Just Landed in Romania? Your First 7 Days

Romania has some of the fastest and cheapest fixed and mobile internet in Europe, largely thanks to Digi (RCS-RDS), and gigabit home fibre is common even in mid-sized cities. Prepaid SIMs are easy to buy with a passport, 4G is near-universal and 5G covers the major cities. Registering a SIM to your passport is a legal requirement, so keep it with you when buying.

Typical cost: Prepaid SIM: 20-40 RON/month for a plan with tens of GB of data and generous minutes. Digi home fibre starts around 30-40 RON/month for a fast connection, among the cheapest in the EU.

The currency is the leu (RON, plural lei); Romania is an EU member but not in the eurozone, so you cannot pay in euros. Contactless cards are accepted almost everywhere in cities, but carry some cash for markets, taxis, tips and small shops. One leu divides into 100 bani. Change money at banks or reputable exchange offices (casa de schimb), never at airport counters, which give poor rates.

Opening an account: Banca Transilvania, ING, BCR, BRD and Raiffeisen open accounts for residents; you typically need a passport, proof of address and often a residence permit or CNP (personal numeric code). Banca Transilvania and ING are popular with newcomers for good apps and English support. Revolut and Wise are widely used as an interim or permanent solution while you gather paperwork.

Cash: Cities are largely cashless, but rural areas, farmers' markets (piata), some taxis and older vendors prefer cash. Keep small notes; breaking a 200 RON note in a corner shop or with a market seller can be awkward, so ask ATMs for a mix or withdraw a smaller round amount.

Tipping: Tipping around 10 percent is customary in restaurants and for good service; round up for taxis, hairdressers and cafes. Check whether service is already included on the bill, and note that tips are usually given in cash even when you pay the bill by card.

Address and residence registration is genuinely required in Romania for anyone staying more than 90 days. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens must obtain a registration certificate (certificat de inregistrare), while non-EU nationals must apply for a residence permit (permis de sedere). Both are handled by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI / Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrari) and require proof of address, proof of the purpose of your stay (work, study, family or sufficient funds) and health insurance. The process is paper-heavy and largely conducted in Romanian, so bring originals plus photocopies and expect it to take more than one visit. Once approved, you receive your CNP, the personal numeric code that unlocks banking, tax and public services.

Deadline: Within 90 days of arrival for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens; non-EU nationals must hold or apply for a residence permit before their entry visa or 90-day visa-free stay expires.

Where: General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) regional offices; book appointments and prepare documents via igi.mai.gov.ro.

Bucharest has a metro (Metrorex) plus buses, trams and trolleybuses run by STB, and all are very cheap: a single metropolitan fare is a flat 3 RON for 90 minutes and a monthly pass is about 80 RON. Ride-hailing is cheap and reliable in all major cities and is often easier than hailing a street taxi. Contactless bank cards work on the metro and most surface transport, so you can travel from day one without a physical ticket.

From the airport: From Bucharest Henri Coanda (Otopeni), the M4 metro line now runs directly from the airport to the city and costs just a few lei, which is the cheapest and most reliable option. Express bus 100 also connects the airport to central Bucharest. A Bolt or Uber to the centre is usually 40-70 RON depending on traffic; avoid the unmarked taxis touting outside arrivals, and use the official taxi-order machines inside the terminal if you want a cab.

Most newcomers rent flats found on Storia (formerly OLX Imobiliare) and Imobiliare.ro, often through an agent. Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara are the most expensive markets, while smaller cities and outer districts are markedly cheaper. Listings move quickly in the popular central areas, so be ready to view and decide fast, and always view in person before paying anything.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat in central Bucharest runs roughly 3,000-4,500 RON/month (about 600-900 EUR); outside the centre it drops to 1,800-2,800 RON. Cluj-Napoca is similar to or higher than the capital, while cities like Iasi, Brasov or Timisoara can be noticeably cheaper.

Deposit norm: One month's rent as deposit is standard, sometimes two; an agency fee of one month's rent is common when you rent through an estate agent. Insist on a written contract de inchiriere, which you will also need for residence registration, and check that utilities and building maintenance (intretinere) are clearly stated.

Romania has a public health system (CNAS) funded by contributions, alongside a large and affordable private sector (Regina Maria, MedLife, Sanador) that most expats use for speed and English-speaking doctors. Pharmacies (farmacie) are plentiful and pharmacists can advise on minor issues, with many stocking common medicines without prescription.

How to access it: Once you have a CNP and pay health contributions, you register with a family doctor (medic de familie) who is your gateway to specialist and hospital care in the public system. Many residents also buy a private subscription for fast appointments and modern clinics without long waits, typically for a modest monthly fee that covers most routine consultations.

Insurance: EU citizens can use an EHIC/GHIC card for state care on short stays. Residents should enrol in the public CNAS scheme once employed or self-employed; private insurance or a clinic subscription with Regina Maria, MedLife or Sanador is strongly recommended to avoid public-system waits and language barriers, and can be arranged from day one.

• Greet with a firm handshake and use titles (domnul / doamna) with people you have just met until invited to use first names.
• Remove your shoes when entering someone's home; hosts usually offer slippers, and keeping shoes on is seen as rude.
• Bring a small gift (flowers in odd numbers, wine or good chocolate) when invited to dinner, and expect generous hospitality in return.
• Learn a few Romanian words; buna ziua (good day), va rog (please) and multumesc (thank you) go a long way even though many under-40s speak English.
• Accept food and drink when offered at someone's home; refusing outright can seem cold, and a small taste is enough if you are not hungry.
• Be patient and polite in offices and shops; a friendly greeting in Romanian before switching to English smooths most interactions.
• Toast by making eye contact and saying noroc (cheers) before the first sip, and wait for the host to start eating.

• Bureaucracy is slow and paperwork-heavy; bring originals plus photocopies and expect several visits for official processes conducted in Romanian.
• Do not confuse Romanians with Roma, an ethnic minority; the two are entirely different and conflating them causes real offence.
• Nodding and directness differ from some cultures; a blunt 'no' is normal and not considered rude, so do not read it as hostility.
• Avoid casual jokes about the communist era or Dracula tourism clichés with people you have just met; both can land badly.
• Jaywalking is fined and drivers do not always stop, so cross at marked crossings and be cautious even on a green signal.