Want to visit Bucharest and do it like a local – then this guide is for you.
Having recently returned from a three night stay I have to say it’s possibly one of the most action packed weekends I’ve had. It helped that our group of 4 was guided by a friend who grew up in Bucharest, but it meant we weren’t short on things to do. So if you are looking for things to do in Bucharest, look no further and hopefully this guide will inspire you…
Where To Stay In Bucharest?
If you have already booked your place to stay then skip this part, but if not, read on.
To be honest, in terms of location, anywhere that is within the main inner sectors of the city will be fine. If you want to be near to most of the action then stay near to Old Town – but I’d avoid the very centre of Old Town as it is busy and loud pretty much 24/7.
On our recent visit we stayed near old town in this lovely 4 bedroom apartment.
Getting Around Bucharest
As I mentioned, location doesn’t matter too much as the city is really well connected. You can use Uber to hail a cab pretty much anywhere and anytime – but if you are a group of 4 you will need to book an XL – the standard cabs generally only allow 3 passengers as the maximum.
You also have the metro that is very efficient, buses are cheap and plentiful and if you are feeling brave you can take one of the electric scooters that you’ll find all over the city – simply scan with your smartphone and go.
The Perfect 3 Days In Bucharest
There’s always something going on in this city – or so I’m told. But every time I’ve visited (usually in June or July) there have been events not to miss. Happening this time, and something that was totally out of my comfort zone was the Neversea Kapital festival held at the National Stadium right in the city centre – more on this in a moment.
Bars & Cafes
Like most trips to a new city, we started out on foot exploring as much as possible. Hitting a very nice craft beer bar on the way towards Old Town. It was here where we were introduced to our first Palinka – a type of fruit brandy that is tradition to drink prior to eating – it’s certainly one to wake you up.
If bar or cafe culture is your thing, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Bucharest. You can go cheap or high end – there is something for everyone.
A couple of my favourites from my most recent trip were The Vault (located in what was once an old bank vault but is now a fancy hotel) and Bar Ton which is found on Strada Ion Câmpineanu 24 and has a set of decks in the middle and vinyl to choose from. Both of a good selection of cocktails, wines and beers – although The Vault is high end priced to match it’s decor.
Restaurants
My go to for finding good restaurants (probably like most people) is Google Maps ratings. This definitely worked for us in Bucharest but we also had our superpower – Alex. Alex grew up in Bucharest and although he now lives near me in the UK, he visits home regularly and is clearly still very much in touch with the local food scene.
He is also very proud of the local traditions and especially of the local food and wine. He took us to a couple of really fantastic traditional style restaurants and I have to say, the food was sublime.
We tasted local delicacies including a cabbage roll wrapped in soft pastry (which was a lot tastier than it sounds), grilled meats, local cheese and even one place where they served sausage by the metre (on metre long boars perfect for sharing).
La Mahala just on the edge of Old Town was where we had the real traditional fayre (with Palinca of course) and I’ve dropped an image of us enjoying that below.
The following day we headed to Hanu’ Berarilor Casa Oprea Soare (the sausage by the metre place) where they have the most delightful garden terrace with exceptional food and wine. Both of these places are rated below my usual 4.5 threshold on Google Maps at time of writing – again showing just how much of a super power Alex was to us and that sometimes you shouldn’t believe everything you read online.
Museums
Bucharest is awash with culture so plan maybe half a day to take in some of the top museums or galleries. The National Museum of Art was one that we decided to do and with tickets costing 6 Lei (around 1 euro) it’s well worth a walk around.
It’s slap bang in the centre of the city and features old and new Romanian art as well as art from around Europe. They also have visiting exhibitions with temporary installations and is a really interesting experience and one that can help you escape the heat and hectic nature of the city during summer.
Just plan ahead as the museums and galleries are not open every day – so always check websites before you visit.
Events – Neversea Kapital
The Neversea festival is usually held at the beach, a couple of hours away from Bucharest – so we felt lucky to be in the city at the time of the first every Neversea Kapital festival, that sees the festical take over the national stadium and surrounding areas – with three stage areas all playing dance and house music.
It’s very much not my scene, but even I couldn’t help get caught up the moment during a Salvatore Ganacci set that had great music, incredible special effects and some of his signature videos playing away.
Day tickets cost around £30 and were one of the best value experiences we had during our visit. Of course, this festival likely won’t be on during your visit but do look out for big events like this in the city. Romanian people are incredibly friendly and welcoming and you’ll have a blast at any event you choose to go to I’m sure.
Something Different – Wine Tasting
One of the other reasons I like Alex so much is for his love of wine – and he obliged us with booking a wine tasting at Wine Mood Bistro. Alex thought he had booked an English speaking tasting which didn’t turn out to be the case. But the wine and food pairing transcended the language barrier and it was still a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Alex also manage some translation for us and the sommelier who was dressed in his professional medals also took the time to speak some English to us.
Even without the tasting, if you like wine and have the chance to visit Wine Mood Bistro I’d highly recommend it. They have some of Romania’s finest wines, the decor is moody, candlelit and everything a wine connoisseur would wish for.
Finish With Therme Bucharest
No trip, and I mean NO TRIP to Bucharest is complete with out visiting Therme Bucharest. Thanks to it’s close proximity to the airport, some people even travel to Bucharest for the day just to visit this place – it’s that good!
Think wellness retreat in a huge oasis of water filled fun and relaxation – there is something for everyone. They have different zones, so if you are there with the kids you’ll need to head to the Galaxy Zone – which has the wave pool, water slides and is the only part accessible for under 14s. The Palm is the adult zone and features hot mineral pools, swim up bars serving beers, cocktails and more – and you can even take part in fitness sessions in one of the pools.
The Palm has indoor and outdoor pools – so take your pick and don’t be limited by the weather.
Upstairs you’ll find Elysium (which carries an additional charge) and gives you access to several saunas with varying temperatures and aromas – the Himalayan Salt sauna being one of my favourites, followed by the cold water area next door.
You have loungers galore to relax on and the food area serves cuisine for all around the world, is inexpensive and delicious.
We visited on our way back to the airport and took our carry on cases and hand luggage with us – keeping them in the lockers provided with entry.
It was without a doubt a highlight of the trip so be sure not to miss this one.