Located in Eastern Europe, Bucharest is the capital of Romania. It is a rarely visited city, but one that can surprise you a lot and where you can find very cheap flights. Below is the most important thing about this city.
Basic information of Romania
It is not part of the euro zone, its currency is the Romanian Leu. but this currency is widely accepted and you can also pay by card in many places.
Being a country in the European Union, if you have a SIM card from another of these countries, you will continue to be connected. More information here.
It is not part of the Schengen area, but Mexicans do not require a visa.
Accommodation in Bucharest here.
The language is Romanian, a Latin language with words similar to Italian and, to a lesser extent, Spanish. English is only spoken in certain tourist areas, but there are many people who can help you if you speak slowly, due to the similarity with Spanish.
💸 It’s a cheap city. The budget per day is 28 USD. If you want to know which other cities in Europe are very cheap, click here.
😷 To visit Romania it is required to carry travel insurance, click here for more information.
How do I get to Bucharest?
The easiest way to get to Bucharest is by air. And although it has a main train station, Gara de Nord, train journeys are quite slow. To this we must add that there are hardly any direct routes from other Eastern European capitals such as Belgrade in Serbia, so air travel is often the most convenient. Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport is located 18 kilometers from the city and is perfectly well connected by public bus to the center with a cost of less than 2 euros or by taking an Uber or taxi that will cost you between 8 and 15 euros depending on traffic.
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How many days to spend in Bucharest?
Many will tell you that one day is enough in this city, that most of Romania’s attractions are located outside the capital. However, if you are interested in delving into its history and visiting its monuments, I would recommend at least 2 days. Add one more if you decide to visit the famous Dracula Castle (officially Bran Castle) in a single day from Bucharest.
How do I get from Bucharest to Dracula’s Castle?
Dracula’s Castle is one of the main reasons why many travelers come to Romania. However, the visit is not as simple as you would imagine.
- The easiest option is to take a full-day tour that takes you to visit the castle and costs 70 euros (no food included).
- The second alternative would be to rent a car and make the trip of about 3 hours and 30 minutes on your own from Bucharest.
- The third option that would be the most economical is to make the trip on your own. In this way, on my trip I paid less than 30 euros. The bad news is that there is no direct bus or train so here is the step by step.
What to see in Bucharest?
The basic area that no visitor can miss is the Old Town or old part of the city. A fairly lively area where you will find restaurants, shops, bars and the occasional hidden architectural gem.
You also cannot miss in the city: the Parliament Palace, which is the government building made up of 1,100 rooms; the Stavropoleos Eastern Orthodox Church, the Romanian Peasant Museum, the Al Satului National Museum, the Mare din Bucharest Synagogue, the Romanian Athenaeum, Herastrau Park, the National Museum of Art of Romania and the University of Bucharest.
Travel tip. One of the best ways to get to know Bucharest is by taking a Free Walking Tour, there are 4 and they are: the history of Bucharest, History of communism in Bucharest, Legends of Bucharest and modern Bucharest. The schedules change according to the season, but are held daily.
Where to stay in Bucharest?
One of the best areas to stay in, right in the Old Town and its surroundings. This way you will have all the life of the city within walking distance and connections with public transport to the rest of the places of interest. More details here.
Another option is to stay near the Gare du Nord train station, especially recommended if you are passing through the city and will take the train to go somewhere else in Romania, such as Transylvania.
On my trip I stayed at the Popcorn Hostel which is a 5-minute walk from the train station and offers private and shared rooms. The shared ones start at 10 USD while the private ones start at 30 USD. More information and reservation here.
How do I get around Bucharest?
Public transportation is a great option to get around Bucharest. You only need to buy a rechargeable transport card for 5 LEU (1 euro) and each trip will cost you 1.5 LEU (less than .50 cents). Another option is to use Uber, which works quite well and is really economical with 10-minute trips in the city for about 10 LEU or 2 euros.
How do I make a route with more countries in the Balkans?
If you are interested in combining your visit to Romania with other Balkan countries such as Serbia, Bulgaria and even Turkey. Here the details of the route.
More information about Bucharest
Bucharest has been the capital of Romania since 1862, with an area of 228 square km that is located on the banks of the “Dambovita” in the south of the country, which has become its main financial, industrial, cultural and commercial center.
Although the origin of the word Bucharest or Bucharest (in Romanian) is uncertain, we do know that its meaning is “the beautiful, pleasant or pleasant city.” It is also known as the “Paris of Eastern Europe” due to the quest of some of its rulers to be larger than Paris. However, it is important that you consider that they sought to have larger squares, buildings and monuments, not more beautiful ones. So, don’t be disappointed when you arrive and expect the Parisian touch that some sell.
The city has had to be rebuilt on more than one occasion due to the damage it has suffered from war conflicts, natural disasters and even the “remodeling” of one of its communist rulers who ordered the destruction of a large part of the historic center to put an imposing North Korean-style square: Unirii Square. All these changes have led to alternating periods of both prosperity and decline over the years.
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⚠️It is mandatory to travel with insurance
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