Bucuresti / Bucharest / Bukarest / BucarestFrom an architectural point of view, in the metropolitan's area one could distinguish three distinct towns : the first can be the historical centre and its eclectic French-inspired architecture, the second seems to be the outlying districts with their grey and impersonal blocks of flats built during the communist age and the third distinct town is represented by the contemporary city framed by hundreds of office buildings from ferro-concrete and window panes, shopping malls, supermarkets and showrooms. Heartily I recommend you the old centre : you will see the substance of the so-called "Little Paris".
So far unaffected by the mass tourism, Romania's capital offers you about thirty interesting museums (don't worry, there are no lines and the tickets are cheaper than a Big Mac!), numerous parks, a well-defined transport net (during the rush hours, the underground is recommended), restaurants, bars, night clubs, coffee houses of all kinds. The accomodation is not exactly cheap, but services are at higher level.
Even if you have only a day at your disposal, you can just "feel" the city during an early walk along the Victoria Avenue (Calea Victoriei in Romanian), the most famous thoroughfare of the city; a lot of
fin de siecle buildings and the museums strung along the three kilometres will positively satisfy your curiosity. If you like the venison, then the "Burebista Vānatoresc" restaurant, placed next to US Embassy, will be the right place to lunch. Moreover, you should take a cab (the rates are incredible cheap) and visit the Village Museum, one of the most important open air museums in Europe. Close by, there are the shady walks of the Herastrau Park. A performance at the Romanian State Opera or a concert at the Romanian Athenaeum will convince you of the Romanian performers' virtuosity. For a genuine Romanian dinner I suggest you "Locanta Jaristea".
Current main events :Bucharest Days (12-20.09.2009) - a lot of events that marks the city's 550th anniversary
Most useful links :
Bucharest Historical Monuments MapBucharest Municipality official pageHotels in BucharestInteractive mapOfficial exchange ratesCity guideWeather - actual and forecast
Most important concerts in 2009 :February : Sepultura (7), Sting (10), Vonda Shepard (18), James Blunt (21)
April : C.C. Catch (11), Nazareth (26), Kenny G (30)
May : Depeche Mode (16)
June : Sinead O'Connor (11), Kraftwerk (12), Patricia Kaas (14), Michael Bolton (28)
July : Santana (4), Suzanne Vega (16)
August : Madonna (26)
September : Leonard Cohen (4)
My top 10 :
A) architecture (buildings and monuments) :
1) Romanian Athenaeum (the true symbol of the city)
2) Parliament Palace (I don't like it, but it's really huge)
3) Savings Bank (CEC) headquarter
4) Cantacuzino Palace
5) Kretzulescu Palace
6) Arch of Triumph
7) National History Museum
8) Gradisteanu-Ghica House
9) National Bank of Romania (old palace, Lipscani wing)
10) Antim Monastery
B) parks and gardens :
1) Cismigiu Garden
2) Herastrau Park
3) Carol I Park
4) Tineretului Park
5) IOR Park
6) Botanical Garden
7) Bucharest Zoo
8) Regina Maria Park
9) Ioanid Park
10) Izvor Park
Where to find ...
a) city maps : newspaper stands/kiosks, bookshops
b) souvenirs : Unirea Shopping Center, Victoria Galleries
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