Working in Romania as a digital nomad

Romanian benefits for digital nomads

Why choose Romania? Well, because the country might have all the ingredients for a digital nomad to move from their homeland:

• Thriving startup scene: the IT market has developed a lot, and the tech ecosystem is also flourishing. There are lots of events and meetings in this area that will help digital nomads improve their knowledge.
• European hub: Romania has a great location, in central Europe, having different countries and civilizations as neighbours. Unlike the USA or New Zealand, you are only a few hours away from the Romanian land. There are so many direct flights from the most important cities in Europe that it's impossible not to find the perfect route.
• Pleasant coastal climate.
• Rich folklore and immense cultural interest.
• Young and quickly developing digital nomad destinations.
• One of the cheapest countries in Europe, with a great quality of life though, especially in the big cities.
• The Romanian people are friendly, most of them speak English, they are helpful and very kind when it comes to foreigners. 

Conditions to meet by digital nomads in Romania

When it comes to the conditions of working in Romania, digital nomads can choose from different internal destinations. 

For those who enjoy the buzzing city life, they can choose the capital, Bucharest, or Cluj. The last one is actually the most important economic centre of the Transylvania region. Constanta is another reasonable city by the sea, while Iasi and Timisoara are also important urban centres.

All over these cities, the expats who are also digital nomads will find coffee shops, malls, parks, sports centres, swimming pools, cultural events, museums, restaurants, exhibits, public transport, hubs, and taxis, but also other means of transportation such as Uber. Compared to other European countries, Romania is quite cheap, which is a dream for digital nomads all over the world. 

The best cities to live in Romania and their coworking spaces

Bucharest is Romania's capital and also the largest city in Romania. With a population of 1,828 million people, Bucharest is a busy, dynamic urban centre. In a permanent development, the capital is very friendly when it comes to expats and digital nomads. There is a good 4G coverage, plenty of Wi-Fi hotspots, coffee shops, and coworking spaces: 

• Impact Hub Bucharest, Splaiul Unirii 165, Timpuri Noi Square, clÄdirea 2, 1st floor;
• TechHub Bucharest, Parter, Strada Nicolae Filipescu 39-41;
• Pura Vida Hub Bucharest, Strada Smârdan, nr 15;
• SpacesWorks, Unirii Area;
• WeLoveDigital, Bvd Dacia, nr 30;
• The Office Hub, Bvd Mihai Bravu.

Cluj is another great city to live in, with almost the same costs as Bucharest, but a city with a greater quality of life. The quality of the internet is at its best, and the free Wi-Fi areas are more numerous than in the other cities in Romania. Here are some coworking hubs in Cluj: 

• Cluj Hub, Commercial Center, Ferdinand 22-26 3rd Floor in CENTRAL;
• Cluj Cowork, first floor, Strada Republicii 14, Cluj-Napoca 400000;
• Silicon Forest, Str Cotita 9, Str Deva, nr 1-7;
• That Dev Space Cluj, Str Brasov, nr 37.

Timisoara is the most significant economic centre in the West of the country, a city that combines modern culture with Romanian traditions. With a large metropolitan area, Timisoara has plenty of coworking places for digital nomads:

• Workplace Hub, Bvd Take Ionescu, nr 46;
• CoWork Timisoara, Str Aries, 19;
• DevPlant Cowork, Str Proclamatia de la Timisoara.

How fast is the internet in Romania?

Did you know that Romania has the 5th fastest internet in the world? As shocking as it might seem, it is true. While in Peru, for instance, the average upload speed is 6 Mbps, in Sibiu, the average is around 100 Mbps. 

So, if your work includes uploading and downloading lots of documents, photos, and videos, Romania will give you the best welcome you can get. The fast internet is essential for a digital nomad, as well as the free Wi-Fi areas, which are present in almost every coffee shop, library, school or mall. Anyone who is dependent on the internet knows how crucial is a stable connection. And Romania has it. 

Also, if you will not find free Wi-Fi, there are prepaid SIM cards, with mobile internet, which is cheap and smashing too. 

Visas for digital nomads in Romania

Romania is a member of the UE, but not of the Schengen space. This means that foreigners can stay for 90 days in the country, every six months. This applies to Canadian, American and Australian citizens. When it comes to the Europeans from UE countries, they can stay as much as they would like. This is the huge perk of the freedom of movement rights in the Union. 

Find out more about visas for Romania.

 Useful links:

Romania Tourism
Map of free Wi-Fi hotspots in Romania