Summary

TRAVEL INSURANCE

The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly recommends that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance which will cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before travelling to Romania. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.

Irish Citizens should note that the Irish Government does not provide funds for emergency medical repatriation or for repatriation of remains.

Visitors to Romania are encouraged to register with the Irish Embassy in Bucharest here.

Romania is a friendly and welcoming country and the vast majority of visits to Romania are trouble-free.  Serious crime is generally rare in Romania and most crimes reported by visitors are non-violent. Visitors, however, are advised to take normal precautions, particularly at night, including to leave all valuables, passports, secured in a hotel safe; and not to carry significant amounts of cash. 

Visitors are required to carry photographic ID in Romania and a copy of your passport should suffice for this purpose.

Bucharest and other towns and cities are serviced by buses, trams and yellow taxis, which are cheap and very good value by western European standards. Bucharest also has an excellent and very cheap metro service which covers the key urban and tourist areas of the city Romania is serviced with an excellent network of intercity trains. Private mini-buses services also operate within and between cities and while they are cheap, can be crowded and drive at excessive speed. 

Driving regulations are not always heeded and caution should be exercised at all times by drivers.

SAFETY & SECURITY

Travellers may wish to heed the following advice on safety and security

• Emergency services in Romania are contactable by calling 112. The paramedic services are locally known by the acronym SMURD and an English language service is available to callers.
• Along with other European countries there is potential for Romania to experience international terrorism. 
• As would be expected in large urban areas, there have been reports of pickpockets and bag snatchers operating in crowded areas, particularly on buses, trams, trains and near exchange shops. Confidence scams are occasionally employed by thieves who have been known to approach visitors claiming to be the police and request their passport and wallet. If approached, do not hand over any documents or cash, but offer to go the nearest police station. 
• There have been some reports of credit and debit card details being ‘copied’ or ‘stolen’ and illegal charges being made to accounts. ATMs are generally safe, but the same precautions should be employed as when using ATMs in Ireland. 
• You are advised to seek medical advice on inoculations before travelling to Romania.  You should only drink bottled or filtered water. 
• Medical care in Romania is generally of a high standard, particularly among the emerging private health services providers. Travelers are strongly urged to take out comprehensive travel insurance prior to travel to maximize availability of medical treatment options.  The European Health Insurance Card will allow you access health services available to Romanian public patients.  
• In many Romanian cities there are a significant number of stray dogs. Although many do not usually pose a danger, it is strongly recommended to avoid contacts with them. Some may be infected with rabies and especially during winter time can be aggressive. Sparsely populated outskirts of big cities, industrial areas and construction zones, where dogs live, are particularly dangerous. In case of dog bite, an immediate medical assessment is required. In Bucharest Spitalul Colentina (phone #40 21 3174785) can be helpful. In other cities dial 112 and ask for the paramedic service (SMURD).
• Romanian Carpathian Mountains are famous for their wilderness and beauty. The biggest European bear population lives right here. Although wild animals (bears, wolves and others) try to avoid humans, some precautions are suggested. Before you enter a remote mountain trail it is recommended to contact the Romanian Mountain Rescue Service (Salvamont) and ask for conditions in a specific area. The general advice is to hike in groups and not alone in the mountains.

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

Visitors may wish to familiarise themselves with the local law and customs regarding:

• Currency
• Taxis
• Driving in Romania

Currency

• The local currency in Romania is the RON (Romanian New Leu), often called Leu (one) or Lei (plural). Obtaining RON prior to travel can be often difficult.
• However on arrival RON can be withdrawn from most ATMs for visitors with the appropriate banking facilities at hand (Maestro).
• Visitors are encouraged to check with their banks prior to travel.

Taxis

• It is common for taxis not to have seatbelts particularly in backseats and it is commonly reported that taxi drivers drive at excessive speed. Taxi prices are regulated and the price per km must be displayed on the passengers and driver’s door of the taxi. 
• All taxis are required to have a meter.  The meter will display two prices- the price per km and the price of the journey which should match the price on the doors.  Visitors are strongly urged not to use a taxi that does not display the price on the doors or does not have a meter.  There have been occasional reports where the price on the door has been modified to lure unsuspected customers into a higher priced taxi. 
• First time visitors have reported incidents of overcharging especially at airport and major train stations.  Some taxi drivers may offer a fixed price to the city centre which by Dublin standards may appear reasonable but would be significantly in excess of the normal fares in Romania.
• Visitors arriving at the airport are advised to decline any taxi offers in the arrivals area and make their way directly to the taxi rank.

Driving in Romania

• Visitors entering Romania by road should ensure that they have relevant insurance cover and be thoroughly familiar with local driving laws. Driving is not permitted without a proper driving license and car ownership documentation. The traffic police are known to apply “on the spot” penalties including the retention of driving licences for up to three months for infringements of traffic regulations.
• All vehicles must pay a general road toll (see http: //www.roviniete.ro/en) to use the national road. Upon payment, the “Roviniete” ticket should be prominently displayed on window screens. Failure to pay the road toll or to display the sticker may lead to a heavy fine. Tickets can be purchased at border points on entering the country or at post offices and at most petrol stations throughout Romania. 
• Drivers should ensure that vehicles are in good condition, and if driving in winter, that vehicles are prepared for extreme weather conditions including winter tires which are mandatory during winter months. 
• Romania has a motorway network and drivers should be aware that roads, including primary roads are often of poor standard, badly lit and with barely visible markings.  Driving standards are poor and Romania has one of the highest rates of road fatalities in EU. Attention should be paid, particularly at night and in rural areas, to pedestrians, cyclists, horse drawn carts and cars with poor or broken lights.  Once a pedestrian has stepped onto a zebra crossing, traffic is required to stop.  Particular care should be taken at night and in small towns as these crossings can be badly marked and can cross main roads. 
• There is a zero tolerance for drinking and driving and permitted blood/alcohol ratios are below those that apply in Ireland. 
• It’s recommended that drivers retain multiple copies of their driving licenses.

NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE

Bucharest and Romania is in a seismically active zone. Earthquakes are not uncommon and small tremors are recorded throughout the year without consequences. It is considered that major earthquakes occur about every 40 years and the last major earthquake causing fatalities was in 1977. The epicentre of the seismic activity is the Vrancea Region (approx 170 km north of Bucharest), however due to geologic conditions, architecture and density of population Bucharest is the city where the heaviest losses have been suffered in the past.

Further earthquake advice is available on the Embassy’s website. 

ADDITIONAL COUNTRY INFO

Irish nationals do not require a visa for visits to Romania.  However, if you intend to stay for longer than 90 days you should register with the Romanian Authority for Immigration http:aps.mai.gov.ro. 

DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR MISSIONS IN ROMANIA

If you are intending to stay in Romania for an extended period of time you are encouraged to register with the Irish Embassy in Bucharest.  Contact details for all Irish Missions in Romania are available here.  (Opens in new window)