Parliament Palace, Bucharest © Romanian National Tourist Office
Why? With the opening up of Eastern Europe, a
holiday in Bucharest, capital of Romania, has become an interesting
experience, its rather grim architectural aspect, museums and main
attractions telling the story of its communist era under the
notorious Nicolae Ceausescu. Many people travel to Bucharest simply
out of curiosity and discover that this paradoxical city has a
sophisticated air and plenty to recommend it.
When? If you travel to Bucharest in summer expect
to bake in a series of dry heat waves, and in winter the
temperature seldom rises above freezing point. The best time to
holiday in Bucharest is in the between seasons of spring
(April/May) or autumn (September/October).
Who for? Don't expect theme parks and souvenir
stands when you go on holiday to Bucharest. The city's attractions
are mainly galleries and museums, so it is best to leave the
children at home when you travel to Bucharest. The city does,
however, have a growing reputation among clubbers and gamblers with
many new nightclubs and casinos opening apace.
More Info: Find out everything required to enjoy a
holiday in Bucharest in our full Bucharest travel guide, which is
updated daily. The guide contains information like entry
requirements, events, attractions and how to get around the city on
public transport.
Overview
The nation's capital since 1862, Bucharest is the country's
largest and wealthiest metropolis. Tree-lined boulevards, classical
buildings and extravagant public structures lie in juxtaposition to
untidy, congested streets, unsightly Stalinist apartment blocks and
incomplete constructions. It is a city that most people either love
or hate at the first encounter.
Once considered the 'Paris of the East' for its long leafy
avenues and grand buildings together with its distinguished social
scene enjoyed by the extravagant Romanian aristocracy, the city's
elegance and beauty soon deteriorated under the harsh era of
communism. The notorious redevelopment project by Nicolae
Ceausescu, leader of the Communist Party in 1965, was a scandalous
affair; in order to create an imitation Champs Elysee, a Civic
Centre and 12-storey palace for himself together with a parliament
building, he demolished an immense area of historic architecture in
the old city, including 26 churches. The parliament building was
designed to be the largest building in the world. It is now known
as the Palace of Parliament, second in size to the Pentagon, and
has become one of the city's prime tourist attractions.
Bucharest offers a number of superb museums, galleries,
exquisite Orthodox churches and architectural surprises and its
political legacy provides a fascinating selection of sights where
visitors can rediscover the events and emotions of its history. It
is experiencing renewed vigour; historic buildings have been
restored and there is plenty of nightlife and an increasing amount
of cultural events. Traditional Romanian cooking can be savoured
alongside international cuisine, and in summer festive beer gardens
and picturesque parks are filled with cheerful crowds.
