Welcome to your new world! With the hustle and bustle of the city, the honking cars, the hasty people, and the barking stray dogs it is very likely that your first impression is far from good, but – we assure you – patience will be rewarded. The city definitely has its plusses, you may just have to dig a little deeper. Once you get to know the people, the culture and nightlife, the hotspots, the DOs and DON’Ts, you’ll experience a change of heart. The metro system is reliable and inexpensive, the English competency of the average person is pretty decent, and the specialty dishes (papanasi, sarmale and mamaliga) will get you hooked. The countryside close to Bucharest is amazing and diverse; Bulgaria is closer than you might think; and the old town Lipscani has finally started to grow and become a great area full of positive energy, ready to be explored.
First off, a few general pieces of information:

Ţ or ţ is pronounced TS like ‘ts’ in ‘skits’
Ş or ş is pronounced SH like ‘shoe’
Ăă, Ââ, and Îî, are very difficult for most foreigners to master.
They sort of sound like ‘uh’ but we recommend that you just listen very closely as a Romanian pronounces them, and then practice thousands of times. Seriously! Except for above and just below (to show you what they look like in words) Romanian diacritics (Aa, Ââ, Îî, Şş, Ţţ,) are not used in our guide. This might seem culturally insensitive until you realize that they are frequently not used by many Romanians. Newspapers, magazines, and signs often don’t use them or use them incorrectly. In fact, if you have any Lei in your pocket, pull them out: they famously incorrectly display the A-caron (ǎ) instead of the correct A-breve (â) in Banca Naţională a României (The National Bank of Romania)
Phrases to get you out the door: 
‘Hello’ is Bunǎ ! (BOO-nuh) or Salut!
‘Good morning’ is Bunǎ dimineaţa (BOO-nuh dimi-ne-atsa)
‘Good day’ is Bunǎ  ziua (BOO-nuh ZEE-wah)
‘Good evening’ is Bunǎ  seara (BOO-nuh seara)
‘Goodbye’ is La revedere (LA reh-veh-der-eh) or Pa!
‘Yes’ is Da
‘No’ is Nu
‘Thank you’ is Mulţumesc or Mersi (Mool-tsoo-MEsk), (Merci)
‘Excuse me’ Scuzaţi-mǎ  (Skoo-ZATS- ma)

Conversions: 
1 in = 2.54 cm
1 m = 3.3 ft = 1.1 yd
1 mile = 1.6 km
1 kg = 2.2 lb
1 oz = 28 g
1 Imperial gallon = 4.55 L
1 US gallon = 3.78 L

Important things to remember!

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HINT!See the taxi section for more info! There are also many common signs you will have to learn. Here are a few of the more important ones:
RATB is the symbol for public street-level transport, including buses, trolleys and trams. You will find this sign above all ticket and monthly subscription desks, signs indicating where the stops are, and their line numbers. Check out their webpage: www.ratb.ro. You’ll see this red sign posted on very old buildings. The message warns people that the building may collapse in an earthquake.

This is a typical street sign. As well as the street (strada) name, it also shows the sector (sector). Check the Interesting Links section of the guide for a site with an amazing bird’s-eye view map of the city.

Punctuality 

Since one always sees Romanians in a hurry, bumping into others and often not apologizing, one is entitled to believe that they are a very punctual people. The truth is quite the opposite. Romanians are often 10-15 minutes late for any kind of appointment, using the famous Romanian saying “the academic quarter of an hour”, which means that anyone is entitled to be 15 minutes late. Anything over is considered rude, but 15 minutes is within reasonable limits. Still, you will find very different attitudes to punctuality in entrepreneurial companies or those that frequently do business internationally. Also, this concept of not being precisely on time applies not only to Romanian people, but to all things Romanian: the trains and buses, the schedules of public institutions, and shops. Although, shops sometimes also have the reverse system of closing early and this can be rather frustrating.
Stray Dogs

About stray dogs: It is said that if you dream that a dog bites you, you might fight with somebody… As you may have heard or experienced, stray dogs are sometimes a threat to public safety. If you are bitten by a dog you must immediately go to a hospital and in Bucharest the only place to get rabies shots is at

Colentina Hospital:

Address: 19-21, Stefan cel Mare St.,
Phone: +40 21-316 54 95,
Web: www.spitalulcolentina.ro- the website is also in English.
There the vaccination is free. The local authorities can pick stray dogs up, but there is a special department (part of City Hall) which deals with them.

Administratia pentru Supravegherea Cainilor fara Stapan

Address: 2, Selari St.
Phone: +40 21-312 95 55
Web: www.asa-bucuresti.ro/asa/ 
The website is only in Romanian, and people working at this department speak hardly any English, so you may want to have a Romanian friend make a call. You can also call “Four Paws” (or Vier Pfoten) which is a non-profit organization that takes care of (or picks up) stray dogs.

VIER PFOTEN Romania

Address: 42, Theodor Aman, St., suite 6, Sector 1
Phone: +40 21- 316 77 31
Web: www.vierpfoten.ro

Another new program through Four Paws is the Stray Animal Care project, which started in 2002 and tries to implement a project of sterilization. Contact Anca Tomescu, the coordinator of the program for more info.
Hint! You can also check out The GIA (Group Initiative for Animals Association), which offers animal care on a large scale- see the NGO section for more details!
Stray dogs are not just to be felt sorry for, however. There are other serious issues that arise from their presence as well. Attacks on people do occur and there have been some famous and fatal examples of this. For this reason we have put together a brief FAQ section here for you.

Question: How can I avoid being bitten by a dog?
Answer: Never approach an unknown dog, especially one that is tied, confined behind a fence, or in a car. Never pet a stray dog. Even if you know the owner, always let the dog sniff you first. Never turn your back to a dog and run away; a dog’s natural instinct is to chase and catch you. Don’t disturb a dog while it’s sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy, or caring for puppies. Be cautious: always assume that the dog sees you as an intruder or a threat. Also, remember that dogs form packs and are more prone to attacking you than lone stray dogs.

Question: What should I do if I think a dog may attack?
Answer: If a dog that you think may attack confronts you, follow these steps:

Question: What should I do if I am bit by a dog?
Answer: If you are bitten or attacked by a dog, try not to panic. Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water, and contact your physician for additional care and advice.

Question: What about my children?
Answer: The most important lessons for children to learn are to avoid dogs they don’t know, and not to stare them in the eyes.

Romanians celebrate the usual Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter (although Romania is a secular state, the vast majority of Romanians are Romanian Orthodox), as well as traditional and some newly adopted ones. For instance, Valentine’s Day is very popular, and the American Halloween is making some good headway!

List of official non-working holidays in Romania

Official Observances (working holidays): 

Traditional Observances 

Parking is one of the major problems in Bucharest. You’ll almost always have trouble finding a parking place, both in the city center and in residential areas. Usually, there are paid parking lots in the center with prices ranging from RON 1.5-3 per hour. In 2010, the state internalised the management of certain car parks. Traffic Wardens will present you with a ticket noting your hour of arrival, so you will know how much to pay. Be aware that shady looking people might ask you for parking tickets: try to always make sure they give you a receipt and are wearing an uniform. Driving Drivers in Bucharest are sometimes a threat. The “dangerous drivers” category can include anyone and everyone. It is a good idea to avoid the main boulevards during rush hours and take secondary routes; they are often less crowded. Another thing you should keep in mind is that “Road Rage” is common in Romania: you might have people wave their fist or yell at you if they feel you did something wrong. You can apologize (if you made a mistake), but do not stop for an argument! Unfortunately, the difficulties with driving do not stop at the city limits either. Driving from one city or county to another can be equally dangerous and frustrating. You will see people doing things on the road that you would only see in movies elsewhere. From passing on dangerous bends, to cutting you up in the middle of a rainstorm while driving at 120 km / hour, you must expect the worst. Our advice is to stay calm, and be a very defensive driver. Be very aggressive (passing and keeping your lane) only when you absolutely must. Eventually, you may start to feel right at home on the roads, only to terrify your friends and family when you go back to your home country!

Hint! If you hear many cars honking, it is either a traffic jam or a funeral. Yes that’s right. In Bucharest and some parts of Romania this is a tradition. People may also beep their horns for weddings (as in Western Europe), but it is more commonly used for funerals in Romania.