Hear about travel to Bucharest as the Amateur Traveler talks to Wandering Earl about visiting and living in that city.
Earl calls Bucharest one of the most underrated cities in all of Europe, certainly eastern Europe. “It has a lot to offer but nobody really talks about it.”
“When people think of Romania they think of Transylvania and the beautiful medieval towns up in the mountains. Poor Bucharest, the poor little entry point to the country always gets left out and I want to encourage more people to go because it really has so much more to offer than people think. I spent 9 months there last year and I have been back and forth quite a lot. Every time I go the city just opens my eyes a little more and I just fall in love with it.”
Earl came to spend time in Bucharest a bit by accident. He first came to the city at the tail end of a 2 month Eurail trip when he tired of traveling as he happened to arrive in the city. He met some great people in the city through couchsurfing. He stayed 10 days but after a month back home in the U.S. returned to the city for an extended stay.
Start your visit in the newly renovated old city center. Then visit the world’s largest civilian building the Palace of the Parliament built during the rule of Nicolae Ceau?escu. After that visit some of the beautiful parks such as Cismigu Gardens. Earl also recommends the Village Museum also known as the Peasant Museum. Then he gives us a list of some of his favorite neighborhoods, cafes and even a hidden art gallery or two.
right click here to download (mp3)
right click here to download (iTunes version with pictures)
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Show Notes
Wandering Earl
Bucharest
Palace of the Parliament
Nicolae Ceau?escu
Communist Palace Draws Pop Stars and Presidents
Cismigu Gardens
Village Museum
Her?str?u Park
Sinaia
Tempo Hotel
Wandering Earl: Romania
Community
Survey results – you are smart, paid above average… and darn good looking
Spencer on Travel to Puerto Rico – Episode 363 with questions about crime
- Get an eSim to be able to use your smartphone abroad.
- Get a Car Rental
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Get a universal plug adapter
- Search for Great Tours HERE
- Book Your Accommodation HERE
Architecture in Bucharest and the History Behind It
Travel to Transylvania in Romania – Episode 868
7 Things You Should Know Before Traveling to Romania
Travel to Northern Romania – Episode 488
by Chris Christensen
Chris Christensen is the creator of the Amateur Traveler blog and podcast. He has been a travel creator since 2005 and has won awards including being named the "Best Independent Travel Journalist" by Travel+Leisure Magazine.+Chris Christensen | @chris2x | facebook
4 Responses to “Travel to Bucharest, Romania – Episode 369”
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Tags: audio travel podcast, bucharest, podcast, romania
Kori
Says:April 28th, 2013 at 6:34 am
I have visited Bucharest for a short time and had a great time. I did get to see the Parliament and also visit local shops. I hope to one day be able to travel to Romania once again. Great post
Ken Smith
Says:May 18th, 2013 at 10:34 am
What a great interview! Wandering Earl’s suggestions make me want to pay another visit to Romania. I was in Bucharest for eight days in 2006 to attend a wedding. That was in January and Earl is quite correct in saying that the winter months can be miserably cold.
Earl is also correct that the Romanians are very friendly — genuinely friendly. I had more dinner invitations than I could manage, especially after I had mentioned that I had gone to a restaurant by myself.
One thing that surprised me was that people assumed I was German. I’m not, but I’m tall, Nordic-looking, and it must have been obvious that I was a foreigner. The first time I was spoken to in German was understandable — I had arrived in Bucharest on a Lufthansa flight. As I left the terminal, a taxi driver asked me in German if I was going to the city. I replied in German that I don’t speak German and the driver detected my awful accent and switched to fluent English.
This happened other times in Bucharest. Store clerks, waiters and hookers on the street would speak to me in German. Earl is also correct in saying that English is widely spoken in Bucharest — not so much in the rural areas.
Cezarina
Says:February 25th, 2021 at 10:18 am
Such a captivating podcast! Very realistic and flattering for us, Romanians. Thanks Wandering Earl for the insights and thank you, Chris for sharing his experience with the world. Romania has been put against the wall for so long, this was a well-deserved and long-awaited breath of fresh air. Cheers!
Chris Christensen
Says:February 25th, 2021 at 9:31 pm
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂