Please don't waste your money visiting Bucharest

I am very sceptical of any positive reviews of Bucharest. I think they are planted by tourist/government agents. It is a dirty, corrupt, ugly place. The roads are almost always in gridlock. As for the people, they are politically apathetic, shoulder-shrugging and delusional about their capital city. By the way, take great care if you ever have to drive there; the police routinely accept bribes and will not treat you fairly if you are involved in a traffic incident.

Last Visit: June 2008

5 September 2009 | A Yahoo! User

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Still very surprised

I went to Bucharest for an interview with the expectation of it being a typical ex-soviet dump with crap lifestyle ie. dirty rude and impersonal but with great superficial nightlife and of course easy availability of girls. The only thing I was right about was the girl situation. From the moment I was driven from the airport I was surprised. The place is clean, unpolluted and "nice". Cars respect pedestrians and pedestrians acknowledge this. City obviously bears the scars of Soviet occupation but there is clear evidence of a pre-soviet culture which is also in the spirit of the people. They are generally nice and cheerful. Some very nice restaurants to visit and cheap by Western standards, and amazing new infrastructure in terms of housing, schooling and retail if anyone has the intention to live there. Would I go back to Bucharest/Romania, I may well do but if not to live then to see the Black Sea resorts but I hear from Romanians that at present the Bulagarian ones are better and just as far but I'm sure Romania will catch up, also the intriguing Transylvania which conjures up all sorts of images in us Brits, from brochures the villages look very interesting, reminds me of a sinister Italy if that's not mixing metaphors. I'm impressed with the spirit of the people and can only see postive growth in the country, why was Caecescu so weak to be affected by the dibilitating virus called Soviet communism.

Great for: History/Culture, Nightlife

Last Visit: May 2009

23 May 2009 | A Yahoo! User

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Visit Bucharest!

Bucharest it is absolutely beautiful! do not believe in lair people say.

Great for: History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Nightlife

2 June 2008 | A Yahoo! User

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AVOID BUCHAREST!

I honestly don't believe anyone could find Bucharest to be beautiful. Or even descent... Or even tolerable... It is an absolute hell-hole. There are simply not enough words to describe how awful this city is. You couldn't even call it a city, it is an overgrown village. No style, pathetic architecture, filth everywhere, baggers, homeless people running amok, gypsies rampaging... I have lived in this terrible place for 4 years teaching at a university which invited American lecturers. So as you could imagine I had my chance to see what this city can offer. I was quite enthusiastic at first, I knew Romania is beautiful, but my God, I wasn't prepared for Bucharest. People here are mean, intolerant of foreigners, they are racist, nationalists, a mass of uncivilized, uneducated third world freeloaders. There, are off course, descent Romanians as well, I apologies for my explicit style, but please understand: I am 58 yaers old, I traveled all across the world and returned with wonderful memories from everywhere except from this God-forsaken place. The absolute worst 4 years of my life... Did you know that some members of the Romanian government wish to exterminate the Hungarian minority in the country- just something to think about. Anyway, my fellow traveler and wanderer, please do yourself a favor and take an old man's advice: AVOID BUCHAREST.

Last Visit: February 2007

6 February 2008 | A Yahoo! User

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It was GREAT!!!

The place was amaizing. Constanta is the best place for beaches. it is a 2 hour drive from bucharest. It was GREAT. Can't wait to go back in april.

Great for: Beaches, Scuba/Snorkeling, Skiing/Snowboarding, Hiking/Camping, History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Budget Travel, Family Holidays

Last Visit: January 2006

3 March 2006 | A Yahoo! User

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Historical centre - worth seeing it!

I've had some friends who stayed in Romania for a couple of years. They recommended me some places to go to for a nice and relaxing time in the weekend. Both were in the historical centre. I would recommend them to travellers. Amsterdam Cafe - very cool jazz afternoons and great crowd. Also tango lessons! Klein Bistro (at Rembrandt hotel) intimate and great wine. Hope you'll enjoy them too.

Great for: History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Nightlife

Last Visit: november 2005

7 December 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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The worst city I ever been to....

I travelled a lot across the Est of Europe in the past years, and Bucharest is the worst city of all. Romania is fine, transilvania being quite nice...but the Capital is terrible, loads of gypsies trying to rip you off, lots of beggars and the city is dirty and has a dark sinister feel. During the communist years, after an earthquake the city has being rebuild in a kind of very very cheap copy of Paris. The result is horrible, loads of cement... Romanians say the same, that their capital is auwful and very communist. I don't know about the other rewiewers, can't understand how it can be a beatiful city, or even the best of all.

Last Visit: december 2004

20 August 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Great chicks :))

I gotta luv Bucharest for it's night life....It is true that it's a city with many many problems but not different from any other european city ,so it depends how you look at it....and by the way :), romanian chicks are hot :), and any tourist will like the low prices $$$

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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I loved this city

I liked the old city center, who has in my opinion a link to the medieval Bucharest.

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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The new Moscow

If you go to Bucharest don't miss the huge PalaceofParliament(the 2nd buliding in the world, after the Pentagon) and the VillageMuseum (on the Kisselef Boulevard, near the Arc of Triumph).(the shops are the best in the east europe) as Bucharest is the Paris of the Balkans, although it's very similar to Moscow. Have a nice trip in Dracula's country.

6 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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