Supermarkets and hypermarkets are top choices for all types of essentials in Romania, providing a vast selection of groceries, household goods, and personal care items. However, there are additional locations where you can find all the basic items you might need during your stay.
Where to go for grocery shopping in Romania?
You’ll not starve in Romania, for sure. Especially in the big cities, you can find plenty of supermarkets and hypermarkets. I’ll only mention the most common.
The most popular big stores in Romania are Lidl and Kaufland, owned by the same German company. They cover most cities and towns in the country. Lidl is smaller and slightly cheaper, as it is a discount store with mostly its private-label brands.
Carrefour and Auchan have proximity stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets. They are also good options to buy food and other essentials in Romania. Penny is a discount shop chain similar in price to Lidl.
Mega Image owns supermarkets and proximity stores. In Bucharest, you’ll see them anywhere. Usually, they are one of the most expensive on this list.
On the other hand, small local stores are becoming less and less common, especially in the cities. Still, in some small villages, they could be your only option. Keep some cash with you, as many local stores may not have a POS.
Markets are great for fresh and local seasonal fruits and vegetables. One downside here is that the merchants accept cash only.
As a rule, the bigger the store, the smaller the prices. Except for discount shops that, even if they aren’t large, have affordable private-label brands.
Where to buy cigarettes and alcohol in Romania?
Cigarettes and alcohol are available at various locations in Romania. You’ll find them in all the previously mentioned store types, including supermarkets and hypermarkets.
While alcohol has its own section in any large store, cigarettes are not openly displayed. If you want to buy cigarettes in a Romanian supermarket, you need to ask them to the cashier.
You can also buy alcohol and tobacco products from specialized stores, but they’re less common in Romania.
Important Note: it’s illegal in Romania to sell alcohol, tobacco products, and energy drinks to anyone under 18 years old.
Where to find household essentials in Romania?
You can find cleaning supplies in Romania at various stores, including supermarkets, hypermarkets, and specialized home goods stores. Here are some usual places to look:
Hypermarkets and supermarkets: the larger the store, the wider the variety of household essentials.
Home improvement stores like Dedeman, Leroy Merlin, and Hornbach specialize in home improvement supplies but they also carry a selection of household essentials like cleaning products, garbage bags, and lightbulbs.
Online retailers: several online retailers sell household essentials in Romania. Amazon does not operate in Romania. The most popular online retailer in the local market is eMag.
Local Markets and Convenience Stores: in smaller towns or neighbourhoods, local markets and convenience stores may carry essential household products, though the selection might be more limited compared to one of the larger retailers.
Best places to buy hygiene products in Romania
In Romania, you can find a variety of hygiene products at several types of stores, ranging from supermarkets to specialized beauty retailers. Here are some of the best places to buy hygiene products in Romania:
Hypermarkets and supermarkets typically have dedicated sections for hygiene products. You can find items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, and feminine hygiene products.
Pharmacies are good options, especially if you’re looking for specific brands of skincare. Look for well-known chains like Farmacia Tei, Catena, and DrMax.
Specialty Health and Beauty Stores, like DM Drogerie Markt, Douglas, and Sephora offer a wide selection of premium skincare, hair care, and cosmetic products. They usually can be found in malls.
Online Retailers: I recommend eMag, Farmacia Tei, and DrMax websites, as they have extensive catalogues of hygiene products available.
Natural and Organic Stores: stores named “Plafar” specialize in natural plant-based products.
When to go shopping for essentials in Romania?
In Romania, all chain stores are open every day, including Sunday. The standard business hours are between 07 AM to 10 PM, but they can vary depending on the shop, weekends, and bank holidays. Expect a more restricted schedule for the local stores.
If you need something to eat during night hours, search Google Maps for “non stop” near you or ask a local.
Pharmacies’ business hours usually are from 07/09 AM to 08/09 PM. Some pharmacies are closed on Sunday or have short schedules until noon. In case of an emergency outside business hours, look on Google Maps for “farmacie nonstop”.
Markets usually close around 8 PM during the week, even earlier during winter. On weekends, it’s better to go to the market until lunchtime.
You can go to malls any day, from 10 AM to 10 PM.
