Capital city of Romania: Bucharest
Geographic position: Romania is located in South-East of Central Europe. Countries bordering Romania are Bulgaria (south), Serbia (south-west), Hungary (west), Ukraine (north and east), and Moldavia (north-east)
Climate: temperate-continental, four seasons
In Bucharest the average summer temperature is 24° C (750 Fahrenheit), but during July and August it often exceeds 32 ° C (1000 F). Winters are cold, with temperatures below 0° C (320 F). Apart from normal seasonal clothes, it is always advisable to pack a warm pullover, a raincoat and good walking shoes. Very warm clothing is recommended for winter period
Time zone: Romania is 7-10 hours ahead of USA time, 2 hours ahead of GMT, and 1 hour ahead of CET. Daylight saving time runs from the end of March until the end of September
Features: mountains, hills, plains, and delta (Danube Delta)
Population: 21,680,976 (March 2003, source: National Statistics Institute)
Ethnic structure: Romanians - 89.5%; Hungarians (including Szecklers)- 6.5%; Roma - 2.5%; other ethnic groups -1.5%
Religious structure: Eastern Orthodox - 86.7%; Roman-Catholic - 4.7%; Protestant - 3.2%; Greek-Catholic - 0.9%, Evangelical - 0.1%; Unitarian - 0.3%; other religions - 0.4% (preliminary data, March 2003)
Form of government: Republic
Romania is NATO member and EU member
President of Romania: Traian Basescu
Legislative
power: The Parliament of Romania, (485 members in the 2000-2004 legislature), and two houses: the Senate of Romania (140 members)
and the Chamber of Deputies (345 members).
Executive power: The Government of Romania; Prime Minister: Emil Boc
The major political
parties present in the Parliament:
Ruling coalition: the Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) + the Social Democratic Party (PSD) + the Conservative
Party (PC)
In opposition: the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), the Greater Romania Party (PRM)
Main cities: Bucharest, Timisoara, Constanta, Iasi, Cluj-Napoca, Craiova, Sibiu, Arad, Brasov, Galati, Braila
Driving
You should drive on the right side of the road. The maximum allowed speed is of 50 km/h in city areas, 90 km/h outside the city and 120 km/h on highways. Road signs and driving regulations in Romania follow international standards. Sometimes sign posts might be missing in villages and on rural roads. If you try driving in Romania - especially in Bucharest - you will need to have nerves of steel, and a lot of patience. Very frequently, driving regulations as you know them are simply not respected. According to a recent study, most dangerous drivers in Romania are teenagers under the age of 25
By air
Regular and charter flights of Romanian air carriers (notably TAROM, the national airline) or the foreign airlines with offices in Bucharest (Air France, Lufthansa, Alitalia, and Swissair) connect Bucharest with the world’s major airports. Some of Romania’s international airports are: Bucharest’s airports (Henri Coanda and Baneasa), Constanta Mihail Kogalniceanu and Timisoara Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest is 18 km from the city center. Transfers can be made by airport bus (no. 783) or by taxi. State and private taxis are equipped with meters
By rail
International Express trains connect the main central European capitals (Budapest, Vienna, Prague etc.) with Bucharest, the Black Sea coast and other important cities. Romania is a member of the International Railway Tariff System RIT and Inter Rail
By car
The principal access points to Romania are: Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest-Petea E 81; Vienna, Prague, Budapest-Bors E 60 or Nadlac E 64 or Varsaud E 671; Trieste, Belgrade-Moravita E 70 or Portile de Fier E 70; Athens, Tirana, Sofia-Giurgiu E 85; Istanbul, Sofia-Vama Veche E 87; Moscow, Kiev, Chernovitz-Siret E 85. If you come to Romania by car, bring your driving license, car papers and green card. The Romanian Automobile Club ACR is at your disposal for technical and any other assistance for your car. Call ACR at (+40) 21 222 22 22 in Bucharest
Customs Regulations
Romania applies the international regulations of the Convention for the Customs Facilities for Tourist Traffic. Highly valuable goods and foreign currency (over the value of $ 1,000 USD per person) must be declared when entering the country. Endorsed customs declarations must be kept as they are required when leaving the country. It is forbidden to import, unless with a special license, ammunition, explosives, narcotics, pornographic material. It is forbidden to export items of cultural, historic, or artistic value. Car drivers must have their personal driving license and international green card. Rabies vaccination certificates are required for cats and dogs. More details on Romanian customs can be found on the Romanian Customs Administration’s web site: www.customs.ro
Check our Immigration page for detailed information regarding visas, work permits and other relevant documentation. Alternatively, you can contact us at contact@expatcenter.ro for more adequate advice.
It is your own responsibility to have health insurance cover for the travel (visa) period. Please be aware that customs agents might inquire to see your travel insurance when you enter the country.
The main electricity in Romania is 220 volts and 50 Hz. British and American outlets differ from the Romanian ones, so you may need to bring a transformer and/or adapter for your electrical appliances
Romania uses the Metric system. 1 meter (m) = 100 cm =1.094 yard = 3.281 feet, 1 kilometer (km) = 1000 m = 0.621 mile
The Romanian newspaper industry experienced an increase in the number of publications on the market during last 10 years. Although most publications are in Romanian, there are some foreign-language newspapers which may be of interest for those with no or little knowledge of our language. Bucharest Business Week is an English-language business newspaper published each Sunday. Nine O’Clock covers national and international news, business, sports and culture. Romanian Economic Daily is published from Monday to Friday and approaches issues from domestic and world policy to business news. Bucarest Matin and Bucarest Hebdo are French-language daily newspapers covering national and international news, business, sports, culture and more.
For a comprehensive list of dailies and other Romanian publications and links to their web pages, you can visit www.ziare.com.
Romanian is the official language and is spoken by approximately 90% of the population in Romania. Being a Latin language, Romanian is easier to be learned for those who speak Spanish, Italian, or French, while those who only know English will have to spend some time studying it before attempting to communicate. Still, the Romanian language itself contains as well over 3.000 words of Slavic origin.
Those attending a private or public elementary/secondary school or college will find that the language is part of the curriculum. Those not attending school can hire a private tutor to help them learn the language.
The Romanian language is also spoken in Moldavia, Hungary, Serbia, and Bulgaria.
Hungarian and German are also widely spoken languages within Romania, especially in center and western part.
Here are below some useful words and phrases for foreigners relocating or traveling to the country:
Hello = Buna / Salut; What’s your name = Cum te cheama
How are you = Ce faci; Please = Te rog
Yes = Da; No = Nu; Sorry = Scuze / Ma scuzati
Thank you = Multumesc; How much is it = Cat costa
You’re welcome = Cu placere Do you speak English = Vorbiti engleza
Though cheaper than many countries of Europe, Romania has recently been under a blooming period, which made it step-out of the category of cheap destinations. In Romania you can check into modern hotels with rooms edging into the rate of €400- 500 per night. Though, normal four and three star hotels can also be cosy at a rate of €50 to €80.
A normal sit-down meal with a beer, some meat and soup can cost between €10 and €15 (and higher in Bucharest).
Car-hire rates tend to be high too up to €40 or €55 per day but bus and train tickets are quite cheap (about €3.50 to €7 per 100km by train).
Those looking to save money can find abundant fast-food stands selling burgers, kebabs and pizza slices (about €1.50 to €2.50).
For those wishing to stay in mid-priced hotels, dine out once or twice a day and perhaps hire the occasional guide or go on guided tours, expect to pay €70 to €100 per day, excluding travel. Backpackers staying in private rooms, eating only one meal in a restaurant and excluding guides or travel expenses can expect to pay more like €30 to €40 per day.
Those who intend to rent an apartment should expect at 3€00 €400 per 1 room-apartment per month and €500 to €700 per 2 room-apartment per month.
Taxis from Henri-Coanda Airport
Any taxi cars bringing customers to the airport have free access in front of the International Departures Terminal and Domestic Flights Terminal.
But only FLY taxi cars are available in front of the International Arrivals Terminal, when you arrive from abroad. For any information you can contact the FLY Taxi Dispatch located in the International Arrivals Terminal waiting hall.
For any reclamation about the taxi services, you are kindly required to write down the car's registration number and contact the Airport Police on telephone: +40212013242 or FLY Taxi directly to local phone number: 9441.
*Note: Fly Taxi is not cheap when compared to normal city taxis, therefore it is advisable to only use Fly Taxi when coming from the Henri-Coanda airport to Bucharest (as the only company available), and use another taxi company to get back to the airport (see the Phone Directory page for more on this matter).
Company taxis in Bucharest are generally cheap, as long as you take a taxi that has an association with a trusted taxi company.
Private taxis are expensive, and can be dangerous, as some drivers are simply not to be trusted.
All taxis are obliged by law to display their tariffs on the side of the passenger door: make sure you check the tariff before getting in!
Note that "Pornire" is the starting fee, and is usually displayed most prominently as it is cheap. It is the tariff underneath you need to be aware of! Some taxis charge as much as 10 RON per kilometer. Be particularly alerted to these rip-off taxis (the so-called "shark cabs") when taking one from outside the main railway station (Gara de Nord), the airport, the shopping malls or any five-star hotel. Our advice is to avoid any tariff over 2.00 RON lei / kilometer.
Please check our Phone Directory page for taxi companies advisable to use.
You can take the bus, tram or metro around Bucharest.
Because of the traffic jam, the metro is the most efficient and therefore best option of transport.
Bus, tram and trolleybus tickets can be purchased at any RATB kiosk in almost each station. When you get on the bus, validate the ticket by punching it in the little box on board.
Be aware that transport runs from 5am until maximum11.30pm. Note that buses and trams are often crowded, and pick-pocketing is a problem on these services.
Please be aware not to miss station signs, which are not clearly signposted.
The metro has four lines and 45 stations.Trains run every 5-7 min and from 5.30am to11.30pm.Stations are marked by white signs with a blue M
Bucharest is the only Romanian city which enjoys the benefits of the subway (www.metrorex.ro). You must buy a magnetic metro card for either 2 rides or 10 rides; they are very cheap, the equivalent of about 50 cents a ride. Subways operate from 5am until 11pm.
Check the underground map on our Maps page for routes and stops.
How to buy a mobile phone (SIM) card?
A SIM card for your mobile can be bought from any kiosk, newspaper shop on the corner of the street or from any telecom operators’ shops or dealers.
Main mobile phone operators in Romania are: Orange, Vodafone, Cosmote.
If your phone needs decoding from your home network, you can address to any mobile service shop.
Country code: +40, Area code: 021 (for Bucharest)
How to dial: Dialing within Romania: 0 + three digit area code + six digit telephone no.(when dialing anywhere in the country and out of Bucharest), e.g. 0 + 268 + 543 210;
0 + 21 + seven digit telephone (when dialing a number in Bucharest) E.g. 0 + 21 + 65 43 210;
Dialing from a foreign country directly to any city in Romania: International Access Code + 40 (country code) + three digit area code + six digit telephone
Three digit telephone numbers are local toll-free numbers for emergencies. Toll-free numbers: Fire Brigade 981; Medical Emergency Service 961; Emergency Hospital 962; Police 955 Constabulary 956.
A new general emergency phone number 112 operates in Romania starting from 2003
For a large directory of useful phone numbers (of embassies, banks, hotels, etc.) please consult our Phone Directory page.
Money can be changed in any banks or authorized exchange offices (called: "casa de schimb" or "birou de schimb valutar") which are mostly located downtown (Universitate square "Piata Universitatii", Unirii square "Piata Unirii", or Romana square "Piata Romana").
Romanian local currency is "Leu". Bank symbol is: RON. Each leu is divided into 100 bani, available as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 50. Romania is the third country in the world to fully convert to polymer (plastic) notes.
Romania is still primarily a cash economy, so make sure you always carry sufficient lei to cover your expenses. Some places accept credit cards, but fairly few accept travelers checks. There are banks where you can change your travelers checks and receive cash advances on your credit card. ATM machines can be easily found outside banks, post offices or malls.
Exchange rate can differ from one office to another and some can be really expensive, with high exchange commission. Therefore it is useful to look around for some rates before you exchange.
International airports and larger hotels also offer currency exchange services.
A valid passport may be required in such cases. Save your receipt to prove you have changed your money legally. Never change money with someone who approaches you on the street; it’s always a scam and it is illegal! You can check exchange rates at www.bnr.ro, the official site of the National Bank of Romania.
For a list of most popular banks in Romania and contact phone numbers and addresses you can check our Phone Directory page.
How to avoid pick pocketing and stray dogs?
Bucharest is a major metropolis coming with its fair share of criminals and undesirables. Following some basic courses of action can ensure that you don’t fall victim to them.
Pickpockets and thieves are a main issue, like in many other places.
You are advised to remain alert of your surroundings and keep purses or bags close to your body and in front of you. Keep expensive watches and jewels out of sight and purses and wallets in front pockets.
Bags should be kept zipped and out in front, so they wouldn't be cut.
You are also advised to be aware and avoid stray dogs, which can be met on the street quiet frequently.
*Remember general emergency phone number: 112