Five great ways to Experience Bucharest, Romania

The Romanian capital, Bucharest is an incredibly affordable place to visit, so it’s not going to break the bank if you decide to escape here for a cheeky weekend away.

With frequent flight connections with budget airlines from the UK, it’s also easy to get to.

The city is known for its elegance and rich history – you can learn a lot about this corner of Europe just by walking around and looking up.

There is a lot to see and do and explore here over a long weekend, and if you’re thinking of coming here for a quick city break you might want to make sure you’re getting all the highlights in.

This is a city full of lovely parks to stroll around, many trendy cafes and drinking holes, as well as some breathtaking museums.

Between April and September, there are also a huge number of festivals and creative arts events going on in the city, so it’s definitely worth looking up what’s going on in advance and planning around it.

I was in invited to Romania to attend Experience Romania, A program set up by Tudor Maxim, A local business owner from Bucharest who has been working to promote the tourism industry in Bucharest and Romania, and this was the 4th edition.

Bucharest is a perfect place to escape to for a few nights of cultural adventure, and to help you make the most of your trip I’ve put together my five best ways to experience this beautiful city.

1. Walk around the old town of Lipscani, Bucharest

Treat yourself to a delightful evening out in the Old Town district – a vibrant place to go out at night and a really nice place to hang out.

Just taking a stroll around this historic and charming district will reveal many great choices when it comes to nightclubs and restaurants – when it comes to eating and drinking obviously it’s always better to have an informed opinion so maybe strike up a conversation with a local.

This area is known to the locals as Centru Vechi, and the river is just to the south if you want to take a stroll along the banks after your meal.

Coming to the Old Town was a bit of a highlight for me on my trip – I’ve been to old towns in cities all over the world and found this one particularly enchanting.

Stay at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel

Why not treat yourself during your stay in Bucharest and stay at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel.

You can stay in the best 5-star hotel in the city With affordable prices if you book in advance.

Comfortable modern rooms, a wonderful breakfast buffet to start your day and a great location with room views of the Palace of Parliament.

It’s my second time staying at the hotel during my visit to Bucharest and I’m always made to feel welcome at the hotel and would totally stay again.

2. Take a free walking tour with Walkabout Free Tour

A Walkabout Free Tour is probably the best way to understand what Bucharest looked like before WW2, and it’s certainly a great way to get a local’s perspective on a city that has seen a lot of change and upheaval.

This tour takes you around lots of preserved buildings, and guides you around some of the architectural gems that are well known to the locals but harder for tourists to find.

Just join the tour at the meeting point stated on the website, and enjoy a free walking experience with a helpful guide.

These tours are a perfect introduction to the gems of Bucharest that you might not have known about otherwise.

Take your pick between the ‘Story of Bucharest’ tour that fully fills you in on history. Or, choose the ‘Royal Century’ tour for a look at palaces and Belle Epoque architecture.

3. The Water Fountain multimedia show in Unirii Square

This water fountain is a brand new feature in the centre of Bucharest, and it attracts a lot of tourists and people out for the evening to marvel at the display.

On the weekends the show starts from 9:30 pm and lasts for an hour and a half.

The display includes four integrated ‘water screens’, making this a truly multimedia and high-tech show.

Prepare to wonder in pure delight, along with the crowd who can regularly be found enjoying this evening performance and a popular new attraction in Bucharest.

4. Palace of Parliament Bucharest tour

I was amazed by how big this palace was and it simply has to be seen in person to get a better understanding of the mass size.

It’s something of a reminder for the locals of a dark past they want to leave behind, but this gigantic construction is certainly worth a visit for some understanding of the history of Bucharest.

Best to book your tour in advance and directly with the Palace of Parliament for the best price, my guided tour was around €10 which offered a look around some of the rooms (It would take forever to visit all the rooms) and included a view from the terrace for a look over the city.

The palace is the second-largest administrative building in the world and was built to display the might of Communist rule. It’s a fascinating window into the cities history and the tour will help to offer a better understanding of the building.

5. Arcul de Triumf

This is a landmark destination that might give you an idea as to why Bucharest is known as ‘Little Paris’.

The Arcul de Triumf was built as Romania gained its independence in 1878 so victorious troops could walk under it.

These days it stands as a stunning tourist destination and classic piece of architecture in the city.

There is a really stunning viewpoint right at the top, a great place to enjoy sunset and take a moment to take it all in on your trip.

Thank you for reading all about Bucharest, Romania

I hope you enjoyed reading this guide featuring five great ways to experience Bucharest, Romania and you’re looking forward to visiting the capital city soon.

If you have any more questions about Bucharest, feel free to send me an email and I will be more than happy to help.