Why Bucharest?

I have visited many countries, certainly more than 50, and I still can’t believe I hadn’t been to Romania yet, one of the largest countries in Europe with more than 19 million people. Romania had been on my radar for a very long time. A few months ago, I started a new job in Dubai and moved there. At first, when I first started my job, I didn’t have any travel plans for the new year, but then I managed to take two days off right after the New Year and link them with the weekend, so I got about five days of traveling. I quickly planned a trip to Romania and Moldova—something that I wanted to do for a very long time—and it finally happened.

Bucharest is the vibrant and bustling capital of Romania with a population of over 1.8 million people, making it one of the largest cities in Eastern Europe. Known for its mix of historic charm and modern energy, the city is a fascinating blend of contrasts that left me with some deep impressions. This blog about Bucharest shows only a glimpse into my short experience in the city and the emotions this city evoked, so join me!

The Flight

I booked a flight for the 31st of December—can you believe it? And it’s not even the first time I’ve spent New Year’s Eve in the sky. I did it before in the 2021/2022 new year’s eve. I booked the flight with FlyDubai for a very good fare. The flight was really nice as the plane was almost empty, so I had the entire row to myself. The flight exceeded my expectations because FlyDubai is a low-cost airline, but they served a good meal, and the cabin crew were nice and friendly. I even managed to get some sleep on the flight. I didn’t even feel the five-hour journey. It was such a nice and comfortable flight in general.

The Passport Control Encounter

I landed at Bucharest airport and I was half asleep. When I arrived at the passport control counter, there was a very good-looking female passport control officer. I said, “Happy New Year,” and handed her my passport. She asked me a question but was cheerful while asking, “For how long will you stay here?” I replied, “For two nights.” She said, “For two nights here? Why are you here?” I answered, “To see the country.” Her response was, “You want to see the country in two days only?” I quickly corrected myself, saying, “Oh, I mean to see Bucharest.” She smiled and asked, “Where are you going after two days?” I said, “To Moldova.” Her response was, “What?? To Moldova?” I said, “Yes, because I like ex-Soviet Union countries.” She then pointed at my passport and said, “Yes, because you have a Russian visa on your passport.” When she did that, I thought to myself, “Oh no, these guys don’t like Russia, and she’s going to give me a hard time now.” But luckily, she continued to be cheerful and asked me about Russia. I told her, “Yeah, it was beautiful and very safe. I visited Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Murmansk.” Then she interrupted me and said, “How was Mongolia?”

I was shocked by her question, but then I realized she asked because she saw the stamp on my passport. It was such a funny interaction. She stamped my passport and handed it back to me. I picked up my suitcase and went to the taxi stand.

The Taxi Ride

I took a taxi to the hotel, and honestly, I was so sleepy that I didn’t even bother to check the exchange rate. I didn’t want to argue about the price because it was a taxi from the airport, so I thought that the price is regulated. I asked the driver if the taxi meter was working, and he said yes. The driver spoke perfect English, and we actually had some nice conversations during the ride. After I’ve paid, unfortunately, I realized that I had been scammed—not terribly, but still. I hate being scammed. Luckily, it normally never happens to me in former Soviet Union republics, but unfortunately, it happened in an EU country, which tells you how things are nowadays. It’s not a big deal though, but still annoying.

The Hotel

I had points on my Canadian credit card for a long time, and I was unsure how to use them. Should I buy a flight ticket somewhere, or perhaps use them to stay at a hotel? Eventually, I decided to spend my points on a two-night stay at one of the most beautiful hotels in Bucharest—the InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest—and what a wonderful stay it was! The rooms were spotlessly clean and beautifully designed, the sleeping quality was excellent, and the staff were both professional and incredibly friendly. They even allowed me to check out at 4 pm without any extra charge, which was a great gesture. I’m so glad I chose to stay there, especially since my fantastic experience didn’t cost me anything. It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of this trip!

My First Day in Bucharest

It was about 3:15 am when I arrived at the hotel on New Year’s Eve. The sounds of celebration and partying filled the air, tempting me to join, but I was completely exhausted. I decided to sleep instead. Well, maybe I’m just getting older 🙂

The next morning, I went out for a walk, hoping to find a place open for breakfast. Most cafes and restaurants were closed. After about 45 minutes of wandering, I finally found a cafe that served coffee and light breakfast options. Following that, I made my first stop near the hotel, where I admired a few monuments. One was an equestrian statue of Carol I, the first king of Romania, and another was the impressive Memorial of Rebirth, commemorating the struggles and victims of the 1989 Romanian Revolution, which overthrew Communism.

As I continued my walk, I spotted an old Romanian Dacia car, instantly reminding me of the Lada cars seen across the former Soviet Union. My route took me through a beautiful park and over bridges crossing the Dambovita River until I reached the destination I was most eager to see; the Palace of Parliament.

This enormous structure, often debated as the second or third largest administrative building in the world, was commissioned by Nicolae Ceaușescu, Romania’s former Communist president and dictator. Built during a time of intense political adoration for Ceaușescu and his family, the palace stands as one of the most significant legacies of Romania’s Communist era and is a stark reminder of the communist era in which it was constructed.

It was a beautiful, sunny day, with temperatures around 6 to 7 degrees Celsius. The crisp, fresh air made my peaceful walk even more enjoyable. The streets were quiet, likely because most people were recovering from the previous night’s celebrations. After a long walk, I returned to the hotel to rest and relax. Later that evening, I ventured out again for dinner, ready to experience more of Bucharest.

The Food

Later in the evening, I decided to try one of the most recommended restaurants in Bucharest: Caru’ cu Bere. The restaurant is enormous, like a grand mansion, and was absolutely packed with people. Since I was dining alone, all I needed was a small table, but even so, there was a 45-minute wait. Finally, I was seated. I was starving, having not eaten anything since breakfast. I started with pumpkin soup and an appetizer made with eggplant, which looked like a baba ghanouj, they were tasty. However, the main dish—a large piece of lamb—took a very long time to arrive. By the time it was served, I had started to lose my appetite. Unfortunately, the lamb was average and a bit dry, which didn’t impress me. I assume the overwhelming crowd that evening affected the quality of food and speed of service.

Despite the disappointing main course, the restaurant has a lot of charm. The live music added to the vibrant, lively atmosphere, making the experience memorable. I would still recommend Caru’ cu Bere for its unique ambiance. It’s a special place worth visiting, even if the food and service don’t fully live up to the hype on busy nights.

It’s worth mentioning that the next day, I decided to try a burger in Romania. Whenever I visit a new country, I make it a point to try the local burger. After some research, I found a highly-rated restaurant called LBFC – Amzei. I ordered the double cheese beef burger, and it was insanely good. I loved the place and would totally recommend it if you’re looking to enjoy a truly delicious Romanian burger.

Museum of Communism

After the satisfying burger, I took an Uber to the Old Town, where I spent about an hour exploring the small yet fascinating Museum of Communism. Despite its size, the museum offers a glimpse into Romania’s communist era, which lasted for over 40 years. The exhibits cover various aspects of life during that time, including sections on sports, automobiles, transportation, cameras, music, furniture, and more.

One section that particularly stood out to me was the sports exhibit. It highlighted incredible stories like Steaua Bucharest’s miraculous victory in the 1986 European Champions Cup against the mighty Barcelona—a triumph that remains one of the greatest achievements in Romanian sports history. I also enjoyed the section about Nadia Comaneci, the legendary gymnast who became the first person to earn a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic event in 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics.

The museum is packed with intriguing stories and artifacts, making it well worth a visit for anyone interested in understanding Romania’s communist past and its impact on everyday life to this day.

Summary

My time in Bucharest was short, but I’m glad I discovered a new country and a new capital city. While it wasn’t enough time to explore everything, especially with many places closed due to the New Year holiday, I still managed to make the most of it. I didn’t know anyone in the city, so I spent most of the time on my own—which has its pros and cons. On the one hand, it gave me the freedom and space to write this blog and reflect on my experience. On the other hand, I must admit that being alone for more than a night or two isn’t my favorite thing. Still, I enjoyed my time and managed to do most of what I had planned.

Bucharest was more of a stopover for me before heading to another exciting destination: Moldova. It was my gateway to boarding the iconic Soviet sleeper train to Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, and later exploring Transnistria, the country that doesn’t exist! While I didn’t have high expectations about Bucharest, I was pleasantly surprised with many things there. The hotel where I stayed was lovely, the weather was fantastic, and the peaceful New Year vibe of the city created a very relaxing time. I’ll definitely return someday to explore more of Romania’s treasures, like Dracula’s Castle, Transylvania, and many other fascinating places beyond Bucharest.

Another highlight of my visit was the people. Every person I interacted with; hotel receptionists, waiters, taxi drivers, and locals at a bar or restaurant was friendly, welcoming, and interesting to talk to. Even the taxi driver who scammed me was quite cool, as I had a nice chat with him despite being half asleep! Romanians seem to be warm and hospitable people, and they impressed me with their openness. What struck me as fascinating about Romania is how unique it feels compared to its neighbors. Despite being Orthodox Christians and surrounded by Slavic nations, Romanians are not Slavic themselves. Their language, Romanian, is a Latin language most closely related to Italian, unbelievable, right?

As I headed to Bucharest North train station in the evening, eagerly awaiting the Soviet night sleeper train to Chisinau, the capita of Romania, I felt excited for the next adventure; Moldova and Transnistria are stories for another blog, but Bucharest left me with nice memories and the promise of more to explore in the future.

This is all what I can say about Bucharest, Romania for now. In the next blog, I will write about the incredible country of Moldova and the adventure onboard the night Soviet sleeper train so stay tuned!