Bucharest—Where Beer Is Cheap and Experiences, Sweet

Located on the Dâmbovița River, Bucharest has been the capital of Romania for a long time. It is the biggest city in this country and, surprisingly, the biggest tourist destination.   In the last couple of years, Bucharest has attracted a large number of tourists. For example, in 2024, the capital of Romania had more visitors than the nation’s seaside or its mountain resorts. In a way, it is a miracle; in another way, predictable.   Why do so many people visit this place? Why would you visit it? An Affordable Place Full of Possibilities   In 2024, Bucharest attracted over two million foreign tourists. Besides those, over one million Romanians decided to book a vacation in their nation’s capital. How is that so?   Bucharest is not a mountainous city, nor does it lie near the seaside. It’s a large city located in the Balkans, but it doesn’t carry as much history as Belgrade, Istanbul, or Athens.   Unlike other European capitals, such as Vienna, Budapest, or Paris, the city of Bucharest doesn’t have impressive historical buildings or much to show visitors. Yet, people decide to travel here, book a room for a weekend, a week, or even longer, and enjoy the place. What’s the secret?  The city appears to have a booming hospitality industry, many streets and parts with their unique histories, and quick access to many interesting attractions outside of the city.   Serving a beer can be a relevant example. In London, a beer at an average pub in the center of the city costs approximately eight euros. In Bucharest, the same pint of beer can be found at a quarter of that price, i.e., only two euros.   A sitting at a cozy café tells a similar story. You pay three or four times less for the same services you would pay for in Paris, Brussels, or Milan. Everything adds up. You look at your bank account and cannot believe how much money you have left.   The same goes for eating at a restaurant or booking a room via Airbnb. Life for the tourist is simply more affordable in Bucharest than in other European capitals. That has made many foreigners, especially those from Western Europe, consider Bucharest as a vacation spot.   While the city doesn’t have palaces like Vienna or Budapest, nor streets like Prague or Rome, the city is more affordable than other cities in Europe. You can drink, eat, and enjoy yourself better than in other places. From London, the plane takes only two hours. From Berlin, you can arrive in Bucharest in one hour. The choice is yours for the weekend.   Of course, in Europe, there are cheaper cities than Bucharest. Why not go to Kishinev, Minsk, or Tirana? What could make Bucharest a better option?   One sure thing that makes this city attractive is Romania’s membership in the European Union. Without passports or visas, people from France, Germany, or Italy can simply land in this city and enjoy it. You cannot do that in countries that are not EU members, and this is a great advantage for the Romanian capital.   However, this is not the only plus that makes Bucharest attractive for tourists. From the city, you can travel to many interesting places for a one-day or one-weekend vacation. Just an hour by train, and you can reach a chain of mountain resorts. There, you can go skiing, hiking, or simply visit important sights. The Peles Castle, the royal family’s residency, is one hour away by car. You can plan a one-day visit just for that.   Also, by train or car, you can reach the seaside in less than two hours. If you want to take a cold bath, you can jump in a car at 8 am, be at the seaside at 10 am, swim in the sea at 11 am, grab something to eat at one o’clock in the evening, and be back in the city before 4 pm.   From Bucharest, you can visit other castles surrounding the city. Besides the Peles castle, which we just mentioned, the most popular destination is Dracula’s castle, located in the city of Bran. Take a bus for two hours, and you arrive next to a dwelling that Dracula used to call home before he was a vampire.   Cheap Beer, Sweet Experiences   These are sufficient reasons why people enjoy traveling to Bucharest. Since Romania is an EU member, it is not difficult to arrive here just with your ID card. Moreover, you can find pubs with inexpensive beer, restaurants with affordable food, and stay-ins that some view as almost free.   Add to this that you can travel to interesting places outside of the city, and you get a recipe for a tourism success.