Taxis in Romania can be totally reliable and fair or your worst nightmare. You can hop in, pay a fair price, and arrive relaxed, or you can end up arguing with a scammy driver who swears you agreed to pay fifty euros for a ten-minute ride.
In today’s article, I will share a complete guide to taxis in Romania and what to do to pay a fair price and not get scammed.
Before we start, I want to make one thing clear: most Romanian taxi drivers are decent, hardworking people. But a few rotten apples, especially around airports and train stations, have given the rest a bad name (as is the case with all Romanians being frowned upon in Europe).
Quick Summary: What You Need to Know
If you’re in a rush or reading this on your phone before your flight lands, here’s the fast version:
- Average taxi fare: between 2.50-3.50 lei/km (€0.50-€0.70). Prices usually higher in smaller cities.
- Never accept rides from people approaching you inside airports or stations.
- Always check for the fare price displayed on the car door or dashboard.
- Ask for an estimate before getting in (or agree on a lump sum in advance).
- Prefer Uber or Bolt where available – you know the price in advance.
- Taxis are generally safe, but scams are more common in Bucharest and touristy spots than elsewhere.
If you want to get more in-depth, I’ve got that for you below. Let’s learn the full story!
Getting a Taxi from the Airport – The Horror Story
The first thing I told one of my non-Romanian friends before he set foot in the country was to be careful with the taxi he would get from the airport to the hotel.
He’d heard stories, as most travelers do, and felt ready. Spoiler alert: he wasn’t!
After landing, he found a taxi outside the airport and, as I had told him, asked the driver the cost before getting in. They agreed on 15 euros for the ride from the airport to the train station. Not cheap, but acceptable.
Halfway through the trip, though, the driver suddenly said: “You know what, the ride will be 50 Euros, I didn’t do the math right when we first talked.”
My friend said that no, he would not pay that much and that they had agreed on a different amount.
The taxi driver said that he misunderstood him, as he told “fifty“, not “fifteen“, but that was not true since my friend was prepared for this too and used his fingers to explain the “15” they had agreed on.
Some screaming and yelling followed (all in traffic), with my friend threatening to call the police or jump out of the car. It was not pleasant, as you can imagine.
Eventually, they settled for 20 Euros. However, it was a true test for my friend, and most people would probably give up – and that’s exactly how the scammers work. I personally would’ve paid the €50 and sworn to never set foot in that country again…
Because taxi drivers can be very intimidating here, they can get loud and curse a lot and, to put it bluntly: scare you and bully you into paying what they want.
But you have to keep your cool and make them understand that you’re not their next victim! It’s difficult (and fortunately rare), but it has to be done.
Are all taxi drivers scammers in Romania?
No, not at all. In fact, most taxi drivers in Romania are perfectly honest and rely entirely on the meter. They’ll turn it on as soon as the car starts, take the fastest route, and charge you exactly what’s shown, as they should.
The problem is that a few bad actors ruin it for everyone else. They take advantage of tourists who don’t know the language or the local prices, or simply try to scam them.
Bucharest is where most of the problems are reported, but this can also happen in touristy towns and basically anywhere… so it’s best to always be prepared.
How to Avoid Taxi Scams in Romania
Here’s exactly how to protect yourself from potential scams. It’s usually best to do this before visiting any city in the country (and, dare I say, anywhere in the world):
1. Check the Official Rate (Price per Kilometer)
Every legal taxi in Romania must display its price per kilometer both on the car doors and inside the vehicle, usually on the dashboard above the meter.
In Bucharest, the standard rate is around 2.50 lei/km (roughly €0.50), though some companies charge slightly more. A 10 km ride should cost about 25 lei (€5).
Smaller cities have different rates, in many being higher than the rates in Bucharest, as distances are shorter. Try to research the prices for the particular city you’re going to visit (or check it out on a few cars before hopping in).
Still, if you don’t see a rate posted, or if the rate seems suspiciously high, don’t get in. You will pay extra, and maybe even get scammed.
2. Ask for an Estimate Before You Get In
We saw that this doesn’t always work, but it should always be done. Even if you see the meter and the rate displayed properly, it’s best to ask the driver for a rough idea of the cost. A professional driver can always give a decent estimate.
If their estimate sounds wildly off or way too high for you, or they claim they can’t tell, find another taxi.
3. Use Reputable Taxi Companies Only
Each city has a few large, trusted firms. In Bucharest, for instance, look for Meridian, Pelicanul, or other large companies. Their cars are yellow, clearly branded, and have company numbers printed on the sides.
Avoid “no-name” taxis – the ones that look like they were painted by hand or have no company logo. Those are the ones that usually pull scams.
Also note: official taxis must display a license number and have a working meter visible near the dashboard. It’s even better if the taxi company has an app you can use for ordering the car – small cities rarely have this, but large cities do.
4. Avoid Airport and Train Station Hustlers
This one is key. Around the airports – but especially the train stations – you will be approached by men asking “Taxi? Taxi?”
NEVER get in a car with them!
They’re usually unlicensed drivers who will overcharge you or refuse to use a meter. It’s almost as getting in a car with a stranger. Never do it, it’s outright dangerous!
At Henri Coandă International Airport (Bucharest), as well as most of the other airports, use the touchscreen kiosks inside arrivals. You can select an official taxi, and a printed ticket will show the company name, rate, and car number – no negotiation, no nonsense.
Speaking of which, make sure to check out the Best Hotels Near the Bucharest Airport, as well as the Best Hotels Near the Bucharest Train Station.
5. Agree on a Clear Price Only as a Last Resort
Legally, Romanian taxis must use the meter no matter what. Agreeing on a fixed sum is technically illegal for licensed taxis. But some drivers will still insist OR accept it.
If you must agree on a price, make sure you both clearly understand it. Write it down or show the number on your phone screen if needed (to avoid the “confusion” like “fifteen” and “fifty” that my friend went through).
And if the driver tries to change the price mid-ride? Stay calm, refuse, and threaten to call the police (use the 112 number if really needed) – it usually works instantly.
Does this seem too complicated? Read about the Bucharest Public Transport instead, or get more in-depth with trains in Romania.
Alternatives to taxis in Romania: Uber, Bolt, Taxify
Ridesharing has exploded in Romania, to the point where taxi drivers once protested to have Uber banned (they succeeded temporarily – but it didn’t last, fortunately).
Today, apps like Uber or Bolt operate in all major cities and are usually cheaper and far less stressful – at least you see the price upfront and there’s no haggling.
Lately, some bad players entered these markets too and it’s common for drivers to confirm a ride, start heading towards you, only to cancel it before arriving if a better-paying one pops up in the area.
Extra Tips Most Tourists Don’t Know
Cash vs. Card: All taxis must accept cards, but don’t always do it, claiming that the reader doesn’t work. Always ask before getting in, and carry small bills (drivers sometimes “don’t have change” either).
Tipping is considered a must when taking a taxi. You usually tip around 10% of the price if it’s a higher cost or round it up otherwise (from 17 to 20 lei, for example). You can learn everything about tipping in Romania here.
Language barriers: If pronunciation worries you, show the fare or destination written on your phone. Numbers get confused easily.
At night or in small towns: Apps like Uber might not be available. Ask your hotel or restaurant to call a trusted taxi for you.
Safety: Serious incidents are extremely rare. Most bad taxi stories are about money, not danger. Still, share your route with a friend if traveling alone at night.
Wrapping up
In most cases, Romanian taxis are cheap, convenient, and absolutely fine if you know what you’re doing. And now you know, based on this article.
If you have other tips, questions, or stories to share – don’t hesitate to do so by commenting below.
Having lived in Romania for over 4 decades, I am here to tell you everything about this beautiful country. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, I love traveling and I’ve been writing about Romania since 2013. Currently living in Constanta.
We’ve only taken taxis in Romania twice, and both times were terrible. First time, we were scammed at the train station exactly in the way you described in your article. The second was when we got a driver who berated us for our whole trip because we called his dispatcher when it was apparent he couldn’t find us.
So, no more taxis for us. We have taken many an Uber, however, and never had a problem… except perhaps the time our driver, who told us he’s also a taxi driver, spent the whole trip complaining about all the other Uber drivers, for whom he held a strong distaste. LOL!!! Ubers here generally are nicer vehicles, have pleasant drivers and aren’t hard to order. In fact, we were visiting Bucharest the very first day when Uber was briefly banned from the country, yet found no challenge finding them for our rides. According to my wife, Romanians have a defiant nature and don’t like to be told what they can’t do. I say, good for them.
Sorry to hear about your bad experiences with taxi drivers. Good thing that there’s Uber in major cities, especially Bucharest. I would personally never take a taxi in Bucharest again because even if they don’t try to scam you (I learned how to deal with that), the risk of getting a very poor quality driver who is rude and drives chaotically is very high.
I think we were lucky when we went to Romania. Our prices were reasonable because we used Uber 🙂 so it was a set price every time. I would do the same again. I find it so much more convenient. With a regular taxi, very hard to tell if you’re getting taken for a ride since you’re not familiar with the place and they can take the long way.
Plus, Uber drivers do their best for you to feel good because they get a rating at the end of the trip, while taxi drivers don’t.
I had to learn by experience. Thanks for keeping us informed about this.
The emergence of apps is wonderful because you can easily summon the taxi yourself and watch the screen as it makes its way to you. I make it habit to sit in the front with the driver and follow Google Maps clearly open on my lap so I don’t get the “scenic route.”
I use rideshare apps as a last resort because I have noticed fees can fluctuate between the time of summoning and end time, plus the apps require so damn many clicks that it gets quite confusing. City busses are readily from the airport to the city center.
That is a great strategy, John! And you are right about the changing prices on Uber and the like, that’s what I dislike the most.