Paying in Romania without the hidden markup
Bucharest and Transylvania tourist towns have dense independent-ATM coverage with aggressive conversion screens.
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Say this at the counter
În lei, vă rog
Say it: Uhn lay, vuh rog
It means: “charge me in RON, please, without conversion.”
More languages on the refusal card.
Banca Transilvania, BCR and BRD branch ATMs are reliable; airport arrivals halls are lined with high-markup independents.
Cards common in cities; lei cash for rural guesthouses and markets.
Skip the airport ATM row entirely if you can: the machines by baggage claim carry the steepest conversion offers in the country.
What would a DCC “yes” cost you here?
Open the calculator preset to RON and see the overcharge on your exact amount, at today’s ECB reference rate.
Reviewed 7 August 2026 · Neighbours in the guide: South Africa · Japan · all 30 destinations