What travel documents do I need when traveling to Romania?

Passport/National ID for EU countries (Don’t forget them and make sure they are valid for at least 3-6 months after your entry to Romania.) Please make sure that in your passport you have a blank visa page for entry/exit stamps. 

No visa is required for US, Canadian, and EU citizens, for other countries please check with your local embassy or consulate. Reach out anytime if you need help with this at office@beyonddracula.com .

Which is the currency used in Romania?

Romanian Leu (RON) is the local currency, currently 1 EUR = ± 5 RON and 1 USD = ± 5 RON. You can check the daily rate here.

Make sure your credit card is ready to be used in another country. It might have anti-fraud services activated; also, have your PIN handy since it’s commonly asked for in Romania. 

You can also bring cash. EUR, USD, GBP, or other currency frequently used internationally can be easily exchanged in any town or city. Ask for help if you wish to exchange money or if you are in doubt about how much cash to bring.

ATMs are available in most towns and cities, often also in villages. 

Is tipping mandatory in Romania?

Tipping is entirely at your discretion and not required. You may wish to provide a gratuity as a reward for outstanding service.

Will I have access to the internet throughout my stay in Romania?

Consult your mobile carriers to ensure your phones are ready for use in a foreign country. 

Most guesthouses and hotels have excellent internet available free of charge. Buying a pre-paid card that includes internet traffic can be an easy way to have internet on the road also.

You will be reachable throughout your stay, with perhaps short periods without a phone signal in mountainous areas. If any of the locations where you’ll stay for a longer period of time has no signal, you will be notified in your itinerary. Should you require internet in your vehicle, get in touch at office@beyonddracula.com .

Which type of plugs and sockets does Romania use?

Almost every country has a different type of plug and socket. Here is a list of plugs and sockets used in each country, to help you find a suitable adaptor. Romania uses types C and F. 

What to expect in terms of food when traveling to Romania?

Throughout your stay, you’ll experience a variety of meals. Typical Romanian cuisine includes always a soup (mainly with veggies and some meat, sometimes accompanied by cream and hot peppers), a main course (meat with veggies and/or potatoes and rice), and dessert (fruit cakes, dry cakes, etc.). Typically dishes are not spicy, the ingredients used are typical for a temperate country.  

Tap water is drinkable unless otherwise mentioned. Bottled water is easily available and your guide will make sure there is always some in the car.

Most restaurants do not need reservations more than a day or two in advance; if that is not the case, you will be notified in advance.  

What is the spoken language in Romania?

Romanian is the language commonly used in the country, a Latin language at its roots. For speakers of another Latin language, it will be fairly easy to distinguish some words. English is commonly spoken in most major cities and towns, sometimes also in some of the villages where many travelers have reached in recent years.

Here are some common words and phrases you could make an impression with:

• Thank you! – Multumesc!
• Good morning! – Buna dimineata!
• Hello! – Buna ziua! (anytime during the day until 6pm)
• Good evening! – Buna seara!
• How are you? – Ce mai faci?
• What’s your name? – Cum te cheama?
• That was great/delicious. – Mi-a placut mult!/ A fost delicios.

Will I be assisted to go shopping while in Romania?

Please let your guide know about any special interests you may have for shopping, or if you collect any items he could help you find. While we can advise based on quality and your needs, we don’t endorse any particular shop or artisan, shopping is not required nor expected, and travelers assume all responsibility for transactions.

How do Romanians greet each other?

Greeting in Romania is gender-specific: men shake hands, while women who know each other kiss on the cheek, twice, starting with the left cheek (men and women don’t shake hands, they kiss cheeks if they are familiar enough, otherwise a nod is enough).

Etiquette

Punctuality is not the strongest trait of Romanians, though they hate having to wait when others run late. The “academic quarter” (15-minute delay) is quite the norm.

Romanians are generally quite sensitive to criticism and will hardly recognize their mistakes in public. Try to avoid confrontational behavior and express criticism in a non-aggressive way.

If you are a smoker, you should know that smoking is not allowed indoors since 2016 in Romania, but you can smoke on open-air terraces. Please be mindful of non-smokers around you. 

What should I pack for my trip to Romania?

This is not an exhaustive list for your packing, just a few things to consider:

• Clothing: 
  • Type of clothing ideal for activities and local standards; 
  • Rainwear/Warm clothes if the climate requires it
  • Any specialty clothing for unique activities (horseback riding, active adventures, etc…)
  • Layers if needed for evenings, air conditioning or if traveling off-season
  • Typical evening dining attire at restaurants
  • Specific dress requirements for any religious sites, etc…
  • Swimwear if accommodations have a pool, etc…
• Footwear ideal for activities
• Sunglasses/caps/gloves etc. other accessories depending on the season
• Any amenities/beauty/health products that might not be provided by accommodations
• Prescriptions and medications
• Plane tickets, boarding passes, etc…
• Passports with copies stored separately
• Cameras
• Charging cables, extra batteries, adapters, or memory cards.

Other things to know

Plane tickets/Boarding passes. Don’t forget them, we really want to welcome you at the airport!

If you’re flying a low-cost company such as WizzAir, RyanAir, EasyJet, etc. make sure you check in online at least 3h prior to your flight to avoid extra taxes at the airport. Most of these companies now have apps where you can store/download the boarding passes on your phone.

International driver’s license. It never hurts to have it although you’ll be driven safely throughout your stay in Romania.