![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2158630389-22f7.jpg\")
\n\t\tFancy Paris on a budget? Head to Bucharest instead (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tFancy Paris on a budget? Head to Bucharest instead (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to work for Runway magazine to have Paris<\/a> on your bucket list. <\/p>\n From haute couture and charming bistros to some of the most romantic backdrops<\/a> on the planet, the City of Love ticks all the boxes for a perfect city break.<\/p>\n However, like several European destinations<\/a>, the French<\/a> capital is grappling with the effects of overtourism<\/a>.<\/p>\n City bosses recently hiked tourist taxes and banned key boxes in a bid to fight illegal short-term rentals. As of 2024, 3-star hotels in Paris charge a levy of \u20ac5.20 (\u00a33.90) per person per night, while 4-star accommodations are higher, at \u20ac8.45 (\u00a37.19).<\/strong><\/p>\n At Metro<\/strong>, we\u2019re all about promoting sustainable<\/a> travel and putting \u2018hidden gems\u2019 on the map, as long as the destination is truly eager for visitors. <\/p>\n So when we heard about the \u2018Paris of the East\u2019 \u2014 an underrated city with flights from the UK starting at just \u00a337, we wanted to share it with our readers.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Enter Bucharest<\/a>, which has the beautiful buildings, tree-lined boulevards and swish caf\u00e9s we associate with Paris \u2014 all without the steep price tag and overcrowding.<\/p>\n Recently ranked ninth in The Times\u2019 roundup of \u2018the best affordable city breaks in Europe\u2019, Romania<\/a>\u2019s capital and largest city is actively promoting tourism.<\/p>\n The government is pouring money<\/a> into accommodation and public transport in a bid to attract travellers, while other countries are pushing them away. So if you\u2019d feel guilty heading to an overrun holiday hotspot, rest assured that visitors here are very much welcome.<\/p>\n \t\t During the 19th and 20th centuries, a number of French artists and intellectuals frequented Bucharest. At the time, society mirrored the Parisian way, with a focus on fashion, elegance and sophistication. Likewise, prominent Romanian artists \u2013 including Constantin Br\u00e2ncu\u0219i \u2013 studied in Bucharest before making their names in France.<\/p>\n Visually, the city earned its \u2018Little Paris\u2019 nickname thanks to its architectural similarities with France\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n Of the many buildings and landmarks influenced by the French, the most obvious is the Arcul de Triumf, Romania\u2019s version of the Arc de Triomphe.<\/p>\n \t\t So if you fancy swapping a trip to Paris for this affordable destination dupe, here\u2019s everything you need to know about Bucharest.<\/p>\n What to do in Bucharest<\/p>\n The streets of Bucharest really do look like Paris; ornate flourishes of Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Romanian Revival are on display on every corner. <\/p>\n A wander through the city\u2019s expansive boulevards will take you to the Palace of the Parliament, the world\u2019s heaviest building weighing roughly4,098,500 tonnes.<\/p>\n You can get a closer look at its size and grandeur on a guided tour, with ticket prices costing around 60 Romanian Leu (\u00a312).<\/p>\n \t\t When in \u2018Little Paris,\u2019 it would be rude not to check out the Muzeul Micul Paris (Little Paris Museum), a fascinating destination for anyone interested in art, architecture, the Romanian bourgeoisie era.<\/p>\n The museum is filled with antique furniture, clothing, and perfume, from the \u2018Belle \u00c9poque,\u2019 the period of French and European history from 1871 until 1914. There\u2019s also an antique gallery and a vintage photography studio, where you can experience an immersive journey into the past. Tickets cost 25 Lei (\u00a34.18).<\/p>\n Step out of the time capsule and into nature with a walk around Her\u0103strau Park, on the northern side of the city. The lake is dotted with trendy restaurants and bars \u2014 and since Bucharest in August sees daytime highs of 31\u00b0<\/strong>C which drops to a more comfortable 18\u00b0<\/strong>C by the evening, it\u2019s a fantastic spot for sun-seekers and sun-downers alike. <\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for something active, boat rentals and hydro-bicycles are also available along the shore.<\/p>\n Metro\u2019<\/strong>s Alice Murphy<\/a> spent a day at the park during a trip to Romania and said it is easily accessible by train, bus, taxi, or on foot.<\/p>\n She also recommends the Free Walking Tour of Bucharest, where you can learn about the city\u2019s history and culture, and a visit to the National Village Museum to discover how people live in rural Romania.<\/p>\n Of course, no European city break<\/a> is complete without a stroll around, and Bucharest\u2019s pedestrian-only area is very tourist-friendly and brimming with terraces, cafes, restaurants, and shops.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tHow to get to Bucharest\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wizz Air<\/a> flies direct to Bucharest from London Stansted<\/a> and London Luton<\/a> for as little as \u00a320 one-way.<\/p>\n Flying from another part of the UK? Ryanair<\/a> flies from Leeds Bradford airport for \u00a337, while Birmingham flies with Wizz Air for the same price.<\/p>\n A tempting twin city break<\/p>\n We\u2019re suckers for an Old Town. Whether in Bruges<\/a> or Krakow<\/a>, there\u2019s something magical about wandering through narrow Medieval streets or sampling the different local restaurants serving traditional food and drink.<\/p>\n You might want to branch out a little here though, as for Alice Murphy, Bucharest\u2019s Old Town is \u2018stag central,\u2019 with an abundance of bars and clubstaking away from its otherwise charming vibe after dark.<\/p>\n And if you\u2019re looking for somewhere that\u2019s escaped the hen and stag mob, Alice recommends Brasov.<\/p>\n \t\t A train ride away in Transylvania, you\u2019ll find a smorgasbord of traditional charm and modern city life. Brasov\u2019s Old Town, which has received UNESCO World Heritage status, is worlds away from its capital counterpart.<\/p>\n Embroidered with medieval buildings, including the Gothic Black Church and the Council House, the city is home to Rope Street, the narrowest street in Romania.<\/p>\n The Bucharest to Brasov train takes around two hours and 30 minutes, with prices ranging between \u00a35 to \u00a314.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOther ‘destination dupes’ worth checking out\t\t\t<\/p>\n Love Venice? Why not try \u2018Venice of the Algarve<\/a>,\u2019 an \u2018understated\u2019 destination with flights from \u00a328.<\/p>\n Further afield you\u2019ll find the \u2018Venice of the Middle East<\/a>,\u2019 a hidden gem that\u2019s 32\u00b0C in April.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, the Spanish \u2018mini Maldives<\/a>\u2019 has recently bagged a brand new TUI flight from a UK airport, while closer to home there\u2019s the \u2018Hawaii of the North,<\/a>\u2019 a little UK island with 240 hours of sunshine in May.<\/p>\n This article was first published on May 7, 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n \t\t\tComments Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_6378-5b69-e1754060821514.jpg\")
\n\t\tBucharest\u2019s architecture is influenced by the French capital (Picture: Alice Murphy)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-1933059330.jpg\")
\n\t\tLooks familiar, right? (Picture:Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"METRO](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_250176267-eb11.jpg\")
\n\t\tFind all the qualities of Paris in the east (Picture: Metro)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_6521-0e83.jpg\")
\n\t\tA short train journey from Bucharest is the town of Brasov in Transylvania (Picture: Alice Murphy)<\/p>\n
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