Thinking to visit Bucharest? How about a longer trip around Romania, including its capital city? In the past few years, Bucharest started sparking interest from tourists all over the world – huge thanks for that – and I would like to give you some pro tips on making the most out of it. This is not just a list of WHAT to see in Bucharest – you have too many of those – but most especially HOW and WHEN to travel to certain spots, as well as some advice on creating your itinerary.
Curious?
Let’s start!
Book a guided tour and visit Bucharest properly
It’s a no-brainer when you arrive at a new place with a new culture. Through a walking tour in Bucharest, you get to learn about so much more than just a few landmarks – the history, religion, and first hand recommendations on whatever you need to know. Talking to a local guide helps you get the answers to questions you didn’t even know you had. Try this and thank me later.
Discover our Bucharest Free Walking Tours by clicking here!
The Old Town – day and night shift
So, are you a history geek or a party animal? While you can still be both, I would recommend you visit the Old Town like this:
- for the history, buildings, and chill vibes, after 11:00 a.m. This is when everything wakes up to life, when souvenir shops are open, as well as little bistros, cafes and pubs. There is a thing I see, and while I don’t think it’s a mistake, I think it doesn’t do the area justice: people coming there very early in the morning. You should know that until 10:00 a.m, everything is getting ready to welcome people – from the garbage trucks to all suppliers filling the narrow cobblestone streets. It chips away from the historical charm and even from the alleys you should enjoy.
- nightlife, on the other hand, is a completely different story. First of all, the Old Town turns into a nightlife spot in the heart of the city. If you like pub crawling, electric atmosphere, fun and alcohol, then you should give it a chance, on a Friday or Saturday, after 11 p.m.
It’s the complete opposite of what it is during day time, and you might like it (a lot).
But hear me out: Once you’ve seen the Old Town, day and night, maybe you want to expand, to go to the next level of traveling in the Romanian capital.
Get lost in the charming neighborhoods – each with its own personality
You are enjoying Bucharest like a local when you venture out of the Old Town. Not that there’s something wrong with it – we still end up there for a wild night every once in a while. But you know what’s even better? Its surroundings. Even other neighborhoods. I will list them from the most central to the furthest away, but worthy of your time.
- Calea Victoriei Area – The Victory Road is a historical artery of the city, right at the limit of the Old Town, leading up to the Victory Square. My favorite way to spend a random afternoon or week-end is to walk that street from one end to another and choose what coffee shop/bar/cake shop I want to try, what museum to visit or even what new church to discover. It is open for pedestrians only from May to October, encouraging street performers, flash mobs and other forms of art to take place there. Definitely worth a try.
- Piața Amzei – Amzei Square is a lovely area close to the Romana Square and Victory Road, with plenty of cute specialty coffee shops (yes, we are obsessed with them, it’s basically a cult) pubs and restaurants with fusion international cuisine. It’s the go-to area of so many, where you can find one of the most popular places for MERDENELE – a delicious and savory pastry – bonus points if it’s from Nea Mihai – thank me later.
- Cartierul Armenesc – The Armenian Quarter is so underrated! Very close to the city center, less seen by tourists. What to do there? Get lost! Wander around, discover old architecture, enjoy the belle epoque vibes of the area and have an eye – again – on the cute restaurants there. Hidden gems!
- Cotroceni – another area with breathtaking architecture and impressive gardens (pro tip – visit during May, June, for the jaw-dropping roses). Should I mention the coffee shops again? Take the subway to Eroilor station and just go towards Eroilor Sanitari Blvd. This is a select area of the city, where you can go hunting for the most beautiful villas in town.
- Herăstrău Park – during daytime, lovely for nature, jogging, relaxation. You will also discover fancy restaurants by the lake, more on the high end. Also, this turns into a nightlife area in Bucharest, less touristy and a bit spicier.
- Dorobanți – the affluent area of the city, with impressive and different houses, cool places to eat and (again, we can’t help it) lovely coffee shops. This is right next to the Herăstrău Park, so you can pair them up.
Go off the beaten path
If earlier I was explaining where WE go out, now I would like to introduce you to what I like to call ACTUAL BUCHAREST. Are you curious about where the majority of us live? Does the simple, utilitarian type of apartment buildings entice you? Then why not have a stroll in the ”worker neighborhoods” from here? Yes, the ones built in the communist times, resembling the uniform, patterned (and sometimes gray) Eastern European vibes. After all, this is where you landed so why not taste all the flavors of the city. The easiest way is to hop on the subway, take the blue (M2) line towards Tudor Arghezi (basically down south) and exit at the Tineretului/ Constantin Brâncoveanu station (also for the parks there). I am subjective, of course, Berceni is my neighborhood and I would like to show everyone the parks I grew up in, the spots next to my highschool or the nice murals from there. But Militari or Drumul Taberei are also good examples of communist areas, if you are curious about this part of here.
Forget about checking things or places from a list
Yes, to be prepared and informed is one of the best feelings and definitely helps you while traveling. what am I talking about, even THIS is a list of tips for this. But what I mean is – don’t get stuck in very rigid guidelines, don’t get too tired from attending too many guided tours a day, or hopping from landmark to landmark. Be smart about planning. Note a few things you WANT doing, and then be a bit more flexible, curious and even dive into the unknown by trying not to do THAT much. Slow down a bit, take it as it comes and create beautiful memories.
I would like to conclude using a popular Anthony Bourdain quote about traveling – albeit, in Paris, but this is the Little Paris so it’s ok – ” Make the most of it by doing as little as possible. Walk a little, get lost a bit, eat, catch a breakfast buzz, have a nap, try and have sex if you can, just not with a mime. Eat again.” You can use this for Bucharest and I promise, you will love it.
