Borșa is a mountain town with tourist-friendly services, but connectivity and local habits differ from what you'd find in a big city. Here's what money to bring, how to handle an emergency, and what to expect from internet and language at rural guesthouses.
Money and Payments
The local currency is the Romanian leu (RON, plural "lei"). Outside major towns and tourist hotels, cash payments are still common — don't assume every guesthouse or local shop takes cards. Carry enough cash for everyday spending: meals at local homesteads, local transport, souvenirs. Exchanging currency on the street is illegal — use banks or licensed exchange offices only.
Emergencies
The national emergency number is 112; it works from any mobile or landline phone and connects to police, ambulance, and fire services. Save it in your phone and describe your location as precisely as you can, in Romanian or English. For incidents on mountain trails, keep in mind signal can be intermittent at altitude — see the connectivity section below.
Connectivity and Internet
Physical SIM cards and eSIMs are easy to get in Romania. In the valley and in Maramureș's smaller towns, mobile signal and data are generally good; wifi is widespread, and most accommodation offers it free. On the high hiking ridges, though, signal is intermittent — our trail guide notes this limitation explicitly. Download offline maps before heading out on a trail.
Language
The local language is Romanian. In Borșa and tourist-facing areas, younger generations and tourism businesses often understand English, but at rural guesthouses and with older generations, English can be less reliable. A few short Romanian phrases — hello, thank you, please, how much? — go a long way and are appreciated at small guesthouses.
Getting There
Dedicated guides exist for each option on this site: getting to Borșa without a car (coach, train, airport transfer) and the driving distances from Baia Mare or Cluj-Napoca. Check those pages for routes and schedules.
For accommodation, see our accommodation guide to Borșa and Moisei.