Romania

Romania, in the European Union.

A country of about 19 million people in south-eastern Europe, between the Carpathian Mountains, the Danube and the Black Sea.

BucharestROMANIAHungaryUkraineMoldovaSerbiaBulgariaBlack Sea
Capital
Bucharest
Population
about 19 million
Language
Romanian
Currency
Romanian leu (RON). Romania uses the leu, not the euro.
Neighbours
Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Moldova, plus a Black Sea coast.

Timeline

  1. 2007Romania joins the European Union (1 January).
  2. 2024Joins the Schengen Area for air and sea borders (31 March).
  3. 2025Land borders join too (1 January): full Schengen membership.

Life in Romania

Life in Romania.

Language

Romanian is a Romance language, related to Italian, Spanish and French, which makes many words familiar to speakers of those languages. English is commonly spoken by younger people in the larger cities.

Economy & employment

Main fields of employment include construction and real estate; manufacturing and the automotive industry; IT and business services; agriculture and food production; hospitality and tourism; retail and commerce; energy.

Education

Romania has a national education system from primary school to university, and vocational training for trades, delivered by authorised training centers and recognised through national certification, as in the RomActiv programs.

Health care

Romania has a national public health system financed through national health insurance, alongside private clinics and hospitals. The emergency number is 112.

Everyday life

Four seasons, with hot summers and cold winters. Time zone UTC+2 (UTC+3 in summer). Traffic drives on the right. Plugs are type C and F, 230 V.

General information, for orientation only. Rules, costs and services can change.

Apartment buildings in BucharestVillage houses below the Carpathians

Housing

Housing in Romania.

Most people in Romania rent or own an apartment in a city, or a house in a town or village.

  • Where people live

    In cities, mostly apartments in residential buildings; in towns and villages, mostly houses with a garden; many apartments are furnished when rented.

  • Renting

    Rental agreements are normally written; a deposit is usually paid at the start; electricity, gas, water and internet are often paid separately.

  • Costs

    Generally lower than in Western Europe; higher in Bucharest and the larger cities, lower in smaller towns; sharing a flat is common among young people.

  • Comfort

    Winters are cold, so homes are heated by a central or gas system; summers are hot, so air conditioning is common; public transport serves the main cities.

  • During the RomActiv program

    Accommodation is arranged for the students, so you do not have to look for a place on arrival.

Everyday life

Everyday Life in Romania.

Romania combines historic cities, mountains and a living tradition, within the European Union.

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