Three Days In Bucharest: What To See & Do

This post will share details on how to spend three days in Bucharest.

I decided to head down to Bucharest, Romania, in Eastern Europe, for my twenty-sixth country.

The trip was initially meant to be a day trip until I discovered no direct same-day flights from Manchester.

So I figured I might as well make it an entire trip since I had a ton of annual leave left for the year.

So, I booked my flight, hotel and tours and waited patiently for my trip.

I was mainly looking forward to this trip because it is the first in my new sustainable travel schedule.

Travelling every month has most certainly taken a toll on me.

Plus, I’ve been to major European countries, and I figured it was time to scale back and start working towards long-haul travel to other continents.

Over the years, I feel like I’ve gained a new confidence with travel.

While I still prioritise safety, I feel like I can go anywhere and not allow the feeling of poking out like a sore thumb to hold me back.

Let’s get into the trip’s details with that out.

Here’s How To Spend Three Days In Bucharest

Bucharest is Romania’s capital and largest city, a country at the crossroads of Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe.

As far as I’m concerned, and for clarity, it is in Eastern Europe.

If you’re familiar with the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, you should know that Romania is also one of the countries the river passes through.

I’ve been to five of the ten countries along the Danube River.

So far, this is the farthest I’ve been in Eastern Europe, and I doubt I will go further.

It goes without saying that I was incredibly pleased to be able to visit both Romania and Bulgaria on this trip.

With that out of the way, let’s get into the details.

Flights

Cost – £69/€83 return

I booked a return flight in September with Ryanair, which happened to be the cheapest flight I’ve been on in a while.

For some reason, flight prices have gradually increased over the last few years.

So it’s always nice to see a cheap one for a change.

As with my winter trips, I usually don’t need that much for a few days, so getting by with an underseat backpack was easy.

The flight was around three hours, and the journey was mostly smooth.

Airport Transfer

One of my favourite things about visiting countries with their currencies is that they are usually cheaper than the Euro, and the Pound goes a long way.

So I’m able to afford certain luxuries instead of penny-pinching.

In this case, instead of taking the bus or train from the airport to my hotel, I took an Uber instead, and it cost me £14

There’s nothing more convenient than being in your hotel in less than thirty minutes after landing.

Accommodation

Cost – £164/€197 – three nights

I stayed at Nobel Boutique, a cosy little hotel outside the city centre, which I booked via Booking.com.

I’ve been using Booking for a few years and gained loyalty points, which usually go towards my hotel bookings.

So, I always get a little money off.

This hotel was everything I needed: adults only, a central location in a quiet street, a spacious room with a private bathroom, complimentary breakfast, and a mini bar with a tea/coffee station.

In the last couple of years, having an electric kettle has become essential for my hotel room due to the amount of tea I drink.

Also, as this trip was in the winter, I needed to be able to fill up my portable insulated flask, which would save me from buying overpriced tea or coffee throughout the day.

Aside from that, I enjoyed my stay – the staff were lovely and friendly – and I see myself staying there again.

Getting Around Bucharest

Due to the nature of this trip, I did not need to use public transport at all except once.

Instead, I used Ubers because they were much more convenient and inexpensive.

The only time I used public transport was the metro, which I recommend over buses.

Bucharest is notorious for its traffic so to manage that I suggest you either walk or use the metro.

They’re faster and more efficient.

Itinerary & Experiences

When visiting less diverse countries, the best way I’ve learnt to blend in rather than stick out is to go on group tours.

So, I prioritised activities/tours/experiences for this trip rather than wandering around the cities like usual.

Also, exploring the city in a heated vehicle made more sense than in the cold.

Here’s how my itinerary went after arriving the night before;

• Day 1 – Bucharest To Bulgaria Day Trip: What To See & Do
• Day 2 – Bucharest To Transylvania Day Trip: What To See & Do
• Day 3 – Therme Bucharest

On the third day, I had a late return flight, which was eventually delayed so that I could spend most of the day in the city.

It’s been a while since I’ve had a near-perfect itinerary such as this, and honestly, I’m so proud of myself for pulling it off.

So, if you want to spend up to three days in Bucharest, these are the core experiences you shouldn’t miss.

Major Landmarks In Bucharest

While planning this trip, I noticed that the Bucharest city centre wasn’t as appealing, so I settled for group tours instead.

But if you have an extra day and want to roam around the city, here are some landmarks to look for.

Unfortunately, Bucharest doesn’t have a Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Bus, which is annoying, so you must commute via public transport.

• Palace of the Parliament: Built in the 19th century during the rule of a communist dictator, it also happens to be the heaviest building and largest Parliament building in the world. It currently houses the Romanian Parliament, Senate and the National Museum of Contemporary Art.
• The Triumphal Arch: Built-in 1935 and modelled after the Arc De Triomphe in Paris to commemorate Romania’s victory in World War I.
• Memorial of Rebirth: A memorial unveiled in 2005 to commemorate the victims of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, which overthrew communism.
• Romanian Athenaeum: 18th-century prestigious concert hall.
• National Museum of Art of Romania: Features a Romanian medieval and modern art collection and an international collection of the Romanian royal family.
• National Museum of the Romanian Peasant: A historical museum with a collection of textiles, ceramics, icons and other art of the Romanian Peasant life.

General Thoughts on Bucharest

For some reason, I thought Bucharest felt very vibrant despite not being able to explore the city properly.

I thought the city was widely underrated in the general scheme of things.

I know many people do not like to venture towards Eastern Europe because of certain stereotypes and stay in Western and Southern Europe because it’s safer, but I was impressed.

All the people I was in contact with spoke English and were generally pleasant.

I did not feel any aloofness like I did in Prague despite it being a lot more popular.

Even though some areas felt sketchy, I generally felt safe walking in the dark.

What can I say?

The city is affordable.

There’s a bit to see and do.

For a more immersive experience, you can take tours to other parts of the country for a steal.

When you’re ready to go home, you can stop by the largest thermal spa in Europe.

What’s not to love?

In Conclusion

This itinerary is perfect if you want to spend three days in Bucharest.

If you can’t be bothered to explore further, you can skip the day trip to Bulgaria and explore the Bucharest city centre and its environs.