Money and payments in Craiova

The currency is the leu

Written RON or lei, and it is not the euro — nobody prices in euro here. Notes are plastic. Change from a large note in a small shop can be a struggle, so break big notes at a supermarket.

Cards work in most places

Both malls, the supermarkets, the hypermarkets, the chain pharmacies, hotels and nearly every restaurant and specialty coffee bar take Visa and Mastercard, contactless included. Phone payment is normal. You can spend a week here and barely touch cash.

Where you still need cash

Bus ticket kiosks, the market stalls, some taxis, small neighbourhood shops, tips, and the odd family-run kitchen. Keep a couple of small notes on you.

Cash machines and the conversion trap

ATMs are everywhere, including both malls and the stations. When a machine or a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency instead of lei, decline it — always choose to be billed in lei and let your own bank convert.

Exchange offices

Casa de schimb valutar counters take euro, dollars and sterling. Check the rate on the board and whether there is a commission before you hand anything over; the ones inside malls are usually fair.

Wise

The best way to pay by card that we know of. It holds lei next to your own currency, converts at the real exchange rate rather than a marked-up one, and the transaction costs and fees are the lowest we have found anywhere. It works globally, and the card is accepted everywhere the terminals in Craiova are.

Referral link — it costs you nothing and may give us both a free transfer.