{"id":2268,"date":"2026-03-10T20:58:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T20:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/?page_id=2268"},"modified":"2026-03-10T21:33:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T21:33:24","slug":"guideromania","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/index.php\/guideromania\/","title":{"rendered":"GuideRomania"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2268\" class=\"elementor elementor-2268\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14282b5f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"14282b5f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;slideshow&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_gallery&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:2250,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/justtravellers.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Romania_IMG_0258.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:2251,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/justtravellers.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Romania_IMG_0254-2-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:2252,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/justtravellers.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Romania_IMG_0252-2-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:2253,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/justtravellers.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Romania_1-scaled.jpg&quot;}],&quot;background_slideshow_slide_duration&quot;:3000,&quot;background_slideshow_loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_slide_transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_transition_duration&quot;:500,&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30b8ec84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"30b8ec84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Visited in November 2024<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c3e0d93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1c3e0d93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Romania<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afbf898 ekit-sticky--top e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"afbf898\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;ekit_sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;ekit_sticky_offset&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:0,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ekit_sticky_offset_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ekit_sticky_offset_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ekit_sticky_on_desktop&quot;:&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;ekit_sticky_on_tablet&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;ekit_sticky_on_mobile&quot;:&quot;mobile&quot;,&quot;ekit_sticky_effect_offset&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:0,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ekit_sticky_effect_offset_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;ekit_sticky_effect_offset_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41a6534 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41a6534\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li class=\"p1\"><ol start=\"3\"><li><a href=\"#4\"><b>Outside of Bucharest<\/b><\/a><p><b>Content:<\/b><\/p><ol><li><a href=\"#1\"><b>Overall Impression<\/b><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#21\"><b>Bucharest<\/b><\/a><\/li><\/ol><p><b>2a. <a href=\"#3\">Things we did or saw<\/a><\/b><\/p><p><b>2b. <a href=\"#4\">Where we wined and dined<\/a><\/b><\/p><b><\/b><b>3.a Timisoara<\/b><\/li><\/ol><ol start=\"4\"><li><a href=\"#5\"><b>Random<\/b><\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d7bc259 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4d7bc259\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-662ced4a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"662ced4a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb9c78c elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"bb9c78c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"1\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-172ac0 animated-slow elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"172ac0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInUp&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Overall Impression<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19b54989 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"19b54989\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Romania was one of the absolute highlights of our two-month journey through Eastern Europe, Turkey, and the Caucasus in 2024\/25.<br \/>Several people had told us to look forward to a beautiful country with great hospitality, and we were also eager to see a place that, at least for one of us, held memories of the dramatic events surrounding the break from communism and the fall of dictator Ceau\u0219escu in 1989.<br \/>Our visit turned out to be a mix of disappointment, joy, and deep fascination over the course of eight days.<\/p><p>Let\u2019s start with hospitality. Quite simply, we didn\u2019t experience it\u2014neither in the second-largest city, Timi\u0219oara, nor in the capital, Bucharest, nor on the journey there or back. Even though we really wanted to.<br \/>Whether it was on the train, in restaurants, on the streets, in shops, at bars, or in museums, it just wasn\u2019t there. We were met with indifference, often close to being ignored, and unless we were paying for something, most people avoided eye contact and conversation as much as they possibly could\u2014or at least that\u2019s how it felt. At first, we didn\u2019t understand why, but over time, we developed a theory.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e6cfec e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8e6cfec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2f288e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e2f288e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>The Time During and After Ceau\u0219escu<\/b><\/p><p>For 24 years, Romania\u2019s former dictator, Nicolae Ceau\u0219escu, ruled the country alongside his wife, Elena (who, in reality, was the one pulling the strings).<\/p><p>The couple governed with brutal repression while living in luxury in a secluded mansion just north of the capital. Their disastrous economic policies, aimed at paying off the country\u2019s foreign debt, led to widespread hardship. While they obsessively glorified themselves, they oppressed the people in countless ways, including:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li>A secret police force, the Securitate, with up to 700,000 informants and mass surveillance of the population<\/li><li>Labor camps and prisons where torture and executions were common, especially for political critics<\/li><li>Severe shortages of food and energy, with entire apartment blocks left without heating in the middle of winter<\/li><li>A ban on abortion and contraception to increase the population, with women forced to undergo monthly pregnancy checks at work<\/li><li>Thousands of unwanted children abandoned in state-run orphanages under horrific conditions, only fully exposed after the regime\u2019s fall<\/li><li>The destruction of tens of thousands of villages and the forced relocation of their inhabitants<\/li><li>No precise number exists for how many lives the regime claimed, but estimates suggest between 100,000 and 200,000 people were directly or indirectly affected.<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>By December 1989, the people had had enough. <br \/>The uprising began in the western city of Timi\u0219oara and quickly spread across the country. Ceau\u0219escu\u2019s response was to order his forces to open fire on the crowds\u2014over 1,100 people were killed.<\/p><p>He and his wife attempted to flee by helicopter but were soon captured. After a rushed trial, they were both executed by firing squad. Their so-called trial and their bloodied bodies were broadcast on live television.<\/p><p>What should have led to freedom and progress instead resulted in decades of chaos. Many former communists remained in power, leading to corruption and slow reforms.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Very few were ever held accountable for their collaboration with the Ceau\u0219escu regime or for crimes against the people. Even today, many official documents and case files remain classified.<\/p><p>In the early 2000s, Romania joined NATO and later the EU, and the country has since experienced significant economic growth. However, it wasn\u2019t long ago that hundreds of street children were literally living underground in the capital.<\/p><p>Political instability and corruption remain issues, and while the communist era has been officially condemned, there is still debate over whether Romania has truly confronted its past.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b03f418 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b03f418\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>No Closure<\/b><\/p><p>Our theory is that Romanians have never truly recovered from oppression and corruption, and they have never really found closure that would allow them to move on.<br \/>As a result, they can come across as a collectively subdued people who keep to themselves and look out for themselves, as they have been accustomed to for decades.<\/p><p>That said, it does seem that the younger generation behaves somewhat differently\u2014they appear a bit more outgoing and in better spirits, though not in any dramatic way. Perhaps change is on the horizon. It should also be noted that in Eastern Europe, there is generally less smiling than we are used to, and people tend to come across as more reserved and serious. But Romania still took the prize. The overall attire of black puffer jackets, sweatpants, and sneakers didn\u2019t help either.<\/p><p>If one is unsure whether a shift in mood is underway, it is absolutely clear that change and new times are on the rise in Romania\u2014construction projects everywhere, newly renovated buildings, and entire city centers beautified. And if anyone still imagines that the car fleet consists of worn-out \u0160kodas, Ladas, and Trabants, they are completely mistaken. It\u2019s all new cars now, many of them luxury models. Apparently, that\u2019s one of the first things people upgrade when progress comes their way\u2014and it makes sense if you\u2019ve never really had the means or the freedom for self-indulgence.<br \/>And there are plenty of them\u2014the cars\u2014especially in Bucharest, where the infrastructure can\u2019t keep up, leading to constant chaos on the major roads, both during the day and well into the evening.<\/p><p>Something else we noticed, which ties into the above, is the strong desire to appear Western. Coffee shops, wine bars, and takeout places have sprung up everywhere in the cities, and while that is good in a way, it\u2019s also a bit of a shame that there isn\u2019t more of a distinct cultural identity. But again\u2014where would it come from?<\/p><p>All in all, our trip to Romania offered a historical experience of great proportions and an exciting, simmering capital. But unfortunately, the people were not the highlight. We simply didn\u2019t feel welcome in the way we did in many of the other countries we visited on this journey. And yet, it was one of the greatest experiences because it stood out so distinctly.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51a71b4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"51a71b4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73c33bb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"73c33bb7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Facts<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a81ecb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3a81ecb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Romania: 19 million inhabitants\u2028 <BR><BR>The capital of Bucharest: 1.8 million inhabitants\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dfea4bd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"dfea4bd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-495b0a8 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"495b0a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f898ee2 animated-slow elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f898ee2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInUp&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Bucharest<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ce3f6a e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0ce3f6a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9281b5f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9281b5f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_1-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2253\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_1-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3cbf6a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d3cbf6a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_5.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2256\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_5.jpg 1007w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_5-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_5-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_5-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d634d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"4d634d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"21\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-770e815 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"770e815\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Bucharest is an intensely fascinating city, and in many places, both beautiful and grand.<\/p><p>It is clear that the city is on the rise \u2013 large construction projects and renovations are underway everywhere. However, like the rest of the country, it still bears the marks of decades of oppression under the dictatorship of Nicolae and Elena Ceau\u0219escu and their secret police, the Securitate. We sensed a certain muteness and inwardness unlike anything we have encountered elsewhere, which we have reflected on <a href=\"#Top\">here.<\/a><\/p><p>That being said, Bucharest is a metropolis with so much beauty to take in and so many places where history feels alive \u2013 from Ceau\u0219escu\u2019s megalomaniac projects like the grandiose Parliament building to aesthetic, almost Parisian architectural works, broad boulevards, as well as stunning parks, fountains, and monuments.<\/p><p>Like other major cities, it is divided into different areas, and not all are equally interesting. A good piece of advice is to avoid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.dk\/maps\/place\/Lipscani,+Bukarest,+Rum%25C3%25A6nien\/@44.4315015,26.0961338,15.39z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x40b1ff3f9032bbe9:0x71a08d3f1c8e3a2b!8m2!3d44.4330436!4d26.1024262!16s\/g\/11dykv1_0?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==\">the old town<\/a> \u2013 while it has beautiful buildings, they have been taken over by terrible restaurants and bars, as well as hordes of tourists searching for the next place to get drunk.<\/p><p>Instead, spend time in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.dk\/maps\/place\/Piata+Romana,+Bukarest,+Rum%25C3%25A6nien\/@44.4434618,26.0932069,16z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x40b1ff4e5e4c4e2f:0xabd56fc7586c7121!8m2!3d44.445838!4d26.0972776!16s\/g\/11gfkl7df2?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==\">Piata Romana<\/a>, where the atmosphere feels more authentic, and where you can find decent restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Also, explore\u00a0the area around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.dk\/maps\/place\/Pia%25C8%259Ba+Victoriei,+Bucure%25C8%2599ti,+Rum%25C3%25A6nien\/@44.4526277,26.0755214,15z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x40b201ff8e4e556f:0x3195c439d37f1508!8m2!3d44.4526134!4d26.0858211!16s\/m\/02q81gq?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==\">Piata Victoriei<\/a>, and especially\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.dk\/maps\/place\/Doroban%C8%9Bi,+Bukarest,+Rum%C3%A6nien\/@44.4526277,26.0755214,15z\/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x40b2020790d03c41:0x534971b12abbb625!8m2!3d44.45946!4d26.0947023!16s%252Fm%252F02rbm_g?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%253D%253D\">Dorobanti\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0<b>Floresca<\/b>\u00a0(northwest of Dorobanti) \u2013 our experience was that the further north we went, the more openness and warmth we encountered, even if still in small doses.<\/p><p>The traffic is horrendous everywhere \u2013 but gone are the worn-out Ladas and Skodas of the 1990s, replaced by a mostly brand-new fleet. It seems like everyone must own a car, preferably a new and large one, as a symbol of the country\u2019s progress. Unfortunately, the infrastructure is clearly not equipped to handle the sheer number of vehicles.<\/p><p>Still, Bucharest is well worth a visit \u2013 you can easily spend a long weekend or even a full week here, depending on your interests. The city feels safe, you feel at ease, and it is perfectly manageable to explore on foot \u2013 perhaps supplemented by a bit of public transport.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77f2aac elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"77f2aac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1dcc3084 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1dcc3084\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5af7eed0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5af7eed0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1385d8c3 animated-slow elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1385d8c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInUp&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2a. Things we did or saw<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-431f493 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"431f493\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a55b1b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a55b1b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This isn\u2019t a list of\u00a0<i>everything<\/i>\u00a0you can do in Bucharest, and you won\u2019t necessarily find all the major tourist attractions here. It\u2019s rather a selection of places we\u2019ve visited and personally recommend.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\ud83d\ude82<b> Definitely worth a visit <br \/><\/b>\ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82<b> Really good<br \/><\/b>\ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82<b> One of our favorites<br \/><\/b>\ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82<b> Above and beyond<br \/><\/b>\ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82<b> Truly exceptional<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d46345 e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5d46345\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9651b2 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"b9651b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_2-1024x1024.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Romania_2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCeau\u0219escu\u2019s Spring Palace <BR> \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82\ud83d\ude82\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThis is one of the truly great experiences that you should treat yourself to if you have even the slightest interest in history. Read about our visit here.\nIn 2016, the former grand villa of the Ceau\u0219escu family in northern Bucharest was opened to the public. Here, the dictator couple lived in isolation from the masses in more than\u00a03,000 square meters, spread across\u00a0over 170 rooms, featuring marble and gold, a hair salon and spa, a swimming pool, and a climate-controlled winter garden. The house remains more or less as it was left, with many of the family's personal belongings on display. <BR><BR>\nThere is said to be an escape route in the basement, though it is not included in the guided tour. Likewise, visitors \"only\" get to see around\u00a050 rooms. A bit of a shame \u2013 the tour could easily have lasted another half hour, which likely would have earned it top marks from us.\nYou can book a guided tour\u00a0here.<BR>\nNote:\u00a0Photography is not allowed inside.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c84b74d elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"c84b74d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_3-1024x1024.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Romania_3\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRevolution Square  <BR>  \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t(The former Central Committee building\u00a0of the\u00a0Romanian Communist Party)  <BR>\nCeau\u0219escu gave his speech to the people from this balcony in 1989, while the revolution was already in full swing in the country\u2019s second-largest city, Timi\u0219oara. It was as if he didn\u2019t fully grasp the gravity of the situation, and the speech\u2014meant to calm the people\u2014instead led to boos and chants in support of the rebels in Timi\u0219oara.\u00a0Watch the moment here.<BR>\nStanding in the square is a truly chilling historical experience\u2014we watched his speech on our phone while standing there, which added an extra dimension to the moment.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52c0081 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"52c0081\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_4-1024x1024.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Romania_4\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCasa Poporului \/ The Parliament <BR> \ud83d\ude82\ud83d\ude82 \t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe\u00a0world\u2019s second-largest administrative building\u00a0(only surpassed by the Pentagon) and one of the\u00a0heaviest buildings in the world\u00a0(weighing 4 million tons).<BR><BR>\nWith more than\u00a01,500 rooms\u00a0spread across\u00a012 above-ground floors\u00a0and\u00a08 underground levels, this is one of the most extreme communist-era megaprojects. Construction began in\u00a01984\u00a0as part of a vision to erase old Bucharest and replace it with a socialist-inspired city center.\nA\u00a0fifth of the city\u2019s built-up area\u00a0was demolished,\u00a020,000 residents were forcibly relocated, and\u00a040 Orthodox churches\u00a0were torn down to make way for grand palaces, ministries, luxury apartments for party officials, wide boulevards for parades, and Ceau\u0219escu\u2019s\u00a0gigantic palace.<BR><BR> The structure was named\u00a0\u201cThe People\u2019s House\u201d, but today, it serves as the\u00a0Romanian Parliament, and with many of its rooms left unused.\nGuided tours are available, but we skipped them\u2014just experiencing the building from the outside and walking around the area is already an impressive experience.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29d4ca4 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"29d4ca4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0390848 animated-slow elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0390848\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInUp&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2b. Where we wined and dined\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b747b9e elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"b747b9e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"3\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3ed7e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f3ed7e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><i>To avoid harming or calling out anyone, we only speak in general terms about our bad experiences. However, we do name and grade the better places\u2014but only those we\u2019ve personally visited.<\/i><\/p><p>\ud83d\ude82<b> Definitely worth a visit <br \/><\/b>\ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82<b> Really good<br \/><\/b>\ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82<b> One of our favorites<br \/><\/b>\ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82<b> Above and beyond<br \/><\/b>\ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82<b> Truly exceptional<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32274ea e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"32274ea\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5062310 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"5062310\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_BucharestRomania_5-1024x1024.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Romania_BucharestRomania_5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLa Copac <BR> \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82\ud83d\ude82\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStrada Pitar Mo\u0219 23 <BR>\nIt doesn't get more local than this! Fantastic atmosphere and service\u2014worth a visit for that alone. The food is also quite good.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6dbecd5 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"6dbecd5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_BucharestRomania_1-1024x1024.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Romania_BucharestRomania_1\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tKaiamo  <BR>  \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82 \ud83d\ude82\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t30A, Strada Ermil Pangrati Street <BR>\nFine dining and high-level service. We had a tasting menu with Romania\u2019s history as the central theme\u2014a remarkable and well-executed experience.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9fa9ca1 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"9fa9ca1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_BucharestRomania_2-1024x1024.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Romania_BucharestRomania_2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGrano <BR> \ud83d\ude82\ud83d\ude82 \t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStrada Pu\u021bul lui Zamfir 40 <BR>\nAn Italian restaurant with a cozy interior and great homemade pasta dishes.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98c7484 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"98c7484\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_BucharestRomania_3-1024x1024.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Romania_BucharestRomania_3\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBeca\u2019s Kitchen <BR> \ud83d\ude82\ud83d\ude82 \t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStrada Mihai Eminescu 80 <BR>\nA lovely, intimate dining spot with great food.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1f1a49 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"e1f1a49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_BucharestRomania_4-1024x1024.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Romania_BucharestRomania_4\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tP\u00e2ine \u0219i Vin <BR> \ud83d\ude82\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tStrada Ion Brezoianu 4 <BR>\nDecent food \u2013 we had a platter with a mix of local specialties.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91768e1 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"91768e1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79ff467 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"79ff467\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad1fc2d animated-slow elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ad1fc2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInUp&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Outside of Bucharest\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13becb7 animated-slow elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13becb7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInUp&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3a. Timisoara<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-165e327 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"165e327\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"4\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd8249e e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cd8249e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9676ce1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9676ce1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara3-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2267\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara3-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara3-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara3-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara3-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara3-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80375e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"80375e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"751\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara2-751x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2266\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara2-751x1024.jpg 751w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara2-220x300.jpg 220w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara2-768x1047.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara2-1127x1536.jpg 1127w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara2-1503x2048.jpg 1503w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara2-scaled.jpg 1879w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 751px) 100vw, 751px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c56029 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1c56029\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara1-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2265\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara1-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-138fe38 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"138fe38\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara5-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2264\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara5-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara5-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara5-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara5-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara5-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a97186f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a97186f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara4-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2263\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara4-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara4-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara4-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara4-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Romania_Timisoara4-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74f2935 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74f2935\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Timi\u0219oara in western Romania is the country\u2019s third-largest city, with around 300,000 inhabitants.<br \/>It is known as a multicultural city with Romanians, Hungarians, Germans, Serbs, and other minorities, and at the same time as a modern city with many university students \u2013 something that is clearly visible in the streets, which are full of young people.<\/p><p><br \/>It has a rich cultural life as well as a lively bar and restaurant scene, mostly centered in a rather small city center that is elegant and well-kept, often referred to as \u201cLittle Vienna.\u201d In several places it is so well-maintained or beautifully restored that it almost feels like a movie set.<\/p><p>We visited the city in November, and to say the least, not much was happening, but Timi\u0219oara is still an interesting place. Not least historically, since it was here that the revolution against dictator Ceau\u0219escu began in December 1989 and quickly spread to the rest of the country.<br \/>The city has a small museum dedicated to the history of the revolution, which is worth a visit, even if the story is presented in an almost painfully dull way.<\/p><p>If you happen to pass through the area, Timi\u0219oara is definitely worth a stop \u2013 and we imagine it must look much better once spring arrives than it does in the winter months.<\/p><p>We visited a good handful of bars and restaurants during our stay, but the standard was neither impressive nor inspiring, which is why none of the places are mentioned here.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7b5798 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e7b5798\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a550f75 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a550f75\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_has_onepagescroll_dot&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7376f81 animated-slow elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7376f81\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;slideInUp&quot;,&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Random<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e144c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"5e144c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb8225e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb8225e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ekit_we_effect_on&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This heading covers things, experiences, and observations that have been\u00a0<b>useful, fun, embarrassing, or something else entirely<\/b>. It can also include\u00a0<b>statements or claims<\/b>\u00a0that may not necessarily be fact-checked.<\/p><ul><li>Timi\u0219oara was European Capital of Culture in 2023 and was the first city in Europe to have electric street lighting, already in 1884.<\/li><li>Traffic in Bucharest is so chaotic and massive that police officers are deployed daily at several intersections to direct cars, even though there are traffic lights.<\/li><li>Just a few years ago, Bucharest still had street children and youths living underground in tunnels in the city center. Apparently, the children have now disappeared from the center.<\/li><li>Romania is one of the countries in the world with the fastest internet connections.<\/li><li>For us it was a weird experience visiting the country. People seem so sullen, uninterested, and at times apathetic, but it\u2019s a fairly beautiful country \u2014 one we can\u2019t quite decide whether is worth revisiting.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Visited in November 2024 Romania Outside of Bucharest Content: Overall Impression Bucharest 2a. Things we did or saw 2b. Where we wined and dined 3.a Timisoara Random 1. Overall Impression Romania was one of the absolute highlights of our two-month journey through Eastern Europe, Turkey, and the Caucasus in 2024\/25.Several people had told us to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2268","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2268"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2301,"href":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2268\/revisions\/2301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/justtravellers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}