(Last updated: 25 Mar 2011)

Visas

Australian visitors do not need a visa to enter Romania. From 1 January 2007, Australian citizens who enter Romania have the right to stay, within six months, for a period of three months from the date of first entry. If intending to stay for a longer period than three months, Australian citizens can lodge an application with the Romanian Embassy in Canberra for a long stay visa, which can be extended while in Romania.

Information on visas can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Embassy of Romania
4 Dalman Crescent
O'Malley ACT 2600, Australia
Tel: +61 26286 2343
Fax: +61 2 6286 2433

Climate

Romania has a typical continental climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Average temperatures in the capital, Bucharest, are above 23°C in July and –3°C in January, but these can fluctuate greatly. Further north in the country, winters are usually much colder and summer somewhat cooler.

Romania is subject to earthquakes. While serious earthquakes are rare, earth tremors are common.

For weather details in Romania, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.

Airports

The central business district is about 17km from Henri Coanda International airport. You can reach the central places in Bucharest by express line number 783, which leaves every 30 minutes. For these you need a magnetic card that can be bought from the aluminium kiosk outside the airport.

In Bucharest, major hotels provide scheduled shuttle bus service to and from the airport, as well as rent-a-car service.

Ground transport

It is wise to check transit times to and from your hotel as times can vary significantly depending on traffic, weather, time of day and visiting dignitaries.

Bucharest has cheap and plentiful public transport provided by underground, bus, and tram. Yellow taxis are also abundant but make sure prices are listed on the side of the vehicle and that the taxi bears a company name. There are frequent reports of foreign visitors being overcharged by taxi drivers. Taxis from the airport, train station and hotels are more inclined to take advantage of foreigners.

You can buy tickets for buses, trolleys and electric trams from the booths on the stops. Tickets should be punched immediately after you get on board. The cost for one way ticket is lei 1.3 and you must keep tickets throughout the journey and present them to ticket inspectors on request. You can also obtain tickets from main stations, where you can buy weekly and monthly cards.

For the subway you can choose either a card for two trips, a card valid for 10 trips or an unlimited number of trips in a month. The trains run from 5.00am to midnight (departure point). The express lines and the subway use magnetic cards.

If you come by car to Romania, bring your driving license, car papers and green card. International car hire companies operate in Romania.

Hotels

Austrade Bucharest obtains corporate rates and offers to book accommodation, subject to availability for Australian business people visiting the market. Major hotels accept both credit cards and traveller’s cheques, it is advisable that travellers bring along enough cash for their stay.

Clothing

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 in winter.

As summers become really hot in Bucharest and the southern part of Romania, clothes made out of natural fabric and in light colours are highly recommended.

Security and health

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Romania. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Romania is a relatively safe country for foreigners. However, pick–pocketing is a problem, as are some money exchanging schemes, which have become increasingly common. Some of the scams are rather sophisticated, involving individuals posing as policemen. The most common one is for a visitor to be accosted by someone offering to change money at a good rate. If you take out your wallet another person will appear claiming to be a police officer who will threaten to put you in jail for illegal money changing unless you give him some money.

Travellers are strongly urged to exchange money only at banks, hotels or at official exchange bureaus, including the many private ones, which often offer the best rates.

Mobile phones especially are popular targets for thieves, so keep them out of sight. Do not display your money or passport in public.

Beware of stray dogs as they are a major menace in the streets of Bucharest.

Health

For visitors from Australia no particular health precautions are recommended, but you should get full travel insurance before your arrival. You can find Western standard private medical clinics in Bucharest. Treatment can be expensive and up-front payment is often required. A list of hospitals which meet western standards and suitable physicians is available at Austrade Bucharest. In the case of serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to London or Vienna may be required. Medical evacuation costs could be considerable.

The telephone number for all of Romania's emergency services is 112. They have English speaking operators.

Emergency medical assistance is granted by the emergency rooms of the hospitals and general medical and dental services are available in state and private health units through the country.

Drinking bottled water is recommended.

Tipping

Normally a small tip for goods service (eg. accommodation, meals) is appreciated but is at the discretion of the client. Tip 10-15 per cent if you think the service merits it.

Tiime zones and time differences

Romania is nine hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time in winter and eight hours behind in summer.

To find out the current time in Bucharest, view the World Clock.

Dialling codes

Romania's country code is 40.

For calls to Romania from Australia dial: 0011 + 40 + area code + telephone number.

For calls from Romania to Australia dial: 00 + 61 + area code + telephone number.

For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.

Business hours

Public institutions start at 8.00am finishing at 4.00pm, while in private companies usual business hours are 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Banking hours are 9.00 to 6.00pm from Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays. Banks are closed on Sundays but there a lot of cash-dispensing ATMs accepting Visa, MasterCard, etc available.

Public holidays

January 1-2 – New Year
January 6 – Epiphany
April 5 – Orthodox Easter
May 1 – Labour Day
December 1 – Romanian National Day

Currency

Oanda currency converter

The domestic currency unit is the Leu (singular) or Lei (plural), fractional coin is the Ban (pl. Bani). Leu is available in: 1 leu, 5 lei, 10 lei, 50 lei, 100 lei, 500 lei banknotes. Ban is available in 1 ban, 5 bani, 10 bani, 50 bani coins. There are 100 Bani in a New Leu (RON)

Romania has redenominated its currency, moving from ROL to RON. 10,000 ROL = 1 RON. The new banknotes and coins are now in circulation. Most shops, restaurants and taxis now only show prices only in RON. Others may still show prices in both RON and ROL. This can be confusing for foreign visitors.

We recommend that you carry Euros in Romania. Australian Dollars and Sterling are not always easy to exchange for the local currency especially outside of Bucharest.

Electricity and water

Romania’s power supply is 220 volts, 50Hz. The round two-pin plugs are the most common.

Dining

Although international cuisine is available everywhere in classy restaurants, make sure that you enjoy the local dishes. Romanian cuisine is rich, tasty and substantial. Pork is a special favourite, but you will find good beef, veal, and chicken too.

Typical Romanian specialties include ‘ciorba’ (a sour soup), ‘tochitura moldoveneasca’ and ‘mititei’ (small grill sausages perfumed with aromatic herbs). Among fish dishes, one may like to try carp on the spit, a local specialty in the Danube Delta.

A range of excellent white and red Romanian wines of the famous vineyards of Murfatlar, Cotnari, Jidvei, Dealu Mare, Odobesti, Valea Calugareasca go with local and international dishes to perfection. Local brands of beer are excellent.

A good meal and drink in a decent restaurant can be bought for A$20-70.

Tourist attractions

Romania is an attractive cultural tourist destination and fit for winter sports, hiking, boating and activities of all kinds.

Beach holidays on the Black Sea Coast are at their best between June and September; at the other end of the scale, winter sports in the Carpathians are best practised from Christmas until March. Spring and autumn are perfect for touring vacations through the country while, Bucharest is at its best right through from spring to autumn, although not lacking charm in winter too. This is the time for the opera season, concerts, and Romanian cuisine in warm and welcoming restaurants.

Bucharest boasts the following attractions:

• The National Art Museum housed in the former Royal Palace (paintings, sculptures, tapestries, icons etc.)
• The Museum of the Bucharest City housed in the former Şutu Palace
• The Art Collections Museum (valuable private art collections)
• The Romanian Peasant Museum (including original popular costumes, icons, houseware)
• The Village Museum (a true-to-life Romania village with typical homesteads from all regions of the country).

Open Air Museums can be found in: Bucharest- the Village Museum, the Old Princely Court; Cluj-Napoca - the Ethnographic Museum; Sighetu Marmatiei (Maramures) - the local museum; Timisoara – Museum of the Green Woods; Constanta - Archaeology and History Museum.

Sibiu – the European Cultural Capital in 2007, Brasov, Peles Castle in Sinaia, Bran Castle and the Danube Delta are also attracting the visitors, being the major tourist destinations.