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Bucharest’s Unirii Square with a wide boulevard, fountains, cars, trees, buildings and the Palace of the Parliament in the background.
Bucharest’s Unirii Square with a wide boulevard, fountains, cars, trees, buildings and the Palace of the Parliament in the background.

Bucharest

Published: 23 May 2024, 14:30

A City Full of Contrasts

Bucharest is a city with many faces and is full of contrasts. It is a vibrant, changing metropolis, the eventful history of which is still clearly recognisable in the cityscape today. Monumental ostentatious buildings, such as the Palace of the Parliament, age-old orthodox churches, neoclassical buildings, such as the Athenaeum, as well as extensive boulevards and a triumphal arch like the one in Paris attest to the various influences in the past.

Enchanted corners and old cobbled streets can be found in Romania’s capital as can trendy pubs, a lively cultural scene and modern shops. Bucharest is located in Wallachia, the southern part of Romania, which is known for its ancient monasteries and fairytale castles. Another good reason to visit Bucharest is the traditional Romanian cuisine combined with warm hospitality.

Numbers, data, facts

  • Time difference: + one hour
  • Population: 1.7 million 
  • Official language: Romanian
  • Currency: Leu (RON)

The many faces of Bucharest

Deserted, cobblestone square in Bucharest with two churches in the background, buildings, green plants and street cafés.
A stroll through the old town will take you past the 16th-century Curtea Veche orthodox church, which is the oldest building in the city. © Giampaolo/stock.adobe.com
The monumental parliament building with illuminated fountain in the foreground, street, cars and trees.
The building: the “People’s House” conceived by ex-dictator Ceausescu is the largest parliament building in the world. © SCStock/stock.adobe.com
Evening atmosphere at the purple illuminated fountain with buildings in the background.
The wide Unirii Boulevard and the colourfully illuminated fountain can’t be avoided on a visit to the Palace of the Parliament in the centre. © SCStock/stock.adobe.com
A four-lane avenue with few cars leading up to a triumphal arch, tall, straight trees with few leaves to the left and right, lampposts with Romanian flags protruding in between as decoration.
Paris? Champs Elysées? No, we are in the centre of Bucharest, which is often referred to as the “Paris of the East” because of its wide boulevards and triumphal arch. © Negoi Cristian/stock.adobe.com
Large, sand-coloured building with an equestrian statue on the square in front of it.
A walk along Calea Victoriei Boulevard confirms Bucharest’s nickname as the “Paris of the East”. Magnificent buildings, such as the National Library. © stoimilov/stock.adobe.com
Wide park with flower beds, lawns and hedges leading to a large white building with a dome and six Greek columns. There is a statue in front of the building and tall trees at the sides.
Not only beautiful on the outside: the Athenaeum exudes an ancient aura and offers a varied concert programme. Visits are possible when there are no concerts. © stoimilov/stock.adobe.com
Deserted street with parked cars, buildings, trees and old, red-coloured church with dome, embellishments and arches in the foreground.
A stroll through the old trade district can be combined with a visit to the old orthodox Stavropoleos Church. © ecstk22/stock.adobe.com
Park with flower beds, bushes, trees, grandfather clock and a building in the background.
A break in Cismigiu Gardens: Bucharest’s largest park is a wonderful place to spend some time, inspect the flowers and chat to the locals. © fotozen/stock.adobe.com
White, narrow church with some people at the entrance and trees in front of it.
A little gem: Bucur Church is over 500 years old and is probably the oldest church in the city. According to legend, it was built by the shepherd Bucur the founder of Bucharest. © samy/stock.adobe.com
A solitary church in the open-air museum, surrounded by small conifers and larger deciduous trees.
“Dimitrie Gusti” is an old open-air museum with farmhouses and churches in the centre of the city. © zz3701/stock.adobe.com

Following in Dracula’s footsteps

Bucharest is the capital of Wallachia, a historic region known for its centuries-old monasteries, castles and churches. To the north-west of Bucharest lies the old town of Curtea de Arges, where many Byzantine buildings have been preserved to this day. Wallachia borders the Transylvania region to the north and the Transylvanian Carpathians, where you can explore remote mountain regions and follow in the footsteps of Count Dracula. It is best to visit “Dracula Castle” in the village of Bran to get closer to the famous vampire. This can be perfectly combined with a visit to the fairytale castle of Peles. If it is the sound of the sea and a fresh breeze you want, you can travel from Bucharest to the beach at Mamaia, the oldest resort on the Romanian Black Sea coast, north of Constanta.

Excursions from Bucharest

Medieval castle with towers on a rock surrounded by hilly forests at sunset.
Did he live here or not? Count Dracula, the legendary character from Bram Stoker’s novels, would certainly have felt right at home at Bran Castle. © Anton Petrus/stock.adobe.com
Red-and-white castle with turrets surrounded by greenery on a sunny day.
Enchantingly beautiful: the Renaissance Peles Castle is situated in the picturesque setting of the Southern Carpathians above the small town of Sinaia. © Serenity-H/stock.adobe.com
White church in the foreground, behind it a park with trees and a larger, red-coloured church.
Off to the former Wallachian capital: Curtea de Arges is home to two of the most important places of worship in Romania: the Princely Church and the Cathedral. © Dynamoland/stock.adobe.com
Yellow and red buildings next to one another with lush red flowers on a building wall in the foreground and church towers in the background.
Those travelling north of Bucharest to Transylvania should make a stop in the bright town of Sighisoara, the historic centre of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. © Dynamoland/stock.adobe.com
Buildings on a narrow headland leading into the sea with waves and a wide sandy beach.
Fancy a trip to the sea? Mamaia is the oldest beach resort on the Romanian Black Sea coast and is located near the port city of Constanta. © Calin Stan/stock.adobe.com

Bucharest from BER

Aircraft about to land on the runway

Ryanair

 Airport Bucharest Henri Coandă (OTP)

Five travel tips for ...

  1. Stroll through the old town with its cobbled streets
  2. Discover the enchanting streets of Lipscani
  3. Admire the botanical gardens in Herăstrău Park
  4. Take a detour into the side streets of Calea Victoriei
  5. Stroll along the illuminated Boulevard Unirii in the evening

  1. The enormous parliamentary palace from the communist era
  2. The neoclassical magnificence of the Athenaeum
  3. The orthodox monastery church San Stavropoleus
  4. A village in the centre of the city: the “Dimitrie Gusti” open-air museum
  5. The triumphal arch, which resembles its model in Paris 

  1. As a starter: ciorba de vacuta (hearty beef soup)
  2. Romania’s national dish: sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls)
  3. Common side dish: Mămăligă (solid maize porridge)
  4. With various fillings: bulz (traditional dumplings)
  5. For dessert: papanasi (sweet, deep-fried pastry)

Picture Source title:
© xpabli/stock.adobe.com 

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