Halloween in Bucharest, Romania

I arrived in Bucharest on Halloween afternoon. The airport was small and easy to maneuver around.

How to Get to Old Town Bucharest from OTP Airport

There are several options to get to Old Town Bucharest from OTP airport. Once you enter the arrival section, there is a taxi monitor to the left where you could input your information. This is a better option than hailing a taxi outside. This is to ensure that you would not get ripped off.

I opted for the Uber ride. I was curious about the ride-sharing experience in another country. Uber is located on the bottom floor of the parking structure. When you exit the airport, you will need to cross the street. Take the elevator to the bottom floor.  The pickup experience was overwhelming but I feel like that at every airport. There are cars going every direction while pedestrians are crossing. It was a cluster! Luckily, our driver arrived promptly.

The vehcile was older. I swear the car was going to stall several points during the drive. I guess the car regulation is not as strict as it is in the States. The drive took about 35 mins to our AirBnB. In total, the ride was a cheap 42 RON or $9.35.

Where to Stay

We booked a last minute flat via AirBnB. I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to where to stay. My only requirement is that it must be in the city center. I found an entire apartment for $41 a night plus cleaning and service fees. It was a steal. The flat was on the top floor overlooking Bucharest. The apartment is in walking distance to restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions. I would definitely stay here again.

Where to Eat:

Caru Cu Bere

→ Strada Stavropoleos 5, București 030081, Romania

One of the most popular places to eat in Bucharest is a place called “Caru Cu Bere”. The restaurant serves large portions with unbeatable prices. But the real attraction is the ambiance. The decor looks like a church with murals painted throughout the room. The restaurant has been open since 1879. It feels like stepping into history.

As far as the food goes, I find it to be mediocre. I ordered the traditional dish with consist of pork, sausage, and polenta. I enjoyed the sausage but the pork lacked flavor and the texture of the polenta didn’t meet well with my pallet. Regardless, I see why people come here. I may not enjoy Romanian food but this is probably a great place to enjoy traditional cuisine.

Ghost and Vampire Tour

Halloween is not complete without roaming around hunting for ghosts and vampires. Our tour guide escorted us through Bucharest pointing out haunted buildings and sights. He took us to a church where exorcism was performed. He also took us to a dormitory where students would not be able to speak even when they try. He spent most of the tour talking about the famous ruler Vlad the Impaler, which many believe was the real life Dracula. Our tour guide ended with a gift of garlic and a red bracelet. It was a sweet touch to our spooky tour.