Local culture in Romania

The local culture of Romania has been shaped by a difficult history. Locals value privacy and may initially seem reserved with strangers. Romanians often appear more formal at first when dealing with foreigners, but expats who get past this initial reserve find Romanians to be exceptionally warm, friendly and welcoming.

The country has opened up to the world at large, meaning that the challenges expats face when adjusting to life in Romania are diminishing as it becomes increasingly Westernised. Still, there is much that makes Romania unique and that might inspire some degree of culture shock. Preparation and learning about the local culture beforehand help you handle some of these stresses.

Language barrier in Romania

The country’s official language is Romanian, which is spoken by nearly 90 percent of the population. The second most common language is Hungarian, which is spoken by about 6 percent and is most prominent in the Transylvania region.

Expats will be relieved to find that the major cities have a lot of English speakers who are generally extremely helpful when a foreigner gets lost. English-speaking expats sometimes find they can shop and complete basic transactions by saying no more than bună ziua (hello) and mulţumesc (thank you) in Romanian.

Finding a job will likely require a few months of language training. The good news is that there are several language schools in Romania.

Dining in Romania

Romanians are proud of their local cuisine and enjoy hosting. It’s a treat to be invited for dinner at a Romanian’s house, and guests can expect to be fully catered to.

It’s polite to take your shoes off at the front door. You should look to see if your host or fellow guests are wearing shoes and follow suit. Bringing a small gift for the host, such as flowers, a box of chocolate or liquor, is a nice touch and shows appreciation for the invitation.

When eating, be sure to finish the entire plate. Leaving anything behind implies that the food wasn’t good enough. Expect to be offered a second or even third helping. You may wish to politely decline at first – the host will then offer again, at which point you should accept the offer. Once full, it’s okay to say no to additional helpings, but you should emphasise your enjoyment of the meal in order to reassure hosts that the refusal is not due to dissatisfaction with the food.

Time in Romania

In Romania, sticking to precise timing for dinner and business appointments is important. For more casual social gatherings or parties, you should aim to arrive about 15 minutes after the starting time. Showing up right on time for social gatherings, especially those hosted at someone’s home, can be awkward and will likely inconvenience the host.

Roma people in Romania

Western expats may hold different views about Romania’s Roma community than many locals do. Romania’s Roma population makes up nearly 4 percent of the total population, and they have some representation in Parliament. But the community faces measurable challenges: only about one-quarter of Roma children attend early childhood education, compared to the national average of over 90 percent, and about one-third of Roma people who are unemployed have been without work for over a year.

Expats may encounter casual prejudice or hostile comments about Roma in everyday conversations with Romanian locals. Many Romanians view Roma through the lens of long-standing stereotypes about employment, education, and social integration.

European surveys consistently show that most EU respondents consider discrimination against Roma the most widespread form of discrimination, with particularly strong negative attitudes documented among Romanian youth and the general population.

Bureaucracy and corruption in Romania

The most significant cause of culture shock often comes from the bureaucracy and lingering corruption issues in Romania. That said, Romania has made substantial improvements in recent years.

Since 2014, the country has undertaken significant anti-corruption efforts. There has been a history of informal payments expected by service providers in healthcare and other sectors, but recent reforms and enforcement have substantially reduced these practices, and one-third of Romanians today report never paying bribes.

When dealing with government channels and business bureaucracy, you may encounter some inefficiencies, although processes have streamlined considerably with Romania’s integration into the EU. If you regularly interact with government agencies, understanding local administrative procedures and having patience with paperwork requirements will serve you well.

Safety and Crime in Romania

Women in Romania

Romania ranks well in some areas of gender equality but lags in others. The country has over 30 percent of women in top executive positions in the EU, well above the EU average. Romania also has one of the smallest gender pay gaps in Europe, nearly non-existent at 4 percent. However, women hold only 19 percent of parliamentary seats.

Female expats generally find Romanian workplaces welcoming, particularly in Romania's biggest cities. Professional environments tend to be more progressive than social attitudes in rural areas. The tech, finance, and services sectors show strong female participation. That said, traditional gender expectations persist in some industries and family contexts, where women are still expected to handle most domestic responsibilities.

Read more: Gender Equality and Women in Leadership in Romania

LGBTQ+ in Romania

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Romania in 2001, but the country still does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions. The government has declared that it is not prepared to make changes, despite the European Court of Human Rights ruling that this violates same-sex couples' rights to legal recognition. A recent survey showed over two-fifths of Romanians favour legal protection for same-sex relationships.

Bucharest Pride draws tens of thousands of participants annually, with attendance growing steadily. People in the LGBTQ+ community are enjoying growing visibility in major cities, but discrimination is unfortunately still not uncommon, with some incidents of discrimination occurring in public spaces and social venues. Open homosexuality isn't common outside of cities, and most LGBTQ+ people in rural Romania keep their sexuality a secret. Romania ranks in the lower half of EU countries on LGBTQ+ rights indices.

Read more: LGBTQ+, Diversity and Inclusion in Romania