Good to know
Good to Know
- Carry a mix of cards and cash—cards work at chains and central venues, but cash is essential for markets, taxis, and smaller restaurants.
- If your card requires a PIN for payments over 100 lei (~22 USD), inform your bank before traveling or establish a PIN with your card issuer.
- Refuse dynamic currency conversion (DCC) at ATMs; always pay in RON to get better rates.
- Most card payment terminals in restaurants do not offer tipping—bring cash if you want to tip after paying by card.
- Contactless (NFC) payments are increasingly popular; many card terminals now support Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Bank ATMs (CEC, BT, UniCredit) are generally safer and cheaper than ATMs in tourist zones or convenience stores.
- Notify your bank you're traveling to Romania to avoid fraud blocks on your card.
- Over 80% of daily transactions in Romania are digital, but cash remains popular for tips and small local transactions.
Banking Services
- Debit Card
- Usually free with account opening; credit cards available with additional requirements.
- Online Banking
- Standard in Romania. Full digital and mobile app banking available.
- International Transfers
- Available but mark-up on mid-market rates is significant. SWIFT/wire transfer fees apply.
ATM Withdrawals
- Home Network
- Free from bank's own ATMs.
- Out Of Network
- RON 1.00
Recommended Banks
ING Bank
- Notes
- Excellent online banking platform, free debit card, affordable fees, large ATM network.
Banca Transilvania
- Notes
- National bank with good expat accessibility.
Raiffeisen Bank
- Notes
- Accessible to expats, no ATM withdrawal limits like other banks.
BCR (Banca Comerciala Romana)
- Notes
- Major commercial bank.
ATM Fees
- Key Strategy
- Always decline dynamic currency conversion (DCC) at ATM prompts—choose 'Decline/Without Conversion' or 'Charge in RON' to avoid markup fees
- Overview
- Varies significantly by ATM and card issuer; strategy is key.
- Fee Range Approximate
- 2.5–5% per transaction if DCC accepted; can reach 10%+ at tourist-zone ATMs (e.g., Bran area)
Best Practices
- Use ATMs operated by major Romanian banks (CEC, BT, UniCredit); often zero or minimal fees for debit card holders
- Avoid Euronet ATMs in tourist zones; known for high fees and poor rates
- Notify your home bank before traveling to avoid fraud blocks
- Use a travel debit card (e.g., Wise) to minimize foreign transaction fees
ATM Access
- Availability
- ATMs widely available in central Bucharest, though less common in remote areas
- Card Acceptance
- Visa (Plus), Mastercard (Cirrus/Maestro) widely accepted; American Express at select ATMs only
- Operating Hours
- Most 24/7; some inside bank branches open 9 am–3 pm only
- Daily Withdrawal Limit Law
- Maximum 10,000 RON (~2,150 EUR) per day under Romanian law
- Safety Notes
- Use ATMs inside banks or major shopping centers when possible; avoid convenience store or bar ATMs as they may be tampered with or charge high fees
Tipping Norms
Hotels
- Porter
- 5 lei per bag
- Concierge
- Up to 15 lei for assistance
- Reception
- 20–50 lei depending on helpfulness and service
- Housekeeping
- 5–10 lei per day or every other day
Restaurants
- Custom Percentage
- 10–15% for satisfactory service, optional but expected
- How To Tip
- Cash preferred; hand notes to waiter while saying 'mulțumesc' (thank you/thank you very much) to signal no change expected. Most card terminals do not offer tipping option.
- Cultural Note
- Service workers in Romania have low minimum wages and rely on tips; tipping is customary unless service was poor
- Service Charge Note
- Some restaurants include 'taxa de serviciu' (service fee) in bill; check before tipping again
Bars And Cafes
- Custom Percentage
- Round up bill or leave small tip per drink, 10% for craft cocktails/skilled baristas
- How To Tip
- Cash on counter or in tip jar; no tipping expected for self-service
Tours And Guides
- Custom Percentage
- 10–15% for good service; free tours typically receive 30–50 lei
- Cultural Note
- Tour guides are more likely to expect a tip than waiters
General Etiquette
- Currency
- Always tip in RON (local currency); tipping in foreign currency forces staff to exchange and lose money to commissions
- Denominations
- Use notes, not coins; coins are considered worth very little
- Context
- Tipping is optional if service falls short; it's acceptable to decline
Taxis And Rideshare
- Custom Practice
- Round up fare (e.g., 20 lei if fare is 18 lei) or tip 5–10 lei extra; not strictly expected but appreciated
- Rideshare Note
- Uber/Bolt offer in-app tipping (2, 3, or 5 lei options, or custom amount)
Card Acceptance
- Overview
- Cards are widely accepted in central Bucharest and major establishments, but cash remains essential for smaller vendors and public transport.
- Chip And Pin Requirement
- Many merchants accept only chip-and-pin cards. Contactless payments are increasingly common.
Acceptance By Venue Type
- Taxis
- Cash preferred
- Public Transport
- Cash only
- Hotels Restaurants Larger Stores
- Commonly accepted in touristy areas and Bucharest center
- Small Shops Markets Street Vendors
- Cash preferred; cards often not accepted
Major Card Types Accepted
- Visa
- Mastercard
Major Card Types Not Reliably Accepted
- American Express
- Discover
Cash Situations Where Needed
Cash Situations Where Needed
- Small shops, local markets, street food vendors
- Taxis and public transport
- Bars where you order at counter
- Any establishment in smaller towns or outside central areas
- Tipping (most payment terminals do not offer tipping option)
Romania has 37 commercial banks with approximately 6,500 branches nationwide. Opening a bank account as a non-resident is possible but requires in-person application.
Account Types
Standard accounts, credit accounts, and savings accounts. Multi-currency accounts available (RON, EUR, USD).
Account Opening
- Remote Opening
- Possible with some banks offering online applications, but limited for non-residents. Major banks like BRD typically require in-person presence.
- Difficulty Level
- Medium - requires bureaucracy, patience, and some language barriers.
- In Person Requirement
- Yes. Most banks require at least one in-person visit to verify identity and complete paperwork.
Minimum Deposit
Varies by bank. Most require an initial deposit to activate the account.
Required Documents
Required Documents
- Valid passport
- Proof of address (utility bill, rental agreement, or registration)
- Tax residency certificate (helpful)
- Employment contract (if applicable)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.atmfeesaver.com
- 2.monito.com
- 3.wise.com
- 4.finder.com
- 5.romaniatourism.com
- 6.mikegravel.org
- 7.wise.com
- 8.explore.atmfeesaver.com
- 9.bestpubcrawl.com
- 10.myromaniantrip.com
- 11.culturalatlas.sbs.com.au
- 12.chasingthedonkey.com
- 13.wise.com
- 14.romaniaexperience.com
- 15.investing.com
- 16.wise.com
- 17.investing.com
- 18.expatarrivals.com
- 19.expatarrivals.com
- 20.expatexchange.com
- 21.expatexchange.com
- 22.en.wikipedia.org
- 23.pacificprime.com
- 24.romaniaexpat.com
- 25.romaniaexpat.com
- 26.axaglobalhealthcare.com
- 27.expatexchange.com
- 28.wise.com
- 29.romanianlawoffice.com
- 30.b2bpay.co
- 31.wheretoemigrate.io
- 32.expat.com
- 33.romaniaexpat.com
- 34.xe.com
- 35.wise.com
- 36.wise.com
- 37.revolut.com
- 38.ron.currencyrate.today
- 39.forbes.com
More About Bucharest
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.