Bucharest, Romania has been quietely becoming one of Europe’s best health and wellbeing destinations, offering exceptional spa experiences much more affordable than in the UK. Not only does it boast boatloads of historical and cultural significance, and some nice warm and dry weather in the summertime, but has everything a wellness guru could ever want.
New research conducted by Wizz Air, which compares spa costs across Europe to those in London, shows Bucharest ranks as one of the cheapest cities for a relaxing retreat. Return flights from London Luton Airport and Bucharest can start as cheap as £54. Note that this is depending on the travel date and availability.
A Wizz Air spokesperson explained: “A return flight with Wizz Air from London Luton Airport and Bucharest – Henri Coandă International Airport – can start as low as £54* depending on travel date and availability. An overnight stay at The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection, a luxury hotel located in the heart of Bucharest is approximately £151*. By choosing the flight to Riga and staying at, The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection, you would save approximately £514 compared to taking the train to London and staying at The Savoy.
“Home to 127 spas (0.69 per 10,000 tourists), visitors can make the most of their relaxing getaway with rejuvenating treatments, walks around the tranquil Cișmigiu Gardens and sightseeing in the historical Old Town.”
This makes Bucharest an ideal destination for spa-goers looking for a nice break in an interesting European city to recharge the batteries at an affordable price. But what makes it so interesting?
It is the fourth largest city in the European Union by population within city limits, only after Berlin, Madrid and Rome. While the iconic and historic Palace of the Parliament is the world’s largest building with an administrative function. And we all know how much people in the UK love a good drink – with the Romanian capital’s Berăria H one of the biggest beer halls in all of Europe.
A Tripadvisor review wrote: “I have visited Bucharest twice for two weeks over two months this year. It was never somewhere I knew a lot about prior to these trips but I would say it is certainly under-rated. It has a fantastic night life with all different bars, restaurants, an array of cuisines, roof top views, ice cream and dessert stands, street music and best of all caters to all budgets.
“I could wander round all day looking at the little streets, scattered shops, stunning churches. I covered a lot of the town in one day, you can go in a lot of the churches for free, there is a football museum for those who like sport, would recommend that and a reasonable price too. There is a canal area, shopping mall, a fountain show on certain times of the year. I love it!”
Wizz Air’s top 10 cities for a spa break
- Grenoble, France
- Warsaw, Poland
- Riga, Latvia
- Bucharest, Romania
- Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Berlin, Germany
- Bari, Italy
- Burgas, Bulgaria
- London, UK
- Vilnius, Lithuania