Romania is known for it’s thick mountainous forests, Transylvania, Dracula and beautiful medieval towns. And Bucharest Romania is home to the giant communist Palace of the Parliament. Here are some tips to make your arrival in Bucharest Romania just that little bit easier.
Tips for Arriving in Bucharest Romania
These are tips we learnt on our first trip to Bucharest Romania. Each of these will help you settle in just that little bit quicker.
Buying a SIM Card
Buy a SIM card at the airport upon arrival. Look for a little magazine stand on the left just as you walk through the large double doors from baggage claim into the arrivals area. They sell Orange SIM cards, and if you talk to the vendor nicely they should activate the SIM card for you.
Orange is the biggest provider in the country, and the best SIM card to get if you want great coverage at a good price. A good idea is to download the Romania SIM card wiki before you arrive. This provides all the information you will ever need regarding re-charge and activation numbers.
Activating your SIM Card
It’s easy to buy load for your new SIM card at roadside newspaper stands. You can just buy for example a 50 Romanian Lei package, and the seller will be happy to load it for you. But your new Orange SIM card should come loaded with Internet and phone calls. In other words, there is no need to recharge.
With the Orange SIM card you need to make sure you activate it by turning your phone off and on again. Then you must use a special activation code 0000. Fail to do this off/on step and you won’t be permitted to make a phone call, even if the SIM card contains a healthy balance.
Using Romanian Currency
The currency used in Romania is Romanian Lei, or RON for short. It’s a good idea to get some Lei at the airport ATM’s as you arrive, inside the arrivals hall. It’s also a good idea to know the exchange rate before you arrive. For instance, for us Aussies it’s roughly 3 Lei to 1 Australian dollar.
Now that you know the exchange rate, calculate how much Romanian Lei to withdraw from the ATM… in advance. That will save you the trouble of having to do the calculation whilst you’re standing at the ATM machine. 1,000 Lei should get you up and running.
Paying in Euros
If you want to pay in Euros then Romanians will sometimes accept it. But not always. Often prices will be advertised in Euros, however you should always pay in Romanian Lei. So make sure you have some local currency on hand.
Keep in mind you are unlikely to get an attractive exchange rate if you pay in Euros, they will just round up to a convenient number. Make sure you have notes and not coins. Apparently coins are difficult for vendors to exchange into Romanian Lei.
Airport Transfer using Mozio.com
It’s a good idea to pre-arrange an airport transfer before you arrive. Especially if you’ve had a long flight and can’t be bothered with the hassle of finding a taxi. Pre-arranged transfer is the ‘no fuss’ way of getting a transfer, not having to worry about finding a ride when you arrive. But it will cost a little more.
A great website is mozio.com, where you can arrange a transfer from the airport into the city center for around €25. The driver will be waiting in the arrivals area with your name on a board, you just have to find him and you’re off.
Taking a Taxi from Otepeni Airport
Ubers and Taxis of course cost much cheaper than Mozio.com at about €8 into the Old City. However Uber is difficult until you have an active SIM card. Taxis are an easier proposition at the airport. These can easily be arranged using the yellow console in the arrivals area.
Like anywhere, just make sure your taxi turns on the meter so you don’t get ripped off into paying some exorbitant price. Yes shonky taxi drivers exist all over the world, and they sometimes pray on unsuspecting arrivals… like you.
Taking an Uber from Otepeni Airport
Another convenient option at the airport is Uber. Taking an Uber in Bucharest from the airport to the city is about the same as a taxi, around €8.
Uber is a great option, because if you have Uber set up with a credit card on your smartphone, then there’s no cash involved in the transaction with the driver. This saves you the requirement to have local cash on hand for your first day arrival.
.@Uber has just launched their fully electric service #UberGREEN in Bucharest with 20 #ZOE! More information: https://t.co/7TBUqGN6wm
— Renault ZE (@RenaultZE) March 5, 2018
The downside is that you need to have your SIM card activated to use Uber. It all depends if you feel like waiting at the airport long enough to install and activate a SIM card, or if you have roaming options from another country.
English Speaking in Bucharest
English-speaking locals are very common in Bucharest Romania. And overall I have to say the standard of English is very high, in comparison to other countries I’ve been. No need to half guess what the locals are saying, the locals very easy to understand and converse with.
Of course it’s nice to know you’re pleases and thank you‘s in the local language. But you can easily get by knowing zero Romanian and speaking only English.
Dining in Bucharest Old City
Our airport transfer driver told us that there are 240 restaurants in the Old City area of Bucharest. The main area covers just a few blocks and it’s easy to walk from one side to the other.
That means you can’t go wrong going to Bucharest Old City for a meal, especially in the evening when all the tables and chairs are out on the pedestrian only streets, weather permitting.
Getting Around Bucharest
Uber is available in Bucharest. We stayed in the old city center in an apartment, and used Uber as our main mode of transport, many times.
Most of our rides were only 5 to 10 minutes in duration, because the main tourist areas in Bucharest Romania are quite compact. The thing that I found funny was that every single Uber ride cost us exactly 10 Romanian Lei. This is remarkably cheap, only about $3.
Bucharest Old City Walking Tour
Make sure you allow a couple of hours for a walking tour in the Bucharest Old City Center. There are so many historical sites jam packed into a small area. And there are loads of tourist maps in the area by way of street signage, so you will never get lost. Unless you want to get lost. Getting lost in the Old City is actually fun.
You don’t really need to research before you go, just look at the signs and simply wander around. The whole area is made up of pedestrian streets, so walking around is simple. This is the tourist hot-spot in Bucharest.
Power Outlets in Romania
Romania uses the standard European power plug. You know, 2 round prongs and 210-230 Volts. Just make sure you bring an adaptor or two with you. Although Romania is generally a cheap place to purchase goods, I found the price of power adaptors ridiculously expensive.
That is to say, the cheapest adaptor I saw worked out at around $20, and they’re not particularly easy to find. Better off to come prepared.
Tipping in Bucharest Romania
I always like to research the local tipping customs. Otherwise that first tip is usually AWKWARD, not knowing the normal rate to tip. Here’s a rough guide.
- Taxi Drivers: round the fare up, or 4-5 Lei
- Hotel Staff: 5-10 Lei for a maid or porter, per day
- Waiters: 5-10 % of the bill
- Restaurant food: 10-12% of the total
- Tour Guides: 10-20 Lei per day
Bucharest is Safe and Fun
Overall Bucharest Romania might not be the most picturesque city in Europe. But that’s part of the charm. The people are friendly and open hearted. The city is safe to walk around day and night. The Old City is bursting with atmosphere. Open your heart to Bucharest Romania, and have some fun.
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