24 Hours in Bucharest
by Nidhi Bhaskar
Is it just me or are the Balkans severely underrated? My first venture into this part of the world also happened to be my first solo trip through Romania and some of Bulgaria. Although the mystique of Transylvania was an incredible lure for my inner Dracula fan, Bucharest stole my heart. Visiting the capital of Romania may seem the “obvious” choice for travellers, but Bucharest went above and beyond my expectations. For this 24-hour Bimble, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite spots- both on and off the beaten path- in this beautiful city with you!
Old town (Centru Vechi) feels like stepping out into a quirky architectural experiment, with Byzantine-era buildings clashing with brutalist Soviet architecture and graffiti galleries all around. Refreshed and ready for a full day of exploring, my first stop of the day was the tiny Stavropleos monastery, a Byzantine relic and the sole survivor of the Ottoman book-burning period. Pro tip: come before 10 AM and you’ll often be lucky enough to hear the resident choir practicing. With the place mostly to myself, I explored the library, courtyard, and gardens with a backdrop of some beautiful chamber music.
I then fueled up with a croissant and coffee, my first of three visits to the Urbanist during my visit. This local coffee shop morphs into a gorgeous cocktail bar and electronic music venue at night and occasionally also moonlights as a trendy Bohemian boutique. Talk about multitasking!
A very special detour led me into a Biserica Sfântul Anton, an unassuming Catholic Church undergoing renovations. I’d never seen a renovation process before and spent almost an hour chatting with artists and construction workers, as they explained to me the processes that they went through to preserve the art on the walls and stabilze the church’s many sculptures.
I stopped for lunch at the iconic Café van Gogh. Though this Bucharest staple was the least “hidden” find on my itenerary, I loved the quintessentially European experience of enjoying my salad on the open-air patio, as I people-watched across the cobbled streets of Centru Vechi.
After lunch, I wandered down the quiet Strada Sepcari, lined with boutiques featuring local designers. I particularly loved Dalis Shop, which had the most beautiful collection of silk floral dresses tucked away into an unassuming storefront. I loved learning about Bucharest’s current fashion trends and fell in love with a blue patterned blazer that I later bought.
For any literary lover, there are two gorgeous bookshops in Bucharest which are absolute “must-see-s.” Carturesti Carusel and its lesser known cousin, Carturesti Verona. On my first day, I spent a good hour at Carturesti Carusel perusing and marvelling at the stunning all-white spiral staircases leading to the perfectly colour-coordinated book sections.
I then went around the corner to the hidden antiquities bazaar at Strada Doamnei 12. Located in a previously abandoned building, the cavernous interiors were adorned with beautiful carvings, while locals shopped for antiques and handmade products from the makeshift stalls.
In the early evening, I took electric scooter to see the Romanian Parliament Building. Little did I know that this touristy venture would force me quite literally “off the beaten path”, devolving into my most memorable “crazy travel story” for years to come.
Supplementing my ride with music from my headphones, I drove through the gates and into the Parliament grounds. I got about 70 feet in before I heard someone yelling over my music, and noticed a security guard running after me. After a brief exchange, I learned that the Parliament was technically closed, and by being there after hours, I had trespassed upon the highest security building in Romania. I spent the time I would have used to explore grounds of the Parliament detained in the guard office, trying to prove my identity without my passport that I’d left in the hotel. Finally, after presenting a photo of my European working visa and my American driving license, Parliament security let me out with a strong warning. I felt very lucky, but was also ready to wrap up the evening’s exploring.
Manuc’s Inn (Hanu’ lui Manuc), the oldest restaurant in Bucharest came as a suggestion for dinner from one of my Romanian friends back home. The atmosphere here was warm- live music was playing and the entire hall was illuminated by warm strings of fairy lights. While waiting for my meal of sarmale and polenta to arrive, I struck up a conversation with a group of engineering professors from the Vienna Institute of Technology, who were also staying in Old Town. By the time my main course had come, I had joined their table and we enjoyed a lovely long dinner together.
My last stop of the evening was by far my favorite- the Piatri de Fontani. These fountains, at the city center, held a breathtaking performance complete with vibrant light effects and traditional Romanian music, which seemed to draw everyone- from local families to travelers- to the city center. I went back every night that week, feeling the most wonderful sense of togetherness with everyone gathered.
I have to say that Bucharest is truly of Europe’s hidden gems- particularly for solo female travelers such as myself looking for a destination rich with living history, culture, and cuisine. If, like me, you decide to stay longer than 24 hours, check out my Bimble place-list for more of my favorite recommendations such as Church of the Good Shephard, Obor Market, Pura Vida SkyBar, and the Romanian Athenaeum.
All images courtesy of Nidhi.
Bimble is proudly featuring Nidhi Bhaskar as a guest writer on the Bimble Blog. Nidhi is a Master’s student in Medical Anthropology at the University of Oxford the Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Blue. Check out a guest spot from Bimble over at The Oxford Blue: https://www.theoxfordblue.co.uk/2022/05/06/travelling-in-the-time-of-covid-italy/
If you have a story you’d like to share about a great little place or other bimbling experiences, get in touch with us at hello@bimble.com
