Top 10 Things to Know When Visiting Bucharest, Romania
There’s graffiti everywhere, yet it’s luxurious?!
#1
You Must Bring Your Original Passports and Book The Palace of the Parliament in Advance
This one we didn’t know about when visiting the Palace of the Parliament. You must show your original passports/ID’s in order to take the tour through the building. Driver’s licenses do not count. They are very strict about this. Additionally, you should book your tickets in advance. We assumed we could just walk in and look around, but that was clearly not the case. We had to wait more than 3 hours before the next tour time, which we later found out was lucky. Normally, they book up a couple of days in advance. So, be sure to get your tickets in advance and bring your original passports with you.
#2 – The Exterior of the Buildings Look Gross, But the Interior is Luxurious
Not going to lie, on our drive from the airport to our hotel, I was thinking, “Oh my gosh. Why did we want to come here?” It looks very trashy, as there is so much graffiti and rotting communistic buildings everywhere. But, once you walk inside several of these buildings, it’s like the most luxurious thing you’ve ever seen. That’s the word I kept using to describe the buildings: luxurious. I guess the saying goes “Never judge a book by its cover.” Bucharest really is a hidden gem that more people should visit.
#3 - Bucharest is Super Reasonable
Bucharest is a fantastic European city to visit if you’re on a tight budget. The most expensive meal we had was just $50 (3 drinks, 3 appetizers, 1 entrée, and dessert). The average cost for a museum ticket is $10, and an Uber ride from the airport to the city centre is an average of $15 as of right now (30-minute drive). As a side note, our personal souvenir we like from each place we visit is artwork of the city. Our budget is typically $40. The majority of souvenir art was just $4, so that puts things into perspective when traveling to Romania. As of April 2023, the rate is $1 = 4.4 Lei. And yes, they have their own currency - the Romanian Leu - NOT THE EURO.
#4 - Broken Cobblestones
It’s true that Bucharest looks rough around the edges. The outside definitely looks a bit worn out, especially the ground. We had trouble walking in many areas throughout Bucharest, but the worst seemed to be Old Town. The locals seemed used to it and knew to be careful, but we clumsy tourists were struggling! Just be mindful as you walk through the streets as it can be dangerous at times. Bucharest is not as touristy as other European countries (honestly refreshing), but they are currently behind the times in establishing safer walking paths for travelers the way other cities have created for tourists.
#5 - Heavy Smokers
Photo Credit: Foursquare City Guide
As we have observed, in general, Europeans tend to smoke more than Americans. Smoking products are legally required to show on their packets the dangers and consequences of smoking; however, that does not seem to stop many Romanians from doing so. My husband noticed smokers everywhere. I am a weirdo because I like the smell of cigarettes (just me?), but my husband was less keen. I tell you what, my first experience seeing a “smoking box” in an airport was in Bucharest… and it was PACKED with people.
#6 - The Nightlife is Fantastic!
In the morning, it feels like nobody is out. Bucharest definitely feels more like a ghost town at 7:00 a.m. When the sun goes down, it’s like everybody comes out from every corner of the city and goes to the pubs, restaurants, and clubs. There’s lights everywhere, strip clubs, people singing on the streets, hookah lounges, you name it. It’s probably the most lively nightlife we’ve seen since Bourbon street in New Orleans last year (we won’t talk about that night). We mainly saw the nightlife happening in Old Town, but it was practically the whole city partying. That being said, if you’re not that kind of person and just wants some quiet, I suggest finding a hotel outside the Old Town area.
#7 - Romanians Speak English Well
In general, most Romanians speak English pretty well. We were a little nervous since we’ve struggled in some other Eastern European countries. Given that Bucharest is still not as popular as other European cities to visit, we thought maybe it would be harder to communicate. Do not worry when coming to Bucharest. Most people, especially younger people, can speak English well. At most of the museums and attractions we went to, there was an English section on the signs and boards so we could read it. That being said, it is always a good idea to learn a few basic words in Romanian, such as mulţumesc (thank you).
#8 - Being a Vegetarian is Hard, But it is Not Impossible
My husband is a meat eater. He will eat his way through any kind of meat. Me, on the other hand, I cannot do that. I’m a casual vegetarian, which means I prefer to not eat meat, but I will eat meat on occasion. That was definitely a challenge in Bucharest. There was a lot of meat in the traditional Romanian restaurants, which were the places we wanted to visit. When reading and preparing for our trip, I kept reading blogs stating things like “good luck if you’re a vegetarian,” “you won’t find anything substantial in Romania to eat,” and, “95% of all menu items contains meat.” What a load of codswallop! Every menu had several options, such as cheesy polenta, grilled vegetable kebabs, potato dishes, bean soups, special Romanian salads, Romanian cheese boards, and countless types of bread in the bakeries (oh my gosh, the bread! I need to do a whole blog on Romanian bread… chef’s kiss). Don’t get me started on all the great desserts.
#9 - Bucharest is Safe
Crime in Bucharest is very low, especially compared to other European capital cities. We felt very safe and comfortable walking around Bucharest, even at night. Although it may look sketchy in some areas, there usually is no reason to be concerned or worried. That being said, there are some chances of petty crime, such as pickpocketing. Also watch out for spiked drinks in Old Town. Although it is rare, there have been instances of locals and tourists spiking drinks in some of the pubs and clubs. Just don’t take a drink from someone you just met and be smart. You should be fine.
#10 - Romanians are EXTREMELY FRIENDLY!
I don’t think we interacted with a rude Romanian. We were surprised by how kind and hospitable everyone was. We were treated with so much courtesy and care throughout our stay in Bucharest that the friendliness was what we talked about the most. The sense of humour was also super hilarious to us. I was barely breathing after our tour of the Palace of the Parliament. You will be greeted and welcomed by the wonderful people of Romania during your stay in Bucharest!
