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Bucharest Travel Guide

About Bucharest

At first glance a clashing blend of neoclassical buildings, wide tree-lined boulevards, and brutal post-Stalinist apartment blocks, Bucharest can be a confusing place, but is a city that rewards closer inspection.

Filled with grey communist housing estates that were often built around or sometimes on top of the finer bourgeois architectural details, it's difficult to conceive that this misunderstood city once inspired the nickname 'Little Paris'. But there are plenty of reminders of a glorious past, and also of a potentially glorious future.

The most symbolic building in Romanian culture, and the spiritual landmark of a nation, is the Atheneum. Built in the heart of the city in the 1880s, this magnificent concert hall has seen great politicians and scientists give lectures, had orchestras and musicians from around the world come to perform, and shown exhibitions of great paintings and sculpture by the masters of fine arts.

Dig a little deeper and you'll quickly find more survivors of the communist architectural desecration. There are Byzantine-style chapels and bell-towered mansions, while side streets in the historic centre hide antique shops, characterful bars, and eateries serving French, Italian and Transylvanian food.

Elsewhere in the centre are the 15th-century remains of the Old Princely Court, built by Vlad the Impaler. According to local folklore, it was the way he treated his enemies (and prisoners in the dungeons) that gave rise to the legends of Count Dracula.

More recent history can be appreciated in Piata Revolutiei, the square at the heart of the 1989 revolution that ended the reign of notorious dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife. Contrasting with this in the ritzy north is sprawling Herastrau Park, which offers boat rides and an open-air museum displaying traditional Romanian homes.

Since Romania joined the EU, the sense of a new dynamism has spread all over town, with the younger population revitalising old buildings and bringing new life to the Romanian capital.

Key facts

Population:
1924960
Latitude:
44.430912
Longitude:
26.123531
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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A vibrant collision of old traditions and growing reinvention, Bucharest is an ideal destination for your next city break

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Hotel Razvan

This 3-star hotel is convenient if you know how to navigate Bucharest by bus, as it is not near to a metro station. The rooms are modern and spacious, and have a private bathroom with shower. The hotel also offers transfer to Otopeni International Airport.

Formenerg

The Hostel Formenerg is located next to the Tineretului metro, bus and tram station and is a good value accommodation option also offering a restaurant, fitness area and free Wi-Fi. All 52 rooms are air-conditioned and feature a private bathroom including a hairdryer, a refrigerator and a TV. Typical Romanian food, plus international fare, are served in the à-la-carte restaurant.

Radisson Blu Hotel

A stones throw from the Atheneum in the heart of Bucharest the 5-Star Radisson Blu Hotel offers guests an all mod con experience. This 487-room business hotel complete with indoor and outdoor pools international restaurants jogging track meeting rooms and Wi-Fi throughout is a great base from which to explore the city.

Hotel Opera

Centrally located hotel with a stylish atmosphere. The 33 rooms are rather small, but all en suite with air conditioning, hair dryer, satellite and cable TV, high-speed Internet access, mini-bar and coffee-making facilities. Good value for money.

Hotel Epoque

A deluxe boutique hotel a short walk from Cismigiu Park in central Bucharest, Hotel Epoque offers a variety of rooms and suites. The elegant exterior hides a modern interior design, and coupled with great service its design has led to the hotel being listed among the best in the country.

Casa Capsa

A hangout for poets before World War II, the 30-room Capsa plays up its 150-year history, with sparkling chandeliers and baroque furnishings. Rooms are elegant, with dark-wood walls, antique armoires, tall ceilings and all mod cons. Downstairs, a pastry shop sells traditional homemade sweets.