Romania Facts
all those tinny facts about Romania that travelers need
What kind of Romania facts you'll find on this page?
- Embassies
- Local time
- Post offices
- Telephone
- Banks
- Medical services
- Tipping
- Local city transportation
- Electricity
- Public Holidays
Embassies
In case you need support from your country while you're in Romania, I think it's better if you have the address and the phone number of your embassy in Romania.
Local time
Summertime: 1 hour ahead of GMT (last Sunday in March to last Sunday in September). During the other months of the year, it is 2 hours ahead of GMT.
Post offices
Post offices are open daily, including Saturday morning, in most areas and provide local and external services. Airmail to Western Europe can take 3-4 days.
Telephone
IDD is available. Romania c code: 40. Outgoing international code: 00. Public telephones are widely spread but unfortunately almost useless because 99% of them are vandalized. So, think to buy a rooming service for your mobile phone, or use the hotel phone.
Mobile telephoneGSM 900/1800 networks. Romanian network operators are:
- www.orange.ro/index-en.html
- www.vodafone.ro/en
- www.cosmote.ro/en>
- www.zapp.ro/?__cms__content_locale=en_US
- 112 - emergency call
- 951 - information
- 952 - train timetables
- 958 - time
- 971- international calls
- 991 - domestic trunk calls
- 021 118800 - Directory Inquiries for Bucharest
- 021 118932 - Any information inquiries
Banks
They are open daily, 09:00-12:00 Mon-Fri (business matters), 09:00-12:00 & 13:00-15:00 Mon-Fri (money exchange). Some of them are opened Saturday from 9 to 12.
The most spread banks are: BCR (Comercial Bank of Romania), BRD Societee General, Bank Post, Reiffeisen Bank, Transilvania Bank and CEC Bank.
Western Union money transfers are available all over the country (even at the countryside).
ATMs and credit cards
ATMs are spread all over the country and can be used with VISA, Master Card and American Express. Credit Cards are also accepted in many hotels, rent-a-car companies and some restaurants. It is however advisable to check in advance.
You can use your credit card for payments in all supermarkets. Furthermore, for accommodation and meals at restaurants. But I won't bet on these.
Medical services
Available in state and private health units throughout the country, according to the medical agreements established between Romania and other countries.
Tipping
Normally a small tip for good services (5-10%) is appreciated, but it is at the customer's wishes.
Local city transportation
In Bucharest you can take underground trains, buses, trams and trolleybuses. Standard price is about $0.33 per journey. I suggest buying a daily pass or a weekly pas (depending how long you stay). They are valid for any kind of surface transportation, any route, all day/week. Much, much cheaper and comfortable.
In the other cities ticket prices are between $0.40-0.50 per journey.
Taxis
Legal taxis are equipped with meters. They must have the upper (up) half painted in yellow, a yellow plate on the door with their license number and the price per Km displayed so that you can easily see it. As for many things in Romania, prices are more than reasonable. Sometimes IT could be cheaper then renting a car.
But pay attention!! Don't take a taxi without all those signs. It's an illegal taxi and your journey will be a veeeeery expensive one.
Electricity
The electric current in Romania is 220Volts / 50 Hz (EU standard). Plugs are of the two-pin type.
Public Holidays
January 1st & 2nd; Easter Monday and Tuesday; May 1st; Pentecost Monday; August 15th (Saint Mary Day); December 1st (the national day); December 25th & 26th;
Back to Facts about Romania
Exit "Romania Facts" and return to "Exploring Romania" homepage!
