fees.
Pay Phones & Phonecards
APublic phones usually require a magnetic-stripe phonecard, which you can buy from post offices, newspaper kiosks, and some tourist offices and hotel reception desks.
APhonecard rates start at about 10 lei and allow for a certain number of impulses (minutes).
AIt's possible to dial abroad from a pay telephone.
Time
AAll of Romania lies within the Eastern European time zone, GMT/UTC+2, one hour ahead of most of continental Europe. Romanian local time is two hours ahead of London and seven hours ahead of New York.
ARomania observes daylight saving time, and puts the clock forward one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in March and back again at 3am on the last Sunday in October.
AThe 24-hour clock is used for official purposes, including transport schedules. In everyday conversation people commonly use the 12-hour clock.
Toilets
APublic toilets are few and far between and often not very clean. Use better facilities in restaurants or hotels when you have the chance.
AToilets are labelled toaletă or simply 'WC'.
AMen should look for 'B' (bărbaţi). Women’s toilets are marked with an 'F' (femei).
AThe fee for a public toilet is usually 1 or 2 lei, collected by a toilet attendant sitting at the door. Have small bills ready.
ASome toilets have a plastic bin by their side – this is for used toilet paper.
Tourist Information
AThe Romanian National Tourist Office (www.romaniatourism.com) maintains a wonderful website with a trove of useful information. There's a la
rge English-language section on festivals and events, accommodation and tips on what to see and do all around the country.
ARomania’s national network of tourist offices has made encouraging strides in recent years. Nearly all big cities (with the notable exception of urban centres in Wallachia like Craiova, Ploieşti and Piteşti) have decent tourist offices. Tourist information can still be tough to track down in rural areas.
AIf you turn up in a city that doesn't have a tourist office, you're pretty much on your own. Local bookshops or newsagents can sometimes sell a local map, but don't expect much help from local travel agencies. They are far more preoccupied with outbound travel by Romanians than with assisting visiting foreigners.
Travellers with Disabilities
ARomania is not well equipped for people with disabilities, even though there has been some improvement over recent years.
AWheelchair ramps are available only at some upmarket hotels and restaurants, and public transport is a challenge for anyone with mobility problems.
ARomania Motivation Foundation (www.motivation.ro) is a local organisation with offices around the country to assist people in wheelchairs and with mobility issues. It has a good website in English for people confined to wheelchairs.
Lonely Planet Romania & Bulgaria Page 48