Experience in Bucharest, Romania by Ana

What is it like to live in Bucharest? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I have been living in Bucharest for about 3 years now. I am not going to lie, Bucharest is a busy and crowed city. But, if you want to live a little, if you want to have places to explore and lots of choices on how you spend your time, this is the right place for you.

What is the student lifestyle like in Bucharest?

Student life will be exactly the way you want it to be. You can have a relaxed attitude, spending your time in tea places (Reader’s café, Camera din faţă and Serendipity café), libraries or theaters. Or you can be active and loud, spending your time doing sports, in clubs or at concerts. Either way, you will have friendly people around you, sharing the same interests.

How much does it cost to live in Bucharest?

Well… on accommodation, expenses, food and everything else I spend around €500/ month. You can spend less or more depending on your lifestyle. Here is a link with some real costs in Bucharest: http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_result.jsp?country=Romania&city=Bucharest

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Bucharest? Is there any advice you can give?

The easiest way to find a shared apartment is on the site www.cautcoleg.ro. You can find there a bunch of students looking to share the rent. They have different offers with pictures and details. The prices are between €50 - €90 for a shared room and between €100 and €150 for a single room.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

You must try polenta with sour cream and cheese and ‘tochitura’. You have probably eaten polenta before, but here it will be special. I promise.

What places would you recommend visiting in Bucharest?

My personal favorites are “The village Museum” and “Cismigiu Garden”. Here is a link with most of the attraction in Bucharest: http://virtualromania.org/places/bucharest.vr/places.vr/

Is it good to eat out in Bucharest? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

The food is rich and diverse. The quality of the food will be reasonable in most of the places and you can find resources to maintain a healthy lifestyle quite easy. You can taste the traditional food at ‘Caru cu Bere’ or at ‘Excalibur’. You can also find lots of fast food places if this is what you are looking for.

Is the nightlife good in Bucharest? Where is good to go?

Romanians know how to have fun, especially students. There are lots of pubs or clubs on a budget with quality music and sociable people who will make you lose track of time every single time.

What advice would you give future students heading to Bucharest?

Get involved! Don’t be overwhelmed by the traffic and the craziness. Take the time to make friends and explore the city! You will have an awesome experience!