USEFUL INFORMATION FOR A TRAVEL TO ROMANIA ROMANIA

Travel Documents: A valid passport is required for all international visitors except for citizens of the countries of the European Union who can enter Romania with their Identity Card (for stays up to 90 days). American and Canadian citizens as well as citizens of Australia, New Zealand and most European countries do not need an entry visa to visit Romania (for stays up to 90 days). No vaccinations are required.  Health: The public medical facilities are sometimes poor. Some hospitals in Bucharest (the Emergency Clinic, the University Hospital in Bucharest and military) are equipped and treatment is accurate. The private, used mainly by foreigners, are not expensive and are efficient.  Free emergency treatment is available to visitors from the European Union and several countries with which Romania has signed international agreements. EU nationals are required to produce a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you are not a national of any of the countries above, you will need to make your own arrangements and you are strongly advised to obtain a suitable medical insurance cover before you leave home.

Telephones: Country Dialing Code 0040.

Most public telephones require the use of a calling/ telephone card.  

Mobile Telephones: The country is well covered with GSM 900/1800 mobile phone networks.

Mobile Telephone Companies: Orange, Vodafone, Cosmote, Zapp and RCS&RDS.

Internet: Internet is widely available in the cities and larger towns. A number of Internet retail outlets and cyber-cafes in almost every town offer convenient Internet access. An increasing number of hotels offer data ports with high-speed modem connections for guests to access the Internet and retrieve e-mail in their rooms.

Money and Banks: Romania's currency is Leu (plural "Lei"). Banknote denominations: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 lei Coins: 1, 5, 10 and 50 bani pieces. 1 leu = 100 bani

Foreign currencies may be exchanged at banks or authorized exchange offices (called: "casa de schimb" or "birou de schimb valutar").  

ATM machines are available at main banks and at airports and shopping centres.

Major credit cards including American Express, Mastercard and Visa are accepted in large hotels, car rental companies and stores in the main cities.

Travelers' Checks, preferably in US dollars or Euros, can be cashed in large banks, some hotels and selected exchange offices but most of them charge considerable commissions.  

Banking Hours: Banks are open from 9 am-1 pm from Monday till Friday.

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 V; 50 cycles. Outlets take plugs with two round prongs. A plug & power adapter is necessary for most appliances requiring 110 V.  

Shopping hours: Normal shopping hours are 9.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Typical Products: The wood is the main construction material and wood carving is a typical of Transylvania. The pottery and weaving are developed in the countryside, famous are the carpets of Maramures. Among the local beverage wines, brandy plum and apple juice. Special purchases include embroideries, ceramics, pottery, porcelain, crystal, glassware, silverware, carpets, rugs, fabrics, wool jumpers, woodcarvings, glass paintings.

Cuisine: The main characteristic of the Romanian cuisine is its great variety, the main ingredients used by Romanian chefs are meats such as pork, beef and lamb, fish, vegetables, dairy products and fruit. Romanian cuisine is influenced from Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Turkish cuisine, it loves spices and bittersweet, as the vegetable soup called Ciorbă (with carrots and potatoes and veal, lamb or turkey). The pork, sheepskin, veal or chicken cooked grilled on the wood fire, is of the highest quality. Another specialty is the Mămăliga a mess corn resembling polenta served with a sheep's cheese or a tochitură (chicken liver and pork meat balls). The Mititei are small roasted sausages, flavored with garlic and flavored. The Sarmale, are meat balls wrapped in grape leaves or cabbage and served with cream and tomatoes. The Plăcinta is a salt puff-pastry (with meat, cheese and herbs) or sweet, inspired by Ottoman. The Cozonac are brioches with raisins. ROMANIAN CUISINE RECIPES.