Safety & PracticalitiesBy Clever Tourists · Published
Yes, Romania is safe for tourists: the US State Department rates it Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, and the UK Foreign Office does not advise against travel to any part of the country. The risks worth planning for are petty theft and taxi overcharging in Bucharest, brown bears in the Carpathians, rough rural roads, and in 2026 occasional drone incursions near the Ukrainian border. We spent about three weeks in Romania in October and November 2022: Oradea, Cluj-Napoca, Turda, Deva, Sibiu, Sighișoara, Brașov, Sinaia and Bucharest. Here is what the official advisories say (checked October 2026) and what to do about each hazard.
US State Department: Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions. The department's page blocked our automated check, so we rely on a tracker that lists the advisory as last updated on 14 October 2025; confirm on travel.state.gov.
UK Foreign Office: the Romania page was last updated on 18 September 2026, with new information about drones crossing into Romanian airspace on the safety page, and carries no warning against travel. It says there is no recent history of terrorism, though attacks cannot be ruled out, and notes widespread military activity in neighbouring Ukraine.
If you see drone activity or receive an RO-Alert message on your phone (sent in Romanian and English), follow the authorities' instructions and do not approach debris. Our things to know before visiting Romania covers Schengen, EES and money.
The FCDO says to be alert to petty theft in large towns, especially Bucharest. Named risk areas: money exchanges, hotels, public transport (especially to the airport), main railway stations and airport terminals.
Card skimming has happened: criminals have copied credit or debit cards in some bars and restaurants. Keep your card in sight and use a hotel safe. Drink spiking is a risk in bars and clubs.
Taxis: drivers sometimes overcharge foreign visitors. Check for posted prices and a company name, or use apps such as Uber and Bolt, which the FCDO calls generally reliable. Our tipping in Romania page explains the bacșiș habit so you do not overpay at restaurants.
Bears are a real hazard around Brașov, Sinaia and the Transfăgărășan. According to our things-to-know page, which cites Reuters and Romania Insider, Romania's environment ministry estimates 10,000 to 13,000 brown bears, the maximum fine for feeding a bear was raised to 30,000 lei, and by June 2026 nine people had been attacked that year, eight of them foreign tourists. We have not re-verified those figures this session.
The practical rules: never feed or approach a bear, stay in the car if one is at the roadside, keep food sealed when hiking, and make noise on forest trails. The FCDO page does not mention bears, so rely on local park advice. We spent 3.6 days in Brașov and about 2.5 in Sinaia, both bear-adjacent towns; see the Transfăgărășan guide before driving high mountain roads.
Romania is in a seismically active area and tremors happen regularly. The FCDO says the last major earthquake was in 1977. Emergency alerts reach phones in Romanian and English. If you feel shaking in a building, drop, cover and hold on, and leave only when it stops. The risk is highest in Bucharest and the southeast, where older buildings are vulnerable, so check your hotel's exit route when you arrive.
The FCDO says Romanian roads can be in a bad state of repair and warns of double-parked cars, sudden braking or swerving around potholes, and horse-drawn carts, livestock and stray dogs in rural areas. Drink-driving is a serious offence. Winter tyres or chains are expected when there is snow or ice, commonly from November to March.
You must pay the rovinieta road toll to use national roads; buy it at borders or most petrol stations, or online. Failure to buy one may bring a heavy fine; see our rovinieta guide. If you have an accident you must get a report at the scene.
Most airports and military bases have signs banning photography; ask permission if unsure. Illegal drugs including cannabis carry severe penalties, and the FCDO notes foreign visitors have received lengthy sentences for drug offences at music festivals in Romania. Same-sex relationships are legal, though most LGBT+ people are not open.
Stray dogs are mainly a rural road hazard per the FCDO; in towns, avoid approaching unfamiliar dogs and do not run past them.
Romania is straightforward for solo and female travelers, especially in Transylvanian cities such as Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca and Sighișoara. The same night-time precautions as elsewhere apply.
Dial 112 for police, ambulance and fire. The FCDO's number for help in London is 020 7008 5000. Get travel insurance that covers your itinerary and activities; see travel insurance for international trips. For the best months to go, see best time to visit Romania.
Yes. The US rates Romania Level 1 and the UK Foreign Office does not advise against travel. Petty theft in Bucharest and driving are the main practical risks.
Yes, in the Carpathians around Brașov and Sinaia. Never feed or approach a bear, stay in your car if one is on the road, and keep food sealed.
The FCDO notes military activity in neighbouring Ukraine and drone incursions into Romanian airspace. It does not advise against travel; follow RO-Alert messages and local authorities.
Tremors happen regularly. The last major earthquake was in 1977, and phones receive emergency alerts in Romanian and English.
Dial 112 for police, ambulance and fire.
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