Union Day/Small Union

📣 Traveler notes

Romania offers diverse natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and historic cities. The country is characterized by a blend of ethnic groups and notable modern development since joining the EU in 2007. It contains one natural and six cultural UNESCO World Heritage sites.

• Respect for the elderly is highly valued.
• When greeting a room or group, it is expected to shake hands with everyone.
• Be mindful of traditional greetings when meeting women.
• Public intoxication is considered inappropriate.
• Avoid linking Romanian culture to Slavic or Balkan regions, or making assumptions about its history with the Russian Empire/Soviet Union.
• Approach discussions on ethnic tensions with care.
• When entering a home, remove your shoes. Greetings often involve cheek kisses or handshakes. It is customary to assist or yield seats on public transport, particularly to the elderly or pregnant. Be prepared for repeated insistence if politely refusing an offer.