Is Bucharest Safe for Solo Female Travellers?!

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Bucharest may not be the first place you think of when planning a solo trip to Europe, but Romania is becoming an increasingly popular destination. That leads to a lot of people wondering is Bucharest safe for solo female travellers?

I’ve travelled alone to Bucharest before and have first-hand experience of what it is like to travel alone in Bucharest as a woman.

Hopefully I can shed some light on the question is Bucharest safe for solo female travellers and help you decide if it’s the perfect destination for you or not.

To answer the question is Bucharest safe for solo female travellers- the answer is yes!

I felt very safe in Bucharest, but there are a few things you need to know to make sure you’re extra safe.

Just like anywhere else in the world, there are things you can do to make your time in Bucharest more or less safe.

My philosophy is that most places are as safe as you make them.

So, I’m going to give you my top Bucharest safety tips, so you can be safe in Bucharest as a solo traveller.

Bucharest is a beautiful city and a must-visit if you’re already exploring Romania!

What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone

Is Bucharest Safe?

Just in case you skimmed the introduction to this article (I don’t blame you), I just wanted to reanswer the question is Bucharest safe.

The answer is yes.

Bucharest is a safe city, and solo travellers won’t have any issues travelling around the city and exploring freely.

Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest Safety Tips

There are some things you should be aware of before visiting Bucharest though.

While the city is safe, there are a few things you can do or get involved in that make it less safe.

I want you to be aware of these things, so you don’t fall into these traps or make some of the mistakes I did when travelling to Bucharest alone.

Beware of Taxi Scams

Just like many cities in the world, there are taxi scams in Bucharest you need to be aware of.

If you arrive in Bucharest at the airport or train station, there will be a line of taxis and a queue of people waiting to get in a taxi.

That may give you a false sense of confidence that everything is on the up and up, and the taxi drivers are legit.

There are, of course, tons of legit taxi drivers, and the majority of the taxi drivers are honest and will start the meter.

The issue is the few drivers that seem to wait around for an unsuspecting tourist and try to get them to get in their car even though they’re not the next car in the queue.

From my experience, the other taxi drivers were okay with this and didn’t fight the taxi driver that is trying to get the tourist in their car.

Even the security person who was monitoring and managing the line didn’t have an issue with this.

Then once you get in the taxi, they say they can’t start the meter or refuse to start the meter, and they drive off before you can get out of the car.

They then very much overcharge you and oftentimes won’t drop you off right at your destination but will drop you off a few blocks away and make you walk the rest of the way.

The obvious way to get around this scam is to not get in a taxi that skips the queue and to demand that they start the meter before you even get in the car or close the door.

It’s a really crappy scam to pull on tourists, but it is a very common one.

Use a gut check and don’t get into a taxi if you don’t feel comfortable.

Beware of Construction on Sidewalks

I know this one sounds weird but hear me out.

In a lot of countries (including Romania), the precautions around sidewalk construction isn’t like it is in other countries like Canada or the US.

A lot of the time there aren’t signs, and the construction zone isn’t blocked off.

That’s all fine during the day, but it can make it easier to trip when walking in the evening.

My advice is to be extra cautious when walking in the evening. Be sure to watch where you’re walking.

You never know where there will be something you can easily trip on or a small hole you can twist your ankle in.

And yes. I’m talking from experience.

Bucharest, Romania

Be Internet Safe

If you’ve read my blog before, you know I’m a big advocate for being internet safe- especially when travelling.

When you travel, you rely on public wifi networks at hotels and restaurants, and that is dangerous. Anybody who knows the password and wants to can access your private online information and data.

Including your banking information.

And, yes, even public wifi networks with passwords are dangerous because pretty much anybody can get the password and log into the network.

The only way to stay safe when using public wifi networks is to install a VPN on your devices.

A VPN puts a virtual forcefield around your devices that makes using public wifi networks as safe as using your home wifi network where you’re the only person who knows the password.

In my mind, installing a VPN on your devices is a must-do thing before travelling anywhere or using any public wifi network.

You may think it will never happen to you, but the last thing you want is to have your banking details stolen while you’re on holiday and have to cancel your card while you’re abroad.

That is a headache nobody wants to deal with.

My Favourite VPN

I’ve been using NordVPN for my internet protection for years and absolutely love it!

It is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, which is extremely important for travellers.

You can connect up to six devices on a single subscription, so you can protect all your devices for one low cost.

There is no excuse not to install a VPN on your devices and protect your personal data from prying eyes.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your online information with a VPN.

It’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind you get.

Be Careful of Scammers at the Bar

If you choose to go out on the town one night, be aware that the people who are buddying up to you and acting like your bestie probably don’t have your best interests at heart.

I’m not saying there aren’t tons of nice people to meet when you go out in Bucharest, but if someone seems too friendly, they may be a scammer.

There is a popular scam in Bucharest known as the “bar friend”. Someone spots a tourist in the bar and starts chatting with them and suddenly discover they have tons in common and quickly becomes friends with the tourist.

Sometimes people just want the tourist to pay for their drinks. Sometimes the scammers are in cahoots with the bartender to severely overcharge for drinks.

And sometimes it is much more devious, and they try to get the tourist to leave with them, and they try to rob you.

I’m not saying to not make friends at the bar, but I am telling you to be smart about it.

Don’t over indulge in alcohol and get so drunk you lose your senses.

And pinky promise me you’ll never leave the bar with someone or get in a taxi with them or go to their house.

That isn’t safe even if the person isn’t a scammer.

Bucharest, Romania

Top Bucharest Attractions

Conclusion

I hope this answered your question is Bucharest safe?

All things considered, Bucharest is a very safe city.

There are lots of fun tourist attractions to visit, the people are generally friendly, and the food is delicious.

You still need to be cautious though. Especially when you’re travelling alone.

As long as you use a reasonable amount of common sense and listen to your gut, you’ll be safe in Bucharest and have a great time!

Is Bucharest Safe for Solo Female Travellers?!Is Bucharest Safe for Solo Female Travellers?!Is Bucharest Safe for Solo Female Travellers?!
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