Sustainable Traveler's Guide to Bucharest

Eastern European countries are an underrated gem when it comes to tourism – the cheap prices, helpful locals and grandiose views of mountains and forests turn them into the perfect digital nomad destination.

Just like many cities in Romania, Bucharest is a dynamic city where old and new exist in perfect harmony, so it’s really up to you whether you want to spend your trip embracing one or the other. There are ways to experience both sides of the city, and I recommend taking those opportunities so that you can truly get to experience the Bucharest that the locals know and love. Full of history, and culture but also lots of fun, Bucharest was even nicknamed the “Little Paris” due to its architecture and a similar atmosphere.

Even though Romania used to be quite low on the charts when it comes to sustainable tourism, recent years saw an amazing improvement in this area, and now there are many ways in which you can make your trip to Bucharest more eco-friendly. For those of you interested in visiting this amazing city, I put together below a guide for the best things to do or try while in Bucharest.

Where to stay?

By far, the best location you should be looking for accommodation in is the Old Town area – the historical centre of Bucharest has a lot to offer, so by staying here you will always have all the cute cafes, restaurants, and historical buildings with stunning architecture all around you.

Both tourists and locals frequent this neighbourhood, so it always has a lively atmosphere to it – you get to feel like you are part of the community rather than just visiting.

The Old Town offers a lot of accommodation options, from modern hotels or ones inside historical buildings to a large number of apartments to rent from locals (on websites like Airbnb or Booking) for trips on a budget. Renting an apartment is also great since it helps the communities of people in the area – instead of putting money in the pockets of hotel CEOs, you may help struggling locals stay afloat in difficult times.

One thing to keep in mind with Airbnbs, that alot of the building exteriors look at bit….ahem…creepy or sketchy. But once inside the apartments can be very nice. We got totally spooked when we walked up to our Airbnb building but then the inside was SO cute. And the location was amazing. So all this is to say - don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Here is the airbnb we stayed at and loved!

If you are interested to experience the historical side of Bucharest, hotels like K+K Elisabeta, Hotel Capitol, or Casa Capsa are great options (and not even that pricy for what they offer!). Casa Capsa in particular is a beautiful place to stay, as they kept the designs and bohemian furnishing of the original rooms from the 19th century, making you feel like you’re travelling back to a time where you are treated like royalty.

When it comes to sustainability, Romania isn’t exactly at the top in terms of ecotourism, but you can still find ways to keep your carbon footprint low if you pay a little extra. For example, Radisson Blu Hotel is famous for being the first hotel in Romania to consume 100% renewable energy – expect to pay a little extra to stay here, but it’s definitely worth it.

What are the best sites to visit?

Although I mentioned it above, The Old Town definitely deserves a second mention in this guide, as it really encompasses all Bucharest has to offer in terms of culture and history, but also a dynamic atmosphere. Here, you can visit Curtea Veche (The Old Court) which is an open-air museum, or the National Museum of National History, full of priceless treasures.

In my opinion, the most important thing to do before visiting Bucharest is to read more about its dark past (during the communist times which ended in 1989), so you can be respectful when visiting certain monuments which stand as a reminder of those times.

The Old Town survived the communist times when many historical buildings were destroyed in favour of the depressing, grey concrete buildings, making the fact that we can still enjoy it today in its full form all the more beautiful. I’d also recommend paying The Palace of the Parliament a visit – this enormous, regal-looking building hides a dark past, as it was built on top of destroyed neighbourhoods and culture.

The Primaverii Palace is also well worth a visit. This opulent 80-room former residence of Romanian president Ceausescu was built in 1964 and features a variety of interior design styles and lush gardens. Make sure to book your visit at least a day in advance (there are no same day reservations).

If the comparisons to Paris weren’t enough, Bucharest literally has its own Arch of Triumph just like the French capital, which is super impressive to see in the daylight.

Another place which I think everyone should visit while in Bucharest is Carturesti Carusel, one of the biggest bookstores in the entire country. Nothing beats browsing through 6 floors of over ten thousand books and thousands of DVDs and unwinding afterwards in the top-floor café – no matter if you’re an avid reader or love to read casually, it will absolutely have something for you.

Where to Relax in Bucharest?

Once you’ve explored the central area of Bucharest, the next best thing you should do while you’re here is to plan a day to explore one of the large parks in the city. Cismigiu Gardens are a great place to unwind by walking on one of the numerous paths, admiring the lake and the rose garden, or reading a book on one of the many benches surrounded by nature.

You will absolutely need a whole day to explore the entirety of Herastrau Park, the largest one in Bucharest. The name comes from the Herastrau Lake, which you can even explore by renting one of the hydro bikes or rowboats found all around. Inside the park, you will also find numerous areas designated for sports (such as tennis, football, or basketball), plenty of gardens to walk through, lots of restaurants, cafes and even street food stands for when you want a quick bite during the day.

Spending the day at Thermo was one of my favorite things we did while in Bucharest. It’s kind of like a massive resort pool, spa, water park rolled into one. There are swim up pool bars, multiple sauna rooms (including one that plays Planet Earth while you sweat!), a large international food court, massage chairs, water slides, and more. Go early and plan to stay all day. We made the mistake of thinking we’d only go for 4 hours and were disappointed we couldn’t hang around longer!

Where to eat/drink?

Where to even begin? Bucharest has seen a huge boom in restaurants and cafes in the latest years, and so chances are whatever part of the city you are visiting, there will be plenty of choices for you in terms of food and drinks.

First of all, Romanian food is seriously underrated, so make sure you cross that off your list when visiting – you can try out either 100% traditional restaurants like Ciorbarie or Zexe Zahana, or restaurants like Maize which combine Romanian traditions with modern fine dining.

No matter which one you choose, make sure you try out the traditional Mici (caseless sausages), Sarmale (cabbage and meat rolls), or one of the many types of Ciorba (a sour type of soup). Romanian food is all about using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients (which is why Ciorba is so different across all regions of Romania), which adds an element of sustainability and diversity on top of the great taste.

A personal favourite is the well-known Grand Van Gogh Café, a small bistro located in the Old Town, with walls filled to the ceiling with art, great drinks, and brunch options – it’s the perfect place to grab a bite mid-day especially if you are visiting the area.

Coffee is a Romanian’s best friend so naturally, you will find lots of cafes here – Tucano Coffee, The Coffee Factory, and Origo are all great options.

What about nightlife?

As much as they value history and culture, Romanians also value their free time and having fun above all else, meaning that a night out in Bucharest will never be boring. The streets are filled with cocktail bars and pubs, and you can also go enjoy good live music, DJ-led dance parties, or a good Latino-inspired party at one of the many nightclubs in the city centre area. Nightclubs are famously cheap in Romania compared to most Western countries, but equally (if not more) fun.

I asked various groups of locals what the best club was and each told me NUBA Summervibes. So this seems to be the local spot of choice. We went there on a Saturday night and it was definitely popping. Although it’s definitely a place people go to be seen lol. It’s best to reserve a table for a late dinner so you know you can get in.

If you are looking for a place that combines sustainable practices with good cocktails and Romanian tradition, the FIX Botanical Bar is a great place to be – you won’t find their drinks anywhere else, as their special cocktails are made using unexpected ingredients such as pollen, sunflower seeds and even celery (it’s better than it sounds, I swear!).

Interbelic, Oficiul 1, and Lilium Cocktail Bar are also great options if you love bubbly cocktails in a warm, cosy atmosphere.

If you are feeling adventurous, you can even try the Shoteria – as the name suggests, their specialty is shots made with various ingredients and in different combinations, prepared to suit your tastes exactly (if you order something sweet and strong, they’ll know exactly what to give you!).

best day trips / weekend getaways From Bucharest?

Bucharest is the starting point for many organised tours in the area and regions nearby, and I definitely recommend taking at least one of them during your stay.

This day tour of Peles, Bran Castle & Brasov is definitely iconic for tourists, as it takes you to the home of Vlad the Impaler (Bran Castle), a Romanian ruler who inspired the famous legends about Dracula. Bran Castle may have the fascinating history, but the more noteworthy Peles Castle steals the show in terms of beauty. And Brasov is a lovely town with cobblestoned streets, colorful baroque buildings, lively cafes, and a large Gothic-style Black Church.

Another great one is this mountain tour, taking you on the Transfagarasan Road – famous road full of steep S-turns which is definitely not for the faint-hearted.

For beach and party vibes, head to Vama Veche. It’s a cute bohemian town with white sand & turquoise blue water. I was surprised by how pretty it was and how fun the nightlife was.

There aren’t a ton of activities to do during the day, so bring a couple friends, a deck of cards, a book and just enjoy a bit of relaxation time. Lazy days allow you to save your energy for the evenings when things really become lively at the beach clubs along the water - our favorites were Amphora and UnBar.

How to move around?

One thing you may notice in Bucharest is that traffic is a huge issue, so while visiting the city it’s best to avoid using cabs or Ubers. Although much better for the environment, buses and trams are also quite unreliable and may cause lots of frustrations when it comes to sticking to a schedule, and they will also get caught in the endless traffic.

Walking can be a good alternative, but make sure you research the areas surrounding the city centre well before venturing too far, as you may stumble upon some areas which may feel slightly more unsafe.

Luckily, there’s a newly renovated underground metro system that lets you travel easily within the city, and there are also lots of public bikes and electric scooter rental places, in case you want to travel through the city and experience the lively atmosphere.