Buying a SIM Card or eSIM for Travel in Romania

Someone told me recently that in the list of the most read books of all time, Dracula is second only to the Bible.

While it seems that “fact” is completely false (it did come from a Romanian in the tourist industry, after all), the book certainly hasn’t done any harm for Romania.

Transylvania continues to draw tourists in search of the bloodthirsty vampire. While they arrive for him, they stay because of the impressive mountain scenery and idyllic towns such as Brasov and Sibiu.

However, most visitors still enter through the country’s capital Bucharest — and it’s a very easy place to get connected. Prices for local SIM cards are low, data allowances are generous, and the process is straightforward.

If you plan to use a moderate to large amount of data, definitely go with one of those: it’s by far the cheapest option. If you’re only visiting for a short period and don’t expect to use your phone a lot, though, a travel eSIM will cost about the same and is even easier to get set up.

Whichever approach you take, here’s what you need to know.

There are four cell networks available in Romania, although you’re most likely to only notice the two larger companies, Orange and Vodafone.

These two currently cover 95% of the population with 4G/LTE and 5G. Both are available on pre-paid packages and you’ll get service in all towns and cities and often when traveling between them.

Both Orange and Vodafone offer a variety of packages suitable for short-term visitors to the country, and they’re cheap. For less than $10 you’ll have plenty of calls, texts, and data that last up to a month.

I purchased a Vodafone SIM when arriving in Bucharest, simply because it was recommended to me by a friend already living in the city.

The majority of people I know here are also using Vodafone, although Orange is actually the market leader according to the latest statistics. Either way, there’s little difference between the services they offer.

Because of the super-low mobile prices in Romania and ease of buying a local SIM card, it’s visitors whose phones can’t take a physical SIM card or who don’t need much data that will benefit most from a travel eSIM.

If that’s you, go with eSIMPal. Of the companies I regularly use and recommend, it’s the cheapest option at time of writing.

Specials and discounts can change things, though, so compare the latest prices in the table below before you buy. They’re updated every week, most recently on 5 Oct 2026.

As with the vast majority of travel eSIMs, these are data-only services with no phone number included. While apps like WhatsApp, Facetime, and Messenger work fine for voice and video calling, you’ll need to use eSIMPal’s sister company Yadaphone or one of the alternatives to make calls to other numbers

One thing worth noting: if you’re planning to travel to several European countries including Romania within a few weeks, it might be worth looking at some of the regional eSIM packages on offer.

One thing worth noting: if you’re planning to travel to several European countries within a few weeks, it might be worth looking at some of the regional eSIM packages on offer.

There are too many to list each one separately (and they change all the time), but as a starting point, these are the Europe eSIM options from companies I’d actually consider using:

New to eSIMs? They offer big benefits to travelers in terms of how quickly, easily, and (often) cheaply you can get connected when you arrive in a new country. Most recent phones support them, and you can read all about them here.

If you’re visiting other countries as well, make sure you check out our worldwide eSIM finder before you go. It has real-world recommendations for every trip, only takes a few seconds, and could save you a lot of money!

Most convenience stores and newsstands sell SIM cards. Due to the number of dedicated phone shops around the major cities, though, there’s little point in using them.

All shopping centers (of which there are many) will have a Vodafone and Orange shop, often two of each. If you’re looking for English-speaking staff, these stores are usually the most reliable. No ID is required for purchasing a SIM card in Romania.

Simply ask for a new SIM. There will often be a pile of them, ready and waiting for you to choose your preferred number. While activating the SIM is relatively straightforward, the staff at Vodafone have insisted on doing it for me each time.

Make the most of this help to ensure your credit is used to activate the package that suits you best.

If flying into Bucharest, the airport does not currently have a Vodafone or Orange shop onsite. SIM cards are available from the convenience stores inside, however.

However, with free Wi-Fi so readily available at the airport, shopping centres, cafes, and even some petrol stations, it might be worth waiting to visit one of the dedicated shops to ensure you receive the best deal.

Again, there are so many in the major cities that it’s unlikely you’ll be staying further than walking distance away from one.

A standard Vodafone SIM costs €6.05, and as I write this, you get 3000 domestic calls and texts and unlimited data for that price. It’s hard to beat that kind of deal!

Note: Costs are quoted in Euros but require payment in the local currency, leu. The conversion rate includes a 19% value-added tax.

Topping Up

Top-ups can be bought from Vodafone shops or newsstands and convenience stores. Vodafone is the only network in Romania that currently allows online top-up via international credit cards.

eSIMPal

Topping up with eSIMPal is simply a matter of heading back to the web page and either topping up or buying another package. Either way you don’t need to do any configuration: it uses your existing eSIM and starts working immediately.

Vodafone coverage in Romania has been excellent, and very reliable both in the capital and other major tourist cities like Brasov.

Even when driving through the mountains it was rare to lose phone signal. I was surprised to see speedy LTE available at the highest point of a recent journey through the mountains.

Romania is part of the European Union, so EU roaming regulations apply. These “roam like at home” rules ended roaming charges across much of Europe in 2017, letting you use a SIM card from any EU country across all the others at no extra charge.

When it comes to roaming elsewhere in the EU with a Romanian SIM, though, beware. The low price of cell service in Romania has allowed mobile companies to remove EU roaming from many of their packages, and reduce data allowances on others.

Vodafone is no exception: the package mentioned above doesn’t include roaming.

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Check out our guides to SIM cards and eSIMs in 65+ other countries here.

Main image via Marius Mitea