Spiral balconies of the Carturesti Carusel bookstore in Bucharest

TRAVEL

An Extreme Day Trip to Bucharest: Exploring the Old Town of Romania’s Capital and Relaxing at Europe’s Largest Spa

April 2, 2024

Inside the Carturesti Carusel bookstore in Bucharest

Bucharest, Romania

Length of Stay: 1 day

Time of Year: March

Flight: Ryanair

Transportation: Bolt app and local bus (bus into the city: the 100 bus costs less than £1, about $1.30)

Pro tip: use Uber or Bolt, not the yellow taxis, because they charge more!

What we did:

Walk around Old Town
The Palace of Parliament (the world’s second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon)
Stavropoleos Church
Triumphal Arch
Old Princely Court & Church
Carturesti Carusel
Hanul lui Manuc
Therme Bucuresti (They had a special discount for national Women’s Day, so we only paid £11, about $14)

Stavropoleos Church in Bucharest’s Old Town

Have you ever considered embarking on an extreme day trip to a European city? Well, that’s exactly what my friend and I did when we decided to explore the streets of Bucharest and the famous Therme Bucuresti in just one day. From catching the first flight in at 6 am to boarding the last flight home at 11 pm, our day was nothing short of exhilarating, or as my friend Victoria put it, “We’re here for a good time, not a long time.”

Getting into the center of the city was quick and easy with the affordable 100 bus, which cost us less than £1 (about $1.30). Pro tip: opt for Uber or Bolt for convenient and reasonably priced rides, as the yellow taxis tend to charge more.

We started our day in Bucharest with a walk around the Old Town. One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the Palace of Parliament, the world’s second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon.

We also made sure to visit Stavropoleos Church, the iconic Triumphal Arch, the historic Old Princely Court & Church, and more beautiful historic buildings. For book lovers like us, a visit to Carturesti Carusel, a stunning bookstore housed in a beautifully restored building, was a must-see.

Courtyard cafe at Hanul lui Manuc in Bucharest

Before heading back to the airport, we treated ourselves to a relaxing evening at Therme Bucuresti, a luxurious thermal spa. Thanks to a special discount in honor of National Women’s Day, we enjoyed three hours at the spa for just £11 (about $14). The Therme even has a family-friendly area with pools, waterslides, a splash pad, a pool bar, and a sandy beach.

Our day trip to Bucharest may have been short, but it was filled with unforgettable experiences and memories. Until next time, Bucharest!