When wanderlust strikes, sometimes you have to go big—or in our case, go extreme. This time, Keefy stayed at home as he had to work, so my Mum and I decided to scratch an itch that had been lingering for a while and booked an impulsive (well we booked it in the summer!), whirlwind day trip to Romania. Yes, you read that right—a full day in Bucharest, there and back, all for just £60 per person return.
Here’s how it went:
Early Departure
We were up before the crack of dawn, departing from Stansted at 7:30 am. After a quick three-hour flight, we touched down in Bucharest just after lunchtime, eager to dive into our packed itinerary.
First Stop: Therme Spa
The Therme Spa, just five minutes from the airport, was our first destination—and wow, what a way to start! Picture this: a luxurious rooftop pool, a swim-up bar, and delicious cocktails to set the tone for the day. We soaked up the tranquil vibes for about an hour, though honestly, we could have stayed all afternoon. But the pull of Bucharest was strong, and we were ready to explore.
Into the City: Christmas Magic and History
Next, we made our way into the city center, where the festive buzz of Bucharest’s Christmas market greeted us. Located outside the iconic Palace of the Parliament, the market was brimming with cosy market huts, twinkling lights, a terrific tree, handmade crafts, and the comforting scent of mulled wine and hot chocolate.
From there, we wandered into Bucharest’s old town—a charming maze of cobblestone streets and historic buildings. Our dinner destination was Caru’ cu Bere, a legendary Romanian restaurant that felt like stepping back in time. With its stunning traditional architecture, homemade beer, and hearty Romanian dishes, it quickly became a highlight of the day.
Evening Highlights
After dinner, we returned to the Christmas market to see the lights in full glow and caught some live Romanian folk music that added a magical touch to the evening.
Homeward Bound
By the time we made our way back to the airport, we were tired but absolutely thrilled with the experience. Landing back in the UK around 1am due to an unfortunate delay, we couldn’t believe how much we had packed into a single day.
Extreme? Absolutely. Worth it? 100%.
It was a whirlwind, no doubt, but this day trip to Bucharest proved that sometimes the most extreme adventures create the best memories. Would we do it again? In a heartbeat.
Practical details
-Flights £66pp return:
London Stansted to Bucharest 0740-1245
Bucharest to London Stansted 2115-2245 (delayed by 2 hrs)
-parking at Radisson Blu next to Stansted airport terminal £25
-Bolt taxi to spa from airport £6
-Therme spa – 4.5hr ticket for all areas including Elysium £25pp
-Bolt taxi from spa to city centre £11
-Meal at Caru cu Bere £15pp. Included a beer each, a glass of wine for mum, bean and pork soup for mum and 3 Romanian sausages and chips for me.
-hot Choc’late at xmas market £2.50
-Bolt back to airport £9
What a wonderful thing to do with your mum. All about memories.