Romania
Currency in Romania: what to use and how to exchange
Romania uses the Romanian leu (RON, plural lei), not the euro, and is not in the eurozone. Bring a card for hotels, fuel and supermarkets, and some lei in cash for markets, small guesthouses, rural buses and tips; exchange at a bank or a clearly posted bureau rather than a street kiosk (check).
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GuideRomania
Key facts
- Currency
- Romanian leu (RON, lei); not the euro
- Rough ratecheck
- About 5 lei to €1 — 2026 estimate, check
- Euro accepted?check
- Rarely; some hotels and tour operators quote in euro but change at their own rate
- Cardscheck
- Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in cities and at fuel stations; carry cash outside them
- Best exchangecheck
- Bank branch or bureau de change with the rate posted outside; compare the buy and sell columns
- Avoid
- Street touts and '0% commission' boards with a bad rate buried in the spread
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants, in cash; round up taxis
Details
Romania has its own currency and has not adopted the euro, so every price you see in shops, on trains and at guesthouses is in lei. Prices are usually written with the leu sign or as 'RON' or 'lei' after the number. Notes and coins in circulation, and how widely contactless is accepted, are worth confirming locally (check).
The practical split is simple. Pay by card in Bucharest, Brașov, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara for hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies and fuel. Carry cash for village guesthouses in Maramureș and the Saxon villages, rural buses and minibuses, markets, some museum tickets and tips. A card reader that is 'broken' is a common way to push you to a nearby ATM, so keep some lei on you.
If you arrive with euro or another currency, exchange in a bank branch or at a bureau de change that displays its rate on the street. Compare the buy and sell columns before handing anything over: the gap between them is the real cost, and a board advertising zero commission often hides it there. Airport and main rail station counters are usually the least favourable places to change money (check); change only what you need to reach the city and do the rest in town.
ATMs are common in cities and at larger fuel stations, and many accept foreign Visa and Mastercard (check). Decline the machine's own conversion offer and let your bank do the conversion, which is normally cheaper. Withdraw in larger amounts to limit fixed fees, and use a bank-branded ATM rather than a standalone machine in a bar or shop.
| Situation | Pay with | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel, restaurant, supermarket in a city | Card | Contactless is standard (check) |
| Village guesthouse, rural bus, market stall | Cash (lei) | Carry small notes and coins |
| Fuel station, motorway services | Card | Cash also accepted |
| Airport or main rail station exchange | Avoid if you can | Usually poor rates; change a minimum (check) |
| Street tout offering a 'good rate' | Walk away | Count-your-cash scams are common |
| Tipping | Cash | About 10% in restaurants; round up taxis |
Summary table
The short version of what to carry and where to change it.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Currency | Romanian leu (RON, lei) |
| Euro used? | No, except a few tourist-facing businesses quoting it |
| Rough rate | About 5 lei to €1 — 2026 estimate, check |
| Best place to exchange | Bank branch or posted-rate bureau in town (check) |
| Worst place to exchange | Airport, main rail station, street touts (check) |
| Card acceptance | Good in cities, patchy in villages (check) |
| Cash to carry | Some lei for a few days outside cities; see the budget page |
| Tipping | About 10% in restaurants, in cash |
Tips
Check the rate on your phone before you exchange so you know what a fair deal looks like. Count your money before leaving the counter, and keep the receipt.
Ask your bank about foreign transaction fees before you travel; a card with no fee plus a larger single withdrawal usually beats several small ones. Tell the bank you are going to Romania so the card is not blocked.
Keep a small cash reserve separate from your wallet, and photograph your card numbers in case one is lost. If a card is swallowed or stolen, call your bank and use the police report for insurance.
Prices in Romania are lower than in Western Europe, so a modest cash float covers a lot. See the budget and cost pages for daily figures before you decide how much to change.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Romania?
The Romanian leu, written RON or lei. Romania has not adopted the euro, so prices, tickets and bills are in lei. About 5 lei to €1 — 2026 estimate, check. Note and coin denominations in circulation are worth confirming locally (check).
Where is the best place to exchange money in Romania?
A bank branch or a bureau de change in town that posts its rate outside (check). Compare the buy and sell columns, since the gap is the real cost. Airport and main rail station counters and street touts are usually the least favourable; change only a minimum there if you must.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Romania?
Use a card in cities for hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and fuel, and carry some lei in cash for village guesthouses, rural buses, markets and tips. ATMs are common in cities (check); decline the machine's own conversion and let your bank convert.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check