In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Romania
Zalău
Spend half a day in Zalău, see the county museum and Roman site, then move on – one day is enough.
Zalău is a small north‑western Romanian city (≈56 000 people) with a historic museum, Roman ruins at Porolissum and a compact historic centre. All main sights fit into a half‑day; add a short lunch and you can leave the same afternoon.
- Country
- Romania
- Best months
- May–Sept
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, possible water shortages)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- RON
- Money
- Currency is the Romanian leu (RON, plural lei); Romania does not use the euro. About 5 lei to €1 in 2026 — check the live rate.
- Daily spend
- Budget RON 30–45 excl. bed · Mid RON 45–80 excl. bed · High RON 80+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, Vodafone and Digi sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; Digi is the cheapest. Passport ID is required to register a SIM — check.
- Emergency
- Police / ambulance / fire 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin; Schuko (F) sockets take C plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%, left in cash even when paying by card.; Café or bar: Round up or leave a few lei.; Taxi or Bolt: Round up; app tips optional.; Guesthouse host or driver-guide: RON 20–50 per day for good service.; Hotel porter: RON 5–10 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water in cities is treated and generally safe; many locals prefer bottled mineral water (apă plată = still, apă minerală = sparkling). Avoid untreated wells in villages.
- Toilets
- Use cafés, malls, museums and fuel stations; some stations and parks charge RON 1–3. Village and monastery toilets can be basic — carry tissues.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | RON 5–8 |
| Local meal (ciorbă + bread) | RON 12–20 |
| Museum entry | RON 5–10 |
| Bus ticket (city) | RON 2–3 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | RON 30–45 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CLJ · Cluj-Napoca International Airport
- About 86 km (53 mi) by car; bus or train connections to Zalău (check schedules).About 53 mi (86 km) by car; bus or train connections to Zalău (check schedules).
Typical fares
- Zalău → Porolissum bus
- about RON 12 round trip (check)
- Taxi Zalău centre → hotel (5 km)
- RON 30–45
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local bus and minibus serve the town; walk between museum, library and Republic Street (5–10 min).
See and do
Known for
- County History & Art Museum
- Roman site Porolissum
- Historic Republic Street monuments
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Porolissum Roman site | Local bus from Zalău, about 15 min | ≈45 min round trip |
Sleep
- City centre hotels
- Close to museum and bus station; suitable for one night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Scuzaţi-măskuˈza.t͡sɨ.me |
| Thank you | Mulţumescmulˈt͡se.mesk |
| How much is it? | Cât costă?kɨt ˈkɔs.tə |
| Where is the toilet? | Unde este toaleta?ˈun.de ˈes.te to.aˈle.ta |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and eye contact; 'bună ziua' by day, 'bună seara' in the evening; avoid: First names with older people before they offer them
- Visiting a home: Take shoes off at the door; bring flowers (an odd number), chocolate or wine; avoid: Even numbers of flowers — they are for funerals
- Churches: Cover shoulders and knees; women may cover their hair in monasteries; stand quietly at the back during services; avoid: Crossing in front of the altar area or photographing people praying
- Conversation: Food, football, travel in Romania and family are safe topics; avoid: Dracula as the country's identity, calling Romanians Slavs, and careless talk about Roma or Hungarians
- Hospitality: Accept at least a taste of what you are offered; thank the host by name; avoid: Refusing all food and drink outright
- Queues and transport: Give seats to older people and parents with children; avoid: Loud phone calls in train compartments
Scams and watch-outs
- Periodic water shortages – fill bottles when water runs.
- Check opening hours of Porolissum (seasonal).
Generally safe; watch for occasional water cuts and keep valuables secure in crowded bus stops.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Zalău yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- County History & Art Museum
- Roman site Porolissum
- Historic Republic Street monuments
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Zalău, revision 4913701 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4913701
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Zalău
La această adresă, vă rog
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / ambulance / fire112
Romanian emergency number 112 works nationwide; US consulate is in Cluj‑Napoca (check address).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/zalau). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.