Bucharest Health

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It is generally NOT recommended to drink tap water, mostly because of the old pipe network that the city has at its disposal, and the huge amounts of chlorine added into the water. You should buy bottled water, available in 2 liter bottles (carbonated - apă minerală/acidulată, or non-carbonated - apă plată; about 2.0-2.5 lei/bottle), or in 5 liter bottles (non-carbonated, about 3.0-5.0 lei/bottle).

Those with allergies may find Bucharest annoying in that it is both hot and very dusty in the summer, with temperatures easily exceeding 40 C in July and August, so bring whatever you might need to stay comfortable. Please note that there are very limited shaded areas in Bucharest, so, during the summer, sun strokes and heat strokes can be very dangerous.

Pharmacies are usually open between 9 AM and 6 PM, but many will stay open through the night. In Romania, there are relatively few over-the-counter drugs available, but pharmacists are allowed to dispense limited quantities of some prescription drugs (such as pain relief medicine) for what they see as immediate needs. Bucharest has 6 designated emergency hospitals and a modern ambulance service, plus a large number of additional public and private hospitals, clinics, and dental practices.