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Bucharest București
—  City  —
Bucharest landmarks
Flag Coat of arms
Bucharest Location in Romania
Coordinates: 44°25′57″N 26°6′14″E / 44.4325°N 26.10389°E / 44.4325; 26.10389
Country	Romania
County	Municipality of Bucharest
Founded
Government
- Mayor	Sorin Oprescu (Independent)
Area [1][2]
- City	228 km2 (88 sq mi)
- Urban	285 km2 (110 sq mi)
Elevation	60–90 m (197–295 ft)
Population (est. January 1, 2009[1])[2][3]
- City	▲ 1,944,367
- Density	8,510/km2 (22,040.8/sq mi)
- Urban	2,000,000
- Metro	2,151,880
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code	0xxxxx
Area code(s)	+40 x1
Twin Cities
- Amman	Jordan
- Ankara	Turkey
- Athens	Greece
- Atlanta	United States
- Beijing	China
- Chișinău	Moldova
- Damascus	Syria
- Montreal	Canada
- Nicosia	Cyprus
Car Plates	B
Website	www.pmb.ro

Bucharest (Romanian: București pronounced [bukuˈreʃtʲ]  ( listen)) is the capital city, industrial, cultural, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at 44°25′57″N 26°06′14″E / 44.4325°N 26.10389°E / 44.4325; 26.10389Coordinates: 44°25′57″N 26°06′14″E / 44.4325°N 26.10389°E / 44.4325; 26.10389, and lies on the banks of the Dâmboviţa River.

Bucharest was first mentioned in documents as early as 1459. Since then it has gone through a variety of changes, becoming the state capital of Romania in 1862 and steadily consolidating its position as the centre of the Romanian mass media, culture and arts. Its eclectic architecture is a mix of historical (neo-classical), interbellum (Bauhaus and Art Deco), Communist-era and modern. In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of the "Little Paris of the East" (Micul Paris).^[4] Although many buildings and districts in the historic centre were damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes and Nicolae Ceaușescu's program of systematization, many survived. In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom.^[5]

According to January 1, 2009 official estimates, Bucharest proper has a population of 1,944,367.^[1] The urban area extends beyond the limits of Bucharest proper and has a population of 2 million people.^[2][6] Adding the satellite towns around the urban area, the metropolitan area of Bucharest has a population of 2.15 million people.^[3] According to unofficial data, the population is more than 3 million.^[7] Bucharest is the 6th largest city in the European Union by population within city limits.^[8]

Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous in Romania^[9] and is one of the main industrial centres and transportation hubs of Eastern Europe. The city has a broad range of convention facilities, educational facilities, cultural venues, shopping arcades and recreational areas.

The city proper is administratively known as the Municipality of Bucharest (Municipiul București), and has the same administrative level as a county, being further subdivided into six sectors.

Etymology

The name of Bucur has an uncertain origin: tradition connects the founding of Bucharest with the name of Bucur who was either a prince, an outlaw, a fisherman, a shepherd, or a hunter, according to different legends.^[10] In Romanian the word stem bucur means 'glad', 'joy', in Albanian, a language which may have historical connections with the Thracian languages, 'bukur' signifies 'beautiful' and 'esht' signifies 'is', literally translated as 'it is beautiful'.

The official city name in full is The Municipality of Bucharest (Romanian: Municipiul București).

A native or resident of Bucharest is called Bucharester (Romanian: bucureștean).

History

The remains of Curtea Veche, the royal court in Bucharest during the Middle Ages

Bucharest's history alternated periods of development and decline from the early settlements of the Antiquity and until its consolidation as capital of Romania late in the 19th century.

First mentioned as "the Citadel of București" in 1459, it became a residence of the Wallachian prince Vlad III the Impaler. The Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche) was built by Mircea Ciobanul, and during following rules, Bucharest was established as the summer residence of the court, competing with Târgovişte for the status of capital after an increase in the importance of southern Muntenia brought about by the demands of the suzerain power, the Ottoman Empire.

Burned down by the Ottomans and briefly discarded by princes at the start of the 17th century, Bucharest was restored and continued to grow in size and prosperity. Its centre was around the street "Uliţa Mare", which starting 1589 was known as Lipscani. Before the 1700s, it became the most important trade centre of Wallachia and became a permanent location for the Wallachian court after 1698 (starting with the reign of Constantin Brâncoveanu).

Bucharest in 1837

Partly destroyed by natural disasters and rebuilt several times during the following 200 years, hit by Caragea's plague in 1813–1814, the city was wrested from Ottoman control and occupied at several intervals by the Habsburg Monarchy (1716, 1737, 1789) and Imperial Russia (three times between 1768 and 1806). It was placed under Russian administration between 1828 and the Crimean War, with an interlude during the Bucharest-centred 1848 Wallachian revolution, and an Austrian garrison took possession after the Russian departure (remaining in the city until March 1857). Additionally, on March 23, 1847, a fire consumed about 2,000 buildings of Bucharest, destroying a third of the city. The social divide between rich and poor was described at the time by Ferdinand Lassalle as making the city "a savage hotchpotch".

Map of Bucharest at the onset of WWI.

Back view of the CEC Palace and the royal guard

In 1861, when Wallachia and Moldavia were united to form the Principality of Romania, Bucharest became the new nation's capital; in 1881, it became the political centre of the newly-proclaimed Kingdom of Romania. During the second half of the 19th century, due to its new status, the city's population increased dramatically, and a new period of urban development began. The extravagant architecture and cosmopolitan high culture of this period won Bucharest the nickname of "The Paris of the East" (or "Little Paris", Micul Paris), with Calea Victoriei as its Champs-Élysées or Fifth Avenue.

Between December 6, 1916 and November 1918, it was occupied by German forces, the legitimate capital being moved to Iași. After World War I, Bucharest became the capital of Greater Romania. In January 1941 it was the place of Legionnaires' rebellion and Bucharest pogrom. As the capital of an Axis country, Bucharest suffered heavy losses during World War II, due to Allied bombings, and, on August 23, 1944, saw the royal coup which brought Romania into the anti-German camp, suffering a short but destructive period of Luftwaffe bombings in reprisal.

During Nicolae Ceaușescu's leadership (1965–1989), most of the historic part of the city was destroyed and replaced with Communist-style buildings, particularly high-rise apartment buildings. The best example of this is the development called Centrul Civic (the Civic Centre), including the Palace of the Parliament, where an entire historic quarter was razed to make way for Ceaușescu's megalomaniac constructions. In 1977, a strong 7.4 on the Richter-scale earthquake claimed 1,500 lives and destroyed many old buildings. Nevertheless, some historic neighbourhoods did survive to this day.

The Romanian Revolution of 1989 began with mass anti-Ceaușescu protests in Timișoara in December 1989 and continued in Bucharest, leading to the overthrow of the Communist regime. Dissatisfied with the post-revolutionary leadership of the National Salvation Front, student leagues and opposition groups organized large-scale protests continued in 1990 (the Golaniad), which were violently stopped by the miners of Valea Jiului (the Mineriad). Several other Mineriads followed, the results of which included a government change.

After the year 2000, due to the advent of significant economic growth in Romania, the city has modernised and is currently undergoing a period of urban renewal. Various residential and commercial developments are underway, particularly in the northern districts, while Bucharest's historic centre is currently undergoing restoration.

Treaties signed in Bucharest

• Treaty of May 28, 1812, at the end of the Russo-Turkish War
• Treaty of March 3, 1886, at the end of the Serbo-Bulgarian War
• Treaty of August 10, 1913, at the end of the Second Balkan War
• Treaty of August 4, 1916, the treaty of alliance between Romania and the Entente
• Treaty of May 6, 1918, the treaty between Romania and the Central Powers

Geography

Bucharest seen from Spot satellite

General Information

Bucharest is situated on the banks of the Dâmboviţa River, which flows into the Argeș River, a tributary of the Danube. Several lakes – the most important of which are Lake Herăstrău, Lake Floreasca, Lake Tei, and Lake Colentina – stretch across the city, along the Colentina River, a tributary of the Dâmboviţa. In addition, in the centre of the capital there is a small artificial lake – Lake Cișmigiu – surrounded by the Cișmigiu Gardens. The Cișmigiu Gardens have a rich history, being frequented by famous poets and writers. Opened in 1847 and based on the plans of German architect Carl F.W. Meyer, the gardens are currently the main recreational facility in the city centre.

The Kilometre Zero monument

Besides Cișmigiu, Bucharest contains several other large parks and gardens, including Herăstrău Park and the Botanical Garden. Herăstrău is a large public park located in the north of the city, around Lake Herăstrău, and the site of the Village Museum, while the Bucharest's botanical garden is the largest in Romania and contains over 10,000 species of plants, many of them exotic; it was once a pleasure park for the royal family.^[11]

Bucharest is situated in the south eastern corner of the Romanian Plain, in an area once covered by the Vlăsiei forest, which, after it was cleared, gave way to a fertile flatland. As with many cities, Bucharest is traditionally considered to have seven hills, in the tradition of the seven hills of Rome. Bucharest's seven hills are: Mihai Vodă, Dealul Mitropoliei, Radu Vodă, Cotroceni, Spirei, Văcărești and Sf. Gheorghe Nou.

The city has a total area of 226 square kilometres (87 sq mi). The altitude varies from 55.8 metres (183.1 ft) at the Dâmboviţa bridge in Căţelu, south-eastern Bucharest and 91.5 m (300.2 ft) at the Militari church. The city has a relatively round shape, with the centre situated approximately in the cross-way of the main north-south/east-west axes at the University Square. The milestone for Romanian's Kilometre Zero is placed just south of University Square in front of the New St. George Church (Sfântul Gheorghe Nou) at St. George Square (Piaţa Sfântul Gheorghe). Bucharest's radius, from University Square to the city limits in all directions, varies from about 10 to 12 km (6.25–7.5 mi).

Until recently, the regions surrounding Bucharest were largely rural, but after 1989, new suburbs started to be built around Bucharest, in the surrounding Ilfov county. Further urban consolidation is expected to take place when the Bucharest metropolitan area is formed in 2006, which will incorporate various communes and cities of Ilfov and surrounding counties.

Climate

Bucharest has a temperate continental climate ( (Koppen climate classification Dfa). Due to its position on the Romanian Plain, the city's winters can get windy, even though some of the winds are mitigated due to urbanisation. Winter temperatures often dip below 0 °C (32 °F), even though they sometimes drop below −15 °C (5 °F) and rarely -20 C. In summer, the average temperature is approximately 23 °C (73 °F) (the average for July and August), despite the fact that temperatures many times reach 35 °C (95 °F) to 40 °C (104 °F) in mid-summer in the city centre. Although average precipitation and humidity during summer is low, there are infrequent yet heavy and often violent storms. During spring and autumn, average daytime temperatures vary between 17 °C (63 °F) to 22 °C (72 °F), and precipitation during this time tends to be higher than in summer, with more frequent yet milder periods of rain.

Law and government

Administration

Bucharest City Hall

Sorin Oprescu, acting mayor since 2008

Bucharest has a unique status in Romanian administration, since it is the only municipality that is not part of a county. Its population, however, is larger than that of any Romanian county, and hence the power of the Bucharest General City Hall (Primăria Generală), which is the city's local government body, is about the same as, if not greater than, that of Romanian county councils.

The city government is headed by a General Mayor (Primar General), currently (as of 2010) Sorin Oprescu. Decisions are approved and discussed by the General Council (Consiliu General) made up of 55 elected councillors. Furthermore, the city is divided into six administrative sectors (sectoare), each of which has their own 27-seat sectorial council, town hall and mayor. The powers of local government over a certain area are therefore shared by the Bucharest City Hall and the local sectorial councils with little or no overlapping of authority. The general rule is that the main City Hall is responsible for citywide utilities such as the water system, the transport system and the main boulevards, while sectorial town halls manage the contact between individuals and the local government, secondary streets, parks, schools and cleaning services.

The 6 administrative sectors of Bucharest

The six sectors are numbered from one to six and are disposed radially so that each one has under its administration an area of the city centre. They are numbered clockwise and are further divided into districts without any form of administration (cartiere):

• Sector 1 (population 227,717): Dorobanţi, Băneasa, Aviaţiei, Pipera, Aviatorilor, Primăverii, Romană, Victoriei, Herăstrău Park, Bucureștii Noi, Dămăroaia, Strǎuleşti, Griviţa, 1 Mai, Băneasa Forest, Pajura, Domenii and a small part of Giuleşti which includes Giuleşti Stadium
• Sector 2 (population 357,338): Pantelimon, Colentina, Iancului, Tei, Floreasca, Moşilor, Obor, Vatra Luminoasă, Fundeni, Plumbuita, Ştefan cel Mare, Baicului
• Sector 3 (population 399,231): Vitan, Dudeşti, Titan, Centrul Civic, Dristor, Lipscani, Muncii, Unirii
• Sector 4 (population 300,331): Berceni, Olteniţei, Giurgiului, Progresul, Văcăreşti, Timpuri Noi, Tineretului
• Sector 5 (population 288,690): Rahova, Ferentari, Giurgiului, Cotroceni, 13 Septembrie, Dealul Spirii
• Sector 6 (population 371,060): Giuleşti, Crângaşi, Drumul Taberei, Militari, Grozǎveşti (also known as Regie), Ghencea

Like all other local councils in Romania, the Bucharest sectorial councils, the city's General Council and the mayors are elected every four years by the population. Additionally, Bucharest has a prefect, who is appointed by Romania's central government. The prefect is not allowed to be a member of a political party. The prefect's role is to represent the national government at local level, acting as a liaison and facilitating the implementation of National Development Plans and governing programmes at local level. The current prefect of Bucharest (as of 2010) is Mihai Cristian Atanasoaiei.

The Municipality of Bucharest, along with the surrounding Ilfov county, forms the Bucharest development region, which is equivalent to NUTS-II regions in the European Union and is used by the European Union and the Romanian Government for statistical analysis and regional development. The Bucharest development region is not, however, an administrative entity.

Justice system

The Palace of Justice by night

Bucharest's judicial system is similar to that of the Romanian counties. Each of the six sectors has their own local first instance court (judecătorie), while appeals from these courts' verdicts, and more serious cases, are directed to the Bucharest Tribunal, the city's municipal court. The Bucharest Court of Appeal judges appeals against decisions taken by tribunals in Bucharest and in five surrounding counties (Teleorman, Ialomiţa, Giurgiu, Călăraşi and Ilfov). Bucharest is also home to Romania's supreme court, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, as well as to the Constitutional Court of Romania.

Bucharest has its own municipal police force, the Bucharest Police (Poliţia Bucureşti), which is responsible for policing of crime within the whole city, and operates a number of special divisions. The Bucharest Police are headquartered on Ştefan cel Mare Blvd in the city centre, and has a number of precincts throughout the city. From 2004 onwards, each sector City Hall also has under its administration a Community Police force (Poliţia Comunitară), dealing with local community issues. Bucharest also houses the General Inspectorates of the Gendarmerie and the National Police.

Crime

Bucharest's crime rate is rather low in comparison to other Eastern European capital cities, with the number of total offences declining by 51% between 2000 and 2004.^[13] In particular, levels of violent crime remain very low, with 24 murders and 1069 other violent offences taking place in 2004.^[13] Although there have been a number of recent police crackdowns on organised crime gangs, such as the Cămătaru clan, organised crime generally has little impact on public life. Petty crime, however, is more common, particularly in the form of pickpocketing, which occurs mainly on the city's public transport network. Confidence tricks were sometimes common in the 1990s, especially in regards to tourists, but the frequency of these tricks has declined in recent years. Levels of crime are higher in the southern districts of the city, particularly in Ferentari, a socially-disadvantaged area.

Although the presence of street children was a problem in Bucharest in the 1990s, their numbers have declined significantly in recent years, currently lying at or below the average of major European capital cities.^[14] The same is true for beggars and homeless people, many of them from the Roma minority. However, there are still an estimated 1,000 street children in the city,^[14] many of whom engage in petty crime and begging. There has been speculation that the street children are recruited by professional underground networks for criminal purposes. From 2000 onwards, Bucharest has seen an increase in illegal road races which occur mainly at night in the city's outskirts or on industrial sites.

A significant problem in the city remains institutional corruption, which is seen as the most important justice-and-law related problem in the city.^{[citation needed]}

Stray dogs

When Centrul Civic was built, approximately 40,000 families and 3,000 pet dogs were dispossessed of their homes. Most of these dogs became strays, and rapid breeding led to a population of over 250,000 stray dogs by 2001. Mayor Traian Băsescu had initially planned to euthanize as many stray dogs as possible, but international outcry — led by actress Brigitte Bardot — resulted in the substitution of a spay-and-release program instead.^[15]

Demographics

The city's population, according to the 2002 census, is 1,926,334 inhabitants,^[16] or 8.9% of the total population of Romania. Additionally, due to the recent process of gentrification there are now more than 200,000 people commuting to the city every day, mainly from the surrounding Ilfov county^{[citation needed]}.

Bucharest's population experienced two phases of rapid growth, the first in the late 19th century, when the city grew in importance and size, and the second during the Communist period, when a massive urbanisation campaign was launched and many people migrated from rural areas to the capital. At this time, due to Ceauşescu's ban on abortion and contraception, natural increase was also significant.

Approximately 96.9% of the population of Bucharest are Romanians. The second largest ethnic group being are Roma (Gypsies), which make up 1.4% of the population. Other significant ethnic groups are Hungarians (0.3%), Jews (0.1%), Turks (0,1%), Chinese (0,1) and Germans (0,1%). A rellatively small number of Bucharesters are of Greek, North American, French, Armenian, Lipovan and Italian descent. The Greeks and the Armenians used to play significant roles in the life of the city at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. One of the predominantly Greek neighbourhoods was Vitan - where a Jewish population also lived; the latter was more present in Văcăreşti and areas around Unirii Square.

In terms of religion, 96.1% of the population are Romanian Orthodox, 1.2% are Roman Catholic, 0.5% are Muslim and 0.4% are Eastern Rite-Catholic. Despite this, only 24% of the population, of any religion, attend a place of worship once a week or more.^[18] The life expectancy of residents of Bucharest in 2003–2005 was 74.14 years, around 2 years higher than the Romanian average. Female life expectancy was 77.41 years, in comparison to 70.57 years for males.^[19]

Economy

Unirea Shopping Center on a foggy November evening

Bucharest is the centre of the Romanian economy and industry, accounting for around 14.6% of the country's GDP and about one-quarter of its industrial production, while being inhabited by only 9% of the country's population.^[20] Almost one third of national taxes is paid by Bucharest's citizens and companies. In 2006, at purchasing power parity, Bucharest had a per-capita GDP of €19,800, or 83.8% that of the European Union average and more than twice the Romanian average.^[21] The city's strong economic growth has revitalised infrastructure and led to the development of many shopping malls and modern residential towers and high-rise office buildings. In September 2005, Bucharest had an unemployment rate of 2.6%, significantly lower than the national unemployment rate of 5.7%.^[22]

Bucharest's economy is mainly centred on industry and services, with services particularly growing in importance in the last ten years. The headquarters of 186,000 firms, including nearly all large Romanian companies are located in Bucharest.^[23] An important source of growth since 2000 has been the city's rapidly expanding property and construction sector. Bucharest is also Romania's largest centre for information technology and communications and is home to several software companies operating offshore delivery centres. Romania's largest stock exchange, the Bucharest Stock Exchange, which was merged in December 2005 with the Bucharest-based electronic stock exchange Rasdaq plays a major role in the city's economy.

There are a number of major international supermarket chains such as Carrefour, Cora and METRO. At the moment, the city is undergoing a retail boom, with a large number of supermarkets, and hypermarkets, constructed every year. For more information, see supermarkets in Romania. A few of the largest and most modern shopping centres in Bucharest are Bucharest Mall, Plaza Romania, City Mall, Jolie Ville Galleria, Liberty Center and Unirea Shopping Center. There are also a large number of traditional retail arcades and markets; the one at Obor covers about a dozen city blocks and numerous large stores that are not officially part of the market effectively add up to a market district almost twice that size.

Transport

Public Transport

A Bucharest Metro train at Pipera Station

Bucharest's extensive public transport system is the largest in Romania and one of the largest in Europe. It is made up of the Bucharest Metro, as well as a surface transport system run by RATB (Regia Autonomă de Transport Bucureşti), which consists of buses, trams, trolleybuses, and light rail. In addition, there is a private minibus system. As of 2007, there is a limit of 10,000 taxicab licences,^[24] down from 25,000 in the 1990s, and the even higher demand is supplied by taxis registered in Ilfov county.

Air

The city is served by two airports: Henri Coandă International Airport (formerly Otopeni) and Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (formerly Băneasa). Henri Coandă is the largest airport in Romania with 5 million passengers in 2007 and the main hub for the national operator TAROM. Delta Air Lines serves Bucharest directly from JFK. It is also connected to several international airports by a wide range of international airlines. The smaller Aurel Vlaicu International Airport is used for charter flights and low-cost carriers.

Railways

CFR trains in Gara de Nord

Bucharest is the hub of Romania's national railway network, run by Căile Ferate Române. The main railway station is Gara de Nord, or North Station, which provides connections to all major cities in Romania as well as international destinations such as Belgrade, Budapest, Sofia, Vienna, Prague, Moscow, Istanbul, Chişinău, and many other European cities. The city also has five other railway stations run by CFR, most important are Basarab (in proximity of North Station), Obor, Baneasa, Progresu, which are in the process of being integrated in a commuter railway serving Bucharest and the surrounding Ilfov county. 7 main lines radiate out of Bucharest.

Infrastructure

The city's municipal road network is centred around a series of high-capacity boulevards, which generally radiate out from the city centre to the outskirts. The main axes, which run north-south, east-west and northwest-southeast, as well as one internal and one external ring road, support the bulk of the traffic. The city's roads are usually very crowded during rush hours, due to an increase in car ownership in recent years. Every day, there are more than one million vehicles travelling within the city.^[25] This results in occasional wear and potholes appearing on busy roads, particularly secondary roads, this being identified as one of Bucharest's main infrastructural problems. In recent years, there has been a comprehensive effort on behalf of the City Hall to boost road infrastructure and according to the general development plan, 2,000 roads have been repaired by 2008.^[26]

Roads

Bucharest public bus

Bucharest is also a major intersection of Romania's national road network. A few of the busiest national roads and motorways, link the city to all of Romania's major cities as well as to neighbouring countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria and Ukraine. The A1 to Pitesti and the A2 Sun Motorway to the Dobrogea region and Constanta both start from Bucharest. The A3 and A5 motorways radiate from Voluntari, a town in the city's northern outskirts.

Water

Although it is situated on the banks of a river, Bucharest has never functioned as a port city, with other Romanian cities such as Constanţa and Galati acting as the country's main ports. However, the Danube-Bucharest Canal, which is 73 km (45 mi) long, is currently in construction and is around 60% completed.^{[citation needed]} When finished, the canal will link Bucharest to the Danube River and, via the Danube-Black Sea Canal, to the Black Sea. This corridor is expected to be a significant component of the city's transport infrastructure and increase sea traffic by a large margin.

Culture

Bucharest has a diverse and growing cultural scene, with cultural life exhibited in a number of various fields, including the visual arts, performing arts and nightlife. Unlike other parts of Romania, such as the Black Sea coast or Transylvania, Bucharest's cultural scene is much more eclectic, without a defined style, and instead incorporates various elements of Romanian and international culture. Bucharest has an eclectic mixture of elements from traditionally Romanian buildings to buildings that are influenced by French architects. It is because of this French influence that Bucharest was once called "the Paris of the East" or "Little Paris."

Landmarks

Arcul de Triumf

Cercul Militar Naţional

View from United Nations Square. The Bucharest Financial Plaza (left) and Intercontinental Hotel (right) are visible.

The Romanian Athenaeum

The Museum of the Romanian Peasant

Bucharest has a large number of landmark buildings and monuments. Perhaps the most prominent of these is the Palace of the Parliament, built in the 1980s during the reign of Communist dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. Currently the largest building in Europe and the second-largest in the world, the Palace houses the Romanian Parliament (the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate), as well as the National Museum of Contemporary Art. The building also boasts one of the largest convention centres in the world.

Another well-known landmark in Bucharest is Arcul de Triumf (The Triumphal Arch), it was built in its current form in 1935 and modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A newer landmark of the city is the Memorial of Rebirth, a stylized marble pillar unveiled in 2005 to commemorate the victims of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, which overthrew Communism. The abstract monument sparked a great deal of controversy when it was unveiled, being dubbed with names such as "the olive in the toothpick", ("măslina-n scobitoare"), as many argued that it does not fit in its surroundings and believed that its choice was based on political reasons.^[27]

The Romanian Athenaeum building is considered to be a symbol of Romanian culture and since 2007 is on the list of the Label of European Heritage sights.^[28]

Other cultural venues include the National Museum of Art of Romania, Museum of Natural History "Grigore Antipa", Museum of the Romanian Peasant (Muzeul Ţăranului Român), National History Museum, and the Military Museum.

Visual arts

In terms of visual arts, the city contains a number of museums featuring both classical and contemporary Romanian art, as well as selected international works. The National Museum of Art of Romania is perhaps the best-known of Bucharest museums. It is located in the former royal palace and features extensive collections of medieval and modern Romanian art, including works by renowned sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi, as well as a prominent international collection assembled by the former Romanian royal family.

Other, smaller museums, contain more specialised collections of works. The Zambaccian Museum, which is situated in the former home of Armenian-Romanian art collector Krikor H. Zambaccian contains works by many well-known Romanian artists as well as international artists such as Paul Cézanne, Eugène Delacroix, Henri Matisse, Camille Pissarro and Pablo Picasso.

The Gheorghe Tattarescu Museum contains portraits of Romanian revolutionaries in exile such as Gheorghe Magheru, Ştefan Golescu, Nicolae Bălcescu and allegorical compositions with revolutionary (Romania's rebirth, 1849) and patriotic (The Principalities' Unification, 1857) themes. The Theodor Pallady Museum is situated in one of the oldest surviving merchant houses in Bucharest and includes many works by Romanian painter Theodor Pallady as well as a number of European and Oriental furniture pieces. The Museum of Art Collections contains the collections of a number of well-known Romanian art aficionados, including Krikor Zambaccian and Theodor Pallady.

Despite the extensive classical art galleries and museums in the city, there is also a contemporary arts scene that has become increasingly prominent in recent times. The National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC), situated in a wing of the Palace of the Parliament, was opened in 2004 and contains a widespread collection of Romanian and international contemporary art, in a number of expressive forms. The MNAC also manages the Kalinderu MediaLab, which caters specifically to multimedia and experimental art. There is also a range of smaller, private art galleries throughout the city centre.

The palace of the National Bank of Romania houses the national numismatic collection. Exhibits include banknotes, coins, documents, photographs, maps, silver and gold bullion bars, bullion coins, dies and moulds. The building itself was constructed between 1884 and 1890. The thesaurus room contains notable marble decorations.

Performing arts

The old building of the National Theatre: opened to the public in 1852, it was destroyed by a German air raid on August 24, 1944.

I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, Bucharest

Performing arts are one of the strongest cultural elements of Bucharest, and the city has a number of world-renowned facilities and institutions. The most famous symphony orchestra is National Radio Orchestra of Romania. One of the most prominent buildings is the neoclassical Romanian Athenaeum, which was founded in 1852, and hosts classical music concerts, the George Enescu Festival, and is home to the "George Enescu" Philharmonic. Bucharest is also home to the Romanian National Opera, as well as the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre. Another well-known theatre in Bucharest is the State Jewish Theatre, which has gained increasing prominence in recent years due partly to the fact that it features plays starring world-renowned Romanian-Jewish actress Maia Morgenstern. There is also a large number of smaller theatres throughout the city that cater to specific genres, such as the Comedy Theatre, the Nottara Theatre, the Bulandra Theatre, the Odeon Theatre, and the Constantin Tănase Revue Theatre.

Music and nightlife

Bucharest skyline at night

Bucharest is home to Romania's largest recording labels, and is often the residence of Romanian musicians. The city's music scene is eclectic. Many Romanian rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Iris and Holograf, continue to be popular, particularly with the middle-aged, while since the beginning of the 1990s the hip hop/rap scene has developed a unique sound and style indigenous to eastern Bucharest. Hip-hop bands and artists from Bucharest such as B.U.G. Mafia, Paraziţii, Verdikt, La familia, Bitză and Zale enjoy national and international recognition.

The eclectic pop-rock band Taxi have been gaining international respect, as has Spitalul de Urgenţă's raucous updating of traditional Romanian music. While many neighbourhood discos play manele, an Oriental- and Roma-influenced genre of music that is particularly popular in Bucharest's working class districts, the city has a rich jazz and blues scene, and, to an even larger extent, house music/trance and heavy metal/punk scenes. Bucharest's jazz profile has especially risen since 2002, with the presence of two thriving venues, Green Hours and Art Jazz, as well as an American presence alongside established Romanians. The city's nightlife, particularly its club scene grew significantly in the 1990s, and continues to develop.

There is no central nightlife strip, with many entertainment venues dispersed throughout the city centre, with a cluster in the historical centre. Among the most visited venues are Lăptăria Enache and La Motoare, located on the rooftop of the National Theatre, as well as El Grande Comandante and Club A. Most clubs and bars are located around the centre of the city, from the Piaţa Unirii to Piaţa Romană. Also, a large concentration of rock clubs can be found in the Lipscani area, the old part of the city, in the vicinity of Piaţa Unirii. The Regie area, located near Polytechnic University campus, hosts a number of clubs and bars, mainly targeted toward the student population.

The city also hosts some of the best electronic music clubs in Europe such as Studio Martin and Kristal Glam Club. During the summer, Zoom Beach Club is an outdoor club on the shore of a lake and has two separate dance floors. The Office is one of the most exclusive clubs in Bucharest and has a long tradition in clubbing. One of the best cocktail clubs in Bucharest is Deja Vu situated on Bălcescu Boulevard near the Italian church. Some other notable venues are: Gaia, Fratelli, Glamour, Tipsy, Cotton Club, Pat, and Bamboo.

Traditional culture

Herăstrău Park with a view towards Casa Presei Libere

Bucharest's cultural life has, especially since the early 1990s, become colourful and worldly. Traditional Romanian culture, however, continues to have a major influence in arts such as theatre, film and music. Additionally, Bucharest has two internationally-renowned ethnographic museums, the Museum of the Romanian Peasant and the open-air Village Museum. The Village Museum, in Herăstrău Park, contains 272 authentic buildings and peasant farms from all over Romania. The Museum of the Romanian Peasant was declared the European Museum of the Year in 1996, and displays a rich collection of textiles (especially costumes), icons, ceramics, and other artifacts of Romanian peasant life.

The Museum of Romanian History is another important museum in Bucharest, containing a collection of artefacts detailing Romanian history and culture from the prehistoric times, Dacian era, medieval times and the modern era.

Cultural events and festivals

George Enescu Festival

There are a number of cultural festivals in Bucharest throughout the year, in various domains, even though most festivals take place in the summer months of June, July and August. The National Opera organises the International Opera Festival every year in May and June, which includes ensembles and orchestras from all over the world. The Romanian Athaeneum Society hosts the George Enescu Festival at various locations throughout the city in September every year. Additionally, the Museum of the Romanian Peasant and the Village Museum organise a number of events throughout the year showcasing Romanian folk arts and crafts.

In the 2000s, due to the growing prominence of the Chinese community in Bucharest, several Chinese cultural events have taken place. The first officially-organised Chinese festival was the Chinese New Year's Eve Festival of February 2005 which took place in Nichita Stănescu Park and was organised by the Bucharest City Hall.^[29] In 2005, Bucharest was the first city in Southeastern Europe to host the international CowParade, which resulted in dozens of decorated cow sculptures being placed at various points across the city.

Since 2005 Bucharest has its own contemporary art biennale, the Bucharest Biennale. The next edition will be in 2010.

The 2000s also saw an increasing visibility of Bucharest gay culture, with the opening of the Queen's Club, the first LGBT club in the city, in 2001, and the launch of the annual Bucharest GayFest in 2004. The city's first gay pride parade was held as part of the 2005 GayFest.

Religious life

Bucharest is the seat of the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, one of the Eastern Orthodox churches in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople, and also of its subdivisons, the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobrudja and the Archbishopric of Bucharest. Orthodox believers believe that Saint Demetrios is the saint patron of the city.

Bucharest is also a center for various other religions and cults in Romania, including the main Romanian-ethnic Catholic organization, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest.

Architecture

The Alba Iulia Square at one end of Unirii Bd. shows some of the higher end communist highrises.

Bucharest's architecture is highly eclectic due to the many influences on the city throughout its history. The city centre is a mixture of medieval, neoclassical and art nouveau buildings, as well as 'neo-Romanian' buildings dating from the beginning of the 20th century and a remarkable collection of modern buildings from the 20s and 30s. The mostly-utilitarian Communist-era architecture dominates most southern boroughs. Recently built contemporary structures such as skyscrapers and office buildings complete the landscape.

Historical architecture

The Creţulescu Palace

CEC Palace, 2006

Of the city's medieval architecture, most of what survived into modern times was destroyed by Communist systematization, numerous fires and military incursions. Still, some medieval and renaissance edifices remain, the most notable are in the Lipscani area. This precinct contains notable buildings such as Manuc's Inn and the ruins of the Curtea Veche (the Old Court), during the late Middle Ages this area was the heart of commerce in Bucharest. From the 1970s onwards, the area went through urban decline, and many historical buildings fell into disrepair. In 2005, the Lipscani area was entirely pedestrianised and is currently slowly undergoing restoration.

The city centre has also retained architecture from the late 19th century and early 20th century, particularly the interwar period, which is often seen as the "golden age" of Bucharest architecture. During this time, the city grew significantly in size and wealth therefore seaking to emulate other large European capitals such as Paris. Much of the architecture of the time belongs to a remarkably strong Modern (rationalist) Architecture current, led by Horia Creanga and Marcel Iancu, which managed to literally change the face of the city.

Two notable buildings from this time are the Creţulescu Palace, currently housing cultural institutions including UNESCO's European Centre for Higher Education, and the Cotroceni Palace, the current residence of the Romanian President. Many large-scale constructions such as Gara de Nord, the busiest railway station in the city, National Bank of Romania's headquarters and the Telephone Palace date from these times. In the 2000s, a wide variety of historic buildings in the city centre underwent restoration. In some residential areas of the city, particularly the high-income northern suburbs, there are many turn-of-the-century villas, most of which were restored in the late 1990s.

Communist architecture

Communist-era apartment buildings in Militari quarter

The Palace of the Parliament viewed from Constitution Square

A major part of Bucharest's architecture is made up of buildings constructed during the Communist era replacing the historical architecture with "more efficient" high density apartment blocks - significant portions of the historic center of Bucharest were demolished in order to construct one of the largest buildings in the world: Casa Poporului - Palace of the Parliament. In Nicolae Ceauşescu's project of systematization many new buildings were built in previously-historical areas, which were razed and then built upon from scratch.

One of the best examples of this type of architecture is Centrul Civic, a development that replaced a major part of Bucharest's historic city centre with giant utilitarian buildings, mainly with marble or travertine façades, inspired by North Korean architecture. Communist-era architecture can also be found in Bucharest's residential districts, mainly in blocuri, which are high-density apartment blocks that house the majority of the city's population.

Since the fall of Communism in 1989, several Communist-era buildings have been refurbished, modernised and used for other purposes. Perhaps the best example of this is the conversion of several obsolete retail complexes into shopping malls and commercial centres. These giant circular halls, which were unofficially called hunger circuses due to the food shortages experienced in the 1980s, were constructed during the Ceauşescu era to act as produce markets and refectories, although most were left unfinished at the time of the Revolution.

Modern shopping malls like Bucharest Mall, Plaza Romania and City Mall emerged on pre-existent structures of former hunger circuses. Another example is the modernisation and conversion of a large utilitarian construction in Centrul Civic into a Marriott Hotel. This process was accelerated after 2000, when the city underwent a property boom, and many Communist-era buildings in the city centre became prime real estate due to their location. In recent years, many Communist-era apartment blocks have also been refurbished to improve urban appearance.

Contemporary architecture

The Dâmboviţa Center project, currently under construction

Howard Johnson Hotel

The newest contribution to Bucharest's architecture took place after the fall of Communism, particularly after 2000, when the city went through a period of urban renewal – and architectural revitalization – on the back of Romania's rapid economic growth. Buildings from this time are mostly made of glass and steel, and often have more than ten storeys. Examples include shopping malls (particularly the Bucharest Mall, a conversion and extension of an abandoned building), office buildings, bank headquarters, the Bucharest World Trade Center and the Chamber of Commerce, which lies on the banks of the Dâmboviţa.

As of 2005, there is a significant number of office buildings in construction, particularly in the northern and eastern parts of the city. Additionally, there has been a trend in recent years to add modern wings and façades to historic buildings, the most prominent example of which is the Bucharest Architects' Association Building, which is a modern glass-and-steel construction built inside a historic stone façade.

Aside from buildings used for business and institutions, various new residential developments are currently underway, many of which consist of high-rise buildings with a glass exterior, surrounded by American-style residential communities. These developments are increasingly prominent in the northern suburbs of the city, which are less densely-populated and are home to a significant number of middle- and upper-class Bucharesters due to the process of gentrification.

Media

Casa Presei Libere, the headquarters of various Bucharest media outlets

Bucharest is the most important centre of the Romanian media, since it is the headquarters of all the national television networks as well as national newspapers and radio stations. The largest daily newspapers in Bucharest include Evenimentul Zilei, Jurnalul Naţional, Cotidianul, România Liberă, Adevărul, Gardianul and Gândul. During the rush hours, tabloid newspapers Click!, Libertatea and Ziarul are very popular for commuters.

A significant number of newspapers and media publications are based in Casa Presei Libere (The House of the Free Press), a landmark of northern Bucharest, originally named Casa Scânteii after the Communist-era official newspaper Scînteia. Casa Presei Libere is not the only Bucharest landmark that grew out of the media and communications industry. Palatul Telefoanelor ("The Telephone Palace") was the first major modernist building on Calea Victoriei in the city's centre, and the massive, unfinished communist-era Casa Radio looms over a park a block away from the Opera.

English-language newspapers first became available in the early 1930s and reappeared in 1990s, becoming increasingly prominent since then. There are two daily English-language newspapers, Bucharest Daily News and Nine O' Clock, as well as numerous other magazines. A number of publications in other languages are also available, such as the Hungarian-language daily Új Magyar Szó.

Observator Cultural covers the city's arts, and the free weekly magazines Şapte Seri ("Seven Evenings") and B24FUN list entertainment events of all sorts. The city is also home to the intellectual journal Dilema and the satire magazine Academia Caţavencu, as well as the usual array of commercial magazines one would find in any European capital.

Bucharest was the host city of the fourth edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2006.

Education

Academy of Economic Studies main building

There are 16 public universities in Bucharest, the largest of which are the University of Bucharest, the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and the Politehnica University of Bucharest. These are supplemented by 19 private universities, such as the Romanian-American University and the Spiru Haret University. Overall, there are 159 faculties in 34 universities. Private universities have a mixed reputation due to irregularities in the educational process^[30] as well as perceived corruption.^[31] As in the rest of Romania, universities in Bucharest are regarded as inferior to their Western counterparts.^[32] However, in recent years the city has seen an increasing influx of foreign students who come to study here, primarily from Asia.^[33]

The first modern educational institution was the Princely Academy of Bucharest, founded in 1694 and divided in 1864 to form the present-day University of Bucharest and the Saint Sava National College, both of which are amongst the most prestigious of their kind in Romania.

There are around 450 public primary and secondary schools in the city, all of which are administered by the Bucharest Municipal Schooling Inspectorate. Each sector also has its own Schooling Inspectorate, subordinated to the Municipal one.

Sports

Football (soccer) is the most widely-followed sport in Bucharest, with the city having various club teams that are known throughout Europe. Three Bucharest-based football teams participate in Liga 1 (League 1), formerly Divizia A, the top division in the Romanian football league: Rapid, Steaua and Dinamo.

The National Stadium, Bucharest (Dinamo vs Manchester United)

The Lia Manoliu Stadium was the largest stadium in Romania. It has now been demolished to make way for a new stadium, which will host the 2012 Europa League Final. Other large sport centres include Dinamo Sports Park, Ghencea Stadium and the National Sports Center.

There are also a number of sport clubs for ice hockey, rugby union, basketball, handball, water polo and volleyball. The majority of Romanian track and field athletes, boxers, and a great number of gymnasts are affiliated with clubs in Bucharest. The Athletics and many Gymnastics National Championships are held in Bucharest, one main reason being the city's extensive sporting infrastructure.

Every autumn, Bucharest hosts BCR Open Romania international tennis tournament, which is included in the ATP Tour. Also, the Romanian Davis Cup Team usually plays its matches in Bucharest, either outdoors at the BNR Arena or indoors at the Sala Polivalentă. Ice hockey games are held at the Mihai Flamaropol hall, which holds 8,000 spectators.

Starting in 2007 Bucharest has hosted annual races along a temporary urban track surrounding the Palace of the Parliament, called Bucharest Ring. The competition is called the Bucharest City Challenge, and has hosted FIA GT, FIA GT3, British F3, and Logan Cup races in 2007 and 2008. The 2009 edition has not been held in Bucharest due to a conflict with the city hall, and took place on the Hungaroring circuit in Hungary instead.

International relations

Twin towns—Sister cities

Bucharest has 18 twin towns and sister cities, as listed below:^[34]

Country	City	Date
Brazil	São Paulo	2000 [35][36]
Bulgaria	Sofia
Canada	Montreal[34]
China	Beijing	2005[37]
Cyprus	Nicosia	2004
Greece	Athens	1993
Jordan	Amman	1999
Republic of Moldova	Chişinău
Russia	Moscow
Turkey	Ankara	1998
Turkey	Istanbul
United Kingdom	London
United States	Atlanta	1994
Syria	Damascus[34]
Nigeria	Lagos
Albania	Tirana	2007[38]
Philippines	Manila[39]

See also

Romania portal

Bucharest portal

• Coat of arms of Bucharest
• List of buildings in Bucharest
• List of Bucharesters
• List of lakes in Bucharest

Notes

References

• Modern history of Bucharest, City Hall of Bucharest
• Şerban Cantacuzino, Două Oraşe Distincte. Revista Secolul XX 4/6 (1997): 11–40
• Ernie Schoffham, Luminiţa MacHedon, Şerban Cantacuzino, Romanian Modernism: The Architecture of Bucharest, 1920–1940
• Romania: Arts & Architecture, Romanian Tourist Office
• Tatiana Murzin, Romanian Education, 2005
• Romanian Education Portal, Site for the Ministry of Education containing lists of all educational establishments.
• Bucharest, the small Paris of the East, on the Museums from Romania web site.
• Bucica, Cristina. Legitimating Power in Capital Cities: Bucharest - Continuity Through Radical Change?PDF (39.0 KB), 2000.

External links

Official sites

• Bucharest: Official administration site
• The Bucharest Prefecture
• RATB (Public Transport Company) official website
• Metrorex (Underground Transport Company) official website
• Presentation of Bucharest Subway
• Bucharest Airport Henri Coanda
• Bucharest Airport Aurel Vlaicu
• (National Railway Company) official website
• (Railway Passenger Transport) official website
• (Romania Bus Passenger) official website

City guides

• Bucharest travel guide from Wikitravel
• Bucharest Interactive map
• Bucharest Historical Monuments Map
• Bucuresti Tonight

Other

• Bucharest between the World Wars: A modernity with fringes, exhibition by the Centre of Excellence in Image Studies (CESI), of the University of Bucharest.
• Bucureştii - un oraş fară istorie ... ??!! / Bucurestiul - inainte de ... ("Bucharest - a city without history ... ??!! / Bucharest - before ..."). Extensive collection of historical photos and drawings.
• Article on Building in Bucharest: The city where anything goes, From 'The Diplomat - Bucharest' magazine
• A red's white elephant 2005 National Review article by Anthony Daniels
• Webshots.com, views from Bucharest
• Bucharest trolleybus
• Asociatia Bucuresti ProUrbe Asociatia sustine proiecte pentru salvarea patrimoniului orasului, pentru un mediu civilizat si ecologic in Bucuresti
• Bucharest-on-the-Seine, article on Bucharest in 19th and 20th centuries

Sectors of Bucharest
	Sector 1 Sector 2 Sector 3 Sector 4 Sector 5 Sector 6

County seats of Romania (alphabetical order by county) Alba Iulia • Arad • Piteşti • Bacău • Oradea • Bistriţa • Botoşani • Braşov • Brăila • Buzău • Reşiţa • Călăraşi • Cluj-Napoca • Constanţa • Sfântu Gheorghe • Târgovişte • Craiova • Galaţi • Giurgiu • Târgu Jiu • Miercurea Ciuc • Deva • Slobozia • Iaşi • Buftea • Baia Mare • Drobeta-Turnu Severin • Târgu Mureş • Piatra Neamţ • Slatina • Ploieşti • Satu Mare • Zalău • Sibiu • Suceava • Alexandria • Timişoara • Tulcea • Vaslui • Râmnicu Vâlcea • Focşani Bucharest (national capital)

From Wikiquote

Quotations on the city of Bucharest, the capital city of Romania (1862 - present):

• "I came to Bucharest two years ago with a legion of conquering heroes. I leave with a troupe of gigolos and racketeers!"
  • German Field Marshal August von Mackensen, on the moral effects of the German occupation of Bucharest during the World War I

• "There is no such place as Budapest. Perhaps you are thinking of Bucharest, ...and there is no such place as Bucharest, either."
  • Robert Benchley, American humourist and actor (source: IMDB)

From Wikitravel

Light show on the Palace of Parliament

Bucharest is Romania's capital and largest city, as well as the most important industrial and commercial center of the country. With 2 million inhabitants in the city proper and more than 2.4 million in the urban area. Bucharest is the second largest city in South Eastern Europe behind Athens.

Understand

Bucharest is the primary entry point into Romania. It typically elicits a wide spectrum of opinions on the part of tourists. Known in the past as "The Little Paris" Bucharest has changed a lot lately and today it has become a very interesting mix of old and new that has little to do with its initial reputation. Finding a 300 years old church near a steel-and-glass building that sit both next to a communist style building is common place in Bucharest. Perhaps "The Big Mix" would be a more appropriate name for the current Bucharest. Some adore it and enjoy its unique charm, while others feel uncomfortable around the gray Communist-era buildings and lack of western style tourist attractions. However, Bucharest offers some excellent attractions, and has, in recent years, cultivated a sophisticated, trendy, and modern sensibility that many have come to expect from a European capital. Bucharest has been undergoing major modernisation programmes in recent years and is still going to continue not if more projects in the years to come. Bucharest is experiencing an economic boom and will be experiencing this boom for many years to come.

Language

The official language is Romanian, a Romance language which claims to be the closest currently-spoken relative to Ancient Latin, but contains around 20% of loan words from Slavonic languages. Most educated people born after about 2000 will speak reasonably good English and will likely be proficient in one or more second Romance languages; most educated people born before about 1970 will speak reasonably good French, Spanish or Italian. The Roma people (Gypsies) speak their native Romany, as well as Romanian, and sometimes English as well. Beyond that, as in any major city, there will be a smattering of other languages like chinesse, arabic, turkish, hungarian.

Climate

Bucharest has, like most of Romania, a temperate-continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. This region of Romania gets all four seasons, although spring is brief and falls mainly in April. The average high daily temperature in summer is about 29ºC/85ºF and in winter about 2ºC/35ºF. It can get really hot and dry during the summer (40ºC/105ºF) and really cold during the winter (-20ºC/-5ºF),even though temperatures below -12ºC/10ºF are extremely rare. Best time to visit is April through June, September through October and early December.

Time

Bucharest is in the Eastern European time zone (UTC+2, with a DST of UTC+3 from April to October).

Get in

By plane

Connections

Bucharest has reasonable connections with most European capitals and with the largest cities in Romania, but it can be difficult to find a direct flight to Bucharest from outside of Europe or the Middle East. Discount air companies have been operating flights to Bucharest since 2004, but it was only in late 2006 - early 2007 that the number of such flights seriously began to grow, so at this point there are low-costs flights to to various destinations in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, the UK, Belgium, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey and Austria.

Airports

Most flights, both international and domestic, land at the Henri Coandă International Airport [1], located in Otopeni, 18 km north of the city downtown. The airport, built in 1968, underwent a massive modernization effort since the late 90's and is set to be further enlarged. It is the main hub for the Romanian flag carrier Tarom [2] and is used by the major international airlines. All concessions inside the airport (shops, cafes, restaurants) are extremely expensive (everything is about twice more expensive than in the city). Avoid exchanging money in the airport, exchange rates are 20-25% worse than what you would find in the city - you are advised to use a credit card at an ATM in the lobby for immediate needs and exchange money downtown. There is a supermarket on the bottom floor (domestic departure) which is a reasonable place to get a snack and/or spend your last few Lei on departure.

The smaller Aurel Vlaicu International Airport [3] was used for commercial flights as early as the 1920s; its present building was finished in 1952 based on a 1930s design. It is located inside the city, in Băneasa, about 4-6 km to the city center and is used primarily by business, charter and low-cost airlines: BlueAir [4], WizzAir [5], Germanwings [6].

Note that this airport is amazingly small (only 3 gates), with outdated facilities and becomes extremely crowded especially during the charter season (June-September and December), being built to handle a tenth of the passengers it actually handles. The runway and taxiways have been thoroughly modernized in 2007, and a new terminal building is under construction. Free wi-fi is available (if you can find a place to sit and power-up your laptop, which is no small task). There is an ATM in the departures hall next to the Blueair check in but it's not always working. The exchange office has bad exchange rates. However, if you walk out of the airport and turn left (towards the city center) you will find several ATMs two blocks down the road. You can buy public transport tickets at a counter at the bus stop on the other side of the road that runs outside the airport.

City transfer

• The Henri Coandă Airport is serviced by train, buses and taxis. The train service is called Henri Coandă Expres. Train tickets can be bought inside the airport at CFR ticket counter (as of March 2009, the price of one ticket is 6 lei). The train station is, however, 2 km away from the airport, but there is a shuttle bus that transfers the passengers to it. The shuttle bus transfer IS INCLUDED in the train ticket. Once you reach the train station, there is another 30 minutes until your reach the main train station Gara de Nord. The train station is rather isolated, and is just a single platform, an island of only a few lights in an ocean of darkness. The total duration of the trip, from airport to the Gara de Nord train station is approximately 50 minutes. From the Gara de Nord train station, you can take public transport (Metro and buses) or you can depart by train towards other cities in Romania. The train service is available between 6 AM and 23 PM. Timetable for Henri Coandă Express is avalible here: [7]
• There are just two bus lines to the city, bus 780 which goes to the main train station Gara de Nord and bus 783 which heads to downtown; they run daily (including on weekends and holidays) from 5:15 - 5:30 AM till 11:00PM. A one way trip with any of them costs 3.5 lei, but for the 783 bus the cheapest option available is a two-trips card which costs 7 lei. Tickets and cards can only be purchased from the booth in front of either the Arrivals or Departures terminals and not from from the driver. Remember to validate your ticket on board the bus. The bus is far superior to the train in terms of both time and cost.
• During the night, only taxis are available from Henri Coandă Airport. The only taxi service allowed to offer transfers from the airport is Fly Taxi (the airport has auctioned the service), all others being pirate taxi services. Up until a few years ago, there was a taxi mafia running there during the night, charging €20-30 to get you to Bucharest (when normally the price would be around €10). Sometimes this still happens, therefore, look for the authorized taxi service, do not bargain, demand that the meter be used, and look for the tariff on the meter (for extra-urban trips, current tariffs are around 2-2.2 lei/km (0.6-0.7 €/km) and the distance to any place within the city is 12-20 km). Fly Taxi's rate 3.5 lei/km (2/2009). Remember that for €30 you can get anywhere in the country by bus and train, so think twice before you decide to pay a taxi driver the same for a drive of less than 10 km.
• Situated in Bucharest proper, Aurel Vlaicu airport is more easily accessible, either by taxi or public transport. Taxi fares should be 1.4-1.6 lei/km (0.4-0.5 €/km). Do not bargain, demand that the meter be used, and remember that downtown Bucharest is about 6-10 km away and there is no place in Bucharest further than 20-25 km. Bus lines 131 and 301 connect it with Piaţa Romană in downtown Bucharest and bus line 205 with the Gara de Nord train station. Bus tickets must be purchased in the big booth at the bus terminal, and cannot be bought from the driver.

By bus

There are bus connections between Bucharest and large cities in Europe (especially in Southern Europe) and also to many large and medium sized cities throughout Romania. Bucharest has several bus terminals: Băneasa (for northern bound routes), Obor (east), Filaret (south), Alexandriei (south-west), Militari (west), and Griviţa (north-west).

The timetables for domestic routes are available here: [8].

By train

Bucharest is linked through direct daily trains to all neighboring countries’ capitals (Belgrade, Budapest, Chişinău, Kiev, Sofia), as well as to Wien, Venice, Thessaloniki, Istanbul, Moscow and of course to main cities in all of Romania’s 41 counties.

All international trains and most long distance internal trains arrive at Gara de Nord (Northern) station, located quite near of the city center, to which it is linked by subway and several buses, trolley, and tramway lines.

Some trains to and from the Black Sea Coast use either Gara de Est-Obor (Eastern) station, or Băneasa station,as well as the main Gara de Nord station;currently the rute between Bucharest and Constanţa,the main city in the black sea area is undergoing modernisation and you shoud expect long delays so if you can it's best to go by the Gara Obor station because it saves around an hour on your trip.

The other three smaller stations (Basarab, Progresul and Republica) are used exclusively for local and regional trains.

The timetables for domestic routes are available here: [9].

Watch out for the shady private taxi services and avoid taking taxis near the stations. Always look to see if the cab driver starts the meter and allert him by saying "aparatul" (ah-pah-RA-tool) while pointing at the meter. There will be drivers offering rides - be extremely wary.

By car

The city’s entrances from the north (the E60 road coming from Braşov), west (the A1 highway from Piteşti), east (the A2 (Sun) highway from Constanţa), south (the E20 road from Giurgiu) and the avenues in the city center are very crowded, especially at rush hours. Inside the city there are few parking spaces and some of the secondary streets are in bad condition.

Get around

Bucharest has one of the most extensive systems of public transport in Europe, even though it can sometimes be confusing and crowded.

Bucharest Metro map

The metro, which has four lines (M1, M2, M3, M4) and covers the city quite extensively, is usually a cheap (2.2 lei for 2 trips, 8 lei for 10 trips and 23 lei for a monthly pass) and easy way to get around even though there are surprisingly few stops in the city center, since the system was originally built to transport workers and commuters from outlying neighborhoods through the city to peripheral industrial areas. If you're staying outside the city center, or even if you want to travel within it, the Metro can be a very fast and convenient way of traveling to your destination, avoiding the traffic jams and crowds that frequently characterize surface transport.

The network is arguably frequent and fairly comfortable, reliable and easy-to-use. Surprisingly for some, it is by far the safest way to travel through the city. Since 2002, Bucharest Metro has embarked on a comprehensive modernization plan, including the replacement of old train-sets with state-of-the-art Bombardier Transportation trains and the renovation of stations and tracks in collaboration with Alstom.

Pipera station

Line M1 starts in the eastern part of the city and then goes through the downtown on a circular route, passing by the main train station Gara de Nord and meeting up with the M2 line (which runs north-south) at Piaţa Unirii and Piaţa Victoriei stations. Line M3 links the western and eastern parts of the city. The central section on the M3 between Eroilor - Nicolae Grigorescu is shared with M1 and trains from both lines run in tandem having the terminus displayed at the front of the cab. Line M4 is a short shuttle line starting from Gara de Nord, planned to eventually link the city with its airports.

Maps of the subway can be found on the Metrorex official site [10].

A bus on line 131

Bucharest has a very complex network of buses, trams and trolleybuses which is, at first glance, fairly confusing to the tourist. This is not because of any inconsistencies within the network, but rather due to the intricate web of hundreds of bus, tram and trolleybus routes found in the city. Once you know your way around the network, however, public surface transport can be a very good way of getting around since there is a bus, tram or trolleybus stop virtually everywhere in this city. The vehicles are usually very frequent, although they can also get terribly crowded at peak hours.

Make sure you know the stop you're getting off at - even though in most trolleybuses and in some modern buses and trams, following stops are announced automatically and displayed on a screen inside the vehicle. However, these displays tend to be not very reliable, pointing to either a wrong stop or not working at all. In addition, the older buses (most commonly found outside the core center) do not have any displays or announcements. If you are uncertain if a stop is the one you want, you can always ask your fellow travelers.

A trolleybus on line 62

The ticketing system uses contact-less smart-cards, called Activ cards [11]. Once bought (you will need some ID to do that) the cards can be loaded with various ticketing options, including some that allow usage on both the subway and surface networks. To validate the card after entering a vehicle (or subway station) hold it still in front of the validating device (an orange box with a small LCD screen) until you hear a short beep. If you do not wish to buy a card, paper tickets valid for one ride on one route are also available (1.3 lei). Be warned that you cannot buy tickets/cards in the vehicles and if caught by an inspector (controlor) you could be fined with 50 lei. Some buses still use the old system of paper ticket, essentially a strip of paper that needs to be validated inside the bus. Be sure to validate your ticket, as enforcers can be very strict, even to visitors unfamiliar with the system.

You can check the 2004 surface transport map here: [12] (note: some routes / numbers have changed). A constantly updated site with detailed route information, schedule and interactive maps, with both English and Romanian interfaces can be found here: [13].

Rent-a-car

Car rental in the Pache Protopopescu Street or Europcar are all at the city and airport. Other local rentals also throughout the city. The average price for a day rental is about 20 EUROS for the cheapest car.

By taxi

There are a lot of taxi companies in Bucharest and you'll easily find a cab here. But be aware! Don't take any independent cab drivers, but use only the services of big taxi companies. Cars from these companies have the rates displayed on the door. Each door used to contain an initial "sitting" fee (between 1.6 to 3 lei), a per km fee (1.4 to 3.6 lei) and per hour fee. However, taxis now display a single number which is both the initial "sitting fee" and the per km fee. The per hour fee is not listed, but should be around ten times the per km fee. Independent have significantly higher fees (up to ten times the average!) If a taxi does not display these prices on the door it is best not to take it and find another, as you'll probably be charged a rate five to ten times higher than usual. Also, it should be noted that some taxis now have a low "nighttime rate" listed in a large font with an expensive daytime rate listed in a small font. So, read carefully and remember that "noapte" means night. And you should insist the driver starts the meter, and pay the sum displayed on it. If you are traveling outside the city limits (say to or from the airport) prices per km and per hour are often doubled, or an extra 10-15 lei is added to the fare. Be wary of taking taxis from places where a lot of tourists pass through, especially from Gara de Nord. Many of these taxis may be operated by con men. Tourists being asked to pay large sums to recover their luggage from the trunk or even muggings after taxi rides are not unheard of.

• Parliament Palace - In the center of Bucharest, near Piaţa Unirii (Union Plazza), the tourist can see the world's second largest building (after the US Pentagon), formerly named "Casa Poporului" (People's House). The building, which was built in 1984 by Nicolae Ceauşescu, spans 12 stories, 3100 rooms and covers over 330,000 sq m. 1/9 of Bucharest was reconstructed to accommodate this magnificent massive building and its surroundings. There are 30-45 minute tours every half hour which lead through the building's vast collection of marble rooms and culminates in an impressive view from Nicolae Ceauşescu's balcony. The marble and all the original decorations are 100% from Romania. Tickets cost 15 RON and are free for students (proof required). The tourist entrance is on the north side of the building.

• Old Center - A part of the city's historical heart was not demolished by Nicolae Ceauşescu. The area (stretching approximatively between the Dâmboviţa river to the south, Calea Victoriei) to the west, Calea Moşilor to the east and Regina Elisabeta boulevard to the north) today contains an assortment of middle 19th century buildings, ruins of the Wallachian princes' medieval court, churches, bank headquarters, a few hotels, clubs, restaurants and shops. Narrow cobblestoned streets retain the names of the ancient guilds that resided on them. So far too little has been done for the preservation and reconditioning of many historical buildings and streets there, but the area is now in a rehabilitation project set to be finished after 2012.

• Revolution Square (Piaţa Revoluţiei) - Site of part of the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Centrally located, it is not a long walk from the other squares, Gara de Nord, or the Parliament Palace. There is a tall monument in the center of the square in memory of those who died during the revolution.

• The Arc of Triumph (Arcul de Triumf).

• Village Museum –an original open air museum created in 1934, it currently has around 300 traditional buildings (including churches, workshops, mills etc.) plus furniture, pottery, clothing gathered from villages in every region of the country in an effort to showcase the traditional way of life of the Romanians. Occasionally hosts folkloric and traditional crafts festivals. Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr.28-30

Museum of the Romanian Peasant

• Museum of the Romanian Peasant –also dedicated to the traditional way of life, it focuses mainly on traditional interior decoration, tools, clothing and artifacts. Again, it sometimes hosts folkloric and traditional crafts festivals. In 1996, it won the European Museum of the Year Award. Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr. 3 [14]

• Art Museum -located in the building of the former Royal Palace, has collections of ancient, modern and contemporary Romanian art as well as exhibitions of rare European art dating as early as the 14th century.Calea Victoriei, nr. 49-53

• National Museum of Contemporary Art [15] Recently opened inside a converted wing of the Palace of the Parliament, in what had been the private apartments of Ceauşescu, the museum features fresh exhibitions from Romania's burgeoning art scene.

• “Curtea Veche” (Old Court) Museum –the ruins of the crown palace of the Wallachian princes, some parts dating as early as the 16th century. It’s around an earlier fortification located in this same place that Bucharest began to develop.Strada Franceză, nr. 25-31

• Cotroceni Palace Museum –has collections of objects that belonged to the former Romanian royal family. Today it is also the residence of the Romanian presidents.Bd. Geniului, nr. 1

• National History Museum -located in a neoclassical late 19th century building, has exhibits documenting the evolution of society on Romania’s territory from the Paleolithic until today, a replica of Trajan’s Column in Rome and a very interesting numismatics collection. It is undergoing some remodeling and only two exhibitions are open to the public as of June 2009. Calea Victoriei, nr. 12

• Bucharest History Museum –situated in the Şuţu Palace, built in 1834, has collections related to the development of Bucharest from a small 14th century fortress into Romania’s capital.Bd. I.C. Brătianu, nr. 2

• Military History Museum –has collections of weapons dating since the prehistoric times and permanent exhibitions dedicated to important military events, including the Romanian revolution of 1989, as well as an outdoor exhibit of relatively modern weaponry, including cannons, tanks, helicopters etc.Strada M. Vulcănescu, nr. 125-127

• Jewish Community History Museum –documenting the life of this community in the region since ancient times and through the Holocaust.Strada Mămulari, nr. 3

• “Grigore Antipa” Natural History Museum –has over 300.000 exhibits illustrating the transformations of Earth and the evolution of species. Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr. 1

• Geology Museum –has a large collection of minerals, rocks and fossils.Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr. 2

• “Dimitrie Leonida” Technology Museum –is set to be relocated in a wing of the Parliament Palace

• Aviation Museum –open-air display of various types of aircraft.Otopeni airport

• Railways Museum–rarely opened.Calea Griviţei, nr. 139B

• Firefighters Museum –likewise.Bd. Ferdinand, nr. 33

There are also a number of smaller museums, housing private collections, notably the “D. Minovici" Western European Arts Museum located in a beautiful eclectic villa (strada N. Minovici, nr.3) and numerous memorial houses dedicated to various literary, scientifical and political personalities.

• Curtea Veche (Old Court) Church –built around 1559, used to be the coronation church of the Wallachian princes.Near Piata Unirii.
• Patriarhiei Church (1658) and Mitropoliei Palace (1708) –the residence of the Orthodox Patriarch, sort of a small Romanian Vatican.Located on the hill overlooking Piata Unirii.

The Stavropoleos Church

• Stavropoleos Church –built in the early 18th century, has some stunning decorative sculpture and amazing frescoes. A little jewel. In the old center area.
• Colţea Church – (1702) it’s the first church in Bucharest built in the Brancovenesc style. Near Piaţa Universităţii.
• Sfântu Gheorghe Nou (New St. George) Church –dating from the 18th century, houses the tombs of the princes Constantin Brâncoveanu and Ion Mavrocordat. At half way between Piaţa Universităţii and Piaţa Unirii.
• Kretzulescu Church –another interesting example of the Brancovenesc style (1722). On the left side of the National Art Museum.
• Plumbuita Monastery –built in the last half of the 16th century, it once housed the first printing house in the region (1582); today has a religious objects museum and a large park. Relatively far from the city center, on Şoseaua Colentina.

Do

There are two free weekly guides published in Bucharest featuring all the events of the week, as well as listing the addresses of most restaurants, clubs, pubs, bars, cinemas etc. in the city. One is Şapte Seri (Seven Nights), the other 24-FUN. They have small sections in English available.

• Parks

- Cişmigiu Garden is a lovable small park, the oldest in the city (designed 1845-1860), located in its very center. Has boat rental in summer, ice skating in winter time, a reasonable restaurant and several bars.

- Herăstrău Park (the largest of several parks around man-made lakes on the Colentina River running through the city’s north and east side) houses the Village Museum, an open-air theater, various sports grounds, something like an amusement park and numerous restaurants and clubs. Has boat rental and boat-trips in summer.

A park in northern Bucharest

- The Botanical Garden, established in 1884 near Cotroceni Palace, displays a variety of plants from all over the world, including an indoor tropical plants exhibition. Small entry fee.

- Carol Park (designed in 1906), a quiet oasis not so far from Piata Unirii, has an open-air theater replicating a Roman arena and another construction replicating a medieval fortress. It houses the tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as an infamous mausoleum built for the Communist nomenclature.

- Tineretului Park, just one subway station south of Piaţa Unirii, has a large multipurpose building (Sala Polivalenta) used for various concerts, sporting events, exhibitions etc., an amusement park for children, boat-rental, several restaurants and bars.

- Titan Park (also known as IOR Park), a green oasis amongst Communist era high rise apartment buildings in the eastern part of the city (Titan subway station), has a charming wooden church as well as several lake-side clubs.

• Cafe Hazard, Baratiei (coming from Unirii towards Universitate, take your first right after the fornetti store and then your first left.), ☎ 0727700107. 3:00PM-5:00AM. A rock bar, with a great atmosphere open thinking, great beer and great people  edit
• Club A, (near University Square), ☎ +4021 313 55 92, [16]. 6PM - 6AM. The first and oldest club in Bucharest, with nearly 40 years tradition (this means amazingly much for a city where most clubs are less than 5 years old). Since the beginning, it was and remains a student pub and club, with an unpretentious but welcoming atmosphere, good music and low prices.  edit
• Fire Club, (near Lipscani), ☎ +4021-312.70.19, [17]. The most well known rock and metal club in Bucharest. By day a pub and outdoor cafe  edit
• Expirat/OtherSide, Str. Lipscani nr. 5/Str. Brezoianu nr. 4, ☎ +40 73 EXPIRAT (office@expirat.org), [18]. Very lively and popular club, divided in two sections - Expirat, the old club with rock/dance/hiphop music, and its newer offspring, the OtherSide, where DJs spin electronica. Themed nights, very expat-friendly, great cocktails and very reasonable prices.  edit
• Twice, (near Unirii Square). One of the largest clubs in Bucharest, with two separate dance floors and two giant bars  edit;one of the livest clubs in the city,with reasonable priced drinks and usually pretty crowded.
• Planter's, strada Mendeleev 8 (near Piaţa Amzei), ☎ +40723 559 908 (rezervari@plantersclub.ro), [19]. Geared mostly to the ex-pat community and rather expensive  edit
• Bamboo, Str. Ramuri Tei 39 (in Tei Park), ☎ +40722 132 283 (contact@bamboosportingclub.ro), [20]. It's the largest club in Bucharest. Upmarket and expensive.  edit
• The Office, Str. Tache Ionescu 2 (in the Piaţa Romană area), ☎ 4021 211 67 48 (contact@theoffice.ro), [21].  edit
• Queen’s Club, E-4, Str. Mihai Bravu 32, tel. 0722 75 42 93, (office@queensclub.ro), [22]. Like Gay clubs the world over, this place has become tremendously popular with a non-Gay set fed up with the meat market atmosphere at so many of the city’s other locations. That, together with superb music, makes this an essential stop for hedonists of all persuasions. Shake it. It can become quite crowded so watch yourself! price="Entry costs 20.00 lei, but that includes 10.00 lei worth of drinks at the bar." Hours="Open 23:00 - 05:00, Thu 21:00 - 05:00, Sun 20:00 - 05:00. May be closed Mon, Tue, Wed."  edit
• Fratelli, Str. Nicolae Golescu 5, tel. 311 66 76, (office@fratelli.ro), [23].  edit

Bank headquarters near Piaţa Victoriei

Major brand-name shops and upscale boutiques are concentrated along the main boulevard from Piaţa Romană to Piaţa Unirii and on the small streets adjacent to this boulevard, but also on Calea Victoriei, on Calea Dorobanţilor (the part between Blvd. Iancu de Hunedoara and Piaţa Dorobanţilor) or on Calea Moşilor's section between Blvd. Carol I and Piaţa Obor.

Shopping Malls

In the past years numerous modern shopping centers have sprung up in the city (and even more are in construction), the best known being:

• Bucharest Mall, Calea Vitan 55-59, tel. 4021 3276700 (fax +40 21 3209209, mailto:office@bucurestimall.com.ro), [24] - the first one to be completed, in 1999.
• Jolie Ville, str. Erou Iancu Nicolae nr. 103 bis, Voluntari, judetul Ilfov, tel. 4021 2068001 (fax 40 21 2068 002, mailto:office@jolieville.ro), [25]
• Plaza Romania, Bd. Timişoara nr. 26, tel. 4021 3195050 (fax 4021 3195051, mailto:office@anchormall.ro), [26]
• Unirea Shopping Center, Piaţa Unirii, tel. 40213030307 (mailto:office@unireashop.ro), [27]
• City Mall, Sos. Olteniţei nr.2, tel. 40(021)3114260 (fax 40(021) 3193521, mailto:office@city-mall.ro), [28]
• Băneasa Shopping City, Sos Bucureşti-Ploieşti nr.42D, tel. 40213057195 [29] - opened in April 2008
• Liberty Center in section 5, opened 31st October 2008

More shopping jalls in Bucharest and its surrounding area are being currently constructed or in the planning stages of being constructed

Book Stores

Book stores with a good supply of English language books are difficult to find in Bucharest but there are a few places mainly situated in the center.

• Cărtureşti, str Arthur Verona nr.13, tel 4021 3173459 (0721518351, 0788758408) [30] - A few blocks south of Piaţa Romană on the east side of Bd. Magheru. The store is set back the street and has a small park in front of it.

• Nautilus [31] is an English language bookstore near the Kiseleff Park, mostly with fantasy and science fiction books.

• Anthony Frost English Bookshop, Calea Victorei, Nr. 45, Sector 1, Bucharest, Romania (The bookstore near the Art Museum. Walk down the right side of the large building just to the left of a very old church. The bookstore is near the back.), ☎ 0040213115138 (vald@librariaengleza.ro). is a recently-opened English language bookstore. Lots of reasonably-priced books and a comics (mostly manga) section.  edit
• Dalles - situated near Piaţa Universităţii (University square)

Also, the biggest chain of libraries in Romania called "Diverta" has in every location a department with English/German/French books.

• Taj Indian Restaurant (Calea 13 Septembrie, 127-131,), Sector 5, Bucureşti (Near Marriott hotel), ☎ 410.18.20, [32]. 12.00 - 24.00. Good Indian restaurant near Marriott hotel. A good place to be for vegetarians specially. There are not too many vegetarian friendly places in Bucharest, a few Indian restaurants and a one or two other vegetarian friendly restaurants. The restaurant in Intercontinental also serve some vegetarian dishes. little pricey.  edit
• POEM Restaurant, Suter Str. 23-25 (in the Carol park area), +40-21-3363377, [33]. Bucharest's most exclusive restaurant, in the famously elegant CPH atmosphere. Excellent international chefs, but very pricey.
• Red Lion Cafe, strada Academiei 1A (in the Universităţii area). Nice atmosphere, budget prices, very good pizza.
• Jariştea, strada George Georgescu 50 - 52 (near the crossroad of Regina Maria Blvd. and Libertăţii Blvd), +40 021 335 33 38 (mailto:stabiliment@jaristea.ro), [34], M-Su 11AM -last customer. Beautiful historically themed restaurant, live traditional music, old Romanian specialties...but always check the bill thoroughly. Reservations are compulsory.
• Burebista (vânătoresc), strada Batiştei 14 (in front of the US embassy, near the National Theater), +40 021 211 89 29 (mailto:restaurant@restaurantburebista.ro), [35]. The hunting orientated place of the Burebista restaurant chain, it has bear, wild boar, venison etc. specialties at relatively affordable prices.
• Cafeanua Actorilor, aka the Actor's Cafe, strada Batişte (located at the National Theater). Attracts a lot of Americans, because of good food, and the U.S. Embassy and Intercontinental are right across the street. The salads, especially the one called "Act II" is a meal all by itself. Service tends to be excruciatingly slow, driving away many locals.
• Chelsea Bistro-Cafe, Str. Joule Michelet nr. 9 (just off B-dul Magheru about halfway between Piaţa Romană and Piaţa Universităţii), ☎ 0788 330 130, 0788 330 129, 317 33 78. Offers many different kinds of pizza and a wide variety of drinks. 14-28 lei/32 cm pizza.  edit
• La Mama (6 outlets around Bucharest, Barbu Văcărescu 3, Delea Veche 51, Episcopiei 9, and Carrefour Orhideea being the largest ones, +40-21-2124086 [36]) - a favorite amongst locals, focusing on traditional Romanian food. Reasonable prices (and the standard by which most locals would grade restaurants).
• Cuptorul cu lemne, B-dul Pache Protopopescu nr. 63, +40-21-2522414 [37], another favorite with locals, having one of the best pizzas in Romania. A nice pizza place with a nice outdoor summer garden and a relaxed atmosphere (the restaurant also houses a caricature club). Low prices. Tends to be very crowded during weekends.
• City Grill, a chain of steak restaurants (7 locations in Bucharest [38]), usually frequented by locals during the lunch break. One of the few places in Bucharest selling natural grape juice (must). Prices slightly higher than average, but with larger portions than average.
• Casa di David, Soseaua Nordului nr. 7-9, Tel. 021/ 232 47 15. Opened in 2005, it is a hangout of the city's nouveau riche. It comes complete with a German car ads at the entrance and an extensive wine list. Food (Italian inspired) and ambience are at best good, but portions are small and prices are far above average for Bucharest. A 3-course meal for two with local wine will set you back over 400 Lei.
• Shark (Turkish restaurant), Strada Buzeşti nr. 35 (just off Piaţa Buzeşti near the McDonald's there), ☎ +4021 312 31 44, 312 31 55, 312 31 66. 11:00AM to 8:00PM. You choose cafeteria-style from the tasty, often spicy Turkish specialties on display, then they are served at your table. The amiable and gracious multilingual host will aid you. No alcohol. 20-40 lei/person.  edit
• Rossetya, 9 Str Dimitrie Bolintineanu, classic style restaurant with prices a bit higher than average, but with a very neat and cultivated atmosphere, outstandingly friendly english-speaking personnel, high food quality.
• silviu's restaurant, 44, Louis Pasteur street (cotroceni), (gabil74@hotmail.com). 11a.m. to 1a.m.. unique location,excellent cuisine,outstanding service,near Bucharest Opera House and Cotroceni Presidential Palace 20-40 euro.  edit

• Becker Brau, Street Turturelelor 11 (near Alba Iulia Square), ☎ +4021 335 56 50. Mo-Fr 11.30AM-midnight, Sa-Su 11.30AM-3AM. German beer and foods. Beer is brewed on the premises, making it one of the few microbreweries in town  edit
• Piranha, Splaiul Independenţei 313 (in Regie, the student campus of Bucharest, next to the Polytechnic University), ☎ +4021 315 91 29. A large pub, with a huge outdoor terrace in the middle of a wooded area, featuring a small collection of exotic animals. One of the few outdoor places where the summer heat is actually bearable. A favorite amongst students, with amazingly low prices (a beer is 2.5 lei, about €0.75). However, quite crowded and sometimes noisy.  edit
• Caru' cu bere, strada Stavropoleos 3-5 (in the Historical Center area, next to the National History Museum), ☎ +4021 313 75 60 (rezervari@carucubere.ro), [39]. The city's best known and oldest pub (opened 1879), a magnificent late 19th century setting - looks more like a museum. Prices are a bit high, service is excellent.  edit
• Bavaria, strada Orhideelor 19 (two bus stops away from Gara de Nord), ☎ +4021 316 64 03, +40748 511 511, [40]. A large pub and club in Regie, with German beer and a mock-German atmosphere. House music and strip club with Playboy and Penthouse parties on weekends.  edit
• La Motoare, (on the roof of the National Theater, Universitate Square), ☎ +40213158508. An outdoor pub on the roof of the National Theater, offering great views over the city. Mostly frequented by university students. Rock music and movies in the evening  edit

• Alia Accommodation Apartments, 18 Balcescu Boulevard, ☎ +40(21) 314 7651 (mail@aliagrup.ro), [41]. checkin: 13.00 - 00:00; checkout: 04:00 - 12:00. Serviced apartments for business and vacation travellers. €40 - €60. (44.4382,26.1011) edit
• Rent Bucharest, Bd Balcescu, Bucharest tel. +4 0751.066.876 , office@rentbucharest.net- Luxury corporate apartments in Downtown Bucharest, for long term rental or short torm; business traveller oriented. Prices starting with 45 EUR.

Hostels

• Vila Helga, str. Mihai Eminescu nr. 184 (near Piaţa Romană), ☎ +4021 2120828 (villa_helga@yahoo.com), [42]. 10 or 10.5 euro/night (bedsheets and breakfast included).  edit
• East Hostel, Sfinţii Voievozi No.1, ☎ +40721099328 (info@easthostel.com). Fancy budget accommodation from €13/night (breakfast included).  edit
• Butterfly Villa Hostel, Ştirbei Vodă nr. 96 (enter around corner off str. C. Stahi) (2 minutes walk from Gradina Cişmigiu, accessible by bus #178 from Gara de Nord), ☎ +40 741 721 169 (info@butterfly-villa.com), [43]. A quiet, relaxed hostel, the perfect oasis for the weary traveler in the midst of the bustling city. 12 euro including breakfast.  edit
• The Funky Chicken Hostel, Str. Gen. Berthelot 63, ☎ +40213121425 (funkychickenhostels@hotmail.com), [44]. Close to Gara de Nord (10 min), the main squares, and other attractions around €10/night.  edit
• Vila Gabriela, Str. Mărgăritarului 18, Vila A 104, Otopeni, judetul Ilfov, (just outside Bucharest on the way to the international airport), ☎ 40(021) 2362053 (pensiuneagabriela@yahoo.com). The place is a very nice big house managed by a friendly couple, Carmina and Vlad. Carmina can speak English, French and Italian. The rooms are clean and welcoming. The double room costs 25 euro/night (you can pay in euro) with a shared toilet. If you want the best room, you'll also get your own toilet for 35 euro/night. The breakfast is always included..  edit

Budget hotels

• Marna, Calea Buzesti, nr 3, (rezervari@hotelmarna.ro), [45]. €20-€40/night.  edit
• Cameliei, Strada Cameliei, nr. 37, ☎ 0040788776456, [46]. €25-€31/night.  edit
• Coco's, bd. Dinicu Golescu, no.29, ☎ 0040728401010 (rezervari@cernahotel.ro), [47]. €20-€55/night.  edit
• Domino, Str.Basarabilor nr.10, ☎ +40216854504 (info@hoteldomino.ro, fax: +40216291307), [48]. €10-€30/night.  edit
• Carpaţi, str. Matei Millo nr. 16, ☎ 0040(021)''3150140 (rezervari@hotelcarpatibucuresti.ro, fax: 0040(021)3121857), [49]. Located in one of the oldest parts of Bucharest, directly between Calea Victoriei and Grădina Cişmigiu with less than a 15 minute walk to the University metro station, hotel Carpaţi is an excellent place for tourists on a budget, offering small but very affordable rooms in a clean and welcoming atmosphere. €40-€85/night.  edit

Camping

• Camping Băneasa/Casa Alba, Aleea Privighetorilor 1-3 (at the edge of the Băneasa Forest, close to the Băneasa Airport), [50]. Space for up to 80 caravans or 120 tents, running water, showers, toilets, kitchen. It is the only camping site in Bucharest proper. Note that it is quite far from the center of the city, and, during rush hour, it may take well over 1 hour to reach downtown.  edit

Mid-range

Hotels

• Dalin Center Hotel, Sos.Ştefan Cel Mare 33A, ☎ +4021-211-0070, [51]. Dalin Center Hotel is a new hotel, with a particular interior design and modern facilities. €49-€59/night.  edit
• Ambasador, Blvd. Magheru nr 8-10, ☎ +40213159080 (hotel@ambasador.ro hotel@ambasador.ro, fax: +40213123595), [52]. €56-€99/night.  edit
• Capitol, Calea Victoriei 29, ☎ +4021315 80 30 (fax: +4021312 41 69), [53]. Comfortable, though admittedly not quite hassle-free, 100-year-old three-star hotel with big rooms and enormous bathrooms, near Cercul Militar. €55-€75/night.  edit
• Ramada Majestic, Calea Victoriei nr. 38-40, ☎ +4021 3102715 (reservations@majestic.ro, fax: +4021 3102799), [54]. €80-€180/night.  edit
• Suter Inn, Aleea Suter nr. 3, ☎ 004021'' 3373939 (hotelsuterinn@gmail.com, fax: 00 4021 3371133), [55]. Located near Carol Park, the only hotel nearest Patriarchy and at short distance to The Palace of Parliament €69-€99/night.  edit
• Le Boutique Hotel Moxa, 4 Mihail Moxa Street, ☎ +4021'' 6505555 (reservations@hotelmoxa.com), [56]. Four star hotel, centrally located. €80-€110/night.  edit
• Casa Victor, Str. Emanoil Porumbaru nr. 44 (on a quiet side street parallel to B-dul Aviatorilor a few blocks north of Parcul Kiseleff and a few blocks south of the Aviatorilor metro station), ☎ +4021 222 57 23 or 222 96 26 (hotel@casavictor.ro, fax: +4021 222 94 36), [57]. checkout: 11:00AM. €55-€140/night.  edit
• Crowne Plaza, B-dul Poligrafiei nr. 1, ☎ +4021 224 00 34 (fax: +4021 318 13 02), [58]. 5***** from €80/night.  edit
• angelo Airporthotel Bucharest, 283 Calea Bucurestilor (The hotel offers complimentary airport shuttle), ☎ +40 21 20 36500 (info@angelo-bucharest.com, fax: ++40 21 20 36510), [59]. Located within 300 meters of Henri Coanda International Airport from €95/night.  edit
• Ibis-Nord, Calea Grivitei nr. 143, ☎ 40(021)''2222722 (reservations@ibisaccor.ro, fax: 40(021)2222723), [60]. from €45/night.  edit
• K+K Hotel Elisabeta, Str. Slanic 26, ☎ +40-21-3029 280 (hotel.elisabeta@kkhotels.co.ro, fax: +40-21-3118 632), [61]. Located in the center of Bucharest. From here you can easily reach the University, business quarter, city center as well as the famous Cismigiu Gardens.  edit

• Alia Accommodation Apartments, Bd. Balcescu nr. 18 (Since the apartments are situated in different buildings, please contact the staff in order to arrange the check-in.), ☎ 4(021) 314 7551 (fax: 4(021) 313 3262). checkin: 13-midnight; checkout: 04-noon. €40-70/day.  edit

• Hilton-Athénée Palace, str. Episcopiei nr. 1-3, ☎ 40(021)'' 303 3777 (sales.bucharest@hilton.com, fax: 40(021) 3152121), [62].  edit
• Howard Johnson Grand Plaza, Calea Dorobanţilor nr. 5-7, ☎ +4021'' 2015000 (mailto:sales@hojoplaza.ro, fax: +4021 2011888), [63].  edit
• Carol Parc Hotel, [64]. 5***** Bucharest's premiere luxury hotel, also the most expensive in town. Located near the beautiful Carol park, it has the best view of the entire city. This hotel is fully booked most of the time, mostly by business clientèle due to its exceptionally good services.  edit
• El Greco, str. Jean Louis Calderon nr. 16, ☎ 040021'' 3158141 (office@hotelelgreco.ro, fax: 0040021 3158898), [65]. 4**** is situated in the heart of Bucharest , near to the commercial and cultural zone. El Greco Hotel , founded in 1896 and recently redecorated and arranged , is offering to its clients an incursion in the world of smart and good taste.  edit
• Intercontinental, Blvd. Nicolae Bălcescu nr. 4, ☎ 4021''310202 (fax: 4021 3120486).  edit
• Lido, Blvd. Magheru nr. 5-7, ☎ +4021314.4930 (hotel@lido.ro, fax: +4021 312.1414), [66].  edit
• Opera, str. Brezoianu nr. 37, ☎ ''004021'' 3124855 (info@hotelopera.ro, fax: 00 4021 3124858), [67].  edit
• JW Marriott Bucharest Grand, Calea 13 Septembrie nr. 90, ☎ +40 21 4030000 (marriott.bucharest@marriotthotels.com, fax: +40 21 403000), [68].  edit
• Parliament, strada Izvor nr. 106, ☎ +40 21 411 9990 (info@parliament-hotel.ro), [69].  edit

Stay safe

Buses are safe, but use your common sense, and put your things in internal pockets, just to be 100% sure. Taking taxis from areas frequented by foreign tourists may also pose a threat as some of these taxis may be operated by con men waiting for an unsuspecting victim. This is especially true for taxis around Gara de Nord where their associates actively try to lure you into such cars. Tactics range anywhere between overcharging you to taking you to an ATM and having armed associated forcing you to withdraw large sums of money. If possible, avoid taking cabs from Gara de Nord unless you are familiar with the taxi operators there.

As strange as it sounds, you'll see that Bucharest is a far safer city than its western European counterparts. Statistically Bucharest is one of the safest capitals in Europe, far safer than cities like Berlin, London, Rome, etc.

Bucharest has perhaps the largest population of stray dogs for a city in eastern Europe (numbering around a million). Although their numbers are gradually decreasing due to projects by the City Hall, they still remain a threat to safety as at least ten people have to be hospitalized every day for painful dog attacks, and, at night, they tend to form packs which greatly increases their danger. Rabies vaccinations are recommended but not required, but there have been no rabies cases in Bucharest since 1979. Most dogs will not give you a problem unless you go out of your way to pester them, but many dogs have been treated poorly. Be extremely wary of them, and do not approach a stray dog if you are alone. It is perhaps best to walk around in a group or walk where you see other people. As of 2009, stray dogs are an ever more rare sighting in the city center.

Like most other big cities, walking around at night isn't safe in some parts of the city like Pantelimon, Ferentari, Giulesti, and the Gara de Nord area. If you must travel into these neighbourhoods, it's safer to take a taxi.

Gara de Nord is not particularly dangerous to walk in but avoid suspicious-looking characters, and if you feel that you are being followed, just walk into the station. Gara de Nord and its surroundings are populated by homeless people and children. Be careful, as many street children use an amoniac-based drug and may be dangerous. As heartbreaking as this problem is, it's best to avoid any contact. If you do wish to give them something, buy food for them, don't give them money. Ferentari is a gypsy enclave in Bucharest and, while not as dangerous as it used to be, it's not advisable to walk there at night. For the traveler, there is nothing of interest there so you should have no reason to go there to begin with.

The unofficial red light district is Mătăsari, which is also a popular place for clubbers and pubs; you can walk there without any worries because it's always crowded and lively, but avoid talking to strangers in that particular area, especially gypsies. As of 2009 there have been a lot of crackdowns on pimps and prostitutes in the Matasari area, so be careful or you might wind up spending a night in jail and with a hefty fine if caught soliciting.

In the event that you do get caught in a police raid, do not attempt to bribe your way out of it with so many of them around as you might get into serious trouble. Police are more inclined to take bribes from locals than from foreigners and please be responsible and do not contribute to this phenomenon that has been plaguing this country for so many years. Police corruption has been vigorously fought in the past years, and it is not as generalized as it used to be in the 1990s. It's always better to walk on boulevards and avoid alleys and backstreets.

The crime rate is low, but a traveler must always be cautious. Violent attacks are very low, but if attacked just yell "Ajutor!". It is very difficult for anyone to get away with violent crime because as everything is packed so closely together, any loud noise will attract attention. This is truly a city that doesn't sleep. You'll find people out and around at all hours in most parts of the city. Police men are pretty friendly and the younger ones speak English, so you can ask directions. In the event that you do need to report a crime to the police, do not hesitate and proceed to the nearest police station. They will often help you to the best of their ability.

One must be incredibly careful as a pedestrian in Bucharest. Drivers are inconsiderate and often do not obey traffic signals. NEVER assume a car will stop for you at a red light--be vigilant at all times. This is definitely the biggest hasard in Bucharest, not so much in the daytime, when crowded streets make it impossible to drive cars at high speeds, but, at night, the streets clear out, a lot of illegal races taking place with reckless driving on main boulevards.

Stay healthy

It is generally NOT recommended to drink tap water, mostly because of the old pipe network that the city has at its disposal, and the huge amounts of chlorine added into the water. You should buy bottled water, available in 2 liter bottles (carbonated - apă minerală/acidulată, or non-carbonated - apă plată; about 2.0-2.5 lei/bottle), or in 5 liter bottles (non-carbonated, about 3.0-5.0 lei/bottle).

Those with allergies may find Bucharest annoying in that it is both hot and very dusty in the summer, with temperatures easily exceeding 40 C in July and August, so bring whatever you might need to stay comfortable. Please note that there are very limited shaded areas in Bucharest, so, during the summer, sun strokes and heat strokes can be very dangerous.

Pharmacies are usually open between 9 AM and 6 PM, but many will stay open through the night. In Romania, there are relatively few over-the-counter drugs available, but pharmacists are allowed to dispense limited quantities of some prescription drugs (such as pain relief medicine) for what they see as immediate needs. Bucharest has 6 designated emergency hospitals and a modern ambulance service, plus a large number of additional public and private hospitals, clinics, and dental practices.

Get out

SUMMER TIME

• Snagov is a small town 20 km north of Bucharest, and a quick escape from the city for many locals, with its big lake and beaches. Visit the small monastery on the island in the middle of the lake, where the grave of Vlad III lies (better known as Dracula or Vlad The Impaler). (Note that the route from the highway to the monastery is not very well signposted from the highway and quite hard to get to, and you will need to rent a boat)
• Mogoşoaia is yet another small town close to Bucharest (5 km), featuring a large late 17th century palace in the unique Brâncovenesc style.
• Buşteni get a trip to our small town from the Prahova Valley by train, take the Gondola lift and see the Omu mountain, The Babele or our Natural-Made Sphinx.
• Sinaia is easily seen as a day trip from Bucharest (taking the train is the recommended option). Do not miss the beautiful Peleş Castle.
• Bucharest is one of the starting points for trips inside Romania. See the country article for longer trips.

From LoveToKnow 1911

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

English

Wikipedia has an article on:

Bucharest

Wikipedia

Proper noun

Bucharest

1. The capital city of Romania.

Derived terms

• Bucharestian
• Bucharester

Translations

See also

• Bucureşti