Experience in Bucharest, Romania by Nicolai

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

Bucharest is pretty different from Western Europe, even though it's been trying to adapt in the past couple of years and it did a pretty good job. You have to remember this was a Communist country and there they have many small problems (with the infrastructure and so on). But if you are willing to experiment a different city life, Bucharest is the right place for you. It has it all, from old and beautiful buildings, to ugly neighborhoods, to friendly young people looking to find out more about the world and so on. And it's a pretty cheap place to live in, when it comes to food and drinks. You might get stuck in traffic if you take the bus, but the metro runs just fine. All in all, it's a very good opportunity to see where East meets the West (just like it happens in every Balkan country).

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What is the student lifestyle like in Bucharest?

There is no specific recipe for being a student in Bucharest. You have the freedom to craft whatever lifestyle you find appropriate for you. The main campuses (like Regie or Grozavesti) have a lot of pubs, clubs and other places to pick from. There are big supermarkets almost everywhere, so you don't have a problem to buy cheap alcohol, if you want to avoid spending money on pubs and on the party. Another extreme example, there are plenty of places in the city center where you can party all night long.

How much does it cost to live in Bucharest?

A bed in a regular dormitory costs about 40-50 euros per month. The private dormitories are a bit more expensive, they can go up to 100 euros per month. Sharing a flat with some other student can cost you between 120 - 200 euros, depending on your preferences. If you prefer to live alone, a one-bedroom apartment costs around 200 euros (depends of the neighborhood).

Bread is 0. 50 euros, potatoes 0. 25 euros, the other vegetables have pretty much the same prices (with the exception of imported products). Cheese is very cheap and tasty, especially if you buy it in the local markets. The supermarket chains have some good offers too. 1 kg of good cheese is about 5 euros. Meat has the same price like cheese, around 4-5 euro for a kilo of chicken, for example.

A bus ticket costs 0. 25 euros, a metro ticket is 0. 50 euros. If you get a monthly pass, which I totally recommend, you can travel on all lines for an insanely low price, about 12 euros.

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

I think it's difficult to find a place if you are a foreigner, some of the owners don't know English at all, or they are too afraid to speak even they know English a bit, so that they don't get embarrassed (it's the same in Poland). If you do find an English speaking owner, expect that you will pay more for the rent. It's natural, because you receive a higher quality treatment.

My advice is to go looking for a flat with your Romanian colleague/friend, preferably with someone who is experienced in looking for apartments. October is a really bad time to look for accommodation because all the students do the same. Try to find something early in September or wait until November (but be aware that all the good places are already taken by then).

The best deal is to find someone who already pay for a rent and wants to share a flat with you. Try to replace an Erasmus student who is going back to home, especially if you are going to Bucharest for the second semester.

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

I would say that food is great, but that's totally biased since I am a local. Don't be afraid to try. It's usually well done and in reasonably priced. Avoid eating in the city center (Lipscani area) if you want to taste the Romanian cuisine. The place is overpriced for no real reason. Instead, look for traditional restaurants (like Hanul Berarilor) on the internet if you want to taste the traditional dishes. Be aware that "traditional Romanian" is a marketing tool and you might eat your national dish, especially if you are coming from the Eastern European countries. Also, expect to pay more for these dishes.

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If you prefer to eat the regular, global food (french fries with steak and so on), there are a lot of places to pick. It's up to you to decide.

What places would you recommend visiting in Bucharest?

Most tourists prefer to visit:

• The House of Parliament, because it's the second largest building in the world.



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• The Old Town (Lipscani area) is definitely worth to visiting.



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• The Cotroceni neighborhood, as one of the older places in the city.

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

Yes, is good to try the food in the city. Check my comments in the section above.

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

Some people say that Bucharest is the new Berlin. More and more clubs with good music show up. One of the best places to go is Control Club, very close to the city center. A lot of other places to pick in the vicinity. Be aware that a fire broke out in 2015, a very tragic event, and since then the safety regulations have been redesigned and the nightlife scene is still reshaping itself.

What advice would you give future students heading to Bucharest?

Leave your prejudice behind. Romania is not a Soviet country and is very different from the portrayals done by some Western media. If you don't do it before, Bucharest is going to take care of that for you.

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