Staying connected during a trip to Romania is now simpler and more affordable than ever, but the available options vary significantly depending on your nationality and how you use the internet and phone services. Whether you’re a European citizen benefiting from free roaming or a non-EU traveller seeking the best local SIM, understanding how mobile connectivity in Romania works will help you save money and avoid unpleasant billing surprises.
Romania has one of Europe’s most advanced digital infrastructures: average internet connection speeds rank among the continent’s highest, 4G/LTE coverage reaches rural areas, and 5G is available in major cities. This means browsing, using maps, sharing photos on social media or making video calls won’t be a problem, provided you choose the right solution for your needs.
If you need to receive calls from abroad or provide your number to hotels and local services, remember that Romania’s international dialling code is +40.
Since June 2017, thanks to European regulations on “Roam Like at Home”, citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and the United Kingdom (through post-Brexit agreements) can use their home tariff plan in Romania without additional charges. This means your minutes, SMS and gigabytes included in your subscription are used exactly as if you were at home.
When you arrive in Romania, your phone will automatically connect to one of the local networks (typically Orange, Vodafone or Telekom), and you’ll receive an SMS from your operator confirming roaming activation. From then on you can browse, call and send messages normally, using your home plan’s data allowance.
However, there are some limitations to be aware of. Operators can apply a “fair use policy” if you use roaming for extended periods — generally more than 4 consecutive months per year — in Romania. In this case they might apply small surcharges. Also, if your plan includes “unlimited” data traffic, the operator can limit the GB available for roaming to a maximum set by European regulations (calculated based on your subscription cost).
Always check your operator’s specific conditions before you travel. Some virtual or budget operators may have different policies or require manual roaming activation.
If you’re a citizen of a country outside the European Union, international roaming can become extremely expensive. Tariffs vary enormously depending on your operator and country of origin, but generally expect significant costs for data, calls and SMS.
Some typical tariff examples for non-EU travellers: data from €5 to €20 per megabyte (yes, you read that correctly: megabyte, not gigabyte), incoming calls from €1 to €3 per minute, outgoing calls from €2 to €5 per minute, SMS from €0.50 to €1 each. A single video accidentally uploaded to Instagram could cost you hundreds of euros.
For non-EU travellers, the best option is almost always to purchase a local Romanian SIM card upon arrival, offering abundant data traffic at prices vastly lower than international roaming.
Alternatively, check whether your operator offers international packages specifically for Romania or Europe. Some North American, Asian or Australian operators offer bundles that include a certain number of days of roaming at a fixed rate, but they rarely compete with purchasing a local SIM.
If your smartphone supports eSIM technology (iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and many other recent models), you can activate a Romanian data plan completely online before you even leave, without needing to buy and insert a physical SIM.
Services like Airalo, Holafly, Nomad or Ubigi offer eSIMs dedicated to Romania or Europe with data plans from 1 GB to 20 GB valid for 7 to 30 days. Prices typically range from €5 to €30 depending on the included traffic.
The main advantage is convenience: download the provider’s app, purchase the plan, scan the QR code and your eSIM is active within minutes. You can do this even before boarding the plane. Plus, you keep your main number active on the physical SIM, receiving calls and SMS normally, while using the eSIM for data only.
The downside is cost: tourist eSIMs are generally more expensive than physical local SIMs. A 10 GB eSIM plan for 15 days may cost €15-20, whereas a Romanian local SIM would give you 30-50 GB for 30 days at €5-10.
eSIMs are ideal for short trips (weekends or 3-4 days), for those wanting maximum convenience, or for those making multiple stops in different European countries. For longer stays or if you need lots of data traffic, a physical local SIM remains more cost-effective.
Purchasing a local SIM card in Romania is simple, affordable and guarantees you excellent connectivity at prices significantly lower than almost all Western countries. Romania has three major operators covering the entire territory with high-quality 4G/LTE networks and growing 5G coverage in cities.
Orange Romania is the country’s largest operator, with the widest coverage and generally considered the most reliable even in rural areas. It offers excellent connection speeds and a 5G network already active in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov and other major cities.
Vodafone Romania is the second-largest operator, with performance comparable to Orange and good coverage in both urban and rural areas. Particularly strong in major cities and along main communication routes.
Telekom Romania (formerly Orange Romania, not to be confused with the current Orange) is the third main operator, with a solid network and often competitive pricing. Coverage is good in cities and acceptable in countryside areas.
Digi Mobil is a newer operator gaining market share thanks to very aggressive pricing. It partly uses Orange’s network through national roaming agreements. Excellent value for money, but coverage in remote areas may be lower than traditional operators.
Romanian SIM cards are available at official operator shops, which you’ll find in abundance in major cities, shopping centres and airports. All international airports — Bucharest Henri Coandă, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași — have retail outlets of the main operators in the arrivals area.
You can also buy them at supermarkets, newsagents, kiosks and convenience stores, where you’ll find prepaid SIM cards in sealed packages. This option is convenient but means you’ll need to activate and set them up yourself, whereas official shops staff will do it for you.
To purchase a SIM in Romania you need a valid identity document — passport or ID card. Registration is required by law and your details are linked to the SIM card. The process takes just a few minutes.
Romanian SIM card prices are extremely competitive. A physical SIM typically costs between €1 and €5, often with included credit of equivalent or higher value. Many operators offer specific tourist packages ready to use.
As for prepaid plans, here are some typical options available in 2024-2025:
Orange offers plans from €5 for 30 days with 10-15 GB of 4G/LTE data traffic, unlimited minutes to Romanian numbers and 100-200 minutes to international numbers. Richer plans at €10 include 30-50 GB and more generous international minutes.
Vodafone has similar offers: €6 for 30 days with 12 GB, unlimited national minutes and SMS. At €10 you get 25-30 GB and international packages.
Digi Mobil is particularly aggressive: €3-4 for 30 days with 10-15 GB, unlimited national minutes. Their €5-7 plans offer 20-30 GB, a value for money that’s hard to beat.
All operators also offer data-only packages if you’re not interested in voice calls: for €5-7 you can get 30-50 GB valid for a month, ideal if you use WhatsApp or other VoIP services to communicate.
Romania has one of Europe’s highest average mobile internet speeds. On 4G/LTE you can expect download speeds between 30 and 100 Mbps in cities, with peaks even higher. 5G, where available, easily reaches 200-500 Mbps.
4G coverage is excellent in all cities, along motorways and main roads. Even in rural villages in Transylvania, Maramureș or Bucovina you’ll receive 4G signal in most cases. The only areas where you might find reduced coverage are some deep valleys in the Carpathians or very remote areas.
If you need to make calls to landlines or mobile numbers abroad and can’t use VoIP apps, you have several options.
With a local Romanian SIM card, tariffs for international calls vary depending on the operator and destination country. Calling EU countries typically costs €0.05-0.20 per minute, whilst non-EU countries can range from €0.50-2 per minute. Many operators offer additional packages with included international minutes.
Prepaid international phone cards are still available in Romania from newsagents and convenience stores, but they’re now much less competitive compared to VoIP apps or operator packages.
Public phones have virtually disappeared and where they still exist they rarely work. Don’t rely on this option.
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