Practical travel information on Health in Bucharest - Lonely Planet Travel Information

Health & safety

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Dangers & annoyances
While you're there

Dangers & annoyances

Bucharest gets a bad rap sometimes and we think it’s exaggerated. Still, like any big European city, there are risks to be aware of.

It’s said that Bucharest’s stray dogs (politically correct term of late: ‘community dogs’) number 100,000 – some say 200,000. Though it’s rarely a problem, travellers are occasionally bitten, and in 2006 a Japanese businessmen bled to death following a freak bite, which resulted in a severed artery. If bitten, go to a hospital for antirabic injections within 36 hours. Avoid any packs of dogs, who occasionally occupy empty lots behind buildings.

Another ‘danger’ is the taxi drivers who charge extortionately high prices. Worst are those outside Gară de Nord. Avoid using these (we’ve heard of travellers paying US$150 for a US$5 ride!). Wasteels can usually call for a taxi from the train station.

In the past, the fake-taxi scam tricked some new arrivals. These English-speaking drivers approached travellers at the train station and claimed to be from a hostel, then charged skyscraper-high rates for the ride. Unless you have arranged transport from your accommodation, don’t take a ride with someone claiming to be from there. Glue-sniffing homeless people sometimes approach new arrivals outside the train station, asking for handouts.

Pick-pocket incidents are most likely on the sometimes very packed public buses or metro. Groups of begging kids can get touchy-feely around Piaţa Revoluţiei. In our many weeks in Bucharest, we heard of no travellers getting robbed, but it can happen. Never produce your wallet to a stranger – we’ve heard of a friendly looking local asking to see a 100-lei note, then taking the whole wallet and running.

Watch for the fake ‘tourist police, ’ where a man in an official-looking uniform demands to see your passport. Never hand one over on the street. If they persist, ask to go to the nearest police station. We’ve never had to show a passport to any real official other than at a random highway check for all cars and trucks.

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While you're there

Medical services

Emergency Clinic Hospital (230 0106; Calea Floreasca 8; 24hr) Bucharest’s best state hospital.

Medicover (310 4410, emergency 310 4040; www.medicover.ro; Calea Plevnei 96; 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, to 1pm Sat) Good private clinic.

Pro-Dental Care (313 4781; Str Hristo Botev 7; 10am-8pm Mon-Fri, to 4pm Sat)

Puls (224 0187; 7.30am-7.30pm, to 1.30pm Sun) Private ambulance company with English-speaking medics. Not for emergencies.

Sensi-Blu (www.sensiblu.com) B-dul Nicolae Bălcescu (305 7314; B-dul Nicolae Bălescu 7; 24hr); Calea Victoriei (315 3160; Calea Victoriei 12A; 8am-10pm Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm Sat & Sun) Excellent pharmacy chain with 18 locations in Bucharest.