Romania : Safety by CityApart from being Romania’s capital, Bucharest is also a very important industrial and commercial center of the country.
With 2 million residents, Bucharest is the 6th largest city in the European Union by population within city limits, right after London, Rome, and Berlin.
Although the city boasts rural and old monuments, architecture and structure, the modern buildings and infrastructure are just booming these past few years, and the city is becoming more and more popular.
A part of the city’s historical heart is Bucharest’s Old City which you shouldn’t miss by any means because it has a soul to it, a very unique part of the city.
Warnings & Dangers in Bucharest
OVERALL RISK: LOW
For the most part, Bucharest is a safe city to travel to, and considered to be a welcoming traveling destination, ranked among the most-threat free countries on the planet.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Generally speaking, transportation in Bucharest is safe. As in any other tourist city, cab drivers could take advantage of an unprepared tourist, scamming him into paying the ride way too much.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Pickpockets and small thefts are some of the most common crimes you can encounter in Bucharest and other famous tourist destinations in Romania, and even there they are rare compared to other bigger European capitals.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Bucharest is somewhat vulnerable to earthquake hazards, given the fact that they are located in an active seismic zone. Apart from that, Bucharest is susceptible to heavy rains or snowfall during winter.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
Even though crimes against tourists remain a problem in this city, and especially towards tourists, mugging is not an issue and rarely happens towards them.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Given the fact that as of recently, Romania started boosting anti-terrorism laws, even though it was always considered to be one of the most terrorism threat-free countries in the world, traveling to Bucharest is considered as safe as can be, when it comes to terrorism.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
There are, of course, regular scams that are being conducted towards tourists in Bucharest, but they're mostly in the form of overpricing in bars, or by the street vendors. Drink spiking is also an issue in night clubs.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Bucharest is as safe as can be for women travelers, but even so, they should be aware of the dangers of roaming alone in a strange city. Just like pretty much anywhere, they should avoid walking alone down empty or poorly lit streets, walking past groups of people that behave or look strange or getting into conversations with unknown people that might seem strangely friendly.
So... How Safe Is Bucharest Really?
Bucharest is a very safe city to visit, especially when compared to some other famous cities in this part of Europe.
The chances of being physically attacked in Bucharest are far less than being attacked, say, in the US or the Western Europe states.
That certainly doesn’t mean you won’t encounter minor incidents such as pickpocket incidents, smaller thefts or vendors trying to trick you while selling something.
Watch out for scammers, plan everything, negotiate all fees in advance, double-check everything you hear from vendors on the streets and be careful when making friendships with unknown “friendly” locals trying to help you with anything: they might try to steal something from you or charge for their help.
One thing to bear in mind is the scammers that show up when people are boarding or leaving trains.
They tend to impersonate other travelers and enter couchettes or sleeping booths and then skillfully steal your belongings.
Also, pay attention in night clubs or bars for people trying to spike your drink (not common, but has been reported) and in poorly lit streets and areas, or upon seeing strange activities on the streets.
How Does Bucharest Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Bucharest | 72 |
| Brasov | 80 |
| Cluj-Napoca | 90 |
| Timisoara | 87 |
| Iasi | 73 |
| Sao Paulo (Brazil) | 45 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
Useful Information
Visas
In most cases, visas are not needed for any stay in Bucharest shorter than 90 days. However, you should make sure that your password is valid for at least six months from your date of return and if you're not sure whether or not you need a visa, you should consult your local Romanian embassy.
Currency
Currency in Bucharest is Romanian Leu. You should avoid exchanging money on the street or any unofficial money exchange offices. You will find the best exchange rate in the official banks. Another option can be withdrawing money from local ATMs using your debit or credit card.
Weather
Bucharest climate is mild, with all four, very distinct seasons. It's colder in the north since the Carpathian Mountains are there, so if you're traveling to Transylvania, be prepared and dress warmly.
Airports
As would be expected, the busiest Romanian airports are located right in this city. There are two of them, and the most prominent one is located 16.5 km north of Bucharest, called Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport.
Travel Insurance
Travelers are strongly advised to make sure they have travel insurance that would, in case of any emergency, cover all costs of any medical problems, as well as in cases of theft or loss of personal items.
Bucharest Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 2 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 18 | 9 | 4 |
| Low °C | -5 | -4 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 1 | -3 |
| High °F | 36 | 45 | 54 | 63 | 73 | 79 | 82 | 82 | 77 | 64 | 48 | 39 |
| Low °F | 23 | 25 | 34 | 41 | 50 | 57 | 59 | 57 | 52 | 41 | 34 | 27 |
Romania - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Brasov | 80 |
| Bucharest | 72 |
| Cluj-Napoca | 90 |
| Iasi | 73 |
| Timisoara | 87 |
Seems really nice!
Bucharest never came off as unsafe. Having never been there though, I wanted to do some research. Most places I had read are saying similar things to this page which is a relief. I was worried my first trip over there might not be so good. My husband and I are going in October. I think it will be an amazing trip!
BUCHAREST IN COVID TIMES
Hello! Indeed, Bucharest is just like it is written in the article. Of course, this should be added: this year, the pandemics covid 19 has changed everything. Yet, it is still safe to visit the town and you can find safe pubs to have a drink or something to eat, and I say it as a local travel guide. As for the rest, Bucharest is the same. Maybe not so crowded like it used to be, but this may be a chance for foreign tourists to have a good city-break or short vacation. Cheers!
Can't wait to travel there again! <3
Visited the Romanian capital city of Bucharest August of 2019 for a metal concert. We were skeptical due to the things we’ve heard about the state of the country due to poverty and other sad situations. We were so wrong. We stayed in Bucharest for 4 days, crossed on foot almost the whole city center(avoided the slums area of course) and we were mesmerized from the city vibes, day and night, as well the beautiful mixed architecture(art nouveau, soviet era, modern-current era). The only times we felt a bit unsafe was the on foot return from the concert(National Arena Stadium) to the centre due to low light and low traffic small roads. The other occasion was on some narrow roads in the center due to a teenager that was following us from a distance for some reason, we arrived in the Unirii boulevard and everything was good from this point on. Use Uber to avoid taxi scams, apply basic sense travel safety measures and you will be alright, trust me. Places to visit are of course the amazing old town and the lovely cafes inside it, the beautiful Carturesti bookstore, the city center and the outskirts of it and the huge Herastrau Park with the village museum inside it.
I enjoyed so much the time in Bucharest that i can’t wait to travel there again. Greetings from Greece!
It's way HOTTER in summer
Very good article and fairly accurate. Good job!
Though I really need to mention that in summer temperatures are way higher than you mentioned here. You said a max of 28 degrees Celsius in July and August. In reality, July hits often 32 degrees C and August hits at least 2 days 40 degrees C, with an average of 32.
So a 28 degrees C high temp would have been a dream for us in summer :))
And I’ve lived my whole life in Bucharest, so I know.