Trip to Bucharest April 10 - 19

I'll be flying to Bucharest on Friday April 10 and back to Germany the following Sunday April 19th, and need ideas of what to do in Bucharest and the following area. I also want to make a trip to Transylvania and see some of the castles. I just booked the flight using my frequent flyer miles and have little time to read up and prepare. Can someone help me with ideas.

Will anyone else be in Bucharest or Romania during this time period, and like to meet up and travel some together.

I look forward to the replies.
Thanks!
Todd

need ideas of what to do in Bucharest and the following area.

What are you interested in? Anyway, at the very least you should visit the Palace of Parliament, the Village Museum and the historical quarter; see more landmarks here.

also want to make a trip to Transylvania and see some of the castles

Take one of the numerous daily trains towards Brasov in southern Transylvania (stop along the way in Sinaia to see the Peles castle) and base yourself there for a few days; from Brasov you can do day trips to the many sites nearby: to Bran (to see the not-Dracula related "Dracula's castle") and Rasnov (has a very interesting medieval fortress), to Sighisoara ( a still inhabited medieval citadel), to some of the ancient German Saxon villages (like Prejmer or Harman), maybe even go to Sibiu (the other major historical city in the region) etc.

If you plan to use public transportation to do the trips mentioned above you can check train timetables on infofer.ro and bus timetables on autogari.ro.

Thanks for the information! I have eight full days and two travel days to see what I can in Romania. I think maybe I’ll spend the first and last weekend in Bucharest and head then up to Brasov on Monday and stay there for a few days. It would also be nice to go to the coast but this might be a tight squeeze.

How expensive is Romania? How much will I have to pay for a hotel in Bucharest and Brasov? I’m guessing in any event it’s cheaper than Germany.

I also read on the internet about the spas. Are those worth spending the time for?

i loved just walking around bucharest, visited a lot of small museums/galleries, and loved finding the tiny churches completely surrounded by concrete apartment blocks. check out causescu's house on str. unirii - it's the second largest building in the world after the pentagon and well worth a look. plus that street is gorgeous with all the fountains etc.

when you're in brasov, take the cable car up the mountain, the view is spectacular!

if you find you have an extra couple of days, head up further north to suceava - they have the most amazing monasteries, frescoed inside and out by a single artist. also home to another fort, and the romanian black pottery (really pretty). if you do decide to go, pm me - i know an amazing place to stay.

LOTS cheaper than germany! i was out there last in 2003 and could get a bus ticket for 8000lei, a coke for around 30,000. i think the currency has changed since i was there though?? the more 'western' you try to be in your food and accommodation though, the more you will spend.

oh yeah, and when you eat out, you will be served sparkling water unless you specify otherwise.

It would also be nice to go to the coast but this might be a tight squeeze.

The coast about 4 hours away by bus, you could do it as a day trip if you really wanted to, but in April there's not much to do there.

How expensive is Romania?

In terms of food, drinks, public transport etc. it's quite cheap, but accommodations can be somewhat expensive.

How much will I have to pay for a hotel in Bucharest and Brasov?

Hotel rooms start in Bucharest at about €20 and in Brasov at ~€25 (one star hotels); the upper limit is around €1000 in both cities.
Other types of accommodations (short-term apartment rental, guest houses, hostels) are usually more reasonably priced.

I’m guessing in any event it’s cheaper than Germany.

It is, except maybe for hotels.

I also read on the internet about the spas. Are those worth spending the time for?

If you're interested in health tourism, yes, they might be worth visiting.

i was out there last in 2003

Prices have gone up several times since then.
>think the currency has changed since i was there though??

It hasn't changed, it was denominated > a bus ticket that once was 8000 lei would now be 0.8 lei (but it's actually more :-)

I think that ktack sounds on the money. I'm going to Romania for 9 days , I was going to base myself out of Brasov. Maybe do what I can on public transport for a few days then hire a car to see the villages.

See my post from a few weeks ago " top 15 list for Transylvaina", I got some good tips with that one.

Suceava sounds interesting- I should look into that. And I do love pottery.