🇷🇴
Essential apps for
Romania
România
RomanianRON5 apps
Bucharest and Brasov are excellent value. Bolt, Uber, and FreeNow compete; Glovo dominates food.
🔌
Power & Plug
TypeC / F
Voltage230V
Freq50Hz
Standard European.
💬
Basic phrases
Romanian
- HelloBună ziuaBOO-nuh ZEE-wah
- Thank youMulțumescmool-tzoo-MESK
- Excuse me / SorryScuzați-măskoo-ZAHTS-muh
- YesDadah
- NoNunoo
+10 more below
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Tipping
Tipping ('bacșiș') of about 10% is standard and appreciated in restaurants, ideally left in cash. Round up for taxis and tip hairdressers and tour guides modestly.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
See all →B
Bolt
European rideshare with cheaper fares than Uber in many cities. Also offers scooters.
Main rideshare in Bucharest.
U
Uber
The most widely available rideshare service globally. Works in 70+ countries.
Available.
🗺️Navigation & Maps
See all →Phrases
All Romanian phrases
Hello
Bună ziua
BOO-nuh ZEE-wah
Thank you
Mulțumesc
mool-tzoo-MESK
Excuse me / Sorry
Scuzați-mă
skoo-ZAHTS-muh
Yes
Da
dah
No
Nu
noo
Please
Vă rog
vuh ROHG
Goodbye
La revedere
lah reh-veh-DEH-reh
How much?
Cât costă?
kuht KOS-tuh
Where is the bathroom?
Unde este toaleta?
OON-deh YES-teh twah-LEH-tah
The check, please
Nota, vă rog
NOH-tah vuh ROHG
I don't understand
Nu înțeleg
noo uhn-tzeh-LEG
Do you speak English?
Vorbiți engleză?
vor-BEETS en-GLEH-zuh
Help!
Ajutor!
ah-zhoo-TOR
Delicious
Delicios
deh-lee-CHOSS
Cheers
Noroc
noh-ROK
Briefing
What to know before you go
✓ Do
- Greet with a firm handshake and direct eye contact; close friends may kiss on both cheeks
- Remove your shoes when entering someone's home, where slippers are often offered
- Bring a gift (flowers, wine, or sweets) when invited to a home; give an odd number of flowers, as even numbers are for funerals
- Dress modestly when visiting Orthodox churches and cover shoulders and knees
- Use formal titles (Domnul/Doamna) with people you don't know well
- Accept offered food and drink as a sign of respect for hospitality
✕Don't
- Don't joke about or fixate on Dracula and vampires as if they define Romania
- Don't confuse Romanians with Roma (Gypsy) people; they are distinct, and conflating them causes offense
- Don't make light of the Communist era and the 1989 revolution
- Don't whistle indoors, which some consider bad luck
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Unlicensed or rigged taxis at Bucharest's airport and stations; use the apps or marked taxi terminals with posted rates
- ATM skimming and 'helpful' strangers near machines in tourist zones
- Fake police asking to inspect your wallet or passport for 'counterfeit money'
- Overpriced drinks or padded bills lured by attractive 'hostesses' in some bars
Going elsewhere?