--- title: "Practical Brașov: weather, money, SIM cards and electricity" source: https://brasovaeroport.ro/en/travel/practical-brasov-essentials/ markdown: https://brasovaeroport.ro/en/travel/practical-brasov-essentials.md locale: en section: "Travel guide — practical" last_reviewed: 2026-05-04 tags: ["practical", "weather", "money", "sim-card", "electricity"] provenance: "Unofficial informational guide to Brasov-Ghimbav International Airport (GHV); published by Brasov Airport Guide, which is not affiliated with the airport operator. Official site: https://brasovairport.ro/" --- # Practical Brașov: weather, money, SIM cards and electricity > The four things every Brașov visitor wants in one place — what the weather actually does month by month, whether to use cash or card, where to grab a local SIM, and what your plug needs to fit. No fluff. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Currency | Romanian leu (RON / lei). 1 EUR ≈ 5 RON, 1 USD ≈ 4.5 RON | | Cards accepted | Yes, almost everywhere. Tap-to-pay standard. | | Cash useful for | Small bakeries, parking machines, taxi rounding, market stalls | | Plug type | Type C / F (round 2-pin), 230 V, 50 Hz | | Mobile networks | Orange, Vodafone, Digi.Mobil, Telekom (https://www.ancom.ro/) | | Tap water | Safe to drink across Brașov city | Brașov is straightforward to visit if you're prepared. **Card payments work almost everywhere, the local plug is the same as France or Germany (round 2-pin, 230 V), tap water is safe, and a roaming-friendly EU SIM plus your existing eSIM will cover most travellers without a local SIM purchase.** What follows is the four practical questions that come up on every trip, answered in plain English with bands rather than exact prices that go stale. ## The fastest answer For most visitors a 5-day Brașov visit needs: a credit or debit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, a small amount of RON cash for parking machines and market stalls, your phone's existing EU roaming plan (or a cheap local SIM if you're staying longer than two weeks), and a continental EU plug adapter if you're coming from outside the schuko zone. Tap water is safe in Brașov city. If you're driving to remote guesthouses, ask at check-in. ## Weather Brașov sits at 600 m elevation in a Carpathian valley. The seasons are real, the daily range is large, and the mountain weather around Bran and Poiana is consistently 4–6°C colder than the city. ### Month by month, in bands - **December–February.** Daytime −2 to +5°C, nights −10 to −3°C. Snow reliable in town from late December; mountain snow lasts longer. Pack for actual winter: insulated boots, a real coat, gloves. - **March.** −1 to +10°C and unpredictable. The Christmas market is gone, the ski runs are still partly open, and the city is at its least photogenic. - **April–May.** +6 to +18°C with frequent showers. Flowers in the parks. Layered clothing — t-shirt under a windbreaker. - **June.** +12 to +24°C. The first week is the **Junii pageant** in Schei. Excellent travel month. - **July–August.** +15 to +28°C. Romanian holidaymakers arrive; Old Town terraces fill from 18:00. Bring sun cream — UV at 600 m is stronger than you think. - **September.** +10 to +22°C. Stable weather, light crowds, peak hiking season for Tâmpa and the Postăvarul ridge. Quietly the best month of the year. - **October.** +5 to +16°C. Foliage is excellent for two weeks somewhere between mid-October and early November (the date drifts). - **November.** 0 to +9°C, grey, often wet. The Christmas market lifts the mood from late November. These are bands derived from long-run averages — not forecasts. Check current conditions on a forecast service before you fly. ### What to pack - **Spring/autumn:** layers, light rainwear, comfortable walking shoes for cobblestones (flat shoes; the centre is partially pedestrianised). - **Summer:** as above plus a light jacket — evening temperatures drop fast at altitude. - **Winter:** insulated boots with grip (the cobbles ice over), gloves, a wool layer. If you're going up to Poiana Brașov, you'll rent ski jackets and pants there if needed. ## Money Romania's currency is the **leu** (plural: lei), abbreviated **RON**. Notes are 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 RON; coins are 5, 10, 50 bani. The leu is on a managed float against the euro and trades around 5 RON to 1 EUR; current rates fluctuate within a couple of percent. ### Cards versus cash Card payments are the default. Tap-to-pay (contactless) works in restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, the Old Town's Christmas market stalls, and increasingly in taxis. American Express is patchier than Visa or Mastercard. Apple Pay and Google Pay work where contactless works. You'll still want some cash for: - **Public parking machines** — many take coins only, with card slots added gradually. Have small notes plus a 5 RON coin. - **Small bakeries and farmers' market stalls** — card terminals are rare here. - **Tipping** — leaving a few RON on the table is the local norm (10% rounded up is generous). - **Taxi rounding** — even though most taxis take cards now, drivers appreciate cash for the round-up tip. ### ATMs and exchange Pull RON from an ATM at the airport, on Strada Republicii, or in the big supermarkets. Use bank-branded ATMs (BCR, BRD, Banca Transilvania, ING) and decline the dynamic currency conversion ("Pay in EUR?") prompt — your home bank's conversion is virtually always cheaper. Avoid the standalone Euronet machines that crowd the Old Town; their DCC defaults are aggressive and the fee disclosure is opaque. If you're carrying euros, the **bureaux de change** on Strada Republicii post their buy/sell spread on a board. Compare two before you exchange — the spread varies by 1–2%. ### Tipping The Romanian convention is 10% in restaurants when service is good, sometimes added as an explicit "tip" line at the bottom of the bill. Round up at cafés. Hotel porters get a few RON per bag. Tour guides expect the equivalent of a small meal at the end of a half-day tour. ## SIM cards and connectivity EU roaming under "Roam Like at Home" works in Romania for any EU SIM or eSIM at no extra cost — most travellers from Western Europe don't need a local SIM at all. Your existing UK plan may also cover Romania post-Brexit; check before you fly. Public Wi-Fi is widespread: every café, restaurant, hotel and bus station offers free Wi-Fi. The airport has open Wi-Fi in the terminal. ### If you do want a local SIM Four mobile networks compete in Romania: **Orange, Vodafone, Digi.Mobil, and Telekom**. All four sell prepaid SIMs at airport kiosks, in central Brașov on Strada Republicii, and at the AFI shopping centre. Bring your passport — registration is required by law. Prepaid plans typically include a generous local data bucket plus EU roaming and a calling allowance — exact bands change yearly, so ask at the kiosk for the current "tourist" or "prepaid" offer. Top-ups afterwards are by app or in any small shop with the network's logo on the door. ### Coverage 4G is universal in Brașov city, Poiana Brașov, and along the major roads. 5G is rolling out but uneven. Expect occasional weak spots in the deeper Schei lanes and on the road over the mountains to Bran. ## Electricity Romania uses the standard EU power configuration: - **230 V, 50 Hz** - **Type C plug (round 2-pin, no earth)** in older outlets - **Type F plug (Schuko, round 2-pin with earth clips)** in newer outlets — fits both Type C and Type F appliances Visitors from continental Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Nordics) plug in with no adapter. Visitors from the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Switzerland, or anywhere with a different plug shape need a travel adapter — buy a multi-region one before you fly, or grab one at the airport on arrival. Modern phones, laptops and cameras handle 110–240 V automatically. If you're bringing a hair dryer or curling iron from a 110 V country, check that it's marked dual-voltage; if not, leave it at home and use the hotel's. ## Tap water and food safety Brașov's tap water is safe to drink straight from the tap. Most locals drink filtered or bottled water out of habit, but you don't need to buy water for tooth-brushing or drinking. In remote guest houses outside the city, ask at check-in — most are on the same municipal supply or a properly maintained well. Standard EU food safety norms apply across the city. Restaurant hygiene in central Brașov is good. The seasonal Christmas market and the summer-festival food trucks are inspected; eat with your usual common sense about how busy and recently-opened a stall is. ## FAQ ### Do I need cash if I have a card with no foreign fees? A small amount, yes. €30–50 worth of RON covers parking, small bakeries, market stalls and tips for a 4–5 day visit. Pull it from an ATM rather than exchanging at the airport — the rate is better. ### Will my UK or US phone work in Brașov? UK SIMs typically still cover Romania at no extra cost; check with your provider. US carriers usually charge daily international roaming. eSIMs sold to travellers (Airalo, Ubigi, Holafly) work well in Brașov. ### What's the time zone? Eastern European Time, UTC+2 in winter and UTC+3 in summer. One hour ahead of Western European cities like Paris or London. ### Is Brașov safe to walk around at night? Yes, in the Old Town. The centre is well-lit and busy until midnight. Routine traveller's caution applies — keep your phone in an inside pocket on the busy stretches of Strada Republicii at the weekend. ### How much does a sit-down dinner cost? A two-course dinner with a glass of wine in the Old Town runs in a band of about 100–180 RON per person at a normal restaurant — closer to 250 RON at the upper end. A no-frills lunch is half that. For where to actually eat and walk, the [Old Town walking guide](https://brasovaeroport.ro/en/travel/brasov-old-town-walking-guide/) names the neighbourhoods worth your time, and [Day trips from Brașov](https://brasovaeroport.ro/en/travel/day-trips-from-brasov/) covers what's an easy half- or full-day excursion outside the city. --- Source: https://brasovaeroport.ro/en/travel/practical-brasov-essentials/