Romania operates as a European Union member state outside the Eurozone. The national currency is the Romanian leu (plural lei), abbreviated RON and denoted by the symbol "lei" or sometimes "L". The leu divides into 100 bani. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 lei. Coins exist in denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 50 bani. The 1 leu coin also exists but has become uncommon in everyday transactions. As of data available through late 2024, exchange rates typically fluctuate between 4.5 and 5.0 RON per euro and between 4.2 and 4.8 RON per United States dollar, though these figures vary based on market conditions. The National Bank of Romania publishes daily reference rates on its website.
Cash remains widely used throughout Romania, particularly outside major urban centers. ATMs operate throughout Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași, Brașov, Sibiu, Constanța, and other cities with population centers above 100,000. Most ATMs display instructions in Romanian, English, and frequently German or French. Machines accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus networks reliably. American Express and Discover cards function less consistently. Withdrawal limits typically range from 1,000 to 2,000 lei per transaction, with daily limits between 2,000 and 5,000 lei depending on the issuing bank. International transaction fees vary by your home institution—Romanian ATMs generally do not impose additional charges beyond network fees, though commercial bank machines may add 1-2% conversion surcharges. State-owned CEC Bank and Banca Transilvania operate the most extensive ATM networks nationally.
Credit and debit cards see broad acceptance in cities and tourist areas but limited penetration in rural zones. Restaurants, hotels, and retail shops in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, Sibiu, and Timișoara accept contactless payments routinely. Markets, small family guesthouses, rural bus stations, monastery admission booths, and vendors near natural sites like the Danube Delta or Apuseni Natural Park typically operate cash-only. The European contactless payment limit applied in Romania was 150 lei as of 2024, though individual merchants may set lower thresholds. Chip-and-PIN remains standard—signature-based cards may be declined. Some establishments add a 1-2% surcharge for card payments, though this practice violates EU regulations and occurs less frequently than in previous years.
Currency exchange services operate through banks, authorized exchange offices, and hotels. Exchange offices concentrate along Calea Victoriei and near Piața Unirii in Bucharest, along Strada Republicii in Brașov, around Piața Mare in Sibiu, and near central squares in other regional cities. Banks typically offer better rates than exchange offices, which offer better rates than hotels. Commission structures vary—some locations advertise zero commission but embed profit in unfavorable exchange rates, while others charge 1-3% commission on transparent rates. Exchange offices must display buying and selling rates prominently under Romanian law. Banks require identification for amounts above 1,000 euros or equivalent. Licensed exchange offices operate under National Bank of Romania authorization and display license numbers visibly. Airport exchange services at Henri Coandă International Airport in Bucharest provide convenience at rates approximately 5-10% less favorable than city-center banks. Exchanging currency at hotels generally yields the least favorable rates, often 10-15% below interbank rates.
Romania does not impose capital controls on amounts entering or leaving the country for EU citizens. Non-EU visitors must declare cash amounts exceeding 10,000 euros or equivalent when entering or exiting Romania, consistent with EU-wide regulations. This declaration applies to combined holdings of all currencies, traveler's checks, and bearer instruments. Failure to declare can result in confiscation and penalties between 10% and 50% of the undeclared amount.
Mobile payment systems have expanded rapidly in Romania since 2020. Google Pay and Apple Pay function wherever contactless payment terminals exist. Romanian banking applications—particularly those from Banca Transilvania, ING Bank Romania, Raiffeisen Bank Romania, and BCR (Banca Comercială Română)—enable QR code payments at participating merchants. Revolut holds a Romanian banking license and operates extensively among younger residents and tourists. The immediate payment system PayByLink functions through local banks but requires a Romanian bank account. Cash transfer services Western Union and MoneyGram maintain agent locations in post offices and authorized shops throughout the country.
Internet connectivity in Romania ranks among the fastest in Europe. According to data published by Ookla and the European Commission through 2024, Romania consistently places within the top five EU member states for average broadband speed. Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara regularly record average download speeds exceeding 200 Mbps on fixed connections. This infrastructure stems from late adoption—Romania built fiber-optic networks directly in the early 2000s rather than upgrading from copper, avoiding legacy infrastructure constraints that slowed other European nations. Urban apartment blocks frequently feature building-level fiber distribution installed by providers like Digi, UPC Romania, and Telekom Romania.
Public Wi-Fi exists extensively in Romanian cities. Shopping centers, restaurants, cafés, museums, and public squares in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, Sibiu, Timișoara, and Iași provide free wireless access, typically requiring no password or a password displayed at the location. The Village Museum in Bucharest, Palace of Culture in Iași, and ASTRA Museum Complex near Sibiu all offer visitor Wi-Fi. Speed and reliability vary—cafés and coworking spaces generally provide superior connectivity to municipal networks. Bucharest metro stations began installing Wi-Fi in 2017, with coverage now extending across all four lines operated by Metrorex, though connection quality varies by depth and station age. Train stations in major cities provide Wi-Fi in waiting areas. Coverage remains sparse at natural sites—the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, Retezat National Park, and remote areas of the Apuseni Natural Park generally lack cellular coverage, making Wi-Fi unavailable.
Mobile network coverage in Romania operates on three primary carriers: Orange Romania, Vodafone Romania, and Telekom Romania. All three provide 4G LTE service covering approximately 95% of the population and 80% of the territory according to data from Autoritatea Națională pentru Administrare și Reglementare în Comunicații (ANCOM), the national telecommunications regulator. 5G networks launched in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași, and Constanța in 2019-2020, with coverage expanding to other regional capitals through 2024. Rural coverage diminishes significantly in mountainous areas—the Carpathian Mountains, particularly the Făgăraș and Rodna ranges, have extensive zones without mobile service. Visitors hiking in Piatra Craiului National Park, Ceahlău National Park, or along routes in the Bucegi Natural Park should not rely on mobile connectivity for navigation or emergency communication.
Romania eliminated roaming charges for EU citizens in June 2017 under EU regulations. Travelers from EU member states use their domestic plans at home rates for calls, texts, and data while in Romania. This regulation includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the European Economic Area. United Kingdom networks continued honoring roaming-free access through most providers as of 2024, though individual carriers may have modified terms following Brexit—verification with your specific UK provider is necessary.
Tourist SIM cards and prepaid plans offer economical options for non-EU visitors. Orange, Vodafone, and Telekom sell prepaid SIMs at branded stores, authorized resellers, and newsstands throughout cities. Prices for prepaid packages with 10-20 GB data typically range from 25 to 50 lei. Activation requires presenting a passport or EU identity card under Romanian telecommunications law implemented in 2022. SIM cards use standard, micro, and nano formats—most providers stock tri-cut SIMs fitting all sizes. Top-up vouchers sell at supermarkets, gas stations, and dedicated top-up kiosks. Networks operate on GSM 900/1800 MHz for 2G, UMTS 900/2100 MHz for 3G, and LTE bands 3, 7, 20, and 28 for 4G—North American devices should verify band compatibility, though most modern smartphones support these frequencies.