Even though Romania is a member of the European Union, it is not yet in the eurozone. It means that Romania has not adopted the euro as its currency. Right now, the official currency of Romania is the Romanian leu (RON). Romania is preparing to adopt the euro, but no date has been set. It might not happen until 2029.
What currency does Romania use?
The National Bank of Romania issues the official currency of Romania, the Romanian leu (currency code RON). The leu is divided into 100 bani, similar to cents.
“Leu” is the singular form. On price tags, you’ll find “lei,” the plural form, indicating more than one unit of Romanian currency. Also, if someone mentions “bani,” they may not be referring to the subdivision of leu; “bani” is also the Romanian word for money.
You may also notice price tags using the currency code RON or the leu abbreviation L.
Can I use euros or dollars in Romania?
As euros and dollars are not the official currency of Romania, they are not widely accepted. However, you can still use euros or US dollars in tourist shops and tourist restaurants or for taxi rides from the airport. But paying with anything other than Romanian currency is not a good idea as you are likely to incur charges at the worst exchange rates.
Can you pay by card in Romania?
Credit and debit cards are accepted in Romania, especially in major cities. Many businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and shops, accept contactless card payments. You can also use your card to withdraw cash lei from ATMs in Romania.
Visa and Mastercard have broad acceptance in Romania, while American Express may not be accepted by all merchants. UnionPay and Diners Club card acceptance may be more limited compared with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
More than this, not all businesses in Romania accept card payments, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. Banks are widespread in major cities, even in small towns are common, but they are rare in rural areas. If you travel to an area with no ATM available, prepare some Romanian currency cash ahead, just to be sure. It would be unpleasant to arrive at the ski area without cash and find out that you cannot pay for the ski pass with your card because the “POS has no signal”.
It’s always a good idea to have some cash on hand, just in case.
Where to exchange money in Romanian currency?
The leu is not commonly traded on the international market, and exchanging it for other currencies outside Romania can be challenging. And even if you manage to find RON at your local exchange office in your country, the exchange rates will not be favourable.
On the other hand, the euro and the US dollar are popular currencies in Romania.
If your home country has a non-major currency, bringing cash to Romania might pose challenges in finding an exchange willing to convert your money. It’s advisable to convert your funds to euros before departure and then exchange the euros for Romanian lei upon arrival.
Options to get Romanian currency in cash
Currency exchange offices: Many private currency exchange offices in Romania offer competitive exchange rates. An exchange office in Romanian is called “casă de schimb valutar”, but most will also have “exchange” written in English. Avoid using exchange offices around railway stations, tourist areas or airports, as their rates are usually lower. Be aware of exchange rates and ensure they have 0% commission per transaction. Prepare your ID or passport as a document might be required.
Banks: Many banks in Romania offer currency exchange services at their cash operation offices or through ATMs with currency exchange services. Usually, the exchange rate is higher in banks than in exchange offices, but this is not always the case. All ATMs must inform you about the commissions for all the transactions before you make them.
Also, be prepared to pay by card in lei, at the best exchange rates:
Online exchanges: You can also exchange money online through platforms such as TransferWise or XE. These platforms allow you to exchange money from your bank account or credit card and transfer it to a bank account in Romania.
Credit card: Another option is to use a credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees to make purchases in Romania. It can often be a convenient and cost-effective way to pay for goods and services in the local currency.
You can use Google or this website to check the mid-market rate.
Romanian coins and banknotes
Romanian coins hold minimal value. The circulating coins include 1 ban, 5 bani, 10 bani, and 50 bani. The most important one is the 50 bani coin, as it might be necessary to unlock a supermarket trolley.
Familiarize yourself with the appearance of Romanian banknotes to avoid scams. You can find images of the current Romanian coins and banknotes online or at the National Bank of Romania website.
Romania was the first European country to adopt polymer banknotes in 2005. Romanian banknotes are plastic as an alternative to traditional paper banknotes. The use of polymer for banknotes is becoming increasingly common due to the material’s durability, security, and environmental benefits.
Romanian banknotes feature images of important historical figures, cultural symbols, and landmarks. The denominations available are 1 leu, 5 lei, 10 lei, 20 lei, 50 lei, 100 lei, 200 lei and 500 lei. The 1 leu note is becoming more useless due to inflation, but it is advisable to have a mix of 5 lei and 10 lei notes for tips. The 200 lei and 500 lei notes are rarely necessary.
Find out more about the tipping etiquette in Romania from my article: Do people tip in Romania? All you need to know about Romanian tipping etiquette.
What else: A few things you should know about Romanian currency
- Moldavia currency is also named leu and is abbreviated MDL. Do not get confused by this. Moldavian and Romanian leu are different currencies used in different countries.
- In 2005, the leu was revalued, with a rate of 1 new leu = 10,000 old lei. Banknotes had four zeros removed, and the currency changed from ROL to RON. Some people, especially some old ones, may still prefer to talk in the old currency, even if the old currency is no longer in use and all commercial agents are required to use RON.
- 1 euro is around 5 lei. 1 American dollar is around 4,6 lei.
- The word “leu” in Romanian means “lion”.
