Anyone been to Bucharest?

[Dunclane]

Anyone got any suggestions of good bars and places to visit for a few 40 something blokes?

We're off end of June and wondered if anyone had some suggestions?

[mrmistoffelees]

Visit Palatul Parlamentului/the Parliament/Ceaușescu's palace. It's absolutely insane how big it is, and some of the engineering used in it. What time of year is it you're going? I made the mistake of going in July and pretty much melted. It was nudging 40 in the height of the day. Unbearable.

[RichFN2]

Never been but know a few people who have, the old town is supposed to be very nice and a lively party destination. Although some are aimed at scamming tourists and its known for pickpockets, I would guess that all the gentleman clubs are to be avoided as with most Eastern European cities.

They all had a great time mooching around eating and drinking, but they all said outside the centre the city is full of horrific communist buildings.

[Harpoon]

I went for work in March. Didn't manage to sight-see too much but I did run round the outside "block" of the Palace one morning and was gobsmacked it how big it was, so visiting would be good. Traffic in town can be bad, so worth walking to places. I walked the ~2 miles from the hotel to the office one morning in about 35 minutes. Everyone else went on the provided coach and got there at the same time!

We did visit the old town on our last night and it was very lively with an endless choice of bars.

Watch out for getting completely stiffed going from the airport to town by a taxi (even one from the official airport rank). Worth getting setup on Uber before you go (if you're not already).

[languagetimothy]

I went in the mid 1970s when I was 12/13! friend of my uncles was a teacher and she was organising a trip for the kids (why Romania I don’t know). It seems the deal was that my mum and dad and my sister and I could go too for a much reduced fee but it included the adults help supervising the kids.

My first time on a plane (illyushin 18 prop, soviet era type thing, rattled a bit). As a youngster from London it was a novel thing to see armed soldiers “greet” us at the bottom of the plane steps, and walking the streets.

Bucharest hotel was ok if I recall, pocketing extra bread rolls at breakfast to give to some street kids..? Coffee that you could almost stand a spoon in, a drink that looked like a coke bottle but came out very quickly..either end. Supermarkets weren’t super at all, not much in them. Got around in the countryside, in chairlifts etc., pretty…


Anyway,… blah blah not much help to you is it….just recalling…

[ettore]

Good fun and interesting city, cheap and Anglo-friendly. Old town great for a boys weekend although the wider country is spectacularly beautiful in places. Local cuisine good in measured doses but Bucharest has plenty of decent restaurants.

Chaps trips should be careful with the women though - slavically hot and very ‘worldly’, so be on your guard if happily married etc.!

[parabolica]

Been living here for the past year, but in Ploiesti which is about an hour north. Have only spent a few days max actually in Bucharest but it’s a nice place to visit. End of June means the weather should be nice (was routinely 30c+ last year) and there are plenty of restaurants, bars and the like. If steak is your thing I highly recommend Vacamuuu.

[Mrr T]

While I live near Brasov I know Bucharest well. Airbnb in the centre can be very noisy at night but you may not be bothered. Lots of places to eat well. Look for the crowd if its busy its good. Beer is cheap do try the various local ones. They are good. Lots of people will speak English.

Make sure your Uber app works and worth installing Bolt as well.

If you give a bit more details on how long you are staying and what you want to do I will make suggestions.

Since you are posting on PH do not miss.

https://www.tiriaccollection.ro/

[Running Man 11]

Great city to visit for a couple of days. Went last year, agree on the recommendation for using Uber as they are plentiful and cheap (£10 from airport to the city when we went).

Old Town is good, we got a guide for a couple of hours who took us to some food places and showed some of the bits you would not normally see. Everyone was very friendly and spoke decent English. Can recommend Abel's wine bar which was one of the highlights of the trip.

[Dunclane]

Mrr T said:

While I live near Brasov I know Bucharest well. Airbnb in the centre can be very noisy at night but you may not be bothered. Lots of places to eat well. Look for the crowd if its busy its good. Beer is cheap do try the various local ones. They are good. Lots of people will speak English.

Make sure your Uber app works and worth installing Bolt as well.

If you give a bit more details on how long you are staying and what you want to do I will make suggestions.

Since you are posting on PH do not miss.

https://www.tiriaccollection.ro/

Thanks everyone for their suggestions / advice.

I'm already setup on Uber, it seems to be around £15 for a taxi for an airport run.

@Mrr T this looks great! Right by the Airport too, I'm going to suggest popping there on the Sunday we come home.

We are arriving Thursday about 9:30pm so probably 10:00pm by the time we get to our hotel (Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town), will probably want to get out and have a few beers and something to eat as long as it's not too late?

To be honest we'll just be wandering round the city so any recommendations for places to visit, good bars and good restaurants would be ideal.

I can't afford a divorce so we'll keep clear of the ladies

[StevieBee]

Dunclane said:

To be honest we'll just be wandering round the city so any recommendations for places to visit, good bars and good restaurants would be ideal.

Put this on your list: https://www.carucubere.ro

[Harpoon]

Dunclane said:

Thanks everyone for their suggestions / advice.

I'm already setup on Uber, it seems to be around £15 for a taxi for an airport run.

@Mrr T this looks great! Right by the Airport too, I'm going to suggest popping there on the Sunday we come home.

We are arriving Thursday about 9:30pm so probably 10:00pm by the time we get to our hotel (Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town), will probably want to get out and have a few beers and something to eat as long as it's not too late?

To be honest we'll just be wandering round the city so any recommendations for places to visit, good bars and good restaurants would be ideal.

I can't afford a divorce so we'll keep clear of the ladies

The last night I was there was a Thursday. A group of us had been sat outside an Irish bar in the Old Town until it closed around 1am. Two of us wobbled back to the hotel, the rest dived into another bar (no end of choice, even at that time) and apparently got back to the hotel well after 3am, so I don't think you'll struggle for a drink or five.

[Dunclane]

StevieBee said:

Put this on your list: https://www.carucubere.ro

Looks great thank you!

The 35oz Black Angus Tomahawk @ £74 looks challenging!

[the-norseman]

Really enjoyed Bucuresti, been there about 10 times.

[Mrr T]

Dunclane said:

I'm already setup on Uber, it seems to be around £15 for a taxi for an airport run.

@Mrr T this looks great! Right by the Airport too, I'm going to suggest popping there on the Sunday we come home.

As I said load Bolt as well most drivers seem to move between them based on fees. So one week Bolt is more expensive but far more drivers so less wait next time it Uber.

It is just across from the airport but you cannot walk between the two easily. There a very busy duel carriageways between them and the nearest bridge to cross is about 1/2 km towards the city. Best go there first, they are very nice and will let you leave your luggage at reception.

[the-norseman]

I remember getting a taxi at 6am one morning after a football away day, Uber, cost about £3 from near the palace to the airport.

[Mrr T]

the-norseman said:

I remember getting a taxi at 6am one morning after a football away day, Uber, cost about £3 from near the palace to the airport.

That must have been a while ago. Now about £12 but can be more in rush hour. There is a train which runs to Bucharest Nord every 45 minutes which is 5 leu.

[the-norseman]

Yeh was back in about 2018.