| Tips and photos of Bucharest tourist attractions and tourist traps, posted by real travelers and Bucharest locals. Bucharest Map |
 | Bucharest Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 27 |  |
Travel guides have the tendency to exaggerate tourist traps and they might call them 'dangers' or (I hope not) 'crime'. The fact is Bucharest is a safe city, 'crime' here means at most pickpocketing. Mugging and robbery is almost zero. When I think about US with stick-ups, muggings and shop robberies at gun point, I fear, but fortunately this is fiction for Bucharest.
As tips to avoid pickpockets, one might not get into crowds, where there are so many peoples around you so you can't control your pockets, backpack or handbags. Getting handbags or cameras from the hand and running is not common. Pickpocketing takes place in crowded buses and maybe if some crooks spots silly tourists and try to scam them. So as a general advice, in order to concentrate on taking photos, listening to the city and talking to your companion, keep the money in an inner pocket at the chest, don't have bulgy pockets at sight and act natural and confident like you know Bucharest as your own pocket. Also, if approached by odd people, other than beggars, tell them a firm "no thanks" or "nu multumesc" in Romanian and continue what you're doing. It is not common to tell "I will call the police" :) But there are an increasing number of policemen and public guards so pickpocketing and hustling is going down and down.
What might be offensive for a foreign traveler are the number of beggars, old people, gypsies and homeless children. That too bad we have that, but hey I saw beggars in every capital in Europe so I guess it is a thing that is hard to eradicate wherever. I usually give some change to old beggars that really looks like they need a money to survive the next day, but I guess it is not advisable for tourists to do that for mercy, indeed some beggars are just 'professionals' and get an impressive amount per day, that being a job in itself :) Leave a Comment
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 curency by RoBeauty
If you are changing on main boulevard in Bucharest - Magheru, choose the exchange offices from the side with Intercontinental Hotel , there are good rates Leave a Comment
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Please please please be wary of Taxi Drivers here. They are undoubtedly the worst I have ever used. On about 3 occasions me and my friend were ripped off, on one occasion 2 million lei for 1 km. When we protested the driver said he would have to take us to see his boss, and wouldn't stop the car.
Others can be ok, but they will stick to you like glue if they think you have some money and often wait outside your hotel for more work.
Please agree a price before setting off. Don't trust the meters, even if they have the price written on the exterior of the taxi (usually 5990 lei/km) they have a different setting for foreigners.
Walk! Leave a Comment
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 by Oana_bic
Constructed with the intention of providing visitors to Romania's capital with the illusion that all in the garden was rosy, B-dul Unrii, just 15 or so years after it was constructed, is a dilapidated reminder of socialist folly. While the part of the boulevard east of Piata Unirii flourishes a bit, there are at least enough banks, insurance companies and passing traffic to make the place look lived in. The western end, however, is a surreal, film set-like peek into a never world of megalomania with just one or two shops surviving ...
Town planners from all over the world should visit B-dul Unirii. It is decaying proof that towns, cities and communities cannot be designed and created.
This could be an alternative from Casa Poporului, u could stroll along Dambovita in the opposite direction Leave a Comment
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 This sign can be seen
many times in Otopeni by edvin_br
-The International "Henry Coanda" airport
-Around embassies and administrative buildings (it can be sometimes confusing, especially when you walk around wide boulevards with big villas, you cant guess what you can photograph and what you dont....) that unfortunately are in some of the cities most beautiful buildings...
If you got mobile phone with a camera then you are lucky!! Leave a Comment
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Romania has not switched to the Euro yet. As you arive at the airport, there are many money-changing kiosks, claiming 0% commission. They offered a much worse rate than the exchange at the hotel (Hilton).
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I was recently in Romania and I highly suggest taking a pass on the whole "Dracula" experience. We actually traveled on the the road that led to the castle, but kept going to a very quaint town called Sinaia. Apparently it used to be the vacation spot for the Communist leaders and was actually closed to the public. There you can see some beautiful old homes, walk around and take in the scenery and even hop on the Orient Express if it is running.
Sibiu is also a wonderfully cultured city to visit if in Transylvania. It is the cultural capital of Europe in 2007 so there has been much done there to beautify and clean up the city. Brasov is also nice.
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Taxi drivers can be evil. In one sad experience that I had, one got violent with me, and just for the record, i'm an average sized female.
So, wherever possible, get your hotel to book a taxi for you.
If there is no meter, sort out a price before you get there.
Even if there is a meter, ask how much it is roughly before you get going. Expect that no matter what they say, it will be at least 5 lei more expensive.
If you come out of gara du nord DO NOT get one of the official taxis there. They kick their metres up to 8lei/km. Instead, turn left and walk round the building to the taxi rank round the side. They have more realistic rates. If you get a proper booked taxi from gara du nord, it should cost about 7 lei to University Square. if you get one from the front, you;re looking at 35-40lei. Take your pick.
Romanians yell a lot to intimidate you, and feel free to yell back, but if a taxi driver is starting to get agitated and anxious to run away, do not physically put yourself in his path. You will be bruised.
If a taxi driver is urgently telling you to get in your taxi because you are about to be mugged by gypsies, and there are indeed a suspicious group of gypsies moving toward you, you can bet your life the driver is working with them. Don;t be hassled into the taxi - move into a group of tourists.
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Be careful with men posing as policemen. They are bogus with fake identity cards and try to frisk you and ask you documents etc. Never give away your documents or wallet, the best thing is go to the police station.
If you think you are being fooled by a bogus policeman, just ask them to take you to a police station or call for the police - 955.
The best alternatives would be to walk in groups or else take a taxi if you are alone.
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 Schimb valutar by Fam_StoicaLeave a Comment
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