Travelling to a new destination can be both exciting and anxious, especially when you don’t know much about the place you visit. Overall, it is safe to travel to Romania. However, to ensure you don’t expose yourself to unsafe situations, here are some potential dangers and risks to be aware of during your trip.
Is it safe to travel to Romania right now?
The Russian invasion of Ukraine doesn’t impact Romania’s security. Romania is under NATO protection and faces minimal risk of external attacks. There are also no violent conflicts within borders at present. The risk of terrorism in Romania is close to zero.
Romania poses low health risks, requiring no specific vaccines for entry. The WHO advises standard non-country-specific vaccines recommended for international travel.
Romania’s Peace Index and Safety Perceptions Index
Global Peace Index (GPI): 1,64
Produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the Global Peace Index (GPI) measures the peacefulness of countries using 23 indicators of the absence of violence or fear of violence.
In 2024, Romania’s peace index was 1,755, ranking 36st in the Global Peace Index (out of 163 analyzed countries) between Montenegro and Oman.
In 2021, Romania ranked 26th but lost five positions due to the Russian–Ukrainian war at the eastern border. However, Romania is not directly affected by the war. Romania is a member of NATO, and its borders are well-guarded.
On the other hand, Romania is the 26nd most peaceful European country in the GPI chart.
Safety Perceptions Index (SPI): 0,16
Also produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the SPI measures the levels of worry, likelihood and experience of risk across five domains: health, personal, violence, environment, and the workplace. Scores range from 0 to 1, where 0 means no risk.
In 2023, Romania ranked 27 out of 121 countries, with a score of 0,156, together with the Netherlands. Consider that the SPI is conducted through questionnaires, which can be influenced by stereotypes, anecdotes, and personal experiences, potentially affecting the results.
Types of crimes in Romania
The most common crimes in Romania are petty thefts, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching. These crimes usually occur in crowded areas like markets, tourist attractions, and public transportation. To protect yourself, be aware of your surroundings, keep an eye on your belongings, and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Other types of crime in Romania include cybercrime, fraud, and property crime.
Is Romania safe for solo female travellers?
Romania is generally a safe destination for solo female travellers. However, like any trip abroad, take precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Unfortunately, violence against women is a serious problem in Romania. The country has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the European Union. However, despite the challenges that women in Romania face, there are many efforts underway to combat violence against women.
Currently, the main issue is domestic violence, with most incidents happening in rural areas at present. It is not very common to get attacked by strangers on the streets. However, as a solo female traveller in Romania (and not only), it’s a good idea to research the specific location in advance and to take common-sense precautions such as staying in well-lit areas and avoiding walking alone at night.
If you are concerned about receiving unwanted attention due to your dress style, you should know that Romanian women generally dress similarly to those in other European countries. You can wear any clothing style in Bucharest or other Romanian cities without fearing unwanted attention.
In rural or more conservative areas, Romanian women tend to dress modestly. If you plan to visit monasteries or churches, avoid short skirts or pants and tops that are too revealing. You can wear jeans but not very tight ones. If you don’t respect the dress code, you’ll not get in any trouble, but you might get some nasty looks or not be allowed into religious sites.
Is Romania safe for gay people?
Romania fully decriminalized homosexuality in 2001. Even though the country has made significant progress in recent years in terms of LGBTQ+ rights, there are still challenges and instances of discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in rural areas and small towns, where LGBTQ+ individuals may face more negative attitudes.
If you are an LGBTQ+ person planning to visit Romania, be aware of potential challenges and take precautions to ensure your safety.
However, there are LGBTQ+-friendly bars and clubs in all big cities of Romania. If you’re the party type, you might quite enjoy the nightlife in Bucharest.
What to be aware of while travelling in Romania?
Crime
Although Romania is generally a safe country, be careful because petty thefts and pickpocketing are common. To reduce the risk of being a victim of this type of crime, exercise caution: keep an eye on your belongings, don’t display valuable items in public, avoid crowded places or be extra careful while in tourist places and on public transport. Also, steer clear of shady neighbourhoods and poorly lit areas by night.
Tourists might get targeted for debit or credit card fraud. One common way to do so is through “skimming”: attaching a device to a card reader, such as an ATM or a POS terminal, that captures the card information of unsuspecting users. The collected information gets used to clone cards or make unauthorized online purchases. If you see any suspicious devices attached to the card reader, do not use it.
Way too friendly strangers might be scammers. Romanians are friendly towards tourists but not clingy. Refuse any help from someone trying too hard to offer unsolicited help or services. Also, double-check all the prices – there might be hotels or restaurants with higher prices for tourists.
Talking about scammers: avoid taking a taxi on the street in Romania, especially in railway stations or airports. You can use car-sharing apps and taxi apps instead.
Stray dogs in Romania
Thanks to many spay and neuter programs, you can’t see as many stray dogs on the streets as there used to be a few years ago. Even so, stray dogs are still a common sight in many cities and towns in Romania. It is advisable to avoid approaching or feeding stray dogs. Seek help if a stray dog appears to be aggressive. If a stray dog bites you, get medical help and report the bite to the authorities.
In Bucharest, stray dogs are not a problem anymore. However, in recent years, foxes have been spotted. The same rule applies: don’t approach them, don’t feed them.
Bears encounter in Romania
The wild forests of the Carpathian Mountains are the home of the largest population of bears in Europe.
There are always risks in meeting them while hiking or even while driving on mountain roads. Due to deforestation, some bears are venturing into towns searching for food in dumpsters.
If you encounter a bear, try to give it a wide berth and move away slowly and calmly. Do not approach the bear or try to take a closer look.
If you see bears while driving on mountain roads, maintain a safe distance and do not stop or slow down. Stopping or getting out of your car may put you at risk of a confrontation.
Dangers in Traffic
You might not expect this: one of the safety concerns in Romania is public road safety. For those accustomed to strictly adhering to driving rules, navigating traffic in Romania can be a challenging experience.
According to a European Union report from 2022, Romania has the highest rate of traffic fatalities, with 86 road deaths per million population. It is higher than the European Union average of 46 road deaths per million population. However, the number of traffic fatalities in Romania has been decreasing in recent years, thanks in part to the implementation of several safety initiatives.
A potential hazard on Romanian roads is the high congestion in urban areas, particularly in Bucharest. The narrow, winding streets can be hard to navigate, and the combination of heavy traffic and a lack of enforcement of traffic regulations can lead to frustrating delays and bottlenecks. You’ll also see a lot of drivers pushing the rules.
Romania has a relatively limited network of highways compared to other European countries. This thing contributes to traffic congestion on inter-city roads. In the rural areas, expect to share the street with horse-drawn carts. Plan your route carefully, keep calm and purchase car insurance.
Natural Disasters
Romania is prone to several natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, and storms.
Earthquakes: Romania is in an active seismic zone, and the country experiences earthquakes of varying intensities. The most severe earthquake in recent history occurred in 1977, when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Vrancea region, causing significant damage and loss of life. However, earthquakes are rare, so there’s no need to worry about them.
Floods: Romania is also prone to flooding, particularly in the Danube River Basin, which covers much of the country. Flooding can occur due to heavy rain or melting snow, and it can cause damage to infrastructure, homes, and crops. It is an issue especially during spring, in some rural areas.
Storms: Romania is also prone to thunderstorms, hailstorms, and tornadoes. These storms can damage homes, crops, and infrastructure and are dangerous for people caught in them.
Emergency number in Romania – 112
The short number 112 is the general emergency number in Romania for any kind of emergency, including medical, fire, and police emergencies. Note that it should be used only in case of an emergency.
Read my article about What to do in case of a medical emergency in Romania.
So how dangerous is Romania?
Statistically, Romania might be safer than your current location. While visiting, you only need to avoid doggy places and shady people, like anywhere else. There are no shotguns and riots in Romania, no terrorist attacks, and robberies are not as frequent. In the worst case, your pocket might get picked on the bus, or a restaurant might overcharge you.
I can see why many people consider Romania to be dangerous. Romania appears in Western media mostly in news about crimes or corruption or when David Popovici is breaking another swimming record. On the other hand, no one complains more about Romania than Romanians, so we don’t do ourselves any favours with our country’s reputation.
Otherwise, it might not be the best place in the world to live in, but you may enjoy it as a tourist. Romania is a safe and tourist-friendly country and not considered dangerous for visitors.
