Spontaneity is great, but preparing in advance can save you plenty of time and money.
So if you are planning to visit Romania soon, it certainly doesn’t hurt knowing some basic practical tips. You’ll make sure you won’t encounter any stressful situations and avoid missing out on things.
Let’s get straight to it then.
Weather in Romania
Romania has a diverse climate covering all four seasons.
The time between December and early March is suitable for winter sports and trekking. Temperatures vary between 34°F and 40°F, with January being the coldest month of the year.
Spring is more forgiving with tourists from a temperature standpoint. However, make sure you come prepared for rains and climate shifts. The same goes for autumn.
As for summer, temperatures rise pretty high. They can go up to an average of 71°F, 79°F by the Black Sea coast.
Useful tip: make sure you convert °F to °C; temperatures below 0°C will appear with a “-” in front of them.
Public Holidays and Working Hours
Generally speaking, Romanian stores are open from 9 AM to 6 PM. Malls are typically open from 8 AM to 10 PM.
Banks are open from 9 AM to 5 PM (with some of them working on Saturdays, 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM).
Public institutions suspend their activity during major holidays, such as:
- National Day: December 1st
- New Year’s Celebration: December 31st and January 1-2
- Labor Day: May 1st
- Christmas: December 24-26
- the Orthodox Easter: in 2017, it is celebrated on April 16-17
Financial Information to Keep in Mind When You Visit Romania
The Romanian currency is RON/Lei (pronounced “lay”), with 1 RON being roughly the equivalent of $o.23 or €0.22.
If you want to withdraw money from an ATM, you can ask for bancomat – the Romanian word for ATM.
Exchange units are pretty widespread and easily recognizable by the “Casa de schimb valutar” banner.
As far as credit cards are concerned, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted.
If you’re an American, know that the ATM will require a PIN. Check with your bank before leaving for Romania. They’ll be able to tell you the exact terms of your credit card use if you decide to visit Romania.
As opposed to Western Europeans or Americans, Eastern Europeans including Romanians still pay mainly in cash. So it’s a good idea to keep some in your wallet.
As for what your budget should be, check these guidelines:
- The entrance fees for historical sites and buildings typically start at $5.00. An excellent way to save money and get a great deal is to book a tour. You’ll get to visit various Romanian attractions in less time to make the most out of your day.
- Full breakfast and taxes included, a night at a hotel outside of Bucharest will set you back between $40 and $150/night. Inside the capital, the prices go up.
- For a full course dinner, you may spend around $30 or less, depending on the restaurant.
Transportation
You’ll find transportation fees to be quite affordable:
- one subway round trip in Bucharest- $1
- a bus ticket in Bucharest – $0.6
- train ticket on the route Bucharest-Brasov – $16.50 for first-class travel
- taxi fee – $0.5/km
Read more about How To Travel by Metro.
If you travel to Romania by plane and are looking for safe and comfortable transportation, you can check out our TravelMaker Transport service.
Our friendly, English-speaking drivers will make sure you have an excellent time on your way from the airport to any Romanian city for a reasonable price.
These are just a few practical tips for those who visit Romania. Check out our blog for more articles or contact us if you need information right away.