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USEFUL INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS GOING
FOR THE FIRST TIME TO ROMANIA |
| How
to get there |
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You
can go to Romania by any transportation mean:
By
air.
Regular and charter flights of Romanian carriers
(mainly TAROM- the national airline) as well as
of major foreign airlines connect Romania to all
continents. The largest international airport is
Bucharest- Otopeni situated at about 18 km from
the country's capital. Airport coach, city
transit bus and taxi are available for transfers
to downtown Bucharest. Other international
airports are Bucharest- Baneasa, Constanta,
Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca.
By
train. International trains connect Bucharest's
North Railway Station, the most important in
Romania, to all the capitals of the surrounding
countries as well as to Italy, France, Germany,
Austria, Poland, Russia and Turkey. Romania,
which is a member of the International Railway
Tariffs and Inter Rail Systems, has an extended
rail network connecting all its regions.
By car or coach.
A developed road network allows access by
car from any neighboring country. Regular coach
routes link Romania to major cities in Central,
Western and Southern Europe. All road marks meet
the European Regulations. Cars are driven on the
right hand side of the road.
By sea or river.
The
largest
Romanian port at the Black Sea, Constanta, is
connected by regular routes to major foreign
ports of which the most important is Istanbul
(Turkey). Danube river routes link main Romanian
ports such as Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Giurgiu,
Braila and Galati to the upper Danube area in
Yugoslavia, Hungary and Austria. |
| Visas |
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All
foreigners possessing valid passports recognized
by the Romanian state are allowed to enter the
country provided they have the funds to support
themselves during the stay there. Visas can be
obtained either early from the Romanian consular
offices abroad or at the entry points from the
visa officers. Please check for visa rules and
fees since they are subject to change.
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| Customs |
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The
Romanian state observes the regulations stipulated in the
Convention for the Customs Facilities for Tourists. Valuable
goods and gifts as well as funds in foreign currency over $1,000
per person must be declared at the entrance point. It is not
permitted to bring Romanian currency from abroad. Customs
declarations filled at the entrance and endorsed by custom
officers must be kept since they are required when leaving the
country.
Guns,
ammunition, explosives, narcotics and pornographic materials are
forbidden to import. The same items plus pieces of high historic
or cultural value are forbidden to export.
Car
drivers must posses driving license and specific car papers
including a green card. |
| Currency |
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Basically
all payments in Romania are made in the national currency called
"leu" (at plural "lei"). Major credit cards
are also accepted in various places such as more expensive
hotels, restaurants or travel agencies. The Romanian currency
can be obtained by changing foreign currencies at authorized
exchange offices and banks. When exchanging money these offices
and banks require a piece of ID and they are also obliged to
issue a receipt of the transaction. It is wise to keep these
receipts for being able to justify when leaving the country some
expensive goods bought while in Romania. The most widely
accepted foreign currencies are the US dollar and the German
mark.
Most
usual banking hours are 8.00 to 14.00 Monday to Friday. Exchange
office business hours are generally 9.00 to 17.00 Monday to
Friday and 9.00 to noon on Saturday.
The
Romanian currency bills are of values of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000,
50,000 and 100,000 lei whereas the coins have the value of
50,100 and 500 lei respectively.
Click
here to find out the current exchange rate. |
| Health
matters |
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No
immunization proofs are basically required when entering
Romania. It is wise to check, however, with the Romanian
consular office in your area when coming from some problem zones
around the world.
Health
care is provided in Romania by hospitals called "spital",
smaller district health units called "dispensar
policlinic" and by private clinics. Drugs are available
through state and private pharmacies called "farmacie".
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| Food |
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Very
tasty Romanian, European, American or Asian food may be found
all around the country. Either you buy your own food or you
enjoy the services offered by a dining facility you will not
regret. In any case, do no forget to try specific Romanian foods
and wines that successfully compete the most prestigious French
or Italian ones. Just ask about traditional meals such as "ciorba
de burta", "sarmalute", "mititei",
"mujdei", "mamaliguta" or about a plum
brandy called "palinca" in Transylvania and "tuica"
in the rest of the country as well as about the wine brands
"Murfatlari", "Cotnari" or "Jidvei"
and you will enjoy unique tastes.
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| Climate
matters |
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Romania
has a continental-moderate climate with four seasons. Summer
temperatures are often above 300 C whereas the lowest
winter temperature may reach -200 C. For short period
of times these extreme values could be exceeded in some parts of
the country. Depending on the season and destination area, a
foreign tourist should have appropriate clothing although buying
it in Romania could be a good idea due to the advantageous
quality- price ratio.
Click
here to find out the current weather conditions.
| Local
time |
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Local
time is GMT+2.00 hours during winter (October to March) and
GMT+3.00 hours during summer (March to October).
| Phones
and mail |
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Hopefully
you will not need them, but in case you do here are some
important phone numbers: Police- 955, Ambulance- 961 and Fire
Department- 981.
All
phone numbers in Romania have 6 digits except those in Bucharest
which have 7 digits. Each administrative district has its own
area code- "01" for Bucharest and a 3-digit code
starting with an "0" for the other districts. The
country's international code is "40".
One
can make international phone calls with operator assistance by
dialing 971. A continuously increasing direct dial phones
network allows calling directly abroad by dialing "00"
first. This service is generally available in large cities.
The
majority of street phones accept only calling cards that can be
bought from mail offices called "posta".
Stamps
can be bought only in mail offices. Business hours are 7.30 to
19.30 Monday to Friday and 7.30 to 14.00 on Saturdays.
An
extensive GSM mobile phones network is also continuously
developing in Romania.
| Electric
supply |
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All
electricity powered goods work at 220 Volts and 50 Hz. The plugs
have 2 round prongs.
| Laundry |
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Public
laundries called "Nufarul" provide cleaning and dry-
cleaning. Such facilities are available in large hotels too.
| Media |
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A
large number of Western newspapers and magazines are available
at street kiosks as well as in large hotels. Private radio and
TV broadcast stations retransmit various Western shows. An
extensive TV cable network allows watching broadcasts from
Europe and overseas.
| Shopping |
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Good
quality things, both Romanian- made and Western- made, can be
bought for relatively low costs. Traditional Romanian items such
as pottery, porcelain, table napkins, carpets and icons have a
worldwide fame.
Most
recommended shopping areas are in the downtown zones of major
cities or close to tourist objectives. There are both department
stores and small shops. Sale persons assist most of the
shopping. Usual shopping hours are 8.00 to 20.00 for department
stores and 9.00 to 17.00 for regular shops. International
airports host also duty free shops.
| Tipping |
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Small
tips for good and kind services are always appreciated but they
are up to the customer.
| Miscellaneous |
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Romanians
are friendly people and enjoy talking to and helping foreign
tourists. Many Romanians are able to speak English, French,
German, Italian or Russian. The hospitality is one of the
best-known characteristics of the Romanian people.
When
visiting Romania for the first time it is strongly advised that
you contact a travel agency able to guide you into the specifics
of the places. If you do not know one
check our systematic data
base to contact a
good, reliable and serious agency.
You
may come any time and to any place in Romania. You will always
have something interesting to see and to do. Just shop around
this site to convince yourself.
| Things
not to miss |
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A
foreign visitor of Romania must not miss the nature gifts of
this country such as the Carpathians, the health resorts in the
West or the Black Sea Shore in the East, then the historical
monuments in Bucharest, Northern Moldavia, Northern Wallachia
and Central Transylvania as well as the unique folk art items,
songs and dances all around the country.
Every
spot in Romania has its peculiar attraction for a foreign
tourist due to the unique blending of tradition and modernity on
one side and of nature and man- made beauties on the other side. |
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