How to spend the winter in Bucharest

29 December 2022 • Rebecca • Free time in Bucharest

Although it might seem that in the cold season you don't have as many opportunities to spend your time, winter is actually a great time to do lots of things and also gives you the opportunity to discover what the city has to offer “indoors”.

Here are some ideas:

Go skating

Although in recent years skating can be practiced even by amateurs during the whole year thanks to the indoor ice rinks in the big shopping centres, we have to admit that nothing compares to an outdoor skating session, allowing you to enjoy the cold and fresh winter air. One of the most beautiful places where you can go skating in Bucharest is Cișmigiu Park. In the cold season, its lake is transformed into an ice rink, becoming an attraction for visitors of all ages. We recommend though that you visit it during the week because in the weekends the queues are huge. So, in addition to a warm outfit, you will have to arm yourself with a lot of patience.

Discover new teahouses and cafes

After we replaced the fresh lemonades of the summer with the aromatic coffees that "matched" the fading autumn, in the winter we could say that nothing contrasts better with the cold outside than a cup of mulled wine, a fragrant tea, or a delicious hot chocolate. And Bucharest abounds in locations where you can indulge in a multitude of hot drinks, whether you prefer a minimalist cafe or a bohemian tearoom, set up in the interwar villas in the centre of the city.

Treat yourself with a visit to the SPA

If you pamper yourself on the beach in the summer, winter is the ideal time to discover new SPA centres, go for a massage, or relax at the city's indoor swimming pools. But there’s more: in Bucharest, several artificial salt pans have opened in recent years. In addition, let's not forget that one of the largest wellness centres on the continent is a step away from the city.

Take a photo session in the morning

Winter is very good for a photo session if you are lucky enough to catch a fairytale-like snowfall. However, to take advantage of the magical frame created by the fresh snow, but also by good light, which is so important in photography, it is good to get yourself ready as early as possible. In addition, if you choose to do the shooting in a park, mornings will help you avoid the crowds, but also the looks of the curious.

Go to the gym

When winter comes, we no longer feel as motivated to do sports, especially if we fancy exercising outdoors. Sedentarism tends to increase during the winter months and the holidays, as we are tempted to overdo sweets and other heavy meals. Thus, it is precisely the reason why we should go to the gym or set up a small space dedicated to this activity in our own home, in wintertime.

Make a list of the museums you haven't visited during the year

Winter can be an excellent opportunity to go to the museum with friends or family. Make a list of the museums you didn't manage to get to during the year and take advantage of the quieter winter days for a dose of culture. Bucharest has many such offers, including temporary exhibitions that you should not miss.

Work remotely

In winter you can explore work-friendly cafes or coworking spaces in Bucharest, especially since the cold weather forces you to spend your time indoors. We recommend, for example, Plantini One cafe from One Herăstrău Plaza or Ted's Coffee opened on the ground floor of the One Tower building, part of the multifunctional One Floreasca City development. In the same building, the developer One United Properties also opened the first "premium flexible office spaces" concept in Romania, to meet those who want more flexibility in their work environment. Among the facilities offered here are several conference rooms equipped with the latest technology, a business lounge, a sky bar with a great panoramic view of the Floreasca area, and a golf simulator.

Go shopping

Despite the congestion created in the big shopping centres, winter is a good season for shopping, for several reasons. First, when it comes to December, we are mainly talking about the joy and excitement of looking for gifts for loved ones. But winter also comes with discounts and sales that we can take advantage of to keep our budget at optimal levels. Finally, because it's cold outside, it's a good time to discover new stores open throughout the city, especially since the number of boutiques with organic or handmade products, but also international brands coming to Romania is growing.