Bucharest – useful information for digital nomads

Most digital nomads who spend time in Romania choose to stay in Bucharest, even if they only pass by while travelling to another city. In case you decide to spend more time in Bucharest, I’ve put together a list of useful information.   

Bucharest – general info

Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. Around 2.5 million people live in and near Bucharest and it is the fourth largest city in the European Union by population within city limits, after Berlin, Madrid, and Rome, just ahead of Paris.

The city is divided in six sectors that are numbered from one to six and are disposed radially. In the city center you will find most things you want and need, but that is also the busiest side of Bucharest. 

Weather 

Usually, Bucharest has hot summers and cold, snowy winters. But during the past years, due to climate changes, the winters were a bit warmer than they used to be. 

During summer, the average temperature is 23 °C, but it can also reach 35 to 40 °C in midsummer in the city centre. When the winter comes, it can get windy and temperatures may dip below 0 °C. 

During spring and autumn, daytime temperatures vary between 17 and 22 °C and precipitation during spring tends to be higher than in summer, with more frequent yet milder periods of rain. 

If you like to see the change of seasons, Romania can capture all of the colors in a year.

Accommodation 

Bucharest offers a wide variety of apartments and houses in many parts of the city. As in most European capitals, the closer you get to the city center, the pricer it gets. However, there are buildings situated on hidden streets that can make you feel you are not in a 2+ million people city. 

Though there are plenty of public transport options, the traffic can get quite busy during the rush hours, so a place near what interests you might be better. 

Most accommodation options are apartments, but you might also find some houses, if that is something that interests you. Also, closer to the city center you’ll find older apartment buildings (some with a lot of charm, others with less), whereas further away new buildings are available.   
Read more about where to search for long-term rentals in Romania and how much they cost.

Cost of living 

In 2022 the prices have increased, some a bit, others a bit more, so they may vary, like everywhere in the world, due to the global energy crisis. However, here are some orientative prices:  

Supermarket: 

• 10 eggs 2,2 euro 
• cheese 2-3 euro 
• beer 0,5-1,5 euro 

Restaurant: 

• meal + drinks / person 10-20 euro
• greek salad 7-10 euro
• fish + side 10-15 euro 
• beer 3-5 euro 
• cocktail 5-7 euro 

Transport: 

• bus – 1 month pass 80 lei (approx 16 euro)
• subway – 1 month pass 80 lei (approx 16 euro)
• Uber / Bolt / taxi 4-20 euro per ride (almost anywhere in Bucharest)

Here’s a few more figures from Numbeo.

Food 

In Bucharest you can find almost any type of food, from the traditional one, to international cuisine, Italian, Chinese, Libanese, vegetarian, vegan and so on.  

Framer markets – if you like to cook and try the local veggies, there are fresh markets you can check out: Rahova, Obor, Piața Norilor, Cotroceni, Local Farmers’ Market, Hala Traian, Matache, and other smaller ones.

Transportation 

Bucharest’s public transport system is the largest in Romania and one of the largest in Europe, which consists of buses, trams, trolleybuses, and light rail.

You can purchase tickets from specific points of sale in the bus stations, through the 24Pay mobile application, payment with the contactless bank card, directly at the validator or payment by SMS.

You can read here more about the prices of passes, both for different types of passes, including for the Northern Railway Station to Otopeni Airport train. Also, check the prices for the subway here.  

You can send an SMS to 7458 to purchase tickets.
– for 90 minutes -> 0.62 Euro + VAT
– for 24 hours ->  1.50 Euro + VAT

Payment of metropolitan travel tickets allows the use of all means of public surface transport in the Bucharest-Ilfov Region, primarily from the moment of receipt of the transaction confirmation code. Therefore, the SMS must be sent before boarding public transport.

Coworking spaces 

There are quite a few coworking spaces in Bucharest, so I created a separate list. Check them all here. 

Night life 

If there aren’t any pandemic related restrictions, Bucharest has an abundant nightlife. In the old town, any street you choose offers clubs and bars, with different types of music. From hip hop, rock and reggae, to pop, techno and trap, try them and see what clubs fit you best.   

Besides the old town, you’ll find other clubs such as Expirat, Control or Fratelli in different parts of the city. 

Also, if you are in Bucharest during the summer, check what festivals that are taking place in Bucharest and in the surroundings.  

Activities 

I will write a separate article about this because there are plenty of activities that can be done, from walking around and admiring the interbelic architecture, going to the museums, visiting the House of Parliament (the heaviest building in the world and the second largest administrative building in the world) and enjoying outdoor concerts to joining park yoga, vegan festivals, Romanian designers shopping festival and summer festivals in the Botanical Garden.    

Day trips 

If you want to check out the area, you have multiple choices. The mountains are just a couple of hours away and so is the seaside. 

On Valea Prahovei, you can check out Predeal, Azuga, Bușteni, Sinaia or Bran. You can get there by car or by train. The North Railway (Gara de Nord) is the place where you can get the train and it costs around 10-15 euro per leg. 

The seaside is just 2.5 – 3 hours away by car and you can choose from places like Mamaia, Vama Veche or Costinești, these being the most popular towns at the seaside.  

Also, you can visit Vulcanii Noroiosi, which is an UNESCO International Geoparc, or Slănic Prahova salt mine. Check the travel in Romania section for inspiration.  

Zero waste 

If you are a conscious digital nomad who chooses to leave nothing behind, there aren’t that many options yet, but you can shop at the Zero Waste physical store or choose from these zero waste online shops. 

Mindfulness 

There are plenty of yoga studios in Bucharest, as well as some Reiki centers and Tai Chi courses.    

Internet 

The main providers of internet in Bucharest are Telekom, Digi RCS-RDS, UPC and Orange. 

When it comes to wi-fi, there is an increasing number of wi-fi spots in Bucharest and most hotels and cafes provide free wi-fi. In addition, when you book an apartment on Airbnb or on a monthly contract, the owner will provide wi-fi, which is usually great for working remotely. 

Romania has one of the best internet connections in the world, so that shouldn’t be a problem, especially in Bucharest. 

How to get to Bucharest

By train
Bucharest is the hub of Romania’s national railway network, The main railway station is Gara de Nord (‘North Station’), which provides connections to all major cities in Romania, as well as international destinations. 

The city has five other railway stations: Basarab (adjacent to North Station), Obor, Băneasa, and Progresul. 

By plane 

Bucharest has two international airports: 

– Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), located 16.5 km north of the Bucharest city centre, in the town of Otopeni, Ilfov. It is the busiest airport in Romania, in terms of passenger traffic. 

– Aurel Vlaicu International Airport is Bucharest’s business and VIP airport. It is situated only 8 km (5.0 mi) north of the Bucharest city centre, within city limits.

Safety 

According to Numbeo, Bucharest’s crime index is 27.94, placing the city in the top 100 safest places, at position 67. 

Main Photo by CALIN STAN