Bucharest is the capital and biggest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, financial, and industrial center. It is located in the southeast section of the country on the banks of the Dâmbovița River and covers an area of 228 square kilometers. According to the 2014 census, 1.921 million people reside within the city limits.
It is believed that the Geto-Dacians established the earliest settlements in 70 BC. The now bustling metropolis is renowned for its tree-lined boulevards and majestic Belle Époque buildings. It’s where unbridled capitalism meets the still-unreconstructed communism; where the somnolent EU forces meet the ardor of the Balkans.
Stay Safe in the RLD
You can walk around safely because the area is always crowded and bustling with activity but refrain from talking to strangers, particularly to Roma-Gypsies. Be extra cautious if you will take a prostitute to your hotel. There have been reports of theft and drugging. Hide all your valuables before the girl arrives so she won’t be tempted to steal and take a souvenir when she leaves! If you really want to have some sexual action during your stay, it’s safer to engage the services of one of the more popular escort agencies like those that advertise online or in the local expat magazines and tourist guides.
It’s safe to take a bus but place your valuables in internal pockets just to be sure. The ideal way to go about it is to hire a cab using a mobile app or ask someone from the hotel to call one for you. A rule of thumb is to choose older taxi drivers because they are more cautious and will only try to get a little less in case they scam you. This is in stark contrast to the younger drivers who will charge you three to five times as much as the trip should cost. They may claim that the meter is not working and may resort to intimidation tactics to make you pay. Bear in mind that the driver is working for a company and the rate must be posted in the car or written on the driver's ID card issued by the employer.
Bucharest is teeming with brothels, erotic bars, night clubs, and strip joints. As such, there are visitors whose first thought when they deplane is to look for the nearest brothel. Even though some of these gentlemen don’t come to the city specifically to pay for sex, they frequently get to a point in the evening, typically after a few drinks, when their thoughts turn to adult entertainment.
With more adult shops, erotic massage parlours and whore houses per square inch than most other places on the planet, you can be forgiven for thinking that Bucharest is the sex capital of Europe. You can also be forgiven for believing that prostitution is legal, but in spite of any and all appearances, you are assured that it certainly isn’t.
Street Prostitution
Most of the street prostitutes hang out in the city center, along Magheru Boulevard. You have the best chance of finding street hookers near Hotel Lido and in the area located between George Enescu Street and Rosetti Street.
Other places frequented by streetwalkers are the following:
Prostitution is illegal in Bucharest, and so are pimping and operating a brothel. In 2007, the government thought about legalizing and regulating prostitution, but it was staunchly opposed by the Association for the Promotion of Women because it views sex trade as another form of violence against women.
Since 2009 authorities have been going after pimps and prostitutes in Matesari. Selling sexual favors is now considered a criminal offense punishable by fines or a prison term of up to three years. However, since the crime is regarded as petty, the majority of the offenders only pay the fines. As for pimps, they face a prison term of up to seven years or as long as 20 years if they traffic a minor.
According to Romanian law, engaging in sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 15, or a minor between 15 and 18 years old, where the adult has exploited the minor’s trust or has authority over the minor, constitutes a crime that is punishable by three to ten years in prison. In addition, engaging in sexual intercourse with an individual who has a psychological or physical disability is punishable by a prison sentence of three to 12 years.
As for gays, they may face legal hurdles not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Romania is socially conservative when it comes to the rights of the LGBT community. Nevertheless, there has been significant progress in LGBT rights legislation since the turn of the millennium. Over the past decade, the government decriminalized homosexuality, enacted legislation against homophobic hate crimes, and enforced anti-discrimination laws.
Bucharest boasts a unique and awesome nightlife. This is yet another reason why people flock in huge numbers to this city. At night it morphs into what has been dubbed as the “Vegas of South Eastern Europe.” The city is a combination of larger-than-life bars, pubs, and nightclubs. In general, tourists visit the bars first before moving to a nightclub. Most venues don’t have a cover charge and the drinks are much cheaper compared to clubs in other major European cities.
The city center is really cozy and all the entertainment venues are in close proximity to each other. Also, the clubs contain people of different ages and from various nationalities. This means the nightlife is mixed, which is something that you don’t see often. There are also lots of food places where people love to dine after some heavy drinking. Eating after drinking is actually part of going out. Check it out for yourself and you'll surely have the best nightlife experience of your life!
Bucharest is home to the premier gay community in Romania and the city is a lot more tolerant towards LGBT couples compared to other places in the country. Nonetheless, it’s definitely not easy to be gay, but the public is slowly trying to accept the concept of homosexuality. Now, you can find gay clubs in Bucharest, the first one being Club Soul. Other gay venues followed including Angels Club and Purple Club.
General Attitude Towards Gays
You have to remember that a big chunk of the population are members of the Orthodox Church and the religious teachings remain strong in the lives of many individuals. In addition, being gay was considered a crime during the Communist Era and the public still have a shallow understanding of the matter. Romanians are still maintaining the belief that homosexuality is a crime so gays are not very well received in society. Being gay is not something to be proud of in public, and in spite of the fact that being a homosexual ceased from being an issue for quite some time, gays still need to be aware of their surroundings when showing affection, particularly if they aren’t staying in the central part of the city. There are no hostile reactions and the worst thing that can happen is to be ridiculed or be frowned upon.
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