As someone who moved to Romania in 2017, I was often asked, ‘Why Romania of all places?’ Naturally it wasn’t my decision, however since then I have learned a lot about this country, and I think I would actively choose to live here over anywhere else in Europe. I feel a wonderful way to demonstrate my reasons for having Romania as a destination of choice, is to compare it to my home country, England.
History defines a large part of any nation’s culture, but in my opinion, it is preserved far better in Romania than in the UK. While London has always aimed to be modern and impressive, Bucharest keeps its historical charm and embraces the events of the past, which is especially notable when you look at the architecture present in Bucharest’s ‘Old Town’.
Furthermore, the events and history of Romania are far more interesting than any English history, visit any museum in Bucharest, (I highly recommend the National Village Museum, in Herastrau Park; the Antipa Museum of Natural History, on Piata Victoriei; and the National Museum of Romanian History, on Calea Victoriei), and you will learn of the rich storyline of events that has culminated in modern Romania. From the infamous Vlad Tepes to the occupation by the Ottoman empire, the unity of Wallachia and Moldova in 1859, and the subsequent independence in 1877, Romania has far more to tell than any of the 4 countries that make up the UK.
Most of the tourist destinations to visit within the capital are centred around this deep history. The Palace of the Parliament, the heaviest building in the world and former centre of the communist regime; Casa Ceaușescu, the elaborate mansion of the former dictator, which even has the descendants of his original peacocks roaming the gardens; Hanul lui Manuc, a traditional romanian style restaurant serving the national cuisine; and of course the large King Mihai I park (Known to most as Herastrau Park, it’s former name), with the biggest beer hall in Eastern Europe, Beraria H.
Another key part of Romania are its beautiful landscapes, as 33% of Romania’s land is coated in forest, compared to a meagre 13% in the UK. Exploring these forests and hiking up mountain trails are a beautiful experience that the UK cannot hope to replicate, and of course if hiking is not your personal preference there is always the famous Transfagarasan road, quoted to be one of the best driving roads in the world.
Finally, a more practical reason for visiting Romania over other locations in Europe is the cost because at the end of the day, all things considered, cost is sometimes the decisive factor. For this segment I will directly compare Bucharest and London. A single trip on the respective metro systems of each city is 2.5lei and 17lei respectively, with London costing 680% more; food at a mid-range restaurant in Bucharest is around 35lei whereas in London it is 90lei, an increase of 257%; and finally, prices of accommodation in London are roughly 400% the price of that in Bucharest. Bucharest is the far more cost-effective destination to travel to.
Romania has far more to offer than the three reasons I chose to mention in this article, and I can wholeheartedly say, as someone who is not even from Romania, that it is a far better place to visit, or to live in, than anywhere in England.
