The European city that was once the ‘Paris of the East’ – with £2 pints and huge indoor water attraction
PARIS is one of Europe’s most-visited cities, second only to London.
However, it has an Eastern counterpart that far fewer people visit, despite its world-famous attractions, cheap drinks and accommodation.
Romanian capital Bucharest was hailed as the Paris of the East, around the early 20th century, due to its refined architecture and fondness for the latest fashion trends.
More than 100 years later it still retains much of the charm that earned it such a title.
However tourists are pleasantly surprised when visiting the city, with its prices a fraction of what they are in France.
A new study by Forbes Advisor has revealed that Bucharest is the second best place to visit in Europe, behind only Warsaw in Poland.
The cities achieved such high rankings because of the cheap meals, bars and hotel accommodation, making them the perfect places for European city breaks.
Of the places on the list, Bucharest had the second cheapest three-day hotel stay, at around £120.00, although cheaper is available.
In fact, Sun Online Travel found an apartment stay for two people from £15 per night, just a mile from the city centre.
When it comes to drinks, a half-litre of beer will only cost an average of £2.11 in Bucharest, making it one of the cheapest places for a drink in the continent.
As far as public transport is concerned, Bucharest’s 24-hour travel card (£1.40) is second only to Luxembourg’s free-to-use transit system, making it very simple to get around.
In contrast, Amsterdam’s public transport is the costliest at £18.30, nearly 15 times more expensive than that of Bucharest.
Travellers have plenty to use the money they save on drinks, accommodation and travel as well, including Therme, Europe’s largest water attraction.
The huge complex is described as a relaxation and entertainment centre, and is home to 10 pools, 16 water slides, a huge wave pool, several saunas, an outdoor beach, sun loungers, a pool bar and spa.
Visitors can get a taste of what is set to come in Manchester, where Therme is set to open a brand new £250m attraction in 2025.
One recent guest wrote on TripAdvisor: “Having visited this establishment for the first time we were not disappointed. With a variety of spa treatments and many pools to try, one will not be left bored nor unhappy.
“There are multiple saunas and steam rooms, a selection of massage treatments, and by every pool there are multiple bars and the staff are helpful too.”
It’s not the only attraction that Bucharest has in common with Manchester, with both home to a football museum.
The one in Bucharest has an overall score of 4.9/5 from hundreds of reviews on Google, with plenty of sports fans making the trip to Romania to see their impressive collection.
Memorabilia and match-worn shirts can be found alongside multimedia experiences, football simulators and other interactive elements.
One guest wrote: “A museum like no other, not only for football fans, but for all sport fans.”
Just around the corner from the football museum is the city’s Old Town, which has plenty on offer for tourists more interested in the city’s culture and history than its waterparks and football.
Sights like Stavropoleos Church, and The Old Court, where Vlad the Impaler used to reside, can be found nestled among the old merchant streets, alongside a variety of bars and restaurants.
There tourists can sample some traditional Romanian dishes, including sarmale (cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and veg), mici (grilled meatballs) and cozonac (sweet bread filled with nuts, fruit or even Turkish delight).
Flights to Bucharest from the UK take just over three hours and can be booked for £14.99 each way with Ryanair, making it even more accessible and affordable.
Meanwhile, this European city not far from Bucharest has been named the world’s cheapest holiday destination – with £1.60 beers.
And a weekend in this quaint European capital can be booked for £100pp, including flights, food and accommodation.