1. Buy bottled water
Tap water in Romania isn’t the safest for consumption. Follow what the locals do and make sure to buy bottled water. After all, they don’t cost much; a big 1.5L bottle at a local supermarket will cost you a few cents only. This is one of the best tips when traveling to Romania.
2. Use public transportation or Uber to travel around the city
Romanians are heavily dependent on the country’s network of metro, trams, and buses as the public transportation system work pretty well, especially in the capital Bucharest, and cost next to nothing – for most travelers, that is. However, if you’re in a rush or would like a more convenient option, you can order an Uber and not feel guilty about it. They cost a little less than half of what you pay for Uber/Grab in Singapore, making it a rather cost-effective and very safe way to get around.
3. Take note that opening hours may not be accurate
Romanians are very laid-back people. An example to prove the same can be as, the opening hours on stores may not always be accurate as reflected online. Even the popular “touristy” spots like the iconic Carturesti Carusel (a gigantic bookstore and cafe) may close earlier than advertised. It can be closed an hour earlier if they didn’t have many customers on a rainy night.
There can be many other instances during the trip when shops would close early (or not open at all) for various reasons. It’s advised to visit the cafes or places before the closing time and after the opening hours to ensure that you get the most out of your trip there.
4. Google Maps works pretty well
One can rely heavily on Google Maps to get around the cities in Romania. The metro system is synced well with Google Maps in Bucharest so you can go about planning your metro routes with no trouble at all.
While one may not face any issues with finding landmarks, cafes, and hostels, but many travelers still face problems with Google Maps, the reason being the right location was not provided when they searched for the name of a place. Therefore, it is advised to put in the exact address, rather than the name of the place, to make sure that you’ll get to the right location.
5. Hostels are an excellent option; otherwise, try Airbnb
One main trending culture in Bucharest hostel culture and one can find many excellent and affordable hostels here. Some of the favorite hostels are in fact found in this city since they offer such great value for money like Podstel Bucharest and First Hostel Bucharest in Bucharest and Hostel PanGeea in Sibiu. On average, they cost US$6-15 for a night in a dorm room. This is one of the best tips when traveling to Romania.
6. Bring Euros/USD
Currency exchange rates in most of the Eastern European countries are fantastic, meaning there is almost no loss if you exchange your cash in Euros or USD. Even money changers located right smack in the town center can offer very decent exchange rates with no commission. You can’t get this in Western Europe!
7. You can feel safe to travel in Romania
Romania has a very low crime rate, plus some of the strictest gun laws in the world. Also, Romania is still not considered as a popular destination amongst tourists, so there are very few elaborate tourist scams. Still one must watch out for pickpockets, though they are not so common at all. Some even argue that perhaps the biggest safety concern for tourists is driving-related due to the locals’ disregard for driving laws. But still, it’s not a big issue for the tourists.
So these were some tips when traveling to Romania
Also checkout the best places to visit in Romania.
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