9 Security Tips To Consider Before Traveling To Romania

Home to Transylvanian forests and the great Carpathian Mountains, Romania has a culture and history as vibrant as Ancient Rome. Throughout the country, you’ll find incredible cuisine, medieval fortresses, and colorfully painted monasteries.

Any visit to Romania is likely to be remembered for the rest of your life — yet, there are a handful of risks that might ruin your once-in-a-lifetime holiday.

Today, we’ll list 9 of the most common risks tourists face while on vacation in Romania. 

Dive in to find out how to avoid these travel risks and have a whirlwind Romanian adventure…

9 security risks to avoid while traveling in Romania

#1. Petty crime exists in tourist hotspots

As breathtaking as Romania is, the spiritual home of Dracula isn’t free from petty crime. You should be on the lookout for crimes like:

• Pick-pocketing;
• Robbing hotel rooms;
• Bag-snatching;
• Organized muggings/scams.

By law, you must have some form of ID at all times. Stash a photocopy of your passport in your bags and leave the real thing in your hotel safe with the rest of your valuable items.

#2. Possible tremors and earthquakes

Although the last major earthquake was almost 50 years ago, Romania is a seismically active region. While you’d be unlikely to encounter a major earthquake, tremors are fairly regular.

Data suggests that earthquakes above magnitude 7 occur every 30-35 years. However, smaller-magnitude quakes can happen irregularly, primarily in the Vrancea seismic zone, located in the southeastern Carpathians.

#3. Romania’s zero-tolerance view on drugs

Are you planning on attending a music festival or experiencing Bucharest’s club scene? If so, you’re in for a great time — an even better time if you can forget about using recreational drugs.

Romania has severe penalties for any drug-related offenses, with police often targeting large music festivals. Foreigners are not immune from these laws and if convicted, can expect to face a lengthy prison sentence. 

#4. Going out drinking in Bucharest

Bucharest’s Old City may have been a trade hub many years ago, but today it is well-known as a bustling nightlife district. With more clubs and bars than you can possibly visit, a night out in the Old City is a must.

Any buzzing nightlife district attracts opportunistic criminals. You need to be aware of:

• Drink spiking in crowded bars;
• Pickpockets in clubs;
• People offering food, gum, or cigarettes that may be spiked.

Source: CALIN STAN

#5. Scams in various forms

With Romania seeing close to 14 million tourists in 2023, scammers from around the country target clueless visitors. Scams can take on various forms:

• Scammers posing as police, asking to see your ID and wallet. Real police won’t randomly search you in public.
• Dating and marriage scams are perpetrated in bars or through dating apps.
• Fraudulent tour agencies and guides – book all of your Romania tours through trustworthy sources.

As always, keep your credit card and other valuables in sight. Avoid fraudulent WiFi scams by learning how to change location on Google on every single internet connection you use to hide your real IP address from cybercriminals.

#6. Acceptance of LGBTQ+ people

Throughout the country, same-sex relationships are legal and mostly accepted in major cities. However, LGBTQ+ people often face discrimination in rural areas and residential parts of the cities too.

Every year in May-June, Bucharest Pride celebrates LGBTQ+ people and the push for their rights within Romania.

#7. Contracting an infectious disease

Depending on where your Romanian adventures take you, there are a few infectious diseases you may come in contact with. 

• Rabies occurs in wild animals and stray dogs.
• Food and waterborne diseases are uncommon but do occur in some rural areas.
• Measles has appeared recently and can be vaccinated against.
• West Nile virus can be avoided via insect repellents and mosquito nets.

With limited hospitals and medical supplies, your travel health insurance should be able to cover a flight out of the country.

#8. Road etiquette and safety 

Before you drive your car over the border into Romania, there are a handful of country-specific road regulations you need to know:

• Winter tires are mandatory during winter months;
• All driving in Romania is on the right side of the road;
• You have to pay the Rovinieta (the national road toll);
• The drink and drive limit is 0.0.

As a largely agrarian country, if you drive through rural towns, don’t be surprised to see severe potholes and horse-drawn carts!

#9. The threat of the Russia - Ukraine conflict

To the northeast of Romania, the Russia-Ukraine war rages on. Some visitors wonder: is there a risk of conflict spilling over into Romania? Luckily, tourists in Romania are at no more risk of political violence than any other tourist destination.

As a NATO member, Romania benefits from strong regional stability. While the region shares historical ties with the USSR, any broader impact on Romania is considered highly unlikely.

Wrapping up…

Romania remains an underrated travel destination, but those lucky enough to travel there must know the risks they can encounter.

If you exercise appropriate caution, traveling in Romania is as safe as any other European country.

So when will you be visiting Romania?