After thinking for a couple of months where I wanted to spend this New Year, I finally narrowed it down to the capital of Romania or Bucharest. See, I’ve always been fascinated with history and this country has some of the most captivating histories out there. On top of that, being the home of the famous Count Dracula is yet another reason why I opted for this city rather than anywhere else.
So that was it, I was going to spend New Year’s in Bucharest, so I started reading up on all of the things that I could do there, and I booked two tickets, one for me and one for my boyfriend. We planned to spend four days in this city, from the 30th December to the 2nd January. Thankfully we were able to find some cheap flights from Thessaloniki to Bucharest, which were about 70USD. The hotel that we decided to stay in was called Pullman Bucharest World Trade Center which was about 50USD per night. So, 30th December came quickly and it was time to head on our journey.
Day 1: A stroll through some of Bucharest’s most famous streets
Since this was our first day here we wanted to take it easy, so we just decided to walk around the city of Bucharest and experience the feel of this place. The good thing about our hotel was that although it wasn’t near to the center there was a tram and bus just outside of it, which were about 1USD each, so we took the tram and then a metro and got to Unirii Square. When we got off the metro the first thing I saw was a huge fountain. Unfortunately, the fountain wasn’t functional while we were there, and I couldn’t tell you in which period it is because I really don’t know. The sad thing was that some of the mosaic tiles seemed to be falling off or were damaged, which is a total shame because even without water, the fountain looked amazing.
With that being said, a non-functional fountain wasn’t going to smear my perception of this city, so I decided to leave that behind and continue on my walk. As I was exploring this city I walked through some amazing streets with grandiose buildings that had some of the most interesting architecture. We also walked along Dambovita River, which is a river that flows through this city. Since I visited this city during the winter period, the cold weather and the gray sky gave it a kind of a gloomy expression, which I loved. From there we walked along Calea Victoriei where I was able to see why this city got the nickname Little Paris. We also visited the Old Town where you could find bars and restaurants on both sides of the street, that were too inviting not to go in. After picking a restaurant at random, we went in and tried their famous specialty the sarmale which is minced meat and rice wrapped in cabbage. Although it might not sound appealing at first, it was one of the tastiest dishes I’ve tried. As for drink, I had a cup of mulled wine, perfect to keep myself warm, which cost about 15USD both for the food and drink.
Day 2: Visiting the small island in the middle of a lake
For our second day in Bucharest we were sure that we wanted to do something different, so we got on a bus, which was about 10USD and we went to Snagov Lake. The reason I wanted to see this lake was because of the tiny island which was the home of the Snagov Monastery, or the place where Vlad the Impaler was buried. If you didn’t know Vlad Tepes also known as Vlad the Impaler was the inspiration behind the character of Dracula. We got to the monastery by a bridge and we entered the monastery which was about 4USD. Inside the monastery is the alleged burial place of Vlad, and I say alleged since there is no definite proof that Vlad or Dracula is truly buried here. However, it’s an interesting place nevertheless. Some of the stories that are connected with this place is that Vlad and his father donated to this church and that this dark prince used to bring his captives here and while they were praying in front of the icon of Virgin Mary, he would open a trap door that would lead them to their death, impaling them on the stakes that he had laid below.
After visiting this island we decided to go to the hotel, rest a little bit before the big night. It was 31st December, so we put our warm clothes and got a tram to the George Enescu Square, where we watched the performance of some of Romania’s most famous artists. Although we didn’t speak or understand Romanian the atmosphere was so good that we couldn’t but dance to the music. Then as the clock struck 12, we saw some of the most amazing fireworks which might have lasted for more than 15 minutes. Finally, it was time to head back to the hotel for a good night sleep because tomorrow was going to be an interesting day.
Day 3: Visiting the two most famous castles in Romania
When in Bucharest, you can’t miss going to see the two most famous castles. So, we booked a tour which was about 50USD to see both of the castles. First, we visited the famous Peles Castle, which used to be the summer residence of the royal family. Inside we entered some magnificent rooms, which resembled rooms out of a Disney movie. We saw the entrance hall with its amazing tree carvings, the royal library with its hidden room, as well as visited the music room, the theatre hall and the famous armory with over 4,000 pieces. The outside is just as amazing as the inside and it’s a definite must while visiting Bucharest.
The other castle that we visited was one that I was most excited to visit or the famous Bran Castle, also known as Count Dracula’s castle. This one dates back to the 14th century and is often connected to Count Dracula since it’s considered to be the inspiration for the castle in the Bram Stoker’s novel of the same name. When compared to the previous one, this castle is gloomier and somewhat dark, which is why it perfectly fits with the story of the dark prince.
Day 4: Visiting Bucharest’s pride and joy
On our last day here we decided to visit Bucharest’s pride and joy which is the Palace of Parliament. It’s pretty difficult to miss it since it’s not only the largest building in Romania, but it’s also the second largest administrative building in the world, after the Pentagon. Some people associate this massive structure with the rule of Nicolae Ceauşescu, who was famous for his unscrupulous politics and dictatorial regime. With that being said, most people might connect this building to the terrible past of this country and to hear the stories of life in Romania in the past is truly heartbreaking. However, looking at this enormous building all I could think was of how many men would’ve taken it to build it, and they are the people that should be praised since this building is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. After taking a couple of photographs of this structure, we went back to our hotel packed and went to the airport for our flight home.
Daily Cost
After four days in Bucharest I can say that although I might have spent money, it was all worth it. When it comes to my daily cost it was about 50 to 60USD not including the tours to Peles and Bran Castle. All in all, for what I did, and what I saw, I would’ve spent even more.
Bottom line
Having second thought about going to Bucharest? Well, I’m here to tell you that you’ve nothing to worry about. If you’re into rich history, amazing architecture, friendly people, mouthwatering food and great hospitality, then Bucharest is the place to be. It’s a city that’s rebuilding itself after a dark past, and can undoubtedly compete with some of the famous European cities. There is something about this city that makes people want to come back again, and I’m also one of those. So, instead of overthinking it, pack your suitcase and head on to a city that will definitely make you come back again.
