Bucharest – the name meaning city of joy – is our biggest and most cosmopolite city. It’s trade mark is the mixture of eastern and western style in everything: architecture, food, fun and people. No longer the Little Paris of the East (because of the communist touch), Bucharest, our city that never sleeps, became in the past years a happy and lively place, yet remained unusual and authentic.
Bucharest has 37 museums, 22 theaters, opera houses and concert halls, 18 art galleries and several libraries and bookstores. Tourists from the world over come to Bucharest to enjoy the sights and sounds of the historic architecture and culture that is experiencing a new awakening. The city reflects an interesting heritage of mixed cultures influenced by the old Roman aristocracy educated in France, the German King Carol I and the communist regime.
Bucharest it's home to the world’s heaviest building. The Palace of Parliament - The International Conference Centre (Congress Venue) it is the world's second-largest office building in surface (after the Pentagon) and the third largest in volume (after Cape Canaveral in the U.S. and the Great Pyramid in Egypt).
...”Far cheaper than Prague or Budapest, Bucharest offers much of the culture of the neighboring capitals without the crowds”...
...”The cityscape is equally vibrant, with Byzantine churches crumbling next to palatial Beaux-Arts town houses and minimalist International-style blocks”...
...”It’s impossible to overstate the pomposity of the Palace of Parliament ( the second largest building in the world), which still carries its Ceausescu-era name, Casa Poporului (or House of the People)”...
New York Times – Evan Rail (“Bucharest – Why go now?”)
The Old City – the former ‘Little Paris of the East”, is the most lively part of the city, where the cafes and restaurants are countless (some hidden up high in the buildings), the streets are packed with people and the noise of happy chats hovers around until late night hours. The Old Town is a wonderfully enjoyable place and the amazing architecture just adds up to the experience.
Romania has a long history of wine producing, and tasty food has always been a part of the Romanian culture. Almost anywhere you eat the food is delicious. Romanian cuisine has some Hungarian, Germanic and Turkish influences but still maintains its identifiable character.
But besides tasty food, Romania is home to some very old, traditional restaurants with wonderful interiors, painted ceilings and ornate woodwork. Some of the most famous ones are located in Bucharest’s historic center, like Caru’ cu Bere, Hanu’ Berarilor (located in a historic house that once belonged to Elena Lupescu, mistress of King Carol II), Hanu’ lui Manuc, Crama Domneasca, or Casa Doina.
Caru' cu Bere - Enjoy a brew under the gorgeous painted vaults of Caru' cu Bere, the Old Town’s most famous beer hall. It may be a tourist trap, but it’s hard not to get to swept up in the fun of the traditional costume, live music and tankard waving. The restaurant here is known for its version of the Romanian national dish, cabbage rolls stuffed with mincemeat “Sarmale”, with a side of polenta.
Go “Dracula” hunting - no trip to Romania would be complete without a bit of Dracula hunting. Vlad Țepeș (Vlad The Impaler in English) is the 15th-century prince who inspired Bram Stoker with his rather gruesome penchant for ramming a spike through his enemies and leaving them to die. He is widely admired in Romania as a defender of Wallachia. Dedicated Drac fans can take a trip to Snagov, 25 km north of Bucharest, where The Impaler himself is said to be buried in a tiny island monastery in the middle of a lake.
The Village Museum (one of the most beautiful cultural attractions in Bucharest) - is a vast open-air museum, one of the first in the world of this kind. The museum has hundreds of traditional houses and authentic elements of rural life from all the regions of Romania, and is located in Herastrau, the largest park in Bucharest.
The Romanian Peasant Museum is part of the European family of Museums of Popular Art and Traditions. In possession of an especially rich collection of objects, hosted in a Neo-Romanian style historical monument-building, our Museum developed a highly original museography honored in 1996 by receiving the EMYA – European Museum of the Year Award.
The Romanian Athenaeum is home to the country’s most prestigious George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, named after the great Romanian composer, and hosts the “George Enescu” Classical Music Festival, the biggest cultural event in Romania and one of the most important in Europe.