Therme Bucharest, Europe's largest spa. Photo: Altug Galip / Shutterstock.com The last time I visited Bucharest a few years ago, Romania’s capital city was already buzzing with massive malls hosting the biggest brands you could think of, posh restaurants, five-star hotels, and an incredible nightlife. Fast-forward to May 2026, and I can wholeheartedly say that the city has become even more beautiful, active, and inviting than I remembered it.
From the massive Therme, Europe’s biggest spa with a relaxation area counting over 500 palm trees, to fun tuk-tuk rides around the Parliament Palace, the second-largest administrative building on Earth (surpassed only by the Pentagon), gorgeous architecture, and incredibly cheap and tasty food + live shows as a bonus, Bucharest is quickly becoming one of Europe’s hottest escapes.
Not to mention it’s only a short drive away from the former communist country’s own “Miami Beach”, a luxury resort with a similar name called Mamaia.
While some, myself included, normally use Bucharest as a gateway to the beautiful land of Transylvania riddled with Dracula tales, controversial brown bears, or the iconic Turda Salt Mine (one of the strangest places you will visit in Romania, guaranteed), others choose it as a short pitstop before reaching the seaside.
Lake at Salina Turda. Photo: ShutterstockBut first Bucharest. Or, as you might know it…
Bucharest architecture. Photo: LCV / Shutterstock.com Often overshadowed by Europe’s bigger tourist capitals, Bucharest will surprise you at every corner. I once again found the city energetic and chaotic in the best possible way, and packed with everything from grand Belle Époque buildings to trendy rooftop bars, massive parks, huge shopping centers with immersive 4DX cinemas (12 euro/ticket) and buzzing cafés (3 euro/cappuccino, 4 euro/cafe latte, 4 euro/beer, 7 euro/strawberry banana smoothie, and plenty of buy one, get one free offers for Aperol Spriz/Hugo Spriz, free drinks for the ladies from 6:30 PM).
CEC Bank, Bucharest. Photo: DMZ001 / Shutterstock.com Nicknamed “Little Paris” in the early 20th century, Bucharest blends elegant architecture with raw urban character. One minute you are walking past enormous Communist-era buildings, and the next you are sitting in a hidden wine bar or eating at a fine-dining restaurant.
Most visitors begin in Bucharest’s Old Town, known locally as Lipscani. This lively district is filled with cobbled streets, historic churches, nightlife, cafés, cocktail bars, and restaurants. During the day, it feels relaxed and walkable. At night, it transforms into one of Eastern Europe’s busiest nightlife areas.
Old Town. Photo: ShutterstockDon’t skip Caru’ cu Bere (The Beer Wagon), a 130-year-old landmark restaurant that offers a full cultural and culinary experience with its stunning neo-Gothic architecture, highly popular dark beer, still brewed according to an original 1879 secret recipe (5 euro/400 ml), and iconic meter-long beer (4 liters in 10 mugs at 40 euros).
Caru' cu bere. Photo: capuzzimati / Shutterstock.com Needless to say, you cannot leave without trying some authentic Romanian food, whether it's some delicious mamaliga/polenta (2 euro/300g), cabbage rolls filled with minced meat served with polenta, sour cream and a chilli pepper on the side (15 euro/560 g), or papanasi/traditional fried donuts (10 euro/550 g).
Caru cu bere, dancers. Photo: lbrix / Shutterstock.com Beyond a meal, it is an immersive experience. The ground floor frequently features lively music and traditional Romanian folk dancing.
Over its 130+ year history, the restaurant has hosted famous figures like Prince Akihito of Japan and The Rolling Stones.
Nearby, visitors can also explore the impressive Palace of the Parliament, one of the largest administrative buildings in the world.
Parliament Palace. Photo: ShutterstockThe enormous structure remains one of Bucharest’s most famous landmarks and offers guided tours showcasing its massive marble halls and grand interiors.
Parliament Palace. Photo: BalkansCat / Shutterstock.com No visit to Bucharest is complete without spending time at Therme Bucharest, the giant wellness complex located just 5 kilometers from Otopeni Airport.
Therme has become one of my favorite relaxation havens whenever I visit, and I usually spend Saturdays there sipping fun cocktails, swimming, and relaxing at the sauna.
Therme. Photo: Altug Galip / Shutterstock.com Inside, the place is packed with everything your heart could desire to feel pampered, from tropical gardens, thermal pools, and mineral pools, to waterslides, swim-up bars, saunas, palm trees, relaxation lounges, and adults-only wellness zones.
Therme Bucharest. Photo: ShutterstockThe contrast feels surreal, especially during winter when you can swim in warm outdoor pools while cold air surrounds the complex.
Therme Bucharest. Photo: ShutterstockFor a one-day holiday ticket (full day) you wil pay around 30 euros Mon-Fri, while a 3-hour stay will cost you around 15 euros Mon-Sun.
Go on a guided bus city tour to explore the most popular attractions of the city in a fun way and save your energy.
Photo: arhire alexandru / Shutterstock.comVisit the beautiful Romanian Athenaeum, one of the city’s architectural jewels and home to classical concerts.
Bucharest. Photo: ShutterstockFor an even more exciting adventure, you can rent a tuk-tuk for a two-hour city tour to explore as much as possible in a fun and unique way alongside your driver/guide who will carry you to both iconic spots as well as hidden gems.
Photo: ShutterstockYou can even personalize your own experience; all you need to do is let the guide know what you would like to see. A two-hour tuk-tuk city tour will cost you 46 euro/person. For half the time, you will pay 34 euro per person.
As much as Bucharest has to offer, there's nothing more refreshing than that feeling of getting into a cool rental car and driving for roughly two hours to Mamaia (via Highway A2 known as "the Highway of the Sun", and for good reason), a chic resort on the shores of the Black Sea located in Constanta county.
Mamaia can also be reached by bus (3-hour trip for 10 euro) or train (2-hour journey for 9 euro) from Bucharest.
Constanta Casino. Photo: Gagarin Iurii / Shutterstock.comConstanta city is home to the recently renovated Casino, a hauntingly beautiful Art Nouveau building from the 1900’s, you cannot miss.
You can also embark on a short boat trip along the Romanian coast or a private yacht or catamaran trip with swimming stops.
The port of Constanta also offers a few international Black Sea cruises, with seasonal cruise ships occasionally calling at Constanta as part of a wider Eastern Mediterranean or Black Sea itinerary with routes covering ports in Bulgaria (Varna), Turkey (Istanbul), and Georgia (Batumi). While the Black Sea might not compare to the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea meeting the Adriatic Sea in Corfu, it still has a charm of its own, and, on some days when some species of phytoplankton overgrow, the sea becomes crazy turquoise.
A Black Sea cruise typically costs between 1,100 euros and 3,800 euros per person for a 7 to 14-day itinerary, while shorter 2 to 4-hour introductory sailing tours cost around 17 euros to 68 euros.
Photo: ShutterstockBack to Mamaia, tourists flock here for its wide, golden-sand beaches, vibrant nightlife, and action-packed events. The resort sits on a narrow strip of land between the Black Sea and Lake Siutghiol.
Photo: Radu Bercan / Shutterstock.comIt features an 8-kilometer stretch of fine, white sand. The waters are relatively shallow and safe, making it highly family-friendly during the day.
Photo: ShutterstockMamaia is famous for its extravagant summer parties, world-class beach clubs, and mega-events like the Neversea Festival held nearby in Constanța.
The adjacent Lake Siutghiol is a hub for sailing, water-skiing (15 euro/hour), and wakeboarding, while the Black Sea side offers windsurfing and parasailing (between 90 euro and 170 euro, depending on the number of people flying together; children under 12 years of age typically receive a 30% discount.)
What makes Bucharest stand out is not just the landmarks or nightlife, but the atmosphere itself. The city feels layered, unpredictable, and alive. It mixes history, modern energy, affordability, and hospitality in a way many European capitals no longer do.
And with growing international flight connections, lower prices than Western Europe, and attractions like Therme continuing to gain global attention, Bucharest is quickly becoming one of Europe’s most interesting urban escapes.