Code: RON. Plural: lei. One leu has 100 bani.
Bucharest Money Guide
Romanian Money
The simple visitor guide to Romanian lei: what the money looks like, when to use cash, how to avoid bad exchange rates and how much to carry in Bucharest.
Romania is in the EU, but normal payments are in lei.
Contactless cards work widely in Bucharest.
A good small backup for one day in the city.
Keep it simple
Use lei, pay by card, keep small cash
The Romanian leu is the only everyday currency in Romania. Hotels and tours may show euro prices, but shops, cafes, museums, supermarkets and restaurants expect RON.
In Bucharest, card payment is usually easy. Cash is still useful for tiny purchases, markets, tips, toilets, luggage lockers, small bakeries and day trips outside the center.
1 leu5 lei10 lei20 lei50 lei100 lei200 lei500 lei
Quick converter
Try a rough EUR to RON conversion
This calculator uses the BNR reference from 3 June 2026: 1 EUR = 5.2592 RON. It tries to update automatically from BNR on working days. Real card and exchange-office rates can differ.
Tip: when an ATM or card terminal asks, choose to be charged in RON.
Official BNR reference rate
BNR publishes the official exchange-rate list on working days, usually around 13:00 Bucharest time.
Open BNR rate
Card is the default in Bucharest
- 1Use contactless card or phone payments in restaurants, cafes, shops and museums.
- 2Pay in RON if the terminal offers a home-currency conversion.
- 3Keep a second card or small cash reserve for backup.
Cash helps for small, local moments
- 1Carry 10, 50 and 100 lei notes rather than only large notes.
- 2Use cash for markets, tips, small bakeries and public toilets.
- 3Do not carry a thick wallet unless you need it.
Use bank ATMs and avoid bad conversion
- 1Prefer ATMs attached to known banks, especially for larger withdrawals.
- 2Decline dynamic currency conversion and withdraw in RON.
- 3Check your own bank's foreign withdrawal fees before travel.
What it looks like
Real Romanian lei, not generic money photos
Romanian banknotes are polymer, colorful and light. The 500 lei note exists, but it is not practical for small visitor payments.
Bani coins for small change
Current 5 lei banknoteImage credits: Wikimedia Commons files "Romanian leu banknote set 2005" and "Coins-Money Romanian-BANI-LEI" by Emilian Robert Vicol, plus the 5 lei banknote image hosted on Free Tour in Bucharest. See each file page for full license details.
How much cash?
A simple spending cheat sheet
Specialty coffee or a good cafe drink.
Simple lunch in a casual central place.
Dinner in many central restaurants.
A useful restaurant tipping benchmark for good service.
FAQ
Fast answers before you go
Can I pay in euros in Romania?
Not for normal daily spending. Some hotels, tours or rentals quote prices in euros, but shops and restaurants usually expect Romanian lei.
Should I exchange money at the airport?
Only a small amount if you really need cash immediately. Airport exchange desks are convenient, but often not the best value.
Are 500 lei notes useful?
Rarely for visitors. They are real, but awkward for small purchases. Smaller notes are friendlier: 10, 50 and 100 lei.
Is Romania switching to the euro?
Romania is an EU member state outside the euro area. There is no fixed public changeover date, so plan your trip around lei.
Spend the day better
Use your lei on stories, not avoidable fees
Join a Bucharest walking tour, learn the city through local eyes, then use this guide for the practical parts: coffee, transport, restaurants, museums and tips.