Best destinations in Romania for Christmas and New Year

Best destinations in Romania for Christmas and New Year

The winter is coming for sure. We are not even on the 1st of December, and outside is falling a cold rain, very close to snow. And it will turn into snow for sure, we are going to have heavy snow falls this winter in Romania, as in the all Northern Hemisphere.

In winter, Bucharest is picturesque and provocative

Very good news for the winter lovers, the other ones shall go South! Thinking on Romania, I can only hope you are going to reach your booked destinations for Christmas and New Year. Under reserve of extraordinary snow falls, I can say that the Romanian road workers are very applicate and do a good job during the winter.

The first option, and of course the easiest one, is Bucharest, as the biggest airport of Romania. You can spend a wonderful vacation in Bucharest, showing a special charm in winter. Take a little walk in the Bucharest snowy parks, visit the Bucharest museums, have a well deserved rest in the many hotels and restaurants of Bucharest. With its more than 2 millions inhabitants, Bucharest is one of the most important and biggest cities of the European Union.

If everything is under control, from Bucharest or other major Romanian city with airport you can try exploring further Romania. Don't climb the Romanian mountains in winter, unless you are a very skilled survivor under extreme conditions. Stay to ski in Poiana Brasov, Borsa, Predeal, Sinaia etc and you will be very happy. It is really an experience you are going to enjoy, but the ski slopes might be full with crowds of other enthusiasthic fans! Avoid, if possible the local feasts, as in these mentioned areas the Romanians are also very fond of ski.

You won't have that problem in Poiana Brasov. It is usually booked by foreign tourists, as being very expensive and exclusive. The Romanians use to say, that only the very rich Romanians can afford to stay in the land and going to Poiana Brasov, other normal people go to ski in Austria or Bulgaria.

Poiana brasov, also known as Schulerau, is the most renowned resort in Romania for ski

If the snow is not very fresh and the wind not too strong, go to a small pension from Bucovina, Maramures, Vrancea and don't miss to ride a horse driven sleigh. It is really fantastic, and you can pretend to live in the past, 200 years ago, visiting your lover from the next village, lieing away at 20 kilometers.

Be sure to receive the locals singing Christmas carols or New year wishes. Everything is like a fairy tale and looks so genuine and original. You know, the half of the Romanian population still lives to the countryside and that is why these traditions are so unbelievable well kept! Very similar, the Hungarians from Hungary  come to the Hungarians from Romania or to the Szekler to rediscover forgotten traditions!

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The most interesting things to know about Bucharest parks

It is really interesting to be in Bucharest on any occasion, in every season. Wonderful charming city, nice people, and an unbelievable feeling of safety, much more pregnant than in any European Capital! (if you don't agree and had bad experiences in Bucharest, please tell me about them! But I really doubt, this city is really safe, if you only respect the basic rules!)

Supposing you have been partying all night in the Bucharest clubs (located mainly in Downtown. Lipscani street) and after a short well deserved rest you are in the right mood to starting again from scratch. But better wait, and postpone it a few hours, I know what you need. You need walking, an maybe taking some special soups in the right places. About the best places for walking and resting, the Bucharest parks are exactly what you need and I really recommend.

The legendary flower battle from Herastrau has been  painted by the Romanian master Stefan Luchian.

Bucharest has many parks, despite the building rush from the last decades. The big city's most renowned park are the favorite dating place, and there name are Libertatii, Cismigiu or Herastrau. In every of these wonderful parks you will find a leading restaurant, offering you the saving sour tripe soup, and I strongly suggest the restaurants Monte Carlo from Park Cismigiu, and Pescarus in Park Herastrau.

The Cismigiu Park, or garden, is in the very heart of Bucharest, an island of joy, happiness and peace in the middle of an overcrowded city. It is very old, and fantastic well kept. It is really chic at night taking a walk in the Cismigiu, you will meat some glamorous ladies. The word has a strong Turkish resonance, but the garden has been redesigned by the beginning of the XXth century by a prominent Vienna architect. Forget any trouble caused by nausea, you can even take a boat and float on the middle lake. During winter (cold will really help, keeping you awake) you can skate.

From Cismigiu Park to the Herastrau Park you have more than 2 km to run. If you can still keep moving, so good to you. If not, use public transportation or taxi. Start the visit in Herastrau from the Restaurant Pescarus, would be just the thing you need. But please, don't drink alcohol again, stay to the tripe soup with vinegar, chilli and sour cream. Wtf, not even a glass of wine? No, sorry, keep yourself sober and wait a little more. Walking in this huge park, Bucharest's biggest, is a wonderful event. Observe ,please the Miorita fountain and if you are lucky enough you can catch an amazing traditions, namely the flower battle. It has a long tradition, it was first time organized for goodwill at 1890. It was the most amazing possible event in the jet set,and a good opportunity for dating or flirting or conquering. It used to take place on the Kisselef street, on the western side of the park. There are plans to resuscitate this rarely event, that's why I tell you about your unique chance of getting a flower battle .

After this refreshing walk in the Bucharest parks you may start again partying and drinking during the fantastic Bucharest nights.

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Epic palaces in Bucharest with myths an legends

As I love Bucharest so much, can give you a reliable tip: there are actually two or more cities of Bucharest, and you can observe all these layers entering the big city from any directions, but specially from Ploiesti and Brasov.

Watch first carefully the modern buildings, car repairing workshops, wonderful villas with modern amenities, this is the first level, the most recent one. It is followed by industrial factories from the Ceausescu's communist times, with their sad blocks of flats, really living siloses, whose inhabitants dream desperately to live definitively (only 10 % succeed!). The last layer consists of official or private buildings, build up to 1940, in very different Architecture styles, to the delight of any visitor. The resulting eclectic mix is the mainly reason to love Bucharest from the first sight, for any locals or visitors. Here is the heart and the head of the city indeed!

The CEC Palace at night, but it is no less impressive in daylight

Interior of the renowned CEC Palace. To visit it inside you must pretend to be a bank client!

In Downtown Bucharest the buildings are very different not only regarding the style, but also concerning the intrinsic value! The Parliament Palace is very new, huge and controversial; because of it an important part of the historic Bucharest has been sacrificed. Moving and destroying a few churches from this huge area triggered the curses which will kill Ceausescu ( popular myth!). Only a few steps away, crossing the dambovita river over the Izvor Bridge find, please, and observe the downtown, on Calea Victoriei. Next to it, on Stavropoleos street, an important target which you are not going to miss. Simply not allowed to waste the opportunity to visit Caru cu bere/The beer wagon, even for me, which I am normally a wine drinker and afficionado.

Caru cu Bere remains even today one of the Bucharest's best restaurants. Build at 1876 by a German architect (you could guess, I am sure) in New Gothic style, keeps inside the same obsolete atmosphere, and looks simply like a German brauerei from Bavaria e.g. It is overcrowded at any hour when is opened, due to the excellent kitchen and wonderful services. Don't be scared please by the noble local, it is still possible eating in Caru cu bere on a budget! At noon, e.g., there are easy to find some special offers, e.g. The Student menu, or the Senior menu, which are very cheap. Don't dare ordering any of them, you will be probably asked to show a document proofing one of these qualities!

This is maybe the best location for the Romanian National History Museum!

Back in Calea Victoriei, with a full stomach and a wonderful feeling, just to visit shorter or longer two other important palaces, real landmarks of Bucharest. First of it, the magnificent palace of Deposits and Economy bank/ CEC Palace, build at 1900 on a project from french Architect Gottereau, on the very place where an iconic church of the city was lieing. It has a fantastic eclectic style, fancy interiors with smart decorations. For visiting inside, is very difficult for big organized groups, but easier for individual, pretending to be the bank clients!

Just opposite to the CEC bank, a former residence of Post Administration hosts nowadays The national History Museum, build at 1894-1900 by the Romanian architect Savulescu on the ground of an important family of Romanian landlords, namely Balaceanu. Inside fantastic artifacts tighten with the rich history of the country would welcome you, it is worth a visit from you: fragments of the Roman Traian's Column, and the world renowned gold collection "The brood hen with its chicken"

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Best Hotels in Bucharest downtown

The big city with its eclectic architecture is charming and welcomes you from the heart. It is a good start for your Romanian adventure, and you are going to need a few days for visiting and understanding Bucharest, Romania and their wines.

In Cismigiu Hotel is possible to avoid the noisy rooms opening to the main street!

Staying in downtown would be the first choice. Here are some good restaurants, museums, shopping possibilities, everything what you expect to find in an European Capital. Thus you are going to discover and create your Bucharest, and don't forget socializing with the locals at a glass of wine or beer.

You must make from the start a good choice, which is really decisive for your stay in Bucharest. Select your hotel according your budget (no chance under 60 Euros, breakfast included, the upscale goes up to 300 Euros), rooms availability (this is a job for me, believe me).

Near the Cismigiu Park you can easily find Hotel Cismigiu. 25 years ago when me and my wife were students in Bucharest she lived it, I can recommend something based on personal experience. First, if possible, avoid the noisy rooms from the front, opening to the main street. Also noisy and to avoid is the elevator, stay better to the first floors and use the stair. To be honest, I never got stucked in that lift, but I never liked it, is personal opinion. But other wise, the hotel is good, and a room only costs 60 Euros.

Vila Helga is the typical hostel in Bucharest

If you are really on a tight budget, there is no problem, you can still find your hotel in the downtown, which is actually a hostel! At Vila Helga you can stay for 12-22 Euros in separate rooms or shared dormitories, no breakfast included, but a cosy, young, friendly atmosphere.

Casa Capsa is a symbol of  the cultural bohemians and a landmark of Bucharest

Casa Capsa  is a symbol of Bucharest since 100 years. In the upscale restaurant here used to come, and still do artists, writer, prominent businessmen, I mean spirit people. The hotel has been just rebuild and enjoys the wooden works, lamps, carpets and deserves 200 Euros for a night. Unfortunately, the concierge is sometimes not very well mannered.

Hotel Radisson is very modern and comfy and will definitively spoil you.

If you are used living like a king, and money doesn't matters for you, at 300 Euros for night I could recommend you the prestige Radisson SAS hotel, with charming modern rooms, excellent service, swimming pool and restaurant with Romanian specialities and wines.

Well, something for every pocket, I think and hope. Still know other names, but that will do for the moment, I expect your requests.

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The best restaurants in Bucharest

If you know very good yourself and you are aware of your tastes (which you really should), Bucharest has for sure something for you. There are so many restaurants in Bucharest, it is simply impossible not to find the right one for you!

If you are on the go, take a satisfactory meal in a popular restaurant, e.g. Springtime

First, let's see what is your favorite kitchen. Due to the many expats from Bucharest, there are a selected brunch of restaurants catering at high quality levels in a foreign style: oriental, Lebanese,French, Italian,Hungarian etc. Nevertheless, stay to the Romanian Kitchen, I recommend it from the heart, and it is really normally to be set on this kitchen, because it is an intrinsic part of Romania. And there is another advantage, a major one, at the popular restaurants you can find the house wine, unbottled, but a very good one, at an excellent report quality/price. Also, if you are lucky enough, you will find the offer of the day (look after Meniul zilei) , which means a three course menu for 4-5 Euros. Really a bargain, but at the rush hours these restaurants are overcrowded with students, of course! Discover please the hidden restaurant Gara Lipscani, while having a walk in the old downtown on Lipscani street. You will find there a relaxed atmosphere and a wide assortment of salads, grills etc!

A student cosy atmosphere and a good Romanian kitchen in Gara Lipscani

Also to visit for a frugal meal, Spring Time, in the center, near University, on Academy street, or in the Railway station. Very beloved among students, you can eat very good and very cheap pizza, salad, deserts, and even shaowarma.

Carul cu bere on Stavropoleos street is really special

 If you are not necessary on a budget, visit the exquisite Carul cu Bere, which is traditionally the meeting point of the local intelighentsia since 100 years. It has interesting Neogothic interiors and glassworks, and the prices are still democratic. The kitchen is also excellent, but you need a prior reservation, otherwise is difficult to get a table.

Casa Doina is one of the most exquisite locations in Bucarest

Enjoy further the tasty juicy Romanian kitchen in some exquisite location, e.g in House Doina, on Kiseleff street. The house hosting you is totally special, from 1889, and represented Romania to a Paris exhibition. Excellent careful service, and exquisite Romanian kitchen, really at its best. A good place for celebrations, special invitation, etc.

Maybe I should stop the list, as I am terrible hungry. I will try today a good portion of beans with sausages, enjoying also a good glass of exquisite wine ( Grasa de Cotnari, a half dried white). Cheers.

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