Romania is a great destination, from Transylvania's forested mountains, the monasteries of Bucovina, to the Danube Delta, but like any destination, it comes with health considerations worth understanding.
Is Romania Safe to Visit (Health-Wise)?
Yes it is! Romania is a European Union member state with European standards in urban medical centers.Bucharest, for example, has some excellent private hospitals and clinics that operate to high standards at costs lower than Western Europe. Rural and remote areas are different since public infrastructure is more limited once you leave the main cities, which makes travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage essential rather than optional.
Vaccinations and Preventive Health
Before visiting Romania, ensure that you are up to date on routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus/diphtheria, polio). But, beyond those, you could consider:
- Hepatitis A: Recommended for all travelers. Spread through contaminated food or water; risk is higher in rural areas and from street food.
- Hepatitis B: Recommended if you may have medical procedures, sexual contact, or prolonged stays.
- Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE): This is the one most travelers don't know about but TBE is a viral infection spread by tick bites in forested areas across Central and Eastern Europe. Romania's Carpathian forests, the hiking trails of Transylvania, and the wooded areas around Sinaia and Predeal are all tick habitats. The TBE vaccine is highly effective and strongly recommended for anyone hiking or spending time in forests. Your Primary Care Physician or a travel clinic can provide it.
- Rabies: Romania has one of the highest rates of rabies in EU-bordering countries, primarily in stray dogs and bats. If you are trekking remotely, working with animals, or spending extended time in rural areas, pre-exposure rabies vaccination is worth discussing with your travel doctor. We all had to get the rabies vaccination before the Peace Corps.
- Typhoid: Consider if visiting rural areas or eating mainly at small local establishments with uncertain food handling.
Tick Safety in Practice
If you are hiking in Romanian forests, which you should, then take ticks seriously even if you've had the TBE vaccination (Lyme disease is also present and has no pre-exposure vaccine):
- Wear long sleeves and long trousers tucked into socks when walking through undergrowth.
- Apply DEET-based insect repellent to clothing and exposed skin.
- Check your entire body, including hairline, armpits, groin, and behind the knees, after each time outdoors.
- Carry tweezers. If you find a tick, use them to remove it close to the skin with a steady, straight pull. Do not twist, burn, or apply petroleum jelly. Seek medical advice if the bite site develops a bullseye rash (erythema migrans) since this is a sign of Lyme disease and requires antibiotics.
Drinking Water
Tap water in Bucharest and other major Romanian cities (Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Brașov, Sibiu) is generally treated and considered safe to drink. In smaller towns and rural villages, it is advisable to drink bottled water, which is cheap and widely available. Mineral water from Romania's own springs most notably from the Harghita and Covasna counties in Transylvania is excellent and sold everywhere.
Food Safety
Food safety in Romania is fine. Standard precautions apply like, eat at busy establishments with high turnover, avoid street food that has been sitting out in heat, and peeling fresh fruit. Romanian cuisine itself is hearty and generally safe where stews, grilled meats, sour soups (ciorbă), and stuffed vegetables are the basis of the diet. And, dairy products including sour cream (smântână) and fresh cheese, are widely used and of high quality.
Air Quality and Pollution
Bucharest has air quality that varies based on the season, where winter brings wood and coal heating smoke from surrounding areas that can affect air quality in the metropolitan zone, and traffic pollution is a factor year-round. Travelers with asthma or chronic respiratory conditions should monitor local air quality indices (AQI) and carry inhalers. However, like most places, outside the capital, the air quality is excellent especially in the Carpathian mountains and the Danube Delta region.
Sun and Heat
Romanian summers are generally hot. Bucharest and the southern lowlands regularly exceed 95–100°F/35–38°C in July and August, with humidity making it feel hotter. But, heatwaves have become more frequent and more intense. If you are visiting in summer:
- Wear high-SPF sunscreen (SPF 30+); UV levels are high at Carpathian altitudes
- Stay hydrated (dehydration happens faster than expected in dry heat)
- Schedule outdoor sightseeing for early morning or evening
- The Black Sea coast (Constanța, Mamaia) combines sun exposure with beach activity so reapply sunscreen after swimming
Wildlife Hazards
- Brown bears: Romania has one of the largest brown bear populations in Europe, concentrated in the Carpathian forests. Bear encounters on hiking trails are rare but real. Make noise while hiking, carry bear spray if available, and heed local advice about recent sightings. Bears near villages and mountain resorts have become habituated to humans in some areas; therefore, do not approach or feed them.
- Vipers: The common European adder (Vipera berus) and nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes) are present in rocky and forested areas. Bites are rare but require hospital treatment. Wear closed hiking boots in scrubby or rocky terrain.
- Stray dogs: Romania's stray dog population, particularly in Bucharest, has been a persistent issue. Bites do occur; if bitten, seek immediate medical attention since rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is available in Romanian hospitals and is effective when administered promptly.
Medical Facilities and Emergency Care
The emergency number in Romania is 112 (works from any phone, including cellphones without signal in some cases).
- Bucharest: Several well-regarded private hospitals: Regina Maria, Medicover, and Polisano networks operate across major cities with English-speaking staff and generally high quality of care. Costs are significantly lower than in Western Europe — an ER visit with basic treatment typically runs €50–200.
- EU citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) at public Romanian hospitals for covered treatment at local rates. Be aware that public hospitals, particularly outside Bucharest, vary significantly in quality and private clinics are strongly preferred by most experienced travellers.
- Non-EU travellers: Travel insurance with at least €100,000 in medical cover, including emergency repatriation, is non-negotiable. Out-of-pocket costs for serious care or air ambulance will be high without it.
- Pharmacies (farmacie): Extremely well-stocked and good value. Many common medications available over the counter in Romania require prescriptions elsewhere. Pharmacists are generally knowledgeable and often speak basic English in cities. Look for the green cross sign.
Mental Wellbeing and Altitude
If you are hiking to altitude in the Carpathians, peaks in the Bucegi, Făgăraș, and Retezat ranges reach 8200ft/2,500m so allow time to acclimatize. Altitude sickness can occur at these elevations, even for fit adults, since it affects those climbing quickly from low altitudes.
In summary: get the TBE vaccine if you're hiking, take ticks seriously, carry good travel insurance, and know that in the major cities you'll find perfectly adequate private healthcare if something does go wrong. Romania is not an exceptionally risky destination, but it does reward with some preparation.