holdall · Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest

Jun 2022

2 weeks

Summary

Summary

I had previously visited Bucharest on a fairly typical Stag Do ten years prior and saw very little of the city aside from the bars of the Old Town. This time I was hoping to see a different side to the city.

Accommodation

Bad

Good

Great

You shouldn't have any issues finding a good quality an well priced Airbnb in the city.

If visiting in the summer months, double check the availability of A/C as you may be in for some uncomfortable nights otherwise.

info

New legislation

Recent changes introduced by the Turkish government has made short-term rentals for under 100 days more restricted. Keep an eye on Reddit threads for up-to-date assessments of how the new legislation is impacting short-term rentals in practice.

Places to work

Bad

Good

Great

Bucharest has no shortage of coworking spaces with various options available across the city. I particularly enjoyed the Seneca Anticafe which you can check out below.

Value

Bad

Good

Great

Eating out is good value across the city with lots of affordable options (both local and international cuisines) for lunch and dinner. Card payments are widespread but as ever doesn't hurt to carry some of the local currency (Leu).

info

The yen is currently at a 34-year low

While this is undoubtedly a negative for the Japanese, it makes for an exceptionally good time to visit Japan from abroad. Although this trend is unlikely to reverse significantly in the short term, it's still worth checking before visiting.

View cost of living

open_in_new

Excitement

Bad

Good

Great

While not on the scale of a global capital city, Bucharest has a fair amount going on, especially during the summer months.

The Old Town becomes a hive of activity on weekends as tourists flock to the city. Throughout the week, Calea Victoriei remains bustling with crowds during the daytime.

Although it may not be consistently crowded, there should be enough ambience to keep you satisfied.

Working hours

Based in EET, Romania is one hour ahead of CET.

🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?

I've written a guide on how to structure your day to get the most out of the time difference.

Read article

Do you need to speak Spanish?

Without doubt, being able to speak Spanish with a degree of fluency is a huge asset when visiting South America. I had always put off visiting the continent due to my Spanish skills not extending beyond requesting a "cerveza grande".

But even with my incredibly primitive linguistic capabilities, it was not in any way to the detriment of the trip. English is spoken sparsely, but armed with a few phrases, some polite enthusiasm and a translator, it shouldn't deter you from visiting.

No items found.

Where to stay

I'd recommend staying close to one of these areas where everything you need will be close by.

Would avoid

Recommended

Piata Romana

The surrounding area near Calea Victoriei to the South West of Piata Romana was my favourite area of the city. Lots of coffee shops and a more local feel.

Would avoid

Recommended

Aviatorilor

If i was to return to Bucharest I'd be tempted to stay in this area just north of the centre with close proximity to the park and lakes.

Would avoid

Recommended

Centrul Vechi

I very rarely made it down to the Old Town which felt more of a tourist draw than somewhere residents would frequent. Would not prioritise being in the immediate area.

Where to work

Seneca Anticafe

Top Choice

☕️ Good Coffee

📍 Top Location

🥗 On Site Cafe

🧍Community Focused

⭐️ Quality Fit Out

🌳 Outdoor Space

A unique hybrid between a book store and a coworking space, I've yet encounter anywhere remotely similar to Seneca. Around a 30 minute walk from Piatta Romana, the space is divided into a silent working area and the more ambient areas of the public bookstore where you are able to take calls.

Coffee, flavoured fruit water and fresh fruit are available and the demographic is a mix of remote workers and university students making use of it as a study space.

There is a peaceful ambience reminiscent of a library, with the ability to pay by the hour for shorter stints.

The surrounding area is full of peaceful green spaces, with great speciality coffee shops just moments away. Would return in a heatbeat should I return to Bucharest.

Learn more open_in_new

Remote work visa

Remote work visa coming soon

A dedicated remote work visa is available for this country.

This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.

There is currently no remote work visa available for this country.

Romania launched a digital nomad visa on December 21st, 2021, targeting non-EU citizens and aiming to attract over 2,000 remote workers annually to boost its economy post-COVID-19.

Valid for 12 months, renewable for another year if requirements met, and with a low cost of living, Romania's digital nomad visa allows foreigners employed by or owning companies outside Romania to work remotely in the country without additional permits.

Visa length

Visa cost

Earning requirements

Learn more open_in_new

To the best of my knowledge this information was correct as of October 2024. If you notice something has changed drop me a message and I'll update it!

‍Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.

Safety

Off work

Explore the King Mihai I Park

A sprawling green space surrounding Lake Herăstrău, featuring gardens, playgrounds, boat rentals and restaurants. Perfect destination for a leisurely run or a picnic during the summer months.

Learn more open_in_new

Visit the Palace of Parliament

Worth passing by to witness the sheer enormity of the structure. Constructed under the orders of former dictator Ceaușescu, the property owns the title of the world's second largest administrative building.

Walk to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Monument dedicated to soldiers who died in battle for their country, the surrounding park provides a green respite from warm summer days.

Eat at Sera Eden

An urban oasis featuring ptions for outdoor dining and drinking.

Duration & season

The weather was beautiful at the start of June with only one day of rain throughout the period.

Given how vibrant the local parks are, I would definitely prioritise a summers visit to make the most of them, rather than the during the particularly cold winter months.

Food & drink

Sloane Coffee Store

Piata Romana

Top-class espresso with a range of beans to buy to take away or drink instore.

Top Choice

boteca13

Muzeul Național de Artă

Relaxed coffee house with great quality coffee and courtyard seating.

Top Choice

Zăganu

Piata Romana

Great variety of independently brewed beers with happy hour offers.

Top Choice

Grădina Cișmigiu Run

Run

Perfect location for a mornings run away from traffic in this shaded, sheltered park.

City Loop with Parks

Cycle

Worth getting a bike out if you are a cyclist to explore the city on road. Semi decent bike lanes are available in the centre of the city which gradually fade out.

People

Both of the coworking spaces I visited were mainly filled with locals with a couple of other remote workers present. Most of the international crowd is likely to be found in the Old Town which acts as the main hub for tourism in the city.

Exercise

Grădina Cișmigiu Run

Perfect location for a mornings run away from traffic in this shaded, sheltered park.

keyboard_arrow_down

City Loop with Parks

Worth getting a bike out if you are a cyclist to explore the city on road. Semi decent bike lanes are available in the centre of the city which gradually fade out.

keyboard_arrow_down

Grădina Cișmigiu Run

Perfect location for a mornings run away from traffic in this shaded, sheltered park.

City Loop with Parks

Worth getting a bike out if you are a cyclist to explore the city on road. Semi decent bike lanes are available in the centre of the city which gradually fade out.

Verdict

Positives

Great weather throughout summer.Summers are generally hot and dry with the occasional intense bout of rain.
A bustling, working environment.I enjoyed the industrious buzz in the city, making it an engaging place to work from.
Good value compared to Western European cities.Eating out is affordable with good quality options.
Plenty of green spaces.The parks and lakes are a great addition to the city and perfect for morning or evening runs.
Vibrant nightlife.The city is renowned for having a robust selection of late night venues.
Outside of the Schengen Zone.If for whatever reason you have reached your limit of time available within the Schengen group of countries, Romania is an alternative.

Negatives

Not the most international of destinations.If you are looking for a multicultural environment, there's better destinations. Most tourists are arriving for a weekend in the Old Town with little signs of a remote work culture taking shape.

Tips

Taxis are cheap.Use Ubers and avoid getting ripped off.
Consider a trip to Constanța.A popular summertime resort, accessible in an afternoons travel on rather rackety but characterful train.

More from Japan

I loved everything about this trip to Japan. I've put together some thoughts on my entire stay in the country, which may come in handy if you are planning a visit soon.

Read article

Naha

Better known for tacos rather than kimonos.

Top Choice