I’ve been desperate to visit the viral Bucharest spa for years and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint! Some people will visit on an Extreme Day Trip but I made it into an overnight adventure and I had half a day in Bucharest Old Town and a full day in Bucharest Therme Spa.
Bucharest is a beautiful city so it’s well worth making extra time to see it. It’s also a very affordable city so it won’t cost too much to stay a bit longer. I had visited a few years ago as it was the starting point of an incredible Transylvania tour I did which included a stay in an ice hotel!
If you’ve got even more time in Bucharest then I highly recommend visiting Peles Castle, Bran Castle and Brasov on a day trip!
Here is my overnight Bucharest Spa itinerary for anyone else squeezing in a quick break.
You can easily see Bucharest’s Old Town and the Bucharest Theme Spa in 36 hours.
Day 1: Arrival + Bucharest Old Town
Flights
£50.54 – Return flights from Manchester with Ryanair
I flew with Ryanair from Manchester, catching the 6:40am flight out on Wednesday and returning at 7:40pm on Thursday. It was an early alarm, but for a short trip like this, flying early is a game changer, particularly as it’s a 3.5 hour flight to Bucharest.
Uber to apartment
£12.34 – Uber ride took 50 minutes
Henri Coanda International Airport is compact and straightforward and getting into the city couldn’t have been easier. I used Uber to get from the airport to my apartment in the city. It was affordable, reliable and saved the time and mental energy of navigating public transport on limited sleep.
My apartment
AIAStay – A gorgeous apartment that sleeps 4 – £77
Bucharest is a very affordable city so I really got my money’s worth at this beautiful apartment perfectly positioned on the edge of the Old Town. It had a balcony with views over the river and parliament building. It also had a great kitchen and a huge entryway, as well as a big living room and lovely bedroom.
I will admit that the communal areas in this apartment were a bit…dodgy! The entrance, stairwells and lift didn’t feel very inviting and I did feel nervous when I first entered. But once I got into my apartment I soon forgot that, as it was a beautiful place and such great value!
Wandering Bucharest Old Town
If you’ve only got half a day in Bucharest then my biggest recommendation is simple: stick to the Old Town.
Lipscani and the surrounding streets are compact, atmospheric and perfect for wandering without an agenda. This part of the city is where Bucharest’s layers really show with ornate churches tucked between lively bars, grand but slightly faded buildings next to modern cafés, and cobbled streets that feel full of stories.
I spent the afternoon doing what I love most in a new city: walking aimlessly. No rushing, no must-see checklist. Just letting the streets lead me.
Churches and quiet moments
One of the things that surprises me most about Bucharest was how peaceful it can feel, even in a busy area. You’ll be walking down a buzzing street, then turn a corner and find a small church courtyard or quiet square where the noise melts away.
The churches are especially worth ducking into, even if you’re not particularly religious. They’re beautiful, atmospheric and offer a moment of calm that balances out the energy of the Old Town.
A quick stop at Monet Cafe
Hot chocolate – £6.24
I popped into Monet Cafe. It was pretty, pastel-toned and undeniably Instagrammable. That said, it did feel quite touristy.
If you’re passing by and fancy a quick coffee or a sweet treat, it’s nice enough, but it wouldn’t be top of my list if time is tight. Bucharest has plenty of cafés with more local character if you’re willing to wander a little further.
Carturesti Carusel
I would recommend popping into Carturesti Carusel, the city’s most beautiful bookshop. There’s a nice cafe on the top floor too.
Dinner at Caru’ cu Bere
Dinner + wine – £23.53
For dinner, I headed to Caru’ cu Bere, one of Bucharest’s most famous restaurants, and yes, it’s popular for a reason.
The building itself is stunning. Inside, it feels grand, old-world and full of character, with stained glass, carved wood and a buzz that makes it feel like an experience rather than just a meal.
The food was hearty and traditional, the portions generous and the atmosphere lively without being overwhelming. It’s the kind of place where you don’t mind that it’s busy as it adds to the charm.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially for a first visit to Bucharest. It’s a great introduction to Romanian cuisine and a memorable place to spend an evening.
Evening plans
There are lots of nice bars with the best nightlife found around the Old Town. Even on a quiet Wednesday evening it was buzzing. I didn’t stay out for a drink as I was wiped out after the early morning flight!
Day 2: Therme Spa
Morning plans (and a Starbucks detour)
Croissant + tea – £6.08
My original plan for Day 2 was a relaxed breakfast in the Old Town before heading to the spa. In reality, nowhere seemed to be open early enough and I ended up in Starbucks.
It did the job, but if I were doing this again, I’d skip breakfast in the city altogether. My advice? Have a lie-in and get breakfast at the spa instead. Trust me.
Uber to Therme Bucuresti
£15.35 – With a tip and took an hour
I took an Uber to the Bucharest spa and that was really easy and straightforward.
Therme Bucuresti
£30.34 – All day access to all areas
Therme Bucuresti is one of Europe’s largest thermal spa. It’s about 40 minutes from the city centre but is close to the airport so it’s great to visit when you arrive or when you’re heading home.
There are 10 swimming pools, a wave pool, 16 water slides, 6 saunas, 4 steam rooms, infrared beds, massage beds, 4 restaurants, 4 pool bars, a vitamin bar, botanical gardens, outdoor areas, 1,500 palm trees as well as classes and treatments too. It’s enormous and is a full day out.
I hadn’t booked tickets for Therme Bucuresti in advance. When I arrived around 10am, there were no queues at all, but if you’re planning to go later in the day, booking online is definitely the safer option. From the moment you walk in, it feels like stepping into another world. Palm trees, warm pools, steam rising into the air. It’s more tropical resort than city spa.
A few practical tips for visiting the Bucharest Spa:
- Bring a towel, flip flops and a robe. You can also hire them when you arrive which is what I did. Flip flops are compulsory. Two towels would be better so you can use one to reserve your lounger.
- Arrive by about 9.40am.
- Get the ticket that gives you access to all areas all day.
- If you’d like a massage, get in there ASAP, head upstairs and book it as soon as it opens.
- Get a lounger ASAP and reserve it with your towel.
- Give yourself more time than you think, you can easily spend a full day here.
- If you can, try and stay until it gets dark as the vibe changes completely. I left just before sunset and now I’m kicking myself for not staying an extra 30 minutes!
- Make the most of all the dining options, the food is amazing.
- If it’s busy, head into the area past the water slides as it was almost empty in there when I visited.
- The showers and changing rooms are lovely so you’ll be fine if you’re heading straight to the airport.
- The Bucharest Spa does have storage rooms for suitcases but I’d just recommend packing light if you can!
You can book your tickets below via Get Your Guide (who I like because it’s easy to keep tickets organised in the app) or you can book online via the Therme Spa website.
Switching off completely
£60.60 – for food, drink and hiring a robe, towel and slippers
I spent the day moving slowly between pools, saunas and relaxation areas, doing absolutely nothing productive and loving every second of it.
Bucharest spa is huge and it gets very, very busy. I visited on a Thursday in November and it was fairly quiet but I’ve heard it gets crazy busy at weekends. But on the Thursday I visited there was plenty of space to find your own rhythm, whether that’s floating in a thermal pool, reading on a lounger or hopping between saunas and steam rooms.
This was the perfect contrast to the day before: where Day 1 was all movement and exploration, Day 2 was about stillness and rest.
When to leave (and what I’d change)
I left the spa at 5pm to make my 7:40pm flight. Realistically, I should have stayed longer.
If I’d left at 5:30pm, there still would have been plenty of time to get to the airport, and I’d have loved to see the spa in the dark. From everything I’ve heard, it’s even more magical in the evening.
The airport is very close to the spa, but with rush-hour traffic, the Uber ride took around 20 minutes which is still completely manageable.
Taxi to the airport
£57
Something that ruined my experience was getting a taxi to the airport. I planned to take an Uber again which would have been cheap for the 20 minute journey. I booked an Uber but when I arrived at the car the driver said he’d have to cancel it because there’s a fee to enter the airport, but he could take me for cash and not through the Uber app.
This felt dodgy so I got an official taxi instead.
When I got in the taxi he told me about the airport drop off fee and said he’d drop me off 2-minutes from the doors to avoid the fee. That was fine.
But when I went to get out of the taxi he charged me £57! Bear in mind that a 1-hour Uber cost me £15.35 that morning and this was a 20 minute journey. So I was annoyed I’d been clearly cammed but there wasn’t a lot I could do about it.
Is Bucharest worth it for a short trip?
Absolutely.
Bucharest feels like a city that’s quietly confident. It doesn’t shout for your attention, but if you give it a little time, it rewards you with beautiful details, great food, and a surprisingly relaxed pace.
For a 36-hour trip, this combination worked perfectly:
- One day exploring the Old Town
- One day fully unwinding at Bucharest Therme Spa
It felt balanced, unrushed and genuinely restorative.
Final tips for a 36-hour Bucharest itinerary
- Fly early and late to maximise your time.
- Stay central so you can explore on foot.
- Use Uber as it’s affordable and convenient.
- Don’t over-plan the Old Town; wandering is half the joy.
- Book the spa online and get there early
- Stay at Therme as long as you can, especially into the evening.
Bucharest might not be the first city that comes to mind for a European city break, but that’s part of its charm. This was my second visit to Bucharest and I’d go back again in a heartbeat, even if just for another long, lazy day at the spa.
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