MONEY
Currency
1 leu (plural: lei) = 100 bani. Currency abbreviation: RON (ISO code).
There are banknotes to the value of 500, 200, 100, 50, 10, 5 lei and 1 lei, coins to the value of 50, 10, 5 and 1 bani.
Credit cards
MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are accepted in larger hotels, car rental companies and some restaurants and shops. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted throughout Europe and worldwide (in Romania mostly only in larger cities and tourist centers). Further information from banks and credit institutes.
Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Bank opening times
General from Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. / 6 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
For travelers inside and outside the EU, there are no restrictions on the import or export of national and foreign currencies, but there is an obligation to declare cash from the equivalent of € 10,000 (including travelers checks, other currencies or checks made out to third parties).
Currency Exchange
Visitors should exchange at least some of their money in official exchange offices, although bartering is common in shops, restaurants and hotels. However, it may be necessary to provide proof that a minimum amount has been exchanged. Visitors should bring hard currency, especially US dollars, which can be easily exchanged in restaurants, hotels and shops. In order to avoid problems with the return exchange, already exchanged lei should be used in the country.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
Hotel vouchers should be purchased from travel agencies that are contractual partners of the Romanian Tourist Office. The best way to confirm the booking is by telex or fax, as unconfirmed bookings are often not recognized. Further information from the Romanian Tourist Offices (see addresses) and from the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation, 7 Bulevardul Gheorghe Magheru, 3rd Floor, Room 40, RO-70165 Bucuresti. Tel: (01) 312 05 70. (Internet: http://www.fihr-romanianhotels-org.ro/)
Categories: Hotels are classified by assigning 1 to 5 stars.
Camping
There are around 100 campsites. The vouchers, which are valid from May to September, are available from authorized travel agencies.
Other accommodation options
Most youth hostels are only open during the travel season, some all year round. Further information can be obtained from the following organizations: Tourist Office for Young People, Strada Onesti 4-6, RO-Bucuresti. YMCA Hostels, Strada Silvestru 33. Tel: (01) 210 09 09. Fax: (01) 321 41 34. Youth Hostel Association Romania, Casa de Cultura a Studentilor, P-ta Lucian Blaga no.1, First floor / AITASS, Cluj-Napoca. Tel: (0264) 58 66 16. (Internet: www.hihostels-romania.ro. Vila Helga Hostel, Strada Busolei 7A, Tel: (021) 212 08 28. (Internet: www.rotravel.com/hotels/helga) The tourist offices and special organizers can also provide information.
CULINARY
Regional specialities
Despite considerable regional differences, there are some national dishes such as Ciorbã de perisoare (meatball soup), Ciorbã Tãrãneasc (sauerkraut vegetable soup, served with sour cream), lamb bors, soup made from poultry and numerous fish soups. Mititei (charcoal griddle) and Patricieni (sausages grilled on charcoal) and steamed stuffed grape leaves are often on the menu. Fish dishes such as nisetru la gratar (grilled sturgeon from the Black Sea), raci (crayfish) and scrumbii la gratar (grilled herring) are also recommended. Other specialties are:
- Tocana(goulash made from pork, beef or mutton with onions).
- Ghiveci(over 20 different types of fried and cold served vegetables).
- Moldovan parjoale(spicy and richly garnished meatballs).
- Sarmale(cabbage rolls)
Useful information
For vegetarians, it can be difficult to find something suitable to eat, as almost all dishes are prepared with meat. Some restaurants serve Mancare de post, a fasting dish that does not contain any animal products.
Tip
A service charge of 12% is included in restaurant bills; if not, 10-15% of the invoice amount is appropriate. The wine waiter also receives a small tip.
Regional drinks
Regionally different types of Tuicã (plum brandy) are often served with the starters. Romanian wines such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Murfatlar wineries are world famous. The Grasa and Feteasca wines from the Cotnari wineries (Moldova) and Romanian beer are also recommended.
Minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages
In Romania, a country located in Europe according to politicsezine, you can drink alcohol from the age of 18.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
There are more and more discos and nightclubs in Bucharest that offer dancing and entertainment. Entrance fees are usually cheap, even in the capital, and outside of the big cities, many clubs even offer free entry. In many large hotels, the restaurants also function as nightclubs. There are a number of Parisian-style cafes in Bucharest, even if the locals tend to go to the cocktail bars in the summer and to the basement bars in the winter.
In addition to Bucharest, the cities of Brasov, Craiova, Sighisoara, Mamaia, Iasi, Constanţa, Galaţi, Ploieşti and Timişoara have a lively nightlife. The university city of Cluj-Napoca has, in addition to a young student population and a small but fine techno scene, a good reputation as a party mile. In smaller towns it is usually much quieter, but you often get to know locals in the cozy pubs and tea houses.
The country’s cultural offerings are also very diverse. In the large concert hall of the Bucharest Ateneul Român (Athenaeum) you can experience numerous international classical concerts, especially performances by the George Enescu Symphony Orchestra. Popular events take place in the Rapsodia Romana Hall. Numerous theaters and the Romanian Opera House invite you to visit. The Teatrul Național și Opera Română (National Theater and Opera House) in Timișoara houses the Teatrul Național and the Opera Națională Română din Timișoara. With such a large and varied range of offers, it is better to find out about the upcoming events before arriving.