Travel tips · Bucharest · Romania
Bucharest travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Madalin Pentelie, CC0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Romania is a Romance-language country with an Orthodox majority, and Bucharest mixes Latin warmth with Balkan and Central European habits. People are hospitable and direct, coffee and long lunches are a ritual, and many celebrate name days as well as birthdays.
Key facts
- Language
- Romanian
- Currency
- RON
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated and considered safe to drink, though many residents…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet with 'Bună ziua' in shops and offices; friends greet with a kiss on both cheeks.
- Dress modestly in churches and monasteries; women may cover their heads and should avoid shorts.
- Toast with 'Noroc' and look each person in the eye.
- In March, small mărțișor charms are given as spring tokens.
- Bring flowers in odd numbers when visiting a home; even numbers are for funerals.
- Book Palace of the Parliament ahead: Visits are by guided tour only; reserve a time slot in advance, especially in summer and for English-language tours.
- Book Romanian Athenaeum ahead: Popular concerts and the biennial George Enescu Festival sell out; book on the Philharmonic's site.
- Book Primăverii Palace ahead: Visits are by guided tour in small groups; reserve a slot ahead.
- Use the express bus or train from the airport rather than an unbooked taxi.
Tipping
Leaving about 10% in restaurants is customary for good service. Tell the server if you want change back, since saying 'mulțumesc' while handing over money can be taken to mean 'keep the change'.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bună ziua | Good day / hello |
| Mulțumesc | Thank you |
| Vă rog | Please |
| Noroc | Cheers |
| Nota, vă rog | The bill, please |
| La revedere | Goodbye |
What to wear
City-smart casual; Bucharest residents dress up for evenings out, and comfortable shoes help on the long boulevards.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is treated and considered safe to drink, though many residents prefer bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- EU roaming applies to European SIMs, mobile data is fast and inexpensive, and free Wi-Fi is common in cafés.
- Time zone
- Europe/Bucharest
Bucharest is generally relaxed for visitors, but watch for pickpockets on crowded buses and in the Old Town, and use ride-hailing apps or the airport taxi kiosks to avoid overcharging. Traffic is fast, so cross at lights.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Romania's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Bucharest?
Leaving about 10% in restaurants is customary for good service. Tell the server if you want change back, since saying 'mulțumesc' while handing over money can be taken to mean 'keep the change'.
+Can you drink the tap water in Bucharest?
Tap water is treated and considered safe to drink, though many residents prefer bottled water.
+What plugs are used in Bucharest?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Bucharest?
Romanian.