Currency & Payment
Exchange rates fluctuate daily. Check current rates locally.
Local Currency Overview
Currency type, banknotes, and coin denominations
Romania uses the Romanian leu (RON), plural lei, divided into 100 bani (singular ban). Romania has not adopted the euro, and many shops and services do not accept euro payments, so you will generally need lei for everyday spending. Notes and coins are in common use alongside widespread card payments.
- Currency
- Romanian leu (RON, lei)
- Subunit
- 100 bani
- Euro
- Not adopted
- The euro is not in use; most places do not accept it
- Carry some lei for small purchases and local services
Currency Exchange Tips
Best places and methods to exchange money
Exchange money at banks or reputable exchange offices (casa de schimb). Even where a sign shows zero commission, check the actual rate before handing over money and keep your receipt. Rates at airports and busy tourist spots are often less favourable. Compare the buy and sell rates so you know exactly how many lei you will receive.
- Where
- Banks / casa de schimb
- Watch
- Rate over "0% fee"
- Avoid
- Airport/tourist rates
- Check the rate and keep the receipt
- Airport and tourist-area exchange is usually poor value
Credit Card Acceptance
Card brand availability and usage tips
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Romania, and in cities card payment, including contactless, is common in most shops, restaurants and hotels. In rural areas, markets and small shops, cash is still useful. If a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency (dynamic currency conversion), decline it and choose to pay in RON for a better rate.
- Networks
- Visa/Mastercard
- Cities
- Cards & contactless common
- DCC
- Choose to pay in RON
- Carry some cash for rural areas, markets and small shops
- Decline home-currency conversion; pay in RON
ATM Usage
How to withdraw cash and associated fees
ATMs are plentiful in Romanian towns and cities. Using machines belonging to major banks is generally safer and often cheaper than independent or tourist-area ATMs, which may add fees or push unfavourable currency conversion. Always decline home-currency conversion to pay in RON, and be alert to card skimming, covering the keypad and checking the machine looks untampered.
- Best
- Bank-branded ATMs
- DCC
- Decline; pay in RON
- Security
- Watch for skimming
- Independent and tourist-area ATMs can be poor value
- Cover the keypad and check for skimming devices
Mobile & Digital Payments
Digital payment services available locally
Mobile payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used in Romania, especially in cities where contactless is the norm. If your card is added to your phone or watch, you can tap to pay at most modern terminals. It is still wise to carry a physical card as a backup and some cash for rural areas and small vendors.
- Apple Pay
- Widely used
- Google Pay
- Widely used
- Backup
- Card + some cash
- Contactless phone payment works at most modern terminals
- Keep a physical card and some cash as backup
Tipping Culture
Expected tipping amounts and etiquette
In restaurants, leaving around 10% is customary if you are happy with the service. Check whether a service charge is already included in the bill before adding more. Tips for taxis, cafes and hotel staff are appreciated but modest and discretionary. Tipping in cash is common, though you can sometimes add it to a card payment.
- Restaurants
- Around 10%
- Check
- Service charge included?
- Others
- Modest, discretionary
- Confirm whether service is included before tipping
- Cash tips are common; card tips are sometimes possible
Price Guide
Average costs for meals, transport, and accommodation
Prices in Romania are generally lower than in Western Europe, which makes it good value for many travellers. Bucharest and popular tourist areas tend to be more expensive than smaller towns and rural regions. As a rough idea, casual meals, public transport and mid-range accommodation are affordable, while imported goods and high-end venues cost more. Prices change over time, so treat these as a rough guide.
- Overall
- Cheaper than Western Europe
- Bucharest
- Higher than regions
- Value
- Food, transport, stays
- Casual meals and public transport are affordable
- Prices vary over time; use this only as a rough guide
Visitors who live outside the EU can often reclaim VAT (Tax Free shopping) on eligible goods taken home unused. There is usually a minimum purchase amount per shop, and you must ask for a Tax Free form at the time of purchase. When leaving the EU, get the form validated with a customs stamp or electronic confirmation, then claim your refund. Keep receipts and the goods accessible for inspection.
- Who
- Non-EU residents
- Minimum
- Per-shop threshold
- At exit
- Customs stamp / e-confirm
- Ask for a Tax Free form when you buy
- Validate at customs on leaving the EU to get your refund