A WEEKEND IN BUCHAREST
Looking for a spontaneous weekend away? Bucharest is the perfect city to spend a few days filled with culture, history and tasty food. Romania’s vibrant capital has so much to offer, from ancient monasteries and historic squares to lively restaurants and hidden gems. The below captures everything you need to know to make the most of your time in Bucharest.
Grab Breakfast at Grand Café Van Gogh
This is one of the places that I found on TikTok when I was doing such research prior to the trip. Although Vincent Van Gogh had no connection to Bucharest or Romania, this café is dedicated to him and is filled with replicas of his art work. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to have breakfast, lunch or dinner, it’s a great place to go.
Located in the heart of Bucharest’s Old Town, the Grand Café Van Gogh is the perfect place to stop for a drink or a bite when you’re exploring this beautiful city. We visited first thing on a Saturday morning and there was plenty of space inside the small cafe. The café offers a reasonably priced and vast menu. I’d definitely recommend checking this café out if you’re looking for somewhere quirky to eat.
Free Walking Tour
We made it to the free walking tour ready to dive into Bucharest’s history. If you are visiting for the first time, a walking tour is definitely an essential thing to do to get to know more about the history and to see the highlights of the city. Our guide took us to several of Bucharest’s most significant landmarks. The tour started at Roma Square and finished at the Revolution Square. It covered the most important sights and attractions, including:
Old town
Manuc’s Inn
Stavropoleos Church
Victory Avenue
National History Museum
The National Bank of Romania
Macca-Villacrosse Passage
Military Club
Royal Palace
Revolution square
Don’t forget to tip your tour guide!
Lunch at Caru’ cu Bere
We headed to Caru’ cu Bere for lunch. Dating back to 1879, this spot is one of the oldest and most iconic restaurants in Bucharest. Originally a family-owned beer house, it quickly became a favourite with both locals and tourists for its gothic architecture and stained-glass windows.
Here you can find a number of traditional dishes including Ciolan Național (pork knuckle), Sarmale Regale (minced meat rolled in cabbage), and Mititei (Romanian skinless sausages, also known as “mici”). If you plan to visit, I recommend making a reservation on their website in advance.
Stroll Down Calea Victoriei
All cities have iconic streets which are usually filled with grand architecture and high culture. In the city of Bucharest, that street is Cale Victoriei. This is the city’s most storied boulevard and definitely a must when visiting Bucharest. A leisurely stroll down Calea Victoriei is definitely a journey through cultural evolution. Lined with historic buildings, this avenue is perfect for soaking in Bucharest’s charm and some window-shopping at some of the trendy boutiques. You will also come across galleries, museums and theatres. The amount of eating spots located on this picturesque street are also endless! During summer time, Calea Victoriei is closed for traffic every weekend, giving you the opportunity to mix with the locals.
Visit Therme Bucuresti
We decided to visit Therme Bucuresti, the largest relaxation and entertainment centre in Europe.
There are 3 different areas at Therme: Galaxy, which is the indoor waterpark area designed for families with children, The Palm, which is the area with all the massive pools and bars, and Elysium, which is where you can find the relaxing saunas and spa treatments.
We decided to do the all-inclusive pass. When booking online you will also be asked to book a time slot and duration of your stay. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Therme as well as a drink or two!
I would recommend to visit Therme during the week and in the morning. You can either purchase the tickets in advance through their site or you can purchase them when you arrive.
