Europe

Money, cards and tipping in Romania

Capital: BucharestRomanian, HungarianUpdated October 2026

RONLeu

Money in Romania

Cards almost everywhere Cards and contactless work almost everywhere in cities. Keep some lei for markets, villages, parking, mountain huts and some guesthouses. US$1 ≈ lei4.74 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: About 10% in restaurants, left in cash or added on the card terminal. Round up taxis; not expected at counters.
ATMs: Use bank ATMs (BT, BCR, BRD, ING) rather than Euronet machines, and always decline the ATM's currency conversion.
Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted almost everywhere; Revolut is widely used locally.
Price level: about 44% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Bucharest	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep some lei for markets, small kiosks, tips and parking.
Brașov	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in the old town, shops and most restaurants; keep lei for mountain huts, markets and small guesthouses.
Cluj-Napoca	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep lei for markets, small kiosks and some festival stalls.
Sibiu	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in the old town and shops. Keep lei for markets, parking, mountain huts and small guesthouses.
Sighișoara	Mixed: cards and cash	Most cafés and restaurants take cards, but small guesthouses, souvenir stalls and parking machines often want lei.
Timișoara	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Keep lei for markets, small kiosks and parking.
Constanța	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in the old town, malls and most seaside venues. Keep lei for small beach stalls, parking and market shopping.
Iași	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Keep some lei for markets, small kiosks and rural trips.
Oradea	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Keep lei for markets, kiosks and small bakeries.
Danube Delta	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards in Tulcea hotels and shops; delta guesthouses and boatmen often want lei. ATMs are only in Tulcea and a few larger villages.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Romania?

About 10% in restaurants, left in cash or added on the card terminal. Round up taxis; not expected at counters.

Is Romania cashless?

Cards almost everywhere. Cards and contactless work almost everywhere in cities. Keep some lei for markets, villages, parking, mountain huts and some guesthouses.

What currency does Romania use?

The Leu (RON). US$1 ≈ lei4.74 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.