If you are planning a holiday in Romania and it is the first time you have the status of a tourist in this country, you are probably looking for information that will make the experience easy. We have compiled a list of such notions that we consider useful for someone visiting us for the first time.
The leu (RON) is the monetary unit of Romania and you can find it in 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 banknotes. The coins are 50, 10 and 5 or 1 penny. Although in many cases the price is calculated in Euro, you can only pay in lei. One Euro represents approximately 5 lei. Prices in Romania are more decent compared to Western Europe.
Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Sibiu are the most expensive cities in terms of accommodation, costs allocated to tourist activities and going out in the city, compared to other cities such as Brasov, Timisoara or Oradea.
An indicative budget per day could be somewhere around 100-150 lei (20-25 Euro). Accommodation is not included in this approximation. Usually, a basic dish costs around 20-25 lei, juices are at 7 lei, and beer and wine start at 10 lei.
You can find restaurants that serve the menu of the day. It includes two dishes and dessert and is great for the price. The entrances to various objectives and tourist attractions vary between 10 and 20 lei.
Portions of food are usually large and extremely filling, if we refer to traditional food. For example, the food specific to Transylvania is quite rich in fats, spices and focuses on pork, eggs, cheese.
Vegetarians/vegans please pay attention: Romanians love meat! But don’t worry, in urban areas you will find variants suitable for your eating style. If you go to rural areas, you will have plenty of vegetables and fruits. Especially if you visit Romania in autumn.
We know this is a common question, because the currency unit is different and you don’t necessarily have a clear view of the monetary situation related to your country.
In principle, the tip represents 10% of the grade from restaurants or bars. However, the higher the bill, the lower the tip. For example, if you have to pay 50 lei, 5 lei allocated to the tip is enough.
However, if you do not tip, it is not a problem. On the other hand, if you do, your gesture will be extremely appreciated.
It is the 12th largest country in Europe. You should know that the capital city is not close to major objectives, such as Transylvania. Bucharest is a vibrant city that has a lot to offer, but it is not entirely representative, in the sense that there are a lot of other places and things to see. Thus, you need to organize your vacation taking into account this aspect.
This is not advice, but a fact. Especially if you choose to visit rural areas, you will be received with warmth and hospitality by the locals. They will welcome you in their house, they will be open to tell you the secrets of the places and they will “feed” you as only they know. This means that they will put you with them at the table, where you will have lavish meals (literally), and last but not least, you will be served with the best wine, or brandy – a fact that differs from one region to another.
In principle, Romanians speak English and even Spanish. This applies in particular to the younger population. However, if you arrive in rural areas and interact with older people, it would be helpful to know some basic expressions. In any case, people will do their best to help you, even through nonverbal language.
Another reason why you might consider learning a few Romanian words is that Romanians highly appreciate this gesture and are proud when a foreigner makes this effort.
Buenos dias – Hello – Bună ziua
Que estas haciendo? – How are you? – Ce faci?
Bien – Good – Bine
Sí – Yes – Da
No – Nu
Adios – Goodbye – La revedere
Donde esta? – Where is – Unde este
Gracias- Thank You – Mulțumesc