Can I use my foreign SIM for the whole 30 days without buying a local one?

You can, but data roaming charges from most non-EU providers make this expensive. A local Digi SIM costs 25 RON for 50GB. Bolt registration requires a local number. Buy the local SIM.

What do I do if my apartment has no desk and I need to work?

Buy a monitor from Altex, a keyboard, and a desk lamp. If the apartment has a dining table, use that. If not, buy a folding table from IKEA Băneasa for 80 to 150 RON.

Where do I buy a decent knife in Bucharest?

IKEA Băneasa sells a serviceable chef knife for 30 to 60 RON. For better quality, look at kitchen supply shops on Calea Victoriei or order from eMAG. Avoid the Old Town souvenir shops; they sell decorative knives that will not hold an edge.

What if I need antibiotics for an infection?

You must see a doctor. Antibiotics require a prescription under Romanian law. Find an English-speaking doctor at a private clinic like Regina Maria or MedLife. A consultation costs 200 to 400 RON. Pharmacies will not dispense antibiotics without a valid script.

Is it worth buying Romanian wine to take home?

Yes. A bottle of Fetească Neagră dry red costs 30 to 80 RON and a bottle of Tămâioasă Românească sweet white costs 25 to 60 RON (August 2026, varies with producer). These are not available outside Romania at these prices. Also consider Horezu pottery, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage craft since 2012, with plates and bowls costing 30 to 100 RON, and a Maramureș wool blanket for 150 to 500 RON.

What to Buy in Romania and Where to Find It

What to Buy in Your First 48 Hours in Romania for a 30 Day Stay

You step out of Henri Coandă International Airport with a suitcase that holds exactly what a 30 day trip needs: nothing. The weekend visitor buys a SIM card at the arrivals kiosk and calls it done. You need a desk, a knife, a lamp, a saucepan, and a system for getting through the next month without losing your mind or your money. Here is exactly what to buy, where to buy it, and what it costs in Bucharest in August 2026.

Your First Purchase: a SIM Card at the Airport

Which SIM to Buy

Buy a prepaid SIM from Digi Mobil before you leave the arrivals hall. The Digi kiosk at OTP sells a 50GB 30 day plan for 25 RON (August 2026, varies with promotion). Orange and Vodafone Romania sell comparable 50 to 100 GB plans for 30 to 50 RON at the same location. This is the cheapest option that works immediately. You cannot register a Bolt account without a local number, and you need Bolt because taxis at the airport and Gara de Nord routinely overcharge by a factor of two.

If your phone supports eSIM, Digi Mobil offers prepaid eSIM profiles. Orange and Vodafone reserve eSIM for postpaid subscriptions, so do not count on them. The EU roaming allowance on a non-resident SIM lasts 4 months maximum within any 180 day period before surcharges apply, per the 2022 EU Roaming Regulation. You are staying 30 days, so you are fine.

electronics store shelves — PattayaPatrol , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Getting to Your Apartment and Buying the Basics

Leaving the Airport

Take the train to Gara de Nord for 5 RON (August 2026). It takes 20 minutes and runs every 40 minutes. The express bus 100 takes 45 minutes to the centre and requires a separate contactless card payment that does not work on the metro. A Bolt or Uber costs 70 to 100 RON and takes 25 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. Do not take a street taxi.

What Your Landlord Will Not Supply

Your landlord likely supplies a bed, a fridge, a stove, and a washing machine. They will not supply a desk lamp, a decent knife, a cutting board, an extension lead, or a pillow you want to sleep on for 30 nights. Budget 400 to 700 RON for the full setup (August 2026).

Where to Shop and What it Costs in August 2026

The Desk Setup

If you need a monitor, the electronics retailer Altex, eMAG, or PC Garage sells an entry-level 24 inch office monitor for 400 to 700 RON (varies with panel type and brand). A basic monitor stand or arm costs 80 to 200 RON (varies with load capacity). A wired full-size keyboard is 30 to 80 RON (varies with brand). A desk lamp costs 40 to 120 RON (varies with type). Jysk, which has multiple locations across Bucharest including in the Băneasa Shopping City area, sells desk lamps in the 40 to 80 RON range. An extension lead with 3 to 5 Schuko sockets and a 1.5 to 3 metre cable costs 15 to 40 RON (varies with length and surge protection). Romanian mains voltage is 230 V with Type C and Type F plugs. Your laptop charger will work but check your plug shape.

The Kitchen

IKEA Băneasa, near the north of the city, sells a decent chef knife for 30 to 60 RON, a cutting board for 15 to 30 RON, and a basic saucepan for 40 to 80 RON. For pantry staples, go to Kaufland, Lidl, Carrefour, or Auchan. A loaf of bread costs 3 to 5 RON, a litre of milk 5 to 7 RON, a dozen eggs 10 to 14 RON, and a kilo of chicken breast 18 to 25 RON. For fresh produce, Piața Obor on the east side of the city has the best range and lowest prices. A kilo of tomatoes costs 4 to 7 RON, a kilo of peppers 5 to 8 RON, and a bunch of fresh dill 1 RON. Obor is also where you buy mici from Terasa Obor for 4 to 6 RON each, eaten standing with mustard and bread.

The Pharmacy

The major pharmacy chains in Bucharest are Catena, Sensiblu, Dona, and Dr. Max. Over the counter, you can buy Ibuprofen 400 mg, Ketoprofen, Diclofenac gel, and Omeprazole 20 mg. You cannot buy antibiotics without a prescription under Ordinul MS nr. 63/2014. You cannot buy codeine-containing products without a prescription since February 2023. Carry cash for pharmacy purchases; some locations accept card, but not all.

Clothing

If you arrived without a winter coat or arrived in August and are staying into September, mass-market retailers like H&M, C&A, and Pepco sell a winter coat for 150 to 400 RON (varies with brand and fill). The same stores sell basic T-shirts for 20 to 40 RON and jeans for 60 to 120 RON.

Getting Around and Staying Online

The Metro

The metro is the dominant way to move across Bucharest. Buy a contactless Activ card and top it up at station machines. Paper magnetic stripe tickets are no longer valid. A single metro ride costs 3 RON (August 2026). The metro map is schematic and not geographically accurate. When you exit a station, open your phone map. Do not trust the direction the metro map suggests.

Walking and Traffic

Pedestrian crossings are not respected by drivers. Cars will not stop unless you step out assertively and make eye contact. This is not aggressive driving; it is the local norm. Sidewalks in residential areas like Titan or Ferentari are often blocked by parked cars, forcing you into the road. Watch for traffic constantly.

Romanian market household goods — Neoclassicism Enthusiast , CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

The Single Thing That Most Often Goes Wrong

Visitors buy everything in the Old Town, overpay by 30 to 50 percent, and end up with a monitor that cannot be returned because the shop has a 14 day return policy and they lost the receipt. Buy from a proper retailer: Altex, eMAG, IKEA, or a supermarket chain. Keep every receipt. When you need food at 1am, do not go to the Old Town. Walk to a 24 hour Kaufland or Lidl on a major road like Calea Moșilor. The Old Town's restaurant touts are aggressive, the quality is poor, and it is the most expensive option in the city.