Where did we stay?
We were fortunate that our friend Sam has a hostel in Bucharest so of course that’s where we stayed during our 3 nights in Bucharest, so if you are on a pretty low budget and don’t mind sharing rooms, showers, toilets and a kitchen then this place would be perfect for you. Podstel is located 10 minutes from the city centre, far away enough from the hustle and bustle but close enough to walk. We had a private room, although we did have to share showers and toilets which for me was a little uncomfortable. I would probably feel differently had I been travelling alone as it’s a good way to make friends and get to know other people but as a couple, I think I’d prefer a room with it’s own bathroom as I like my own privacy. It was a good experience nonetheless and every single person we came across were so lovely and friendly and surprisingly from all corners of the world!
You can find Podstel here.
Where we ate
On to my most favourite part of going away on holiday, the food. I was never sure what to expect when we arrived in Romania, I had heard that there were a lot of stews and very filling meals which was true. We ate so much during our stay, some good and some exceptionally good. In Bucharest we ate out at a number of restaurants but my favourite place was most definitely Biutiful by the Lake. This is where we spent our last evening and although the most expensive place we ate out during our whole stay, it wasn’t any pricier than a good pub meal back here in the Lakes which I think is pretty reasonable.
Another favourite for a lunch time snack was SIMBIO. Of course, I couldn’t resist the burger with caramelised onions, avocado and cheese. My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it!
We also tried out Stadio, as we all fancied some Italian food. The guys went for pizza and Lena and I had the asparagus pasta which was yummy but not as yummy as the dessert! You have to check out ‘Papanash’, a traditional Romanian dessert served with sour cream and jam.
Fancy a tipple?
There are some really cool bars dotted around Bucharest. Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to sample them all but the ones we did were awesome. Depending on what kind of night you are wanting, you can head into the city centre or ‘old town’, where you’ll find a lot of British stag do’s and crowds of people looking to get wasted or you can head to the fancier bars and clubs a short taxi ride out of town. After our meal at Biutiful by the Lake, we headed to Nuba Summervibes. This place was so pretty with all the fairy lights and separate seating areas.
We also had a few cocktails in town one evening at NOMAD Skybar, where we experimented with a few different cocktails. I loved the atmosphere of this spot, it was so chilled and laid back. The sofa’s were comfy and the music was good!
What to see and do
If there’s any reason to book a holiday to Bucharest, it has to be to experience Therme. Seriously, it’s out of this world and like nothing I’ve ever experienced or seen before. There are pools with bars in, mineral pools, sauna’s, steam rooms, restaurants, slides, jacuzzi’s and something going on every hour from body scrubs sessions to facials. It’s honestly so insane and very affordable too. We spent the whole evening there, from 6pm until closing time – midnight.
If you’re a coffee lover then this city is also for you. I’m not a fan but the other guys were so I settled for a lemonade instead, which was still fantastic but apparently the coffee is on another level. I don’t see the hype even though I so wish I did, haha!
I also recommend visiting the church’s and old building’s dotted around all over the city. They’re beautiful buildings which date back hundred’s of years. There is so much history and nice to see if you’re interested in architecture.
Lastly, just go an explore. Buy a comfy pair of shoes, take a backpack with your camera, phone, purse, whatever else you may need like hay fever tablets (mine was rife in Romania but not so bad now I’m home) and explore the city on foot. You can stop for pastries at one of the popular bakeries, which name escapes me at the moment but I’ll post it if I remember… drink coffee, buy ice cream, take the tube, walk in the park, see what events are going on etc. There is so much to see and do here and it’s so affordable too. And if you get fed up of the city and want to wander further afield, get a car rental and head in to the countryside and go see the quieter areas of Romania. Car rentals are cheap and the petrol is even cheaper! I can’t wait to go back 😉
So sorry it’s taken so long to getting to post all my photos from the trip. There are still hundred’s more but there are my favourite! If you’re planning a trip, get in touch and I can try and help you out or get you in touch with Podstel if you need somewhere to stay. Hope you enjoyed this post, it’s a little different to what I usually post. Love, L.