#18 Bucharest – The Eighteenth Most Visited City in the World

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The nerve center of Romania – Bucharest is pronounced as ‘buku-retj’ which means Beautiful or Joyful in Romanian.

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It is the largest city in Romania and the tenth largest in the European Union in terms of population. Bucharest is located in the south east corner of Romania, on the banks of river Dambovita. The city has a population in excess of 2.2 million according to the 2010 reports. Bucharest is also known as “Little Paris” because of its elegant architecture, rich heritage, and blue blood aristocracy.

Fast Facts

Historic Overview

According to the historic anecdotes Bucharest came into existence as the royal residence of Wallachian Prince Vlad III (The Impaler) in 1459. It was then called the Citadel of București. Bucharest became home to the Wallachian Court in 1698. It was established as the summer residence of the princely court of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans officially appointed Greek rulers to help in the administration of the town in the early 18^th century but a revolt led by the Tudor Vladimirescu in 1821, brought an end to the Greek rule in the town. In 1862, when Wallachia and Moldavia were amalgamated to form the Principality of Romania, Bucharest became the capital in 1881. Under Carol I, Bucharest became the officially proclaimed capital city of the new country called the Kingdom of Romania. For more than 2 years during the World War I, Bucharest was under German occupation. After the World War I, Bucharest became the capital city of a larger country called Romania. During the World War II, Bucharest was the core center of the Axis Powers and it suffered major bombings by the Allied forces. During the war there was a major coup and Romania was brought into the Allied camp. There was short span of Luftwaffe bombings but a major attempt by the Germans to conquer the city failed. Post World WarII, communism was established in Romania grew as a socialist power under Nicolae Ceaușescu. The Romanian Revolution of 1989 overthrew the socialist government and the dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. Post 2000, Romania has been on the path to growth and development due to the economic reforms brought about by the democratically elected government.

When To Visit Bucharest

Though Bucharest is considered a round-the-year destination by most tourists, May and September are perhaps the best months to visit the city. Winter months – December to February – are usually very cold but make for an excellent white Christmas getaway. The peak summer months – July and August – get rather sultry and uncomfortable. But you may have to brave the heat to get to the important festivals most of which are held from June through August. The Opera Festival is held in May- June and the George Enescu Festival in September every alternate month.

The Sights And Sounds of Bucharest

Bucharest is a beautiful city and there are lots of places for a visitor to see. Bucharest is called The City Of Palaces by historians. The most important tourist attraction in Bucharest is the Romanian Atheneum. Built in 1888, this is a palace for the symphonic performances in town. Attending a concert at the Romanian Atheneum is strongly recommended to any visitor. Even if you cannot make it to a concert, a visit to the palace is well worth the effort. A holiday in Bucharest must include a visit to the Village Museum, popularly known as the Muzeul Satului. This is an outdoor museum and has more than 300 types of buildings that showcase the rich rural architecture of Romania. Most visitors are awed by the sheer vastness of the museum. A visit also gives one an insight into the history of the land and the culture of its people. The Biserica Stravrapoleos or the Stavropoleos Church is palatial church of Brancovenesc architecture, built in the year 1724. The church is almost like a piece of hidden treasure in an old town. The exteriors and interiors of this Romanian Orthodox church are well preserved and it is worth a visit. Another palace that you must visit is the Mogosoaia Palace, on the shores of Mogosoaia Lake, just outside the city of Bucharest. It is a place where locals often prefer to get married. The beautiful gardens, lake shores, and palace itself is great tourist attraction – a must-see site in Bucharest. The list of palaces does not seem to end when you are in Bucharest. The Palatul Cotroceni or The Cotroceni Palace is the official residence of the President of Romania and can be visited on certain days which are called the ‘gates open day’. If you are lucky to be in Bucharest on such a day, do not miss the treat. The National Museum of Art is an ideal place to visit if you are an art buff and looking to get a wider picture of the history of art in this country. It is unique for its variety of religious paintings and has the largest variations of the ‘Madonna And Child Jesus’. There are many other priceless masterpieces of famous artists like Grigorescu, Luchian, Brancusi, and Paciurea. Next on your list should be the Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History. It is an interesting place to venture. Fully refurbished with complete modernization in 2011, this museum is an interesting place to discover the history of our natural environment. A visit is prescribed since words cannot start to describe the treasures this museum houses. Set apart a special day to visit the Palatul Poporului or the Parliament Palace. The world’s second largest palace was being built as the official residence of the socialist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu, but he was overthrown and executed before the palace could be completed. It was however completed after the socialist downfall and during the present times it houses the Romanian Parliament sessions and also has space for exhibitions, fairs and other public gatherings. A visit to the Palatul Poporului is a must even if you are in Bucharest for a day.

Things To Do in Bucharest

More a historical holiday town, Bucharest is not exactly a shopper’s paradise. And yet Bucharest offers shoppers its own quintessential shopping experience. The ideal things to shop for in Bucharest are souvenirs and bric-a –brac to carry back home. If visiting the malls and exclusive shopping arcades is what you prefer then there are quite a few – AFI Palace Cotroceni is Bucharest’s biggest shopping mall and also has a IMAX for exclusive movie screenings. The first real mega mall of the city is the Baneasa Shopping City. Most designers and famous brands have their signature stores here. The Bucuresti Mall, the Liberty Center, the Plaza Romania, the Sun Plaza, and the Unirea Shopping Centre are the other famous malls in the city. Bucharest has lots to offer for the nocturnal adventure seekers. From trendy fashionable bars to Irish pubs, lounge clubs and jazz clubs and the odd steamy strip show joints, name it and you have it in this city. The Old Town, Lipscani, has been restructured as a nightlife strip and is packed with bars, pubs, nightclubs, and cafes. Few of the famous bars in the city are Atelier Mecanic, Beer O’Clock, Beraria Kovaci, English Bar, Golf Planet, and Interbelic. You do not want to miss the jazz clubs of Bucharest. Live jazz performances are unique in this city. The Green Hours 22 Club Jazz Café and the Art Jazz Club are two of the most famous jazz clubs of Bucharest. Make sure you call and make a reservation before you go. There are many Irish pubs, strip show houses, and casinos. The choice for nightlife in Bucharest is abundant. Pack your bags and get ready for a visit to Bucharest and experience the essence of quintessential European living.

Best Restaurants In Bucharest

El Bacha

P-ta Alba Iulia nr.6 bl.15, sector3, Bucharest

Tel +40 21 269 13 92

http://www.elbacha.ro/

La Pergola

Athénée Palace hilton Hotel

1-3 Episcopiei St, District 1, Bucharest

Tel: +40 21 303 37 77

Avalon

Howard Johnson Grand Plaza Hotel, Calea Doribantilor 5-7, District 1, Bucharest

Tel: +40 21 201 50 30

http://www.hojoplaza.ro/en/avalon-restaurant

Taverna Sarbului

Stada Tipografilor nr 31, Bucharest

Tel: +40 21 490 60 52

http://tavernasarbului.ro/bucuresti/taverna_en.html

La Mama

9 Episcopiei, Bucharest

Tel: +40 21 312 9797

http://www.lamama.ro/index.php?lang=en

Places To Stay in Bucharest

Luxury Hotels –

Carol Parc Hotel

Aleea Suter  Bucharest 040547

Tel +40 21 336 33 77

http://www.carolparchotel.ro/

Intercontinental Hotel

4 Bulevardule Nicolae B’Lcescu, Bucharest  010051

Tel: +40 21 310 20 20

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/bucharest

Economy Hotels-

Hotel Design Christina

13 ion slatineanu str 010601 bucharest

Tel: +40 21 210 73 03

http://www.hotelchristina.ro/pages/home/en

Tempo Hotel

Armand Calinescu No. 19, Sector 2, Bucharest

Tel: +40 21 310 12 16

http://www.tempohotel.com/eng/default.html

Budget Hotels –

Hotel Suter Inn

Aleea Suter nr.3, Bucharest

Tel: +40 21 337 39 39

http://www.suterinn.ro/index.php?lg=2

RIN Central Hotel

55A Traian Street, 3ed District, Bucharest

Tel: +40 21 308 31 53

http://www.rinhotels.ro/Central-Hotel/Home

Last Updated on: June 20, 2012