💰 Quick Context: The Romanian Leu
Romania uses the Romanian Leu (RON), with prices written as "lei" (the plural form). A coffee costs 10–15 lei, a restaurant meal 40–80 lei, and a hotel night 250–600 lei. Quick math: divide by 5 for a rough USD estimate (e.g., 100 lei ≈ US$20). Check the current RON/USD rate before your trip. Cities like Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca are increasingly card-friendly, but cash is still essential in smaller towns and rural areas.
🎧 Order Romanian Leu Before You Fly
Have cash in hand when you land. Insured delivery, 2–5 day shipping.
Order RON → CEI Currency ExchangeCash vs. Card: What to Expect in Romania
Romania has a growing card payment infrastructure, especially in larger cities. However, the country still leans more toward cash than most of Western Europe. Having lei on hand is important for day-to-day transactions outside major urban centres.
Cards in cities: Contactless payments work at most restaurants, supermarkets, shopping malls, and chain stores in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Brașov. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted
Cash in rural areas: Smaller towns, villages, local markets, rural guesthouses (pensiuni), and many taxi drivers still operate on cash only. Always have lei before heading outside major cities
How much to carry: Keep 200–400 lei in cash as a working balance. Small notes (5, 10, 50 lei) are most practical since vendors may struggle with 200 or 500 lei notes
No euro zone: Romania is not in the eurozone. Some tourist-facing businesses may accept euros, but at poor rates. Always pay in lei for the best value
How to Get Lei for Your Romania Trip
Romania uses the Romanian leu and is reasonably card-friendly in its cities. Bucharest's Old Town and Centrul Vechi restaurants, every Mega Image and Carrefour, the metro turnstiles, and most chain stores take Visa and Mastercard contactless. Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, Sibiu, and Timișoara are similarly card-friendly. Cash still helps at the &Pacute;iața Obor and Piața Floreasca markets in Bucharest, traditional country guesthouses on the Transfăgărașan or in Maramureș, smaller monastery donation boxes in Bucovina, and most Roma village stops. Romania is also dense with Euronet ATMs near tourist hotspots, so be careful which machine you choose. Two cheap routes for getting lei: pre-order before takeoff or pull from a Banca Transilvania or BCR ATM after landing.
Order lei before you fly
For pre-arrival RON, two paths. A currency-exchange service like CEI Currency Exchange may stock Romanian lei on request, with insured 2–5 day delivery. Your home bank can also order RON (Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi may stock it depending on the branch); allow 5–10 business days. Romania does not have a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner. Backup that works in Romania: pack EUR cash and exchange at a Bucharest licensed exchange office on landing — Bucharest's Lipscani-area exchanges offer some of Eastern Europe's tighter EUR-to-RON spreads. The cleanest setup for most Romania trips: a Wise card for hotel and city restaurant card payments, plus a CEI envelope of lei (or EUR cash to swap on landing) for monastery donations, country B&Bs, and pița market runs.
Withdraw from a Romanian bank ATM
On the ground, the cheapest source of lei is a major Romanian bank ATM. Banca Transilvania, Banca Comercială Română (BCR), BRD Société Générale, Raiffeisen Bank Romania, and UniCredit Bank Romania all give the actual interbank rate with no markup, and most don't add an operator fee on foreign cards. Withdrawal limits run roughly 2,000–4,000 RON per transaction. Bank ATMs cluster around Bucharest's Lipscani Old Town, around Piața Universității, in the Cluj-Napoca center, and at OTP (Bucharest Henri Coandă) airport arrivals. The Romania-specific gotcha: Euronet machines are dense in Bucharest's Lipscani tourist core, around Piața Sfatului in Brașov, and in Sibiu's Old Town. If a machine doesn't carry one of the five Romanian bank logos, walk to the next corner. Decline DCC every time the screen offers "charge in USD" or "in EUR". See the Best ATMs section below for the bank-by-bank lineup. Want to know what a Banca Transilvania withdrawal will actually cost on your card? Drop it into our ATM fee calculator.
Currency-exchange booths & Euronet ATMs
Three traps to walk past in Romania. The casa de schimb booths along Calea Victoriei in Bucharest, around Piața Sfatului in Brașov, and in tourist hotspots in Sibiu, Sighișoara, and Bran (the Dracula Castle area) advertise "0% comisioane" on sandwich boards but bake 8–20% spreads straight into the rate. Stick to bank counters or licensed exchange offices in non-tourist areas. Second, the Travelex and OneXchange counters at OTP (Bucharest) and CLJ (Cluj-Napoca) routinely run 8–15% off the interbank rate. Third, Euronet ATMs throughout the Bucharest Old Town, Brașov, and Sibiu tourist hubs layer DCC and operator fees on top of an inflated exchange rate. Stick to bank-branded ATMs at Banca Transilvania, BCR, BRD, Raiffeisen, or UniCredit, decline DCC, and pay lei not EUR wherever a price is quoted in RON. Romania does not yet have a city-specific guide on this site, but the Best ATMs section below covers the bank lineup.
For a side-by-side comparison of every method (bank wire, travel card, pre-order, ATM, exchange counter) including USD-to-RON timing tips, see our complete Getting Currency guide →.
Best ATMs to Use in Romania
Romania's major banks operate ATMs (called "bancomat") throughout the country. These machines typically do not charge an operator fee for foreign card withdrawals, though your home bank may charge its own foreign transaction fee. Always choose RON when prompted.
Banca Transilvania
Romania's largest bank by assets, with the most extensive ATM network in the country. Found in virtually every city and town. Reliable machines with English-language options.
Recommended
BRD (Groupe Société Générale)
One of Romania's top banks, part of the French Société Générale group. Wide ATM coverage in cities and towns. Straightforward interface with clear currency selection.
Recommended
BCR (Banca Comercială Română)
Part of the Austrian Erste Group. Strong ATM presence across Romania, including airports and train stations. No operator fee for foreign cards.
Recommended
Raiffeisen Bank Romania
Austrian-owned bank with a solid ATM network in Romanian cities and larger towns. English-language ATM menus and no operator surcharge for international cards.
Recommended⚠ Watch Out for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
When an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in USD or EUR instead of RON, always decline. Choosing your home currency means accepting a 3–7% markup hidden in their exchange rate. Euronet machines are especially aggressive with DCC prompts. Always select "RON" or "local currency" at every prompt.
ATMs to Avoid in Romania
Independent ATMs, especially those operated by Euronet, are common at airports, train stations, and tourist hotspots in Romania. These machines charge higher fees and aggressively push DCC. Stick to the four major bank ATMs listed above.
Euronet
Very common near Bucharest's Old Town (Centrul Vechi), at Henri Coandă Airport, Bucharest Nord station, and near Brașov's Council Square. Charges high operator fees and pushes DCC with multiple confusing prompts designed to trick you into accepting a poor exchange rate. Walk past and find a bank ATM instead.
AvoidStandalone ATMs
Unbranded or off-brand machines found in convenience stores, hotels, and tourist shops. These typically charge a flat fee plus poor exchange rates and DCC markups.
AvoidPaying by Card in Romania
Card Networks
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most businesses in cities, including restaurants, supermarkets, petrol stations, and shops
American Express has limited acceptance in Romania. Only larger international hotels and some upscale restaurants take it. Do not rely on Amex here
Discover is rarely accepted in Romania. Not recommended as a travel card
Contactless & Mobile Payments
Tap-to-pay is now standard at most modern terminals in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, and Brașov. Transactions under 100 lei typically require no PIN
Apple Pay and Google Pay work at most contactless terminals in urban areas. Adoption is strong in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and other major cities
Chip and PIN: If contactless is not available, chip and PIN is the standard method. Magnetic stripe-only cards may not work
Where Cards May Not Work
Rural areas and villages: Many small shops, guesthouses, and local restaurants outside cities only accept cash
Markets and street vendors: Traditional markets (piața) are almost always cash-only
Taxis: Some taxi drivers only take cash, especially outside Bucharest. Ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber accept card payments
Small cafes and bakeries: Many neighborhood spots in smaller cities still prefer cash
Tipping in Romania
Tipping Guide
Restaurants: 5–10% is customary if service is not included in the bill. Check whether "serviciu" is already added. In casual spots, rounding up the bill is common
Cafés and bars: Rounding up or leaving small change is appreciated but not mandatory
Taxis: Round up to the nearest 5 or 10 lei. For example, if the fare is 27 lei, pay 30
Hotels: 5–10 lei per bag for porters. Housekeeping tips are not expected but appreciated (5–10 lei per day)
Tour guides: 20–50 lei for a half-day tour is generous. Tips are welcomed but not required
Spas and salons: 10% of the service cost is a common tip
Cash Culture & Exchange Offices
Things to Know
Exchange offices (casa de schimb): Found throughout Romanian cities. Rates vary widely, so compare before exchanging. City-centre offices near tourist attractions tend to offer worse rates than those slightly off the main streets
Avoid airport exchange: Exchange rates at Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport are significantly worse than in the city. Use a bank ATM at the airport instead
Rural Romania is cash-heavy: If you are visiting Maramureș, the Danube Delta, or small Transylvanian villages, withdraw enough lei before leaving the nearest city. ATMs may be scarce or nonexistent in remote areas
Denominations: Romanian lei come in polymer banknotes (1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 lei). Coins are called "bani" (100 bani = 1 leu). The 500 lei note is difficult to break at small shops
Paying in euros: While some hotels and tourist services quote prices in euros, you will almost always get a better deal paying in lei. Avoid informal euro-to-lei exchanges on the street
Money Safety in Romania
Staying Safe
Use ATMs inside bank branches or shopping centres rather than street-facing machines, especially at night
Watch for skimming: Check ATMs for loose card slots or unusual attachments before inserting your card. Bank-branch ATMs are the safest
Carry a second card on a different network. Romania has had occasional Euronet skimming issues, so if your primary card gets compromised, a backup from a different bank keeps you covered in Bucharest and Transylvania.
Romania is a common EU travel destination, so most banks process transactions smoothly. Smaller banks and credit unions may still flag Eastern European purchases, so alert them if unsure.
Banca Transilvania ATMs dispense up to 3,000 RON per transaction (about $650), so one or two withdrawals cover a full week of sightseeing in Romania.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Romania use the euro?
No. Romania uses the Romanian Leu (RON). While Romania is in the EU, it has not adopted the euro. Some tourist-facing businesses may accept euros at a poor rate, but you should always pay in lei. Withdraw RON from Banca Transilvania, BRD, or BCR ATMs.
Should I avoid Euronet ATMs in Romania?
Yes. Euronet ATMs are common near Bucharest's Old Town, at Henri Coandă Airport, and near train stations. They charge higher operator fees and aggressively push DCC with confusing multi-screen prompts. Walk past them and use a Banca Transilvania, BRD, BCR, or Raiffeisen ATM instead.
Do I need cash in Romania?
In cities like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Brașov, cards work at most restaurants, shops, and supermarkets. Cash is essential for rural guesthouses (pensiuni), traditional markets (piața), many taxi drivers, and small shops in villages. Carry 200–400 lei as a working balance, especially if heading to Maramureș, the Danube Delta, or rural Transylvania.
Is tipping expected in Romania?
At restaurants, 5–10% is customary if no service charge ("serviciu") is included. Rounding up is common at casual spots. Taxi drivers appreciate rounding up to the nearest 5 or 10 lei. Hotel porters receive 5–10 lei per bag. Tour guides receive 20–50 lei for half-day tours.
Are exchange offices (casa de schimb) a good deal?
It depends on location. City-centre offices away from major tourist attractions offer reasonable rates. Avoid those at airports (significantly worse rates) and near Bucharest's Old Town. Always compare the posted rate to Google before exchanging, and check both the buy and sell rates for the spread.
Will I find ATMs in rural Transylvania and Maramureș?
Major towns like Sighișoara, Sibiu, and Baia Mare have bank ATMs. But smaller villages, the Danube Delta, and remote parts of Maramureș may have no ATMs at all. Withdraw enough lei in the nearest city before heading to rural areas. Banca Transilvania has the widest reach in smaller towns.
Skip the Foreign Transaction Fees
The Wise card converts your money at the real mid-market exchange rate. No markups, no surprises. Spend Romanian lei like a local.
Get the Wise Card →Quick Comparison
| Method | Cost | Convenience | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-FX-fee card (contactless) | Best (no fees, mid-market rate) | ★★★★★ | City spending (restaurants, shops, transport) |
| Romanian bank ATMs (BT, BRD, BCR, etc.) | Low (no operator fee, fair rate) | ★★★★★ | Getting cash for rural areas and markets |
| Euronet / independent ATMs | High (fees + poor rates + DCC) | ★★★☆☆ | Never recommended |
| Airport exchange counters | High (5–12% markup) | ★★☆☆☆ | Absolute emergency only |
Romania Quick Facts
| Currency | Romanian Leu (RON / lei). Divide by 5 for rough USD estimate |
| Cash vs. Card | Cards work in cities. Cash essential in rural areas. Carry 200–400 lei |
| Best ATMs | Banca Transilvania, BRD, BCR, Raiffeisen Bank |
| Contactless Limit | 100 lei without PIN |
| Card Acceptance | Good in cities. Limited in rural areas. Visa/Mastercard preferred |
| Tipping | 5–10% at restaurants if service not included. Round up for taxis |
| DCC Risk | High, especially at Euronet ATMs. Always choose RON |
| Best Strategy | No-FX-fee card in cities. Bank ATM cash for rural areas and markets |