About Romania
In Romania, you can visit majestic castles, medieval cities, as well as get the opportunity to travel on foot and enjoy the wonderful untouched nature. For those who love winter holidays, there is an opportunity to improve your health and go skiing at an affordable price. Since the country has only recently begun to gain popularity among tourists, here you can have a great and inexpensive vacation. Romania strives to join the union of European countries, therefore it offers its guests excellent conditions and service.
Geography of Romania
According to Extrareference, the country is located in the basin of the lower reaches of the Danube River, in the southeastern part of Europe. It borders Ukraine, as well as Moldova, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. The eastern part of the country is washed by the waters of the Black Sea.
Capital
Bucharest
Area
The area of the country is 237.5 thousand km².
Population
About 22.6 million people live on the territory of Romania.
Currency
The official currency is the Romanian leu (RON).
Language
Romanian is the official language of Romania.
Visa
Visa is issued at the consulate
Weather in Romania
Romania has a continental climate characterized by cold winters and hot summers. Summer is characterized by heavy rainfall. In January, the average temperature in the capital is -3° C, and in July it is +23° C. In the mountainous regions, the climate is much milder: winters are more snowy and cold, and summers are cooler in the upper part of the Transylvanian basin. In Dobruja and Moldavia, the plains are characterized by a dry climate, very similar to the steppe. They are blown by strong winds coming from the East European Plain. The swimming season in the seaside resorts of the country is very long – from May to October. During the autumn, summer and spring periods, the weather in Romania is mild and warm. Thanks to the light sea breeze, you will never get sunstroke even in the hottest weather.
Currency exchange in Romania
As of June 2011, 1 USD = 2.88 RON. You can exchange the currency of other countries at exchange offices located at railway stations, hotels, airports on the main streets of large cities, in supermarkets or at a bank. It is advisable to keep receipts for foreign exchange transactions until departure. We do not advise you to exchange currency on local “black markets” – you can become a victim of scammers or currency scammers.
Electricity
Romania uses 220V/50Hz sockets made to European and American standards.
Religion in Romania
70% of the country’s population are Orthodox Christians, while the rest belong to Protestants, Catholics and other religious groups.
Security
The country is the safest country of all the former Warsaw Pact countries. The population is distinguished by benevolence and sociability, they are always happy to talk about their lives and show all the sights of their country. You can walk calmly along the streets of cities even at night – there are practically no harassment of tourists or hooliganism in the country. Bucharest is much safer than many European capitals. Occasional scams and petty theft occur, but this usually occurs far from the main attractions and tourist routes. The police in Romania have wide powers, so the crime rate is quite low. Occasionally, infrequent but thorough inspections take place on the streets. In this case, you must carry a photocopy of your passport or driver’s license with you. Remember that that it is forbidden to photograph bridges, ports and military buildings in the country. Almost all representatives of the tourism industry speak English – young workers in cafes, hotels and bars in large cities are fluent in this language. With older people, there will also be no inconvenience. In banks, post offices and shops, you can also communicate in English. Gypsies in Romania, contrary to common misconception, do not bother tourists and do not spoil the rest of the people around them. Of course, there is a certain amount of gypsy population in the country, but they are very few and they do not walk around the city in large crowds, singing songs and dancing, and they are not intrusive at all.
Health
The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the country is not entirely favorable. Sometimes anthrax foci appear in the Danube River Delta, viral meningitis occurs in the northern and eastern regions, and in villages there are cases of hepatitis, typhus and rabies, so international health insurance is mandatory when entering the country. Medicine in Romania is at a rather low level – there are not enough basic medicines and qualified specialists. While in Romania, remember a few basic rules: it is better to buy bottled water or boil tap water, as it is highly chlorinated, so it can cause gastrointestinal upset. Dairy products and milk are pasteurized so they are safe.
