Three Days in Bucharest

Protests, Giant Buildings, Handsome Studs, and Some Seriously Tasty Food

If you’ve never been to Bucharest, you might be thinking of the usual Eastern European fare: cold war history, grandiose Communist architecture, and some very questionable food combinations. But after spending three days in this quirky capital, I can confirm: there’s more to this city than just legends of Dracula and a lot of concrete.

Why did I hold hands with the taxi driver from the airport to the apartment you might ask me? Let me tell you…well I don’t speak Romanian but I wanted to at least stay true to my Canadian roots and be able to say thank you, so I wrote it on my hand. When the Taxi driver told me something, I looked at my hand, read the words and he thought that was the most endearing thing, he held my hand for the entire journey and gave me a private guided tour of the city, pointing out all the sights along the way. So sweet! Off to a great start.

Day 1

Walking the Streets, Watching the Protest

I kicked off my Bucharest adventure with an early morning stroll, coffee in hand, ready to get a feel for the city. What I didn’t expect was a spontaneous protest that seemed to erupt out of nowhere. As I casually walked down the street, I found myself in the middle of a throng of passionate Romanians chanting slogans and waving flags.

Now, I didn’t know the cause of the protest, but I decided to join in. How often do you get to walk down the street and feel like you’re part of history? And let’s be honest, I didn’t want to look out of place. Plus, I assumed a local might hand me a flag and a slogan to chant — it’s a global tourist’s right to experience cultural moments like this.

Turns out, the protest was all about political reform or something equally important. 

Day 2

The “Palace” and How I Felt Like an Ant

The next day, I decided to visit the infamous Palace of the Parliament. If you haven’t heard of this colossal structure, it’s the second largest administrative building in the world, 2nd only to New Century Global Center in Chengdu, China. The Palace is so massive it feels like it might swallow the entire city — and possibly your soul — if you stare at it for too long. But hey, it’s a must-see for anyone who loves giant buildings and the phrase “Could you build that in your backyard?”

You can join a guided tour which involved a lot of walking, a lot of facts, and a lot of “whoa” moments when I saw the size of the rooms. Some rooms were so large that I felt like an ant in an art gallery — just me, my tiny self, surrounded by massive chandeliers and enough marble to make you question your life choices.

If you’re not into history, I’d say skip tour in the palace. But if you’re into feeling extremely small and being mildly impressed by absurdly huge rooms, this is your place.

You’re Welcome

The Handsome, Shirtless Romanian Studs

Now, let me take a moment to talk about one of the unexpected highlights of my trip. As I was sitting in my apartment across from a charming square, enjoying a well-earned espresso and a white chocolate treat, something caught my eye from the apartment building across the way. And by something, I mean someone—actually, multiple someones.

There, standing on a balcony like a gift from the Romanian gods, were a group of absolutely chiseled men, casually shirtless, flexing their well-sculpted torsos while having what I can only assume was a deep intellectual conversation (or maybe just deciding what to order for lunch). Either way, I wasn’t about to look away.

Maybe they were models. Maybe they were off-duty firefighters. Maybe they were just naturally blessed Romanian Adonises who enjoyed soaking up the sun while giving unsuspecting tourists an unforgettable sightseeing experience. Whatever the case, I wasn’t complaining. I even considered waving, but then I remembered that I was literally just stuffing my face with white chocolate, and I didn’t want that to be my lasting impression.

Day 3

The Food

Let’s talk about Bucharest food. Oh my goodness, where do I start? On my third day, I was starving after all the walking (and protesting?). The Romanian cuisine did not disappoint. I had a mici (which sounds like “meech-ee,” and I thought I was ordering a small dog at first, but it’s actually a tasty grilled sausage) that was so good, I considered taking one home as a souvenir.

Then came the sarmale — stuffed cabbage rolls filled with pork and rice, smothered in a creamy sauce. I ate so many that I could feel the cabbage trying to make its way to my brain, demanding I take a nap.

For dessert, I dove into papanași (a fried doughnut, essentially) topped with sour cream and jam. This was either going to be the best decision of my life or a catastrophic one. It turned out to be the former — the doughnut was warm, fluffy, and perfect for embracing every bit of sugar you could possibly want.

Final Thoughts

I love it here

In conclusion, Bucharest is a city that will surprise you. From protests to palace-sized buildings, unexpected balcony eye candy, and enough food to make you question your stomach’s limits, there’s something here for everyone. If you get a chance to visit, I highly recommend joining a protest, marveling at the city’s size (literally), taking strategic coffee breaks in case of handsome scenic views, and leaving enough room in your belly for a post-meal nap. It’s all part of the adventure.

_{Please note that I have not received these products for free or at a discounted price in exchange for my opinion.  There may be links that are affiliate links but at the time of posting this review, I have not received any monetary kickbacks.}