Roman and I have been living in Tel Aviv for few years now and the hotels that we love the most in Israel are in Jaffa – Tel Aviv. There is something really fun to just go to a hotel that it is a few minutes walking from your home and immediately feel like you’re on a vacation.

The boutique hotels that I chose to write about are the ones that we loved the most.

They both are in best locations, especially for us, foodies and markets lovers. Market House Hotel is located in the flea market in Jaffa, and Poli House is located in the Ha’Carmel Market in Tel Aviv.

They both have an amazing design, beautiful rooms and one of the greatest things about them is that their price is really reasonable compared to the prices in Israel. They both cost around 200 USD including breakfast.

The Market House Hotel – A combination of a culinary experience, urban vacation, and the history of Jaffa

When we entered The Market House Hotel, we were impressed by its design and the homey and peaceful atmosphere. The hotel was opened in 2014 and its design is urban with a touch of Jaffa’s history.

In the entrance there is a lobby with comfortable sofas, a reception, and a dining area with a European coffee shop atmosphere where they serve breakfast and have their happy hour.

The room

The room itself is a lovely boutique room with TV, a kettle to prepare coffee or tea, a nice hat (which I wore when we went out to the market), and a cool shopping bag (which we took also with us to the market to completely feel like tourists), and a bathroom with a shower.

The room is pretty basic, but I love small and functional rooms. The type that have all you need and their design gives you a good feeling. Oh, and the bed is really comfortable, too.

There are other rooms with higher standards, like a room with a big balcony that overviews the sea and has a pleasant breeze. We stayed in the basic room but we had the chance to see the other rooms there, so I can share pictures of them with you. this is the beautiful view from the room with the big balcony.

This is the superior room, which is bigger than the basic room and the best thing about it is that it has a gorgeous bath (I’m sure that this room is a great option for bath-lovers!).

Breakfast and happy hour

Aside from the beautiful design and lovely rooms, the Market House Hotel also offers a great culinary experience due to its location in the flea market and its excellent breakfast, (every day from 06:30-12:00) and its awesome Happy Hour (every day from 17:00-20:00).

The breakfast is a buffet with high-quality raw materials and products. They offer good cheeses, salmon, smoked fish, olives, fresh breads, pastries, dried fruits, bourekas, and more. You can also order an egg dish like omelets and shakshuka.

In addition, you can order whichever type of good coffee you can want.

This really good breakfast is also available to people we are not the hotel’s guests by scheduling an appointment and it costs 88 shekels per person

The Happy Hour is one of the greatest things there because, what can be better than a glass of wine with a snack in the afternoon for free? When we stayed there they served a small pizza, dried fruits, snacks, wine, and soft drinks. Yummy!

There is also a pretty lounge on the first floor if you’re looking for a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

A little bit more about The Market House Hotel

The hotel also offers free bike rentals for its guests. We ate lunch in the flea market and in the evening we went to some bars in the market too. At those hours, the atmosphere is very lively and full of people and great music. So it’s also a great location for those who are looking for awesome nightlife.

The Market Hotel belongs to the Atlas chain. We’ve stayed before in another hotel that belongs to them in Jerusalem, called Arthur Hotel and it was amazing too. They have many other boutique hotels in Israel which all look great and have really good reviews.

So, if you are looking for a charming hotel with great service, a pleasant culinary experience, history, an amazing location close to Jaffa Port and the beach, Market House will deliver all of this and more 🙂

Before I tell you about the other hotel here some pictures of the flea market

Poli House Hotel- A combination of chic, modern design for a really good spoiling experience

Poli House Hotel is located on Nahalat Binyamin St. next to the Ha’Carmel market. The hotel was opened in 2016 and it has a cool chic design.

When we entered the hotel, we felt like we were in an awesome space ship. The style is super special and you can see that the designer thought about each and every detail.

The pool and the bar

The reception is located on the roof floor and not in the entrance, which is something different from the usual.

We arrived early to the hotel (there is an advantage of living close to it! 🙂 ), so we put our small bag in the storage space, we put on our swimsuits in the dressing room, and went up to the pool.

One of the main reasons that I booked Poli House Hotel was precisely because of the pool. It is located on the same floor as the reception and there is also a pool bar.

The hotel was fully booked but it didn’t feel crowded. Indeed, there weren’t good seats left, but we didn’t care because we came with just one target in mind: to be in the pool all day and to drink cocktails.

I ordered a Margarita and Roman ordered a cocktail based on Arak, because what can be better during a vacation than a pool, sun, and a good cocktail?

The pool is not that big, but it’s definitely great for feeling spoiled and having fun. There’s a view of the sea from it and there is a shadowed area with cabanas and lounge spaces.

In the noon we went to eat lunch in the Ha’Carmel market (click here to check out a post about a good restaurant in the Ha’Carmel market) and afterwards we got our room.

The room

Not only did the entrance look like a spaceship, but so did the halls and the room as well.

The room is a beautiful boutique room and we got a Cava bottle as a gift. Yay! 🙂 In the room there is a TV, a super comfortable bed, on the desk there is cocktail equipment and book of cocktails, which is pretty cool. There is a great shower, toilet, and many toiletries.

Also in this hotel the basic room is pretty small, but again, I think it’s part of the charm in boutique hotels. Beauty, quality, and comfort over size.

The pool and the bar in the evening

In the evening we went again to eat in the Ha’Carmel market and afterwards we came back to sit at the hotel’s bar. A roof bar is such a great thing. The breeze was pleasant and the music was good. We also invited a couple that are friends of ours there to drink some beers with us and to celebrate Roman’s birthday.

The breakfast

The breakfast is served in the LoveEat coffee shop which is located next to the hotel. There is a private transition from the hotel to the coffee shop, so the coffee shop feels like a part of the hotel.

The breakfast is a choice from the menu. There are some options like a conventional Israeli breakfast (eggs, salad, bread, spreads, and coffee), a Shakshuka dish (a dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, and onions), sandwiches, and more.

The service was good and the meal was tasty and light. Indeed, it’s not a unique breakfast, but we enjoyed sitting in the coffee shop.

A little bit more about Poli House Hotel

The hotel offers free bike rentals for its guests, and it also has a spa of its own.

The hotel belongs to the Dayan group and to the hotels company “Brown hotels”. We haven’t had the chance to stay in other hotels from the Brown chain, but if they have Poli House quality, I’m sure they are amazing.

So, if you are looking for a great hotel with a pool, bar, spa, super cool design, and an incredible location, Poli House will definitely be a great choice.

Before we say goodbye, here are some pictures from the Ha’Carmel market.

This guide shares details of the itinerary, how many days you should stay at each location, transportation, recommendations for accommodation, cool attractions, good restaurants, and tips & hacks that will come in handy. If you’re planning a trip to Vietnam, then keep reading.

Recommended hotels in Vietnam – According to our own experience

Hanoi

If you are looking for a place that will cost you about $14 per night, then I recommend Hanoi Home Hotel.

If you’re traveling with a larger budget and can afford $50 per night, I recommend Romance Hotel.

Tam Coc

Chez Beo guesthouse.

Hoi An

Truc Huy Villa – a lovely 3 star hotel

Saigon

If you’re on low budget, we really liked Myhotel. A higher class hotel: Liberty Central Saigon Riverside.

Hanoi

Hanoi is a crazy city, but that’s the amazing thing about it. If you’re street food lovers, then this is the place to be.

How long should you stay? 3-5 days. The food the crazy chaos, and the cool attractions are awesome.

Where should you stay?

If you are looking for a place that will cost you about $14 per night, then I recommend Hanoi Home Hotel.

If you’re traveling with a larger budget and can afford $50 per night, I recommend Romance Hotel.

Both hotels are great and are located on allies so there’s no noise at night.

Attractions in Hanoi

I wrote a detailed post about things to do in Hanoi. Click HERE to read about them.

Recommendations for Food in Hanoi

• The original egg coffee. I know it sounds weird. But it’s really good. Address: 39 Nguyen huu huan.
• Pho – Vietnamese soup.

•  10 Ly Quoc su
• 65 Lan ong str
• bat dan 49 – open only on the morning

• Cha Ca – another great dish with fish. The price is a bit higher than the rest but you should give it a try at least once. Address: Cha ca 14
• Bun Mi – Hanoi has a lot of good sandwiched in baguettes, and you should try one at this address: Hang ca 25.
• Bun Cha – this is a dish that is serves a lot in street food. It’s amazing and addictive, so beware. You should try it, I never got disappointed.
• Bánh cuốn – this is a rice crepe that is filled with beef or chicken. It’s extremely good. Address: hang bo 68 open for dinner only.

Tam Coc

Tam Coc is a beautiful town with a lot of rice fields, mountains, and stunning views.

How long should you stay? 

3-4 days or longer. The views, the hikes and bike riding, and you can spend hours at just relaxation.

How to get to Tam Coc?

• Tourist bus
• Tourist trip from Hanoi. I am personally not a fan of organized tourist trips. When you are going to places by yourselves and you are the boss.
• Local bus.

I recommend going for the local bus because the drive is about 2 hours and costs $3 per person. The tourist bus costs about 4 times more than that.

Where you should stay in Tam Coc?

• If you’re into touristy places with restaurants and bars then you can stay at the touristy area of Tam Coc. I actually don’t have a recommendation for a specific place to stay at.
• If you like nature, and if you enjoy waking up and seeing a gorgeous view, then I recommend sleeping at Chez Beo, which is a really nice guesthouse with a lovely view.

To read more about Tam Coc, Click HERE.

Sapa

Sapa is a perfect town for those of you who love hikes. It has plenty of magical views.

How long should you stay?

At least 3 days. The views and treks are unbeatable, you also get to explore of Vietnamese old traditions and feel like you traveled back in time.

How to get to Sapa?

• You can book a planned trip from Hanoi that includes a train or bus ride and sleeping at a hotel or at a home stay. As I already mentioned, we don’t really like this idea. You go on super touristy treks and sleeping at standard places. The local guides barely get paid and you don’t really get an authentic experience. I recommend going to Sapa on your own and not with a group. Maybe you want to spend some time with new people, so in that case, you should do it, but keep in mind that the experience won’t be authentic.
• Tourist bus of 6 hours – the bus leaves Hanoi at 7am and you will get to Sapa at around 1pm. It’s about $11-14, depends on which company. We picked the more expensive one, and we had a really nice ride. We ordered before we knew there were cheaper companies, and I assume that they were nice as well.
• Night train – It leaves Hanoi at around 9pm and arrives at 6am to Lao Cai and once you get there you’ll need to take a taxi of another 40 minute ride. The train ride is about $25-35 per person. Depends on the kind of car you’re riding.
• Night Bus – Costs about $10. I actually never went on a night bus because I’d rather ride during the day. It’s more safe that way.

The advantages of taking a night bus or train is that you get to Sapa early in the morning and save money by not going to a hotel that night. If you don’t mind getting there in the afternoon then I recommend the express bus.

Attractions – Trekking in Sapa

If you’ve made it to Sapa, then you should find a local guide to take you on a 2-3 day trek, or even just one day. I recommend going on both.

• Go to the church area – this is a central area in Sapa, where there are a lot of guides you could just turn to and ask for some help. Then will most likely approach you when you get there.
• Google recommendations for guides and call them. We went for that option. We found Nu, who is a lovely and humble woman. We went on the hikes with her and we slept in her house. It was one of our most unique experiences of the entire trip and one of the most delicious. Nu is an amazing cook. If you want more details, just click here and visit the website sapadaytour.

Sleeping accommodations: Home stay at our guide, of course.

Halong Bay

Halong Bay is one of the Seven Wonders, and it is indeed a beautiful place. A lot of companies make tours to get there. You can choose to go on a 3-day trip with 2-night stay on a boat, and you can also go for the other option, which is a night on the boat and a night at a hotel. You can also get there by yourselves. You have to get to Cat Ba Island and from take a tour that doesn’t include sleeping, at around $15. It suits those who travel on a low budget.

About 2 years ago I did the 3 day tour – one night on the boat and one night on the island. Since I didn’t really like the guide nor the people, it’s hard to recommend the company I went with. There are plenty of other companies, and it’s also a matter of luck what kind of people you meet. My recommendation is to not go for the cheapest tour, because you could get a lousy boat and really bad food. Look for something intermediate and even invite some people you’ve met to go with you, so you’ll at least have some good company.

Hoi An

Hoi An is a dreamy vacation town. Some people go to Pong Ne, which is a beautiful cave area, but sadly I didn’t get the chance to go.

How long should you stay?

3-5 days. There is a beach, some nice hotels, and magical vibes you won’t find anywhere else.

How to get to Hoi An?

• A train to Danang and from there a taxi to Hoi An.
• A flight to Danang and a taxi to Hoi An.

We’ve been there twice, and both times we flew over. It was so much faster, and it is actually cheaper. If you know your flying date then you should book as soon as possible, because it will make the cost a lot cheaper. I like the website Kiwi to look at flights, it makes it really easy to look.
For some recommendations of Hoi An, you can read the post of the top 10 things to do in Hoi An by Clicking HERE.

Dalat

There are a few options to continue the itinerary after reaching Danang. You can either take a train or a bus to Nha Trang, which is a beautiful beaches area. I heard it’s pretty expensive and that they are trying to take advantage of tourists, but I haven’t been so therefore I have no opinion nor recommendations.

You can also fly to Dalat, or either take 2 buses. Dalat is a French-style town. It’s super beautiful and there are a lot of nice attractions. 2 years ago we stayed just for one night because we had a planned trip the next morning. We got picked up on motorcycles through a great company called Easy Rider.

You can go on a trip from a single day or even 3+. We really enjoyed the 3-day trip. They took us to beautiful and non-touristy places. We went to see waterfalls, flower fields, silk factory, coffee factory, and more.

The trip is about $200 per person, and that was 2 years ago so I’m not sure about today. The price includes sleeping accommodations, entry to places, and actually everything but food. When you eat locally then the prices are really cheap. Since we didn’t have a budget for this trip this time, we went from Danang straight to Saigon on a direct flight.

Saigon

Saigon is a large, modern city, with bars, restaurants, and nice hotels.

How long should you stay?

2-3days. The food is great, the nightlife, and some areas feel like you’re in New York.

Accommodations in Saigon

• If you’re looking for something that is low-budget, then I recommend going to Myhotel. It’s a small and new hotel, which is a big advantage. It’s really clean and the service is kind. The cost is $15 per night for a small room. The hotel is located in a great location, it’s right where all the backpackers go to, but on a side alley so it’s not noisey.
• If you’re traveling on a higher budget, then I recommend staying at Liberty Central Saigon Riverside, which is where I celebrated my birthday. My husband Roman surprised me with a nice hotel that is really luxurious and has a nice happy hour. There is a pool on the rooftop with a view to the mountain. There is a great bar and also a fantastic breakfast. If you feel like indulging then you should go to this hotel. It’s located in a location that is very New-York-like, with super awesome vibes.

Recommended Food in Saigon

• Right in front of Myhotel we found the most delicious Won Ton soup. It’s street food, so it doesn’t have a name, but it’s right across from the hotel. It’s open from 1 or 2pm until the evening. We didn’t only declare it as the best Won Ton, but it’s also considered that way. Even if you go and it’s closed, don’t give up. Just go on the next day.
• An amazinggg Indian restaurant – Taj Mahal. I am obsessed with Indian food and I think it’s probably the best Indian place we’ve been to the entire trip. I recommend trying the signature dishes and the fish and chicken courses.
• There is a ton of street food everywhere so don’t be shy to try it. There is a great blogger who wrote all about street food in Saigon. Just click here for Mark Weins article of street food.

Attractions in Saigon

• Cu Chi Tunnels
• The War Museum – a very interesting museum.
• Local markets
• Bui Vien bar streets
• AAA Spa – I got a mani-pedi and the spa and it was fantastic. They took really good care of me, and the result was amazing. It was only $6… I didn’t get a massage but according to the recommendations it’s supposed to be a great place.

Tips and Hacks for your trip in Vietnam

• Getting a visa – this tip will lower your costs if you’re arriving with a flight. You can get a visa upon your arrival. You have to fill out your information on the website that writes a letter for you. With this letter, you will get to the airport and give 2 passport pictures. It’s a cost of $25 per person. Then you just wait a few minutes for your visa to be ready. A lot of companies write letters as such and it can help quite a lot. I found this website online: cheapvietnamvisaonline.com – you just pay $14 per visa for a 3 month visa. If it’s just for a month then it’s $7.5 per person. Everything went smoothly through them. It’s super important to bring a passport picture with you.
• Sim card – another tip you should follow is buying a local sim card. It’s really cheap and will last you a little longer than a month. It should cost about $4. We went for Viettel and we were really happy with that company.
• Hanoi to the airport – shuttles from Hanoi to the airport leave every hour from 5am until 7pm and it costs $2 per person. You don’t have to pre-book. The shuttle leaves from Vietnam Airlines offices. Click here for a map.

Sinaia is a really popular vacation town in Romania both in winter and summer. We were only there for two days and we regretted not staying another night because it is a magical and fun town with a stunning view. People like to go skiing when it snows and enjoy it in the warmer weather as well!

We arrived in Sinaia from Brasov and basically it was a 10 day trip that started from Cluj Napoca and ended in Bucharest. We did the whole trip with a rental car.

Tips before traveling to Sinaia

SIM card

I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.

Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.

The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.

Car rental in Sinaia

We were twice in Romania and both times we rented a car because we wanted to travel and explore the suburbs and not just travel in central cities. I think this is the most convenient and fun way to travel in Romania. Car prices are low and the roads are easy to drive.

You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.

Attractions in Sinaia

You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and Viator.

Where to stay in Sinaia

The town is filled with boutique hotels, and we stayed at Pension Casa Teo which was a walking distance from the park Bucegi Natural and from the cable car. It turned out that we were only guests of the hotel because we stayed on weekdays. It was super awesome, we got upgraded for the suite with a hot tub and a terrace. The hotel itself has been through a big renovation and looks entirely new.

The room was really spacious and clean. For breakfast we were served some fresh vegetables, cheese, sausage, eggs, bread, butter and jam, and some coffee. It was served in the bar area of the hotel, and when they have more guests, they serve a buffet. They also sell some apple juice that is made locally, so we got some for the road before we went to Bucharest.

We really liked the location of the hotel, it was nice and quiet. It’s located uphill and not in the center of the city. If you are traveling by car, then I definitely recommend this hotel.

Gondola Sinaia

One of the coolest things to do in Sinaia is going uphill with the cable car. It’s a necessity in the winter because you probably will go skiing, but if you are there in the summer time it’s definitely worth a climb because the view from up there is absolutely beautiful.

There are 3 cable cars in Sanaia, and we went to the newest one. While we were there we didn’t know that there were any others but this was closest to our hotel, and we were happy with it.

When we purchased the tickets there was an option to go to 1400 meters or continue to 2000 meters, and we picked the 2000 option. You can also go on a nice hike to get up there and go down with the cable car, or either climb up with some mountain bikes. Roman said he wanted to do that next time we visit.

The views were absolutely breathtaking from up there.  The only bad thing is that we didn’t take in consideration that it’s actually going to be cold in June on a 2000 meters mountain top. It was insanely cold, so I highly recommend bringing a proper winter attire. Bring a hat as well, it was super windy.

When we went down to 1400 meters we decided to sit at the nice restaurant, sip on some orange juice, and enjoy the view.

Address:
Aleea Telegondolei, Sinaia

Hours:
Up to 1400 meters: Wednesday – Monday 09:00-17:00, Tuesday 12:00-17:00
Up to 2000 meters: Wednesday – Monday 09:00-16:30, Tuesday 12:00-16:30

Tickets:
1400 meters and from the 1400 to the 2000m is 35 Lei for a round trip and 20 for one way – adult. Round trip is 25 Lei and 20 for one way – child.
Going 2000m is 55 Lei for a round trip and 35 for one way – adult. 35 round trip and 20 one way for a child.

Peles Castle

This is a palace, but everyone calls it a castle. From the moment you step inside it feels like you’re in a fairytale. The road to the castle is scenic with a lot of green views, and the garden itself is highly maintained and it has some statues and a lot of flowers. Even the restaurant nearby  is really impressive and is inspired from the design of the castle. It’s a really popular area and it’s always packed with visitors. You should go early to beat the crowd.

You can visit the first floor but if you want to visit the other 2 then you’ll have to pay extra. If you’d like to take pictures inside then you’ll need to pay for a pass. You can also join a guided tour of the castle. The castle is really impressive and it’s easy to see why so many people want to visit it. It’s very luxurious and unique. Each room is an entire world and it totally makes you want to take over and move in. My least favorite part was the crowd, but that’s usually that way it’s like in touristy places.

Address:
Aleea Peleșului 2, Sinaia

Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday 09: 15-17: 00 Monday and Tuesday closed

Book Tickets online

Restaurants in Sinaia

Great burger place

Before traveling from Sinaia to Bucharest, we pulled over for lunch. We went to a random restaurant that was nearest to our car rental office. I got a vegan burger and Roman ordered a normal burger with some extra toppings! We realized that we were late so we ended up taking the burgers for the road. Even though it was a short experience, it was a good one. The waiters were kind and there were some good vibes. We sat outside, and the weather was lovely! We also enjoyed the decor, it reminded us of summer!

I must say, it was not easy eating burgers while driving! Poor Roman, he had to eat and drive at the same time. Even though it was was a struggle they were some amazing burgers! Luckily the bread was really fresh and didn’t collapse on us. The vegan burger had some potatoes and a lot of toppings. Roman’s burger had some real quality meat, and with the toppings and sauces it was made into the perfect burger!  As a side, we got some delicious baked potatoes. We will definitely be back, and it will be the first place we’ll visit next time we’re in Sinaia.

Address:
Strada Cuza Vodă  and Aleea Serei

Taverna Sarbului – Serbian cuisine

About 200 meters from the hotel we stayed, there was a lovely Serbian restaurant that we decided to try. The space was very large, so if you’re a part of a big group then it’ll be perfect for you. They had probably the largest menu with the biggest variety I’ve ever came across!

There were so many options to choose from, and it was really hard to decide what to order! Eventually we ended up ordering a Serbian sausage, Greek salad, chicken with peppers, potatoes with spinach, and some soup. Everything was good, but it was nothing special. Just simple and good food. My favorite was the dish with the potatoes and spinach, but prepare yourselves for a lot of garlic!

Address:
Calea Codrului 34, Sinaia

Hours:
Everyday from 11am-midnight.

Irish House – an Irish Bar

Since we had a late lunch, we figured it’ll take a while until we’ll eat again. We searched for dinner at around 10:30pm and most restaurants were already closed. Luckily the Irish bar was still open and we got there half an hour before they closed the kitchen!

For starters we ordered 2 soups. I got chicken noodle and Roman ordered churbe soup. Both were really good, and mine was just the way I like it! Roman had a lot of beef in his so he was satisfied! For a main dish I ordered a grilled fish, and Roman ordered a shepard’s pie, and also some pickles – which were fantastic. The fish was really fresh and tasteful, and I really enjoyed it.

The food was great, the prices were low, and the service was fantastic.

Address:
Bulevardul Carol I 18, Sinaia

Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, then you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram. Looking for more information about Romania? I have more posts about Romania on my blog.

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Bucharest is a modern city that is filled with many things to do and cool cafes, restaurants and bars that are extremely cool. You will find restaurants with all kinds of foods and you will have a great culinary experience.

A restaurant with a lake view Greek, Indian and Romanian cuisine- Biutiful

I love going to restaurants with beautiful views, and this one did not disappoint. It’s located in Herăstrău Park, right in front of the lake. Its decor is magnificent, like nothing I’ve ever seen. The place looks like a boat, and the food as well as service are at a really high quality! The prices are a bit more expensive than the other places we’ve eaten at, but it’s definitely worth the experience and the great food.

We went there for a late lunch and we got a nice view of the lake. The food is a mixture between the Greek, Indian, and Romanian cuisines. We ordered a chicken tandoori dish, zucchini with tzatziki, beef patties, and Indian naan. The food was delicious and dishes were light and appetizing. I’m sure that in dinner time the place is fuller and is really vibrant.

Address:
Șoseaua Nordului 3, București, Romania
Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday 12:00-12:00, Monday 15:00-02:00

Japanese restaurant– Hiro Sushi

We really like Japanese food, especially soups and sushi, so we knew in advance that we wanted to go to get some in Bucharest, also because the prices are quite low.
I made a small research about Japanese food and I found a good one that serves ramen named Hiro Sushi. The location was great because it was right next to the spa where I got a massage.

We went for dinner and got a nice table outside. The waiter was really nice and he explained all about the menu. We ordered some ramens. Roman ordered his with pork and I got mine with shrimp. He got the large one, of course, and I got the regular size 🙂 We also ordered a sushi roll with mango, it was my first time trying out mango with sushi and it was amazing. As well as a sushi sandwich and salmon sashimi.

The large soup ended up being a huge soup, but don’t worry about Roman, he ate it till the last bite. The soups were delicious, not as strong as a ramen usually is, but regardless really good. The sushi plate and sashimi was really impressive. We had to finish with some dessert and we ordered some ice cream, but it was huge and we couldn’t finish everything. The quality was good and we really enjoyed our dinner. The bonus is that it was one of the cheapest Japanese restaurants I ever came across.

Address:
Intrarea Tudor Ștefan 25, București
Hours:
Tuesday-Friday 15:00-22:00, Saturday-Sunday 12:00-22:00 and Monday closed

An amazing cafe with incredible coffee – Origo

If you are a coffee lover, which I know I am, then you’re not going to want to miss this place. We rented an Airbnb apartment and we found this place because it’s in the neighborhood. I think it’s one of the places with the kindest service I’ve ever came across. They have a large variety of coffees and they also serve some unique flavors.

We got an iced coffee that was really refreshing with some lemon and soda. I know it sounds crazy but it was actually really good. We also got an iced latte which was amazing. We ordered some banana bread to snack on, it must be one of my favorites in Romania. The waitress told us that they were planning on opening a place that will also serve food. You should definitely try out this place.

Address:
Strada Lipscani 9, București
Hours:
Monday – Friday 7:30 – 19:00, Saturday – Sunday 09: 00-19:00

A chill coffee place – Acuarela

We went here based on the recommendation that we got from our graffiti tour guide. We actually went there straight after the tour. It’s the kind of place you fall in love with as soon as you step inside. The decor is super awesome, and there are really unique and chill kind of vibes. The tables are outside and there are a couple of areas to sit at. This place reminded me of Ruins Pub in Budapest.

They have a watercolor palette in each table to encourage the creativity of the people. The menu offers local beers, lemonades in various kinds, and a lot of other summer and winter drinks.

It was the chic, kinda homey vibes with some shade from the sun that made us feel like we were really on a break from everything, and we love the feeling of vacation.  I ordered some cold ginger lemonade and Roman ordered a tea.

Address
Strada Polonă, București
Hours
Tuesday-Thursday 12:00-23:00, Friday-Saturday 12:00-00:00, Sunday 12:00-23:00, Monday 14:00-23:00

A bar restaurant with good and cheap food – District

The area of the ancient city is filled with restaurants, cafes, and bras. Throughout the entire day you’ll find some good places with great vibes to eat and drink at. We usually try local restaurants, but after a few days of just Romanian food, we decided to go for something a little different.

This place had a menu with a wide variety and some really low prices. The cheapest meal is during the lunch special. Roman got the lunch special which was a chicken breast and chicken soup. I ordered some Thai rice with vegetables, and in addition we got a pasta with cream and salmon (per usual, Roman was hungry.)

The food was delicious and I really liked what I ordered. The pasta with salmon and cream was a bit too heavy, and the chicken soup was fantastic. If you are looking for some great and cheap food, or even a place to eat at after a night out then this is your place.

Address:
Strada Sfântul Dumitru 3, București
Hours:
Sunday – Wednesday 09:00 – 00:00, Thursday – Saturday 09: 00-04:00

Recommended local restaurants

During the tour we got of the city, the guide recommended 2 restaurants that are always packed with locals and tourists as well. Unfortunately we never got a chance to check it out. I decided to write it anyways for you guys, just let me know if it was as good as I think it is. It’s recommended to book in advance because we tried going but we couldn’t get a table. They are called: Caru’ cu Bere and Hanul lui Manuc.

In addition, I decided to do some research and find out which other restaurants are recommended in Bucharest so that the next time I’m there I can try them. I decided to also write to you the restaurants we didn’t try and I would love to hear what you thought of them if you try them.

Fast food cheap restaurant – EggsMania

A simple fast food restaurant that has been around for over 15 years. There are sandwiches, salads, hamburgers, French crapes (sweet or savory toppings) and more. Suitable for both breakfast and lunch and just for a quick food if you are in a hurry. The prices are affordable and the portions are large. Their speciality are the eggs sandwiches.

I got a recommendation for this restaurant from a friend who was in Romania with his family and his children loved this restaurant. The ladies who run this place were super nice with the kids and they enjoyed it. Keep in mind that the eggs sandwich is huge so you may want to split it!

Opening Hours
The restaurant is closed on Sundays
Saturday 08:00-15:00
Monday-Friday 08:00-16:30

Address
Strada Ion Câmpineanu 3a
Arrival instructions

A restaurant with a city view on the 36th floor – Nor Sky Casual Restaurant

It is recommended to arrive at sunset or during the day. The restaurant itself receives controversial reviews regarding the level of food and service.
I think it’s best to go there for a cocktail or wine (the cocktails get good reviews) and for the view. It is recommended to reserve a place in advance

Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 12:00-00:00
Saturday and Sunday 10:00-00:00

Address
Str. Barbu Văcărescu 201
Arrival instructions
Reservation at the restaurant

Modern Romanian cuisine chef restaurant – Kaiamo

A restaurant with a tasting menu of modern Romanian cuisine. The reviews praise the food and service. You can order a tasting meal of 9 courses or 11 courses or 15 courses or 20 courses. The prices range from 106 euros for 9 dishes to 160 euros for 20 dishes. You can order for an additional fee an accompaniment of wines or cocktails for each course.

The restaurant was chosen among the 3 best restaurants in Romania and according to the good reviews it seems that there is a good reason for this. You need to reserve a place in advance.

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Friday 18:00-23:00
Saturday 12:00-16:00 and 18:00-23:00
Sunday Monday closed

Address
30A, Strada Ermil Pangrati Street
Arrival instructions
Reservation for a restaurant

Italian restaurant – Trattoria Mezzaluna

An Italian restaurant that gets a lot of good reviews. Excellent food, courteous service, and everything is clean and tasty.
Standard of a luxury restaurant at fair prices.

Opening Hours
Every day 11:30-22:30

Address
Strada Crăciun 3
Arrival instructions

A vegan restaurant – Sara Green 

A vegan restaurant with a varied menu such as hamburgers, salads, tortillas, desserts and more.
Fair prices. There are a lot of good reviews about the burgers so I think it’s worth a try.

Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 10:00-20:30
Saturday 11:30-20:30
Sunday 11:30-19:30

Address
Bulevardul Lascăr Catargiu 43A
Arrival instructions

Before our trip to Romania, my dad told us of lovely guesthouses and cabins he stayed at in Austria and Switzerland, and some of them served really nice dinners and breakfasts. I liked the idea of staying at unique places so I started looking for special cabins in Romania! I simply googled “special cabins in Romania.”

After a lot of searches I found 2 places that seemed really nice and fit us perfectly with our planned course. The first one is a guesthouse owned by the Royal family, and when Prince Charles is in Romania, he is staying there! How cool?

The second place is a wooden cabin in a secluded spot inside a forest.
Both of them seemed so magical, and they were a good distance from Brasov and Sinaia, which are the places we wanted to get to.

Count Kalnoky’s Transylvania Guesthouse

Count Kalnoky’s is a guesthouse that has several different old houses that have been restored.

In the beginning the main purpose for Count Kalnoky was saving architectural heritage and helping the people in the area with tourism.

The breakfasts are served outside in a beautiful garden with horses.

You can choose from reserving a night and paying for breakfast and dinner, or you can also choose to have 3 meals that also include activities on the property. I ordered the cabin by emailing the concierge and paid in advance. We ordered the 2 meal option, since we knew that we were not going to have enough time to do the activities.

We made it to the guesthouse around noon from Brasov. It’s about an hour drive. When we first got there it felt like we traveled in time at least a hundred years backwards.

The guesthouse is located in a non-touristy area, with a lot of horses and not many cars. We wanted to have lunch but it turns out that you had to let them know in advance since they make just enough for all of their guests. We ended up driving 10km to a different village and we bought groceries for a little picnic of bread, cheese, sausage, and vegetables.

The Cabin

After having lunch we went to our cabin. It was located about 400 meters from the main area, about a 5 minute walk.

It was the most impressive cabin I’ve ever stayed at. We got the Prince’s cabin, which is the most impressive one. It had a lovely bath and a really cool bed. The guesthouse have ancient furniture, which makes you feel even more that you traveled back in time.

All beds have a king sized bed with a lot of wool blankets. There is no TV, but there are a lot of books instead to keep you entertained. There is also an electrical kettle with coffee and tea.  There is no wifi, so we just used a local sim card.
The place is so nice and calm, it was an absolute pleasure.

Dinner

For dinner we went downstairs to a wine cellar. It was really fancy. We sat at the table with 6 other guests and it was really fun. The food is served to the middle of the table. It is obviously traditional Romanian food. They served chopped salad, eggplant salad, bread, mamaliga, chicked, and Romanian dumplings. They also served great red and white wines. By the end of the meal we were served dessert with coffee or tea.

If you have any food allergies, if you are vegan or vegetarian, then you must let them know in advance.
We sat at the table for about 3 hours. We had a lovely evening talking with the rest of the guests.

Breakfast

In the morning we met everyone again in the outside picnic area. We were served omelets, vegetables, cheese and sausage. Bread, butter and jam, muesli, yogurt, and coffee.

We really enjoyed experiencing this unique guesthouse. We were sad in the end because we had to leave so soon. We will definitely go back. The experience was amazing and it had a real value for money.

We got there with a car, but they also have a shuttle service. We met a couple from the United States that went to Romania for a week just for the guest house. They didn’t rent a car and took the 3 meal and activities package.

Address:
Count Kálnoky’s guesthouses
525104 Micloșoara, nr. 186
Jud. Covasna, Transylvania

A secluded cabin in the forest

After staying at the lovely guest house we drove to the secluded cabin we ordered through booking.

Search for other accommodations

We stayed at the cabin for 2 nights. I chatted with the owner for a while before getting there. It was completely secluded and I wanted to find out where we can get food around there. Turns out there is a town nearby where we bought some meat, fruit and veggies.

We also got a recommendation for a local shop that sells homemade sausage, as well as another local shop that sells homemade cheese, organic milk, and organic eggs.

We ended up pulling over 3 times before getting to our little hut in the woods. It was a really nice experience and we felt like true locals.

To get to the cabin we had to go through a dirt road that is about 6km. We had to drive super slow because there are a lot of rocks and we didn’t want to damage the car.

When we first got the to cabin we were so shocked from how gorgeous it was. It was so nice to experience just us and nature. The cabin has everything you might need. There is a kitchen, and nice living room, a bedroom, wifi, bathroom and shower, a nice picnic table, grill, fireplace, etc.

For lunch Roman made steaks with potatoes and I made the salad. It was really nice to be sitting outside with some wine and delicious food, listening to the birds chirping and the tiny stream near us.

The cabin runs on solar electricity and it means that if there is no sun, there isn’t much electricity. We ended up having dinner to the light of candles and without any electricity. It was really romantic .

Also, the heating and the water are ran by wood, and we didn’t quite get the whole concept and it was a bit of a hustle. Thank god for YouTube tutorials.

We really enjoyed staying at the cabin in the woods, and if you are looking for some peace and quiet then this is the perfect place for you. The near villages are about 25-40 minutes away and you can get there only by a car.

Brasov is a city in the area of Transylvania, Romania. It’s known for its walls, black church, and lively coffee shops.
Brasov itself is a very unique city with lots of charm and nice architecture. I kept taking photos all the time.

How to Get to Brașov?

We arrived by car, which we had rented in Cluj-Napoca. You can search for a car using the search engine Paapm Paapm. I love searching through them because it saves me time (instead of visiting multiple websites), and they can filter out less recommended rental companies.

There is no airport in Brașov itself, so if you’re flying, you’ll need to land at an airport in another city. The closest one is in Bucharest, which is about 160 km away from Brașov.

 Where to sleep in Brasov?

We stayed at an Airbnb in the center of the city. Update: this apartment is no longer available on airbnb.  It was a very nice and clean 2 bedroom apartment. When we arrived, we didn’t meet the owners but we got specific instructions to how to access the apartment.

I recommend booking an apartment or hotel in the center of the old town.
My sister rented an apartment near the mall, and it was a less convenient location (unless you plan to visit the mall frequently).

Here are some hotels and apartments with good reviews in the city center:

• Skylark Central Aparthotel
• Baiulescu apartments
• Grand Hotel Belvedere
• Sierra – Northstar Apartments
• Studio – Old City Brasov
• Safrano Palace

Tampa Cable Car

I love high viewpoints that let you see the entire city from above. The cable car in Brasov is exactly that type of thing. It enables you to go all the way up to a viewpoint and see the entire beautiful city.
On our way to the the cable car, we bought some corn and a small popcorn from a little stand. It was nice to snack on while on the ride.

The cable car itself is pretty old-fashioned and there is only one car, so everyone has to get in and stand up. The climb up isn’t that far so it’s not that big of a deal standing up the entire time.

When we got to the top we spotted a nice restaurant with a beautiful view to the city and a couple of walking trails. There is also an option to walk back to the city through a trail and you can even go through a forest. We decided to go down with the cable ride because we wanted to use every second we had.
The viewpoint was beautiful. There used to be a restaurant that got burnt, so they kept the viewpoint.

Address:
Aleea Tiberiu Brediceanu, Brașov
Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday 9: 30-17: 00, Monday 12: 00-18: 00

Free tour of the city

Every night at 6 pm there is a free organized tour of the city that is tip-based, and it takes about 2 hours. You leave from the main square and then go around the city.

The tour is through the company Walkabout, and it started in Bucharest and we continue to Brasov. We were actually surprised by how many people were with us. We were a large group, about 20 other people. The guide was really funny and she made the tour awesome.

We discovered a lot of Romania’s history through photos and stories that the guide shared. The tour was really fascinating, and I also met a girl from El Salvador who travels in Europe by herself for over 10 months, and she plans to continue for at least 6 more months. How cool is that?  

I really enjoy city tours. We tried to go to one in each city we got to, and we were never disappointed. It’s a lovely way to see and get to know the city, find out about history, and meet people from all over the world.

Go through one of the most narrow streets in Europe

It may not be the most thrilling activity, but it’s actually really cool to pass through one of the most narrow streets in Europe.

Fun fact: in the past, the houses in Brasov used to be built in a way that they were all in one bunch and if you wanted to cross over you had to go around all the houses until you reached the path. It was only after a huge fire when the firefighters couldn’t get to the other side of the street that they decided to build paths on the main streets.  The paths were built so thin, that they only enable a single man to cross with two buckets of water. Nowadays those paths rarely exist but that one we passed through, so if you feel like experiencing some history then you should go.

Address:
Rope Street)  Strada Sforii)

Wander around the main square Piața Sfatului

There used to be a big and colourful market in the main square, but during the communist times, they banned it and turned it into a parking lot, since the government didn’t want people meeting up and speaking to each other on political issues.

Today the main square is a lively area with cafes, restaurants, and shops.  I enjoyed drinking iced coffee on the outside tables of the German Bakery right in the square. The vibes are really fun and there are also a lot of events.

Where to eat in Brasov?

Sapori – An amazing Italian restaurant

When we just arrived to Brasov we felt like going to a nice and non-local restaurant, we wanted to have something different from the Romanian food. I got a recommendation for the place, but when I called they said it was already full. We decided to go there anyways and hope that a table clears up, and we were starving so there better have been.

We parked in the lot and on our way to the restaurant we came across an Italian that had marvelous scents. We checked out the menu and it sounded good, so we decided to give it a shot, and good thing we did.

For starters we ordered bruschetta with olive tapenade, vegetable soup, and grilled calamaris. All 3 were good, but the calamaris topped everything. When we just got it I was afraid it was going to be chewy or boring, but it turns out I was wrong and it was absolutely delicious.
For the main course Roman ordered carbonara and I ordered a spaghetti with shrimp and almond paste. Both pasta dishes are homemade. The carbonara was really delicious, and my dish was so good that I had to keep eating when I was already full.

After the meal we decided to order the apple pie. I must say, it was a total “WOW” moment. It was the best pie I’ve ever had. It was filled with apples and it didn’t have much dough, just as it is supposed to be.
As you can probably tell, I highly recommend this place.

Address:
Strada George Barițiu 13, Brașov
Hours:
11:00-00:00 Every day

 Zoomserie – a bakery with an amazing dessert

We got a recommendation for this place from my dad. He said that they serve the best savarina he has ever had. I don’t really like those types of cakes, so Roman ordered it and he said it was delicious.

Address
Strada Apollonia Hirscher 1, Brașov
Hours
Every day 08:00-22:00

Adventure Park Brașov

Ideal for the whole family, offering a variety of challenging trails between the trees, climbing walls, and other attractions. Directions on how to get there.

We didn’t visit, but my sister went with her husband and their three children, ages 5-12. Here’s what she wrote:
“Highly recommended ropes park. You need to arrive right when it opens because there’s a long line. For kids under 5, there’s not much to do there.”

Seven Ladders Canyon

We didn’t get a chance to do this attraction, but my sister highly recommended it:
“Seven Ladders Canyon is stunning. The trail starts right on the outskirts of Brașov. There are zip lines for kids at the very beginning. It’s not a circular trail, and while it’s not too long, you can go as far as you want and then turn back. It’s very shaded. Not suitable for strollers.”
Directions on how to get there.

Day Trips from Brașov

• Day tour to UNESCO sites in Sighișoara and Viscri
• Castles tour
• Small group brown bear-watching tour

Other Things to Do in Brașov and the Surrounding Area

• The First Romanian School Museum – Exhibits on educational history in a school building from 1495, rebuilt in Baroque style in 1760. Directions on how to get there.
• Brașov Zoo. Directions on how to get there.
• Poiana Brașov Hot Springs – A resort town located about 12 km from Brașov, it is a popular destination for skiing in winter and nature hikes in summer. There are also spa complexes and hot springs here.
• AFI Mall. Directions on how to get there.
• Dracula’s Castle in Bran – The distance from Dracula’s Castle in Bran (Castelul Bran) to the city of Brașov is about 30 km. The drive usually takes around 40 minutes to an hour.
  Tickets for the castle can be purchased online.
• Dino Parc Râșnov – About a half-hour drive, near Bran. My sister also highly recommended it. It’s perfect for kids aged 4-10. Directions on how to get there. The park features dinosaur exhibits, a volcano display, children’s games, and a large dinosaur film screening. There’s also a train that takes you to the fortress nearby.

I hope my post was helpful for you! If it was, I’d love for you to leave a comment here. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask them in the comments or reach out to me on the blog’s social media pages: Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more information about Romania? I have more posts about Romania on my blog!

The Salina Turda salt mine is located in Turda, the second biggest city in the Cluj district.

The 2000 year-old salt mine started operating in the medieval times and shut down in 1932. It was around 1939 when the second world war started and the local authorities reopened it and used it as shelter for Turda citizens.
In 1992 the salt mine was renovated and opened as a tourist attraction both for adults and children.

We’ve been to Salina Turda during our summer trip to Romania and I really liked it! but there are also few reasons why you may want to skip it. Read on!

What are the ways to get to Salina Turda salt mine in Romania from the city Cluj Napoca?

There are 3 ways to get from Cluj to the salt mine

1. Car – you can rent a car especially if you rent a car and travel with it to other places. You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
2. Take a taxi – the cost of a taxi from Cluj to Salina Turda will cost around 20-25 euros each way.
3. Bus – need 2 buses. One bus from Cluj Napoca to Salina Turda and from Salina Turda to the mine. The cost of a bus is about 2-3 euros, but keep in mind that this option is not recommended because it may take you a long time in each direction. It is difficult to find the bus in Salina Turda and the bus times are not clear and it may take a journey of several hours in each direction.

How we went to Salina Turda?

It’s about 40km from Cluj-Napoca and it took us about 40 minutes to get there.
We drove to the mine after visiting Cluj-Napoca, and from there we continued to Brasov (a drive of 3.5 hours).
We were really impressed by the area around the mine. Everything is so green. There are also a lot of shops and fast food places.

Tours to Salina Turda salt mine

Those who do not rent a car have the option of taking tours that depart from Cluj Napoca –

To book a tour that departs from Cluj Napoca and passes through 3 attractions, including the salt mine

To book a tour to the salt mine only

The area of ​​the salt mine

Before entering the mine Roman got me a hot dog for 5 Lei. We got tickets, and went downstairs to see the magic.

Entrance to the Salina Turda salt mine

From the moment we stepped downstairs it became freezing, so bring some warm clothes with you. We started walking until we got to the end of the tunnel but there was only an exit at its end. Walking in such a long tunnel and knowing that it was built by humans was really impressive.

We continued to the “Echo Area.” You yell something and then you hear your voice echoing. It was soo cool.

We continued to see the rest of the museum and later we kept going downstairs. I went down the elevator and Roman took the stairs. We stuck to the stairs after that. There are a lot of people waiting for the elevators, so you should bring some comfy shoes and get ready to go up and down the stairs a lot.

Attractions at the Salt Mine

When we went downstairs we discovered a world of attractions:

Attractions in the salt mine

• There are different mini golf courses
• Ping pong
• Tennis
• Bowling
• Ferris Wheel
• Rent a boat in Salt Lake

We decided to go on the giant wheel.

After an awesome time at the ferris wheel we kept going down the stairs (about 6 flights) and then we got to a beautiful salt lake where you can rent a boat and just sail. It seemed really nice, but since my navigation and sailing skills are lacking, decided to give up on the idea 🙂 To rent a boat it would cost you 15 Lei and you can have a maximum of 3 people.

We really enjoyed our time at the mine. It’s unbelievable how men could build such a thing with their bare hands without any of today’s technology.

Address

Aleea Durgăului 7, Turda 401106.

Opening hours – updated 2024

Every day between 09:00-19:00. last entry at 18:00

Entrance costs to the salt mine

Adult 50 lei | 60 lei on Saturday and Sunday and legal holidays .

Child/pensioner/student 30 lei.

*Children younger than 3 enter free of charge

Activities fees at Salina Turda

• Guided Tour (upon request): 100 leiOptional
• Visit to Ghizela Mine: 20 lei per person
• Professional Photo/Video Shoot (weddings, albums): 2,000 lei per day or 300 lei per hour
• Audio Recording: 450 lei per day
• Photo-Video Shooting for Commercial Use (videos, movies, magazines, etc.): Starting at 2,500 euros
• Bowling (20 minutes): 20 lei per person
• Mini Golf (20 minutes): 20 lei per personFerris Wheel (one tour, 8 minutes): 15 lei per person
• Sports Court at Rudolf Mine (1 hour): 200 lei
• Amphitheatre Rental (1 hour): 1,500 lei
• Pool Table (per minute): 1 leuTable Tennis (30 minutes): 20 lei
• Boat Ride on Terezia Mine Lake (20 minutes, 1 boat for up to 3 people): 30 lei per boat

Where to eat near the mine?

Most of the restaurants surrounding the mine offer pretty similar foods. We picked the corner restaurant, because the waitress understood English, and I’m picky with my food so I needed her to understand my requests. There was also shade, and some nice view.
We were satisfied with our choice.

I ordered a hot dog in a bun and Roman ordered wings, hot dogs, rice, and pickles. After eating all of that he ordered some more of the hot dog and cabbage. Don’t you just love a man with some healthy appetite.

It was so good, and we were so hungry that I forgot to take pictures of everything. I only got one 🙂
The bill was 35 Lei for a very satisfying meal.

Accommodations close to Salina Turda

We slept in Cluj-Napoca and arrived with a rented car – about a 40-minute drive. If you are interested in sleeping in an area close to the salt mine, then I found some hotels with good reviews:

1. Wineyards Salin
2. Pensiunea Salina Gymnasium
3. Potaissa Hotel

Questions and answers about the Salina Turda salt mine

When should you go to the salt mine?

I recommend coming to the mine in the middle of the week and not on holidays, the place was full even in the middle of the week, on weekends it is really busy. Even if you only use the stairs it can be too busy, since the stairs are narrow.

Is it possible to arrive with a baby in a stroller?

There are elevators inside the salt mine. The problem is that they are very busy. If you plan to use the elevators, come mentally prepared for a very long line. I personally think it is better to arrive with a carrier and not a stroller so as not to be restricted.

What equipment to bring to the salt mine?

It is highly recommended to bring warm clothes in your bag. It was hot outside when we were there, but that has no effect on the temperature in the mine itself. It’s very cold there. So even if it’s hot outside, don’t forget to bring warm clothes. Bring comfortable shoes. The place is really big. Like a whole city. We walk there quite a lot and also go up and down a lot of stairs.

Is there somewhere to eat near the salt mine?

Yes, there are some food stalls near the mine

What are the parking fees at Salina Turda?

car/motorcycle 5 lei per hour

From where is it recommended to get to the Salina Turda salt mine?

The closest big city to the salt mine is Close Napoca, 43 minutes away by car. We arrived from there and then continued from there to Brasov which was at least 3 and a half hours away. We arrived in a rental car that we rented through the search engine Papam Papam.

Why you should NOT visit Salina Turda?

1. If you are with a baby and want to come with a stroller, then know that there is an elevator, but the line for the elevator is so long that it will take you a long time to go up and down the elevator. Of course it’s better to come with a baby carrier but keep in mind that there are a lot of stairs.
2. Following on from the previous section, if you are in a wheelchair, you will have to come with a lot of patience because there are very long lines for the elevator. Even when the place is not busy.
3. If you are in Cluj Napoca and want to get to the Salina Turda mine, but you are traveling on a low budget, then it will be challenging for you to get there. You can take two buses but it will take you several hours each way and it is not necessarily worth it.
4. If you are short on time on a trip to Romania and not in the area of Cluj Napoca then I would not particularly recommend going there. The place is special and cool but not worth a long drive.
5. If you arrive during the period of peak tourism in Romania July August or you only have free time on a weekend to visit a salt mine, you may have to endure long queues both in the elevator and on the stairs.
6. Following on from the previous section, if you come with small children who lose patience quickly, you may find yourself very frustrated with the queues especially if you arrive on busy days.

In conclusion, if you have a stroller, a wheelchair, or are not in good shape, come with a lot of patience because the lines for the elevator are long. If you don’t have patience then it is not recommended to visit the mine 🙂

It is important to note that the salt mine is really special and there is a whole world inside that is hard to believe exists inside a salt mine. You just have to arrive with patience and try to arrive in the middle of the week.

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Valachia – A Great Local Restaurant

I got a recommendation from a local on Instagram for this place, which is one of the many reasons I love social media. It enables you to meet people from all around the world and get insider tips from locals.

We got to the restaurant in the evening and it was almost full. There are a lot of tables, they have 2 floors inside and an outside area. The service it a bit slow, so you shouldn’t go while starving.
For an appetizer we ordered chorba soup (a traditional meal in Romania), it tastes a bit sour. I only had a few bites but it was good. Roman also ordered mamaliga (another traditional dish) and some sausage with beans.

I ordered spaghetti with cheese (I thought it was going to be similar to what my Romanian dad makes, but it was just pasta with cheese on top). The mamaliga was stuffed with cheese as well, and I didn’t really like it because it was too heavy. Roman seemed to enjoy it. We liked the sausage with bean course, it was really good.

For dessert we ordered papanash, which is sort of donuts with jelly, cream, and chocolate. I don’t really like fried foods but I’m sure who does will enjoy this.
Address:
Strada Govora 27, Cluj-Napoca
Hours:
Monday – Saturday 10: 00-23: 00 Sunday 13: 00-23: 00

Roots – Healthy Cafe with Great Food

For breakfast I looked up a place that serves some nutritional food and not just eggs with bacon. I found a recommendation for a place that served healthy breads and fresh juices, so we went there for breakfast.

I ordered an avocado toast – it was soo good. It was loaded with avocado and chilli (which ended up being a bit to spicy) and some lemon. The toast was a part of the meal that also included a banana bread – it was super good and I ended up taking one to-go 🙂 I also ordered orange and grapefruit juice.

You can customize your meal to your preference. You can choose a toast or a sandwich, banana bread or croissant, and you can even trade the juice for coffee.

Roman ordered the avocado toast as well but also a sandwich with ham and cheese. He enjoyed them both.
I really recommend this cute cafe for breakfast or just a light snack, for coffee, or juice.

Address:
Bulevardul Eroilor 4, Cluj-Napoca
Hours:
Monday-Friday 07:30-23:30, Saturday 09:00-23:30, Sunday 09:00-17:00

Makeba – Bar-bistro

We went here for lunch. The design was lovely, and they serve modern foods for great prices.
Roman got a burger and I ordered some salad with shrimps, and also a vegan dish with tofu and roasted veggies.

The food was overall good. The shrimp salad was good and so was the tofu, the only thing I was missing is some carbs.
The burger was classic, but not the best one Roman has ever had, but the price was good and the flavor as well.

Address:
Strada Inocențiu Micu Klein 23, Cluj-Napoca
Hours:
Monday – Friday 09:00 – 01:00, Saturday 11:00-02:00 and Sunday 11:00 – 00:00

The Lab Cocktail Bistro – A bar designed as a lab

We went to this place after seeing recommendations on the website Like a Local. We went to the bar after the local restaurant. We were really full and hungry, but the bar seemed so cool in the pictures and we had to check it out.

It is one of the best and coolest bars as far as design. Everything looks just like a lab. The walls, the tables, and even the bar itself. They went as far as the restrooms.

The drinks were served in flasks and whatnot – it was so cool. We were there practically by ourselves, it was late and the bartender said that most people go during the day or on the weekends. Both the cocktails we ordered were really yummy. We enjoyed the experience and forgot that we were ever tired.

Address:
Strada Avram Iancu nr. 12, Cluj-Napoca
Hours:
Monday – Friday 10:00 -00:00, Saturday 12: 00-02:00 and Sunday 12: 00-22:00

Cluj-Napoca is a beautiful city surrounded by nature. It’s a lot of fun to walk around, and enjoy what the city has to offer such as going to cute cafes and cool bars.

Tips before traveling to Cluj Napoca

SIM card

I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.

Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.

The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.

Car rental in Cluj Napoca

I think this is the most convenient and fun way to travel. Car prices are low and the roads are easy to drive.

You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.

Attractions in Cluj Napoca

You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and Viator.

Where to stay in Cluj Napoca

We stayed at a cute apartment building in the central of the city called Aparthotel Gutinului. The apartment itself was large and clean with a nice view. We loved the location which was on a quiet street but still very central. The only downside is that there is no concierge so the keys have to be picked up from a different hotel 600 meters away, so keep that in mind.

You can search for other places to stay in Cluj Napoca via Booking.

Botanical Gardens

The botanic gardens at Cluj-Napoca are super nice. It is a lovely place to walk around and spend a few hours at. There is so much to see and there are great walking trails.
You can buy coffee from the machine and sit around the Japanese gardens and enjoy the beauty.

We got to the gardens about an hour and a half before closing and we were a little disappointed that we couldn’t stay for longer. We went through everything quickly to see as much as we could.
There is a rose garden, Japanese gardens, greenhouse with cactuses, a tropical forest, huge lilies, a Romanian garden, and so much more. There are over 7000 different plants.

Hours
15 October – 7 April 09:00-16:00
8 April – 14 October 09:00 – 18:00
The greenhouse is closed every first Monday of each month.
It costs 10 Lei (Roman coin) and 2 for a map.
Address:
Strada Republicii 42, Cluj-Napoca

Fortress hill

Located in altitude of 405 meters, the fortress was built in the 18th century by the Austris. Today there are only remainings of walls and a tower.
To get to the top you have to climb a staircase, not too many of them but it could get exhausting. It was totally worth the climb since the view is the best I’ve seen of the city itself.

There are also 2 restaurants with a lovely view of the city. If you are not hungry, you could sit at the benches nearby.
It’s a great place for walking and enjoy the view and silence.
Address:
Strada Gruia, Cluj-Napoca

The Main Square

The St. Michaels Gothic Church is the best area in Cluj-Napoca. It is the main square and it has a catholic church. There are a lot of cool cafes with nice seating areas outside. There are also shops and restaurants and mostly awesome vibes 🙂 You can also rent a bike and ride them around the city.

Address:
Piața Unirii, Cluj-Napoca

Visiting the Salt Mine Salina Turda

About 40km away from Cluj-Napoca, you can discover one of the most beautiful salt mines. I highly recommend visiting there. I wrote a detailed post about it. Read about Salina Turda Salt Mine

In the past years Bucharest became into a modern city, democratic and hip with a lot of crazy nightlife, loads of restaurants and cafes! There is a lot to see, and a lot to do.

We stayed in the central area right next to the ancient city at an Airbnb, of course, that was really really nice! The place was modern and the location was great. The apartment was clean and nice to live in if you’re a couple or traveling solo! We actually never got to meet our host, but she was lovely and she sent us some recommendations to some places. The key guy was really nice as well.

Search for other accommodations

Things to do in Bucharest

Graffiti tour

We love tours and we usually go on a free tour at every destination we go to. I heard of a graffiti tour in Bucharest and I just felt like we had to go.
I really love street art and I enjoy listening to the stories behind the art. I like listening to other people’s interpretations of art, and in general I love learning of street artists, and what they are trying to portray with their work.

We usually don’t get tours that are not for free because they are pretty expensive and we like to travel on a low budget. The graffiti tour was only 15 euros and it sounded pretty reasonable. We got it through Open Doors, and we met the guide at the university grounds.

There were only 4 of us on the tour and it was really nice. We had a chance to ask a lot of questions and talk a lot with our nice guide. Her name is Elena and she led the tour beautifully, with a lot of explanations and humor.

She actually told us about the artists themselves and through their stories, we understood the meaning of the art much better, and not to mention of Romania and Bucharest. She explained exactly how Bucharest developed and changed over the years, and how much potential it has to change in the future.

The tour took about 2 hours, and we also got a lot of nice recommendations. The tour definitely topped my expectation. It was a lovely way to get to know the city. If you like art and wish to see the city through a different point of view, then I suggest you go on this tour.

Dinner at a local home

In Rome we went to dinner at a local’s house, and it was so fantastic, that we decided we were going to do it in each city we go to.
A common website to find locals is EatWith. The problem was, that in Romania there weren’t any hosts on the website so we decided to look it up on the internet to find someone.

After conducting a lot of research I found a couple that welcome people to their home. Their facebook page is “Eat With Bucharest Locals.” I set up a date and time to meet them, and they gave us their address.
We went over and we met a lovely family, Laura and Cosmin, and their beautiful one-year-old Eva. They set up a table with homemade sausage, eggs, veggies, and salsa. For the main course we had mamaliga, and cabbage filled with beef. For dessert we had apple pie with some ice cream.

The food was really homey, local, and mostly delicious. Simple home cooked food, just the way I like.
We had an enjoyable conversation with them, and we discovered a lot of new things of Romania. Like how they have a 2-year paternaty break from work, and the place of work still pays her 85% of the salary. They do that to encourage women to get pregnant.

Throughout dinner they told us about their lives, and we told them about ours. We found out that Cosmin works with homeless people. It felt like we were chatting with a couple of friends, and the conversation was really nice and interesting. We were there for about 3 hours, and maybe even more.
You have to pay according to what you see right, they don’t charge you a specific amount. We decided to give 33 euros for the both of us.

There is nothing more local than this experience. Don’t miss out on that dinner if you are in Bucharest.

A free tour of the city

As I have already mentioned, we always try to go on a free tour (that is tip-based).
of each city we visit.  We went on this tour with Walkabout.

The tour leaves every day at 10:00 and at 18:00. We obviously went for the morning tour. When we got to the gathering point there were already a lot of people who joined as well. We were a large group, but the guide took great care of all of us. She told us magnificent stories and showed us beautiful pictures. It was fascinating to learn of Bucharest.
It wasn’t too long ago that Bucharest was still a communist city and it was an entirely different city than what it is today.

It’s crazy to think that in such a short period of time a small city and country can change in 180 degrees.
On the tour, the guide told us of the parliament, the largest managerial city in the world. After that we continued to the ancient city where she told us about Dracula and the origins of its story. We passed through churches and we even had a coffee break at the Valley of the Kings.

We finished the tour at the university quarter and this is where we heard of the tales of what were the life like in Bucharest since the revolt and since the execution of Chaushesku.

Herastrau park

I really like parks and especially ones that have a lake. It’s a great place to go for a walk, to have a picnic, or just chill on the grass.
We got to the park in the late afternoon and we were hungry. We found a cool bar restaurant near the lake (you can find it in this post, click here).

After eating we just wandered around the park. Some people were running, and some were riding their bicycles. You can even go on a short boat ride. There is also a place for children to play, and a park with an inflatable castle and a huge pool filled with balls. It’s called Insula Copiilor.

Thai massage

If there is something I’m always in the mood for, it’s a massage.
After my visit to Thailand I absolutely fell in love with massages and ever since I always look for an excuse to get one.

I looked for a Thai massage in Brasov and Siniya and unfortunately I couldn’t find any. In Bucharest I finally found a few options.
In some of the places the prices were too high, and in others the recommendations were not too good. Eventually I ended up finding a decent place that had some good recommendations. A Thai massage was 35 euros per hour. The spa is called Balinese Spa Dorobanti.

The treatment and service were great, and the massage was incredible. For those who like a strong massage that also releases your sore muscles, the Thai massage is highly recommended. There is also a hot stone treatment as well as many others.

After the massage we went to a nice dinner at a Japanese restaurant that you can read of HERE.

Shopping at Afi Palace Cotroceni

We rarely get to go shopping when we are abroad because we travel with a carry on (we travel by low cost), and we also like to spend the least amount of money. Happens to be that in Romania Roman wanted to buy a new pair of trainers so that naturally made us go shopping.

We went for the AFI Palace Cotroceni which is a huge mall. There is a large area with attractions for children that include car racing on ice, a climbing wall, and more. There is a large cinema, a food court with 30 restaurants, and 300 shops.

While being on the search for Roman’s new shoes, I ended up buying a new pair for myself and also 2 hats that were on a really good deal.

Address:
Bulevardul Vasile Milea 4, București
Hours: 10am-10pm every day.