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Bucharest

Travel Guide Europe Romania Bucharest

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Introduction

River view Bucharest

River view Bucharest

© All Rights Reserved AAY

Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania. Located on the banks of the Dâmboviţa River, it is an important industrial and economic centre for the country. For many travellers, it is the gateway into Romania.

The earliest known reference to Bucharest comes from 1459, when it was known as the Citadel of Bucureşti and became the residence of the Wallachian prince Vlad III the Impaler. Throughout the Middle Ages, Bucharest grew in prominence. In 1861, Bucharest was made the capital of Romania.

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Neighbourhoods

Bucharest is divided into six sectors. Each sector is managed by a mayor and city council, who have responsibilities provides for local businesses, such as secondary streets, parks, schools and cleaning services. Each of the six sectors contains a number of districts which have no administrative function:

  • Sector 1: Dorobanți, Băneasa, Pipera, Floreasca
  • Sector 2: Pantelimon, Colentina, Iancului, Tei
  • Sector 3: Vitan, Dudești, Titan, Balta Albă, Centrul Civic
  • Sector 4: Berceni, Olteniței, Văcărești
  • Sector 5: Rahova, Ferentari, Cotroceni, Ghencea
  • Sector 6: Giulești, Drumul Taberei, Militari, Crângași.

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Sights and Activities

Palace of the Parliament

The palace

The palace

© All Rights Reserved cpcoelho

Nicolae Ceausescu, Romanian dictator from 1965 to 1989, is to thank for the Palace of the Parliament, the world's second largest administrative building. Construction was begun in 1983, but not before a large chunk of Bucharest's historic district was torn to the ground to make way for the indulgent dictator's dream. When Ceausescu was overthrown and executed in 1989, the building was nearly complete. Parts of it are still not completed. Tours of the palace are available.

Cişmigiu Gardens

The Cişmigiu Gardens are a welcome oasis in the heart of Bucharest. It is the city's oldest park and remains a popular hang-out for locals. During summer, boats can be hired to go out on the man-made lakes; in winter, many people skate on the lakes.

Memorial of Rebirth

The Memorial of Rebirth is found in Revolution Square. It commemorates the Romanian Revolution of 1989. The memorial, which features a tall pillar with a metal "crown", is quite controversial in Romanian society, owing largely to the fact that the symbolism in its design is very abstract.

Curtea Veche

Curtea Veche was the royal court during the Middle Ages. Today, it is a museum.

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Events and Festivals

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Weather

In Bucharest, summers are hot and dry averaging around 30 °C in July and August, while winters are cold (around 0 °C). Alltime highs and lows are 41 °C and -32 °C respectively. Rain or snow in winter falls in every month, though summers are rather wetter, with sometimes heavy downpours. Spring and autumn are very pleasant seasons for a visit.

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Getting There

By Plane

The Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP/LROP) is located a short distance north of the city and is Romania's busiest airport. Most low-cost airlines fly into nearby Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (BBU), in Băneasa.
Numerous airlines serve these airports, from many European destinations and some cities further away, including New York. Tarom is the national airline with an extensive network. They also fly to several domestic destinations, including Timisoara and Constanta.

To/from Henri Coandă Airport

  • Car: Route DN1 connects the airport with downtown Bucharest. The A3 motorway will connect the airport and the city, when finished. Car rental agencies and taxis are both widely available.
  • Rial: A direct train service to the main railway station, Gara de Nord, runs from the Airport train station, about 900 metres from the airport. Shuttle buses connect this train station with the departures and arrivals halls and the tickets are valid both for the train and for the transfer bus. The next phase of the airport's expansion aims to locate the train station in the airport itself.
  • Bus: The airport is connected by public transport by the RATB system. The 780 route provides express bus service to Gara de Nord railway station in Bucharest and the 783 route provides express bus service to the city centre.

To/from Aurel Vlaicu Airport
The airport is situated 8 kilometres north of Bucharest city centre and is accessible by RATB buses 131, 335 and Airport Express 783, RATB tramway 5 and taxi.

By Train

International sleeper trains arrive in Bucharest from Venice, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Bratislava, Kosice, Krakow, Belgrade, Sofia, Thessaloniki, Istanbul, Moscow, Kiev, and Chisinau. Train travel is generally slower than bus travel. See the Romanian Railways website for train timetables and fares. You can find a travelmap as well.
CFR operates many trains throughout the country from and to Bucharest. Have a look at this website for inter-city train timetables and fares.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

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Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

The Bucharest Metro provides an extensive subway system, and combined with the buses, trolleybuses, trams and light rail of the RATB it is quite easy to get around by public transport in the city.

On Foot

Bucharest can be a very confusing place to walk around on foot. If you do decide to explore it on foot, make sure you have a decent map with you to help you find your way around.

Bucharest is nothing short of a nightmare to walk around, and if I ever find myself teaching a class on how not to organize a city, this city would without a doubt be the best example Europe has to offer.

AAY, in his blog.

By Bike

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Eat

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Drink

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Sleep

Budget

PropertyAddressTypePopularity
Amzei Hotel8 Piata Amzei Street, 1st District, Bucharest - ROHotel100
Apartment Blue23rd, Balcescu blvd.Apartment77
Arc De Triomphe Oliviers Hotel Residence19 CluceruluiHotel-
Bella B&Bbellahostel@yahoo.com dorina.jurca@yahoo.comGuesthouse89
BestFlatBd. Dacia Nr.53Apartment88
Black & White Apartment23 A Nicolae Balcescu BoulevardApartment67
Butterfly Villa HostelStirbei Voda, no. 96 entrance around the corner of Str. C. StahlHostel84
Calea Victoriei StudioCalea Victoriei Bd. Stirbei VodaApartment97
Central Hostel BucharestStr. Salcimilor nr.2Hostel76
Central Hotel - Bucharest13 Brezoianu strHotel100
Citadella HotelStr. Popa Lazar nr. 12Hotel-
City Hotel - BucharestTimisoara Bd. no. 46Hotel80
Club Palace Hotel Residence Citroniers137A Odaii StreetHotel-
Confort Traian HotelStr. Traian 55A, sector 3Hotel60
Coral Apartment23rd, Balcescu blvd.Apartment95
Dalin Center HotelStefan Cel Mare 33 AHotel-
Diplomat Hotel73 Poligrafiei Bv.Hotel-
Domenii Plaza Hotel Residence Cerisiers33 Alexandru Constantinescu StreetHotel-
Duke Hotel33, Blvd. DaciaHotel-
Est HotelSoseaua Pantelimon, Nr. 23, Sector 2Hotel-
Friends Hostel BucharestMircea Vulcanescu 114 (former Stefan Furtuna St.),Hostel83
Grand Accommodation29 Ion Campineanu AvenueApartment87
Green Apartment23rd, Balcescu blvd.Apartment87
Happy HostelStreet Drumea Radulescu No.32Hostel82
Hello Hotels - BucharestCalea Grivitei nr. 143Hotel77
Hostel LitovoiStrada Litovoi, Nr.60Hostel68
Hotel ArmoniaCalea Mosilor nr.112, Calea Mosilor nr.112,Hotel63
Berthelot HotelBulevardul Berthlot, nr.9Hotel-
Hotel BlissStr. Sapte Drumuri nr. 4CHotel-
Hotel Funny TimeCalea vitan nr 275Hotel80
Herastrau HotelSoseaua Nordului, No. 7 - 9Hotel90
Hotel Piccolo Mondo-Bucharest9, Clucerului Road, 9, Clucerului Road,Hotel-
Hotel Suter InnAleea Suter 3, sector 4, BucharestHotel71
Ibis Hotel Gara de NordCalea Grivitei 143Hotel-
Intercontinental Hotel4 Nicolae Balcescu Bld.Hotel-
Nelisse HotelPopa Lazar Street, no.12,Hotel80
Nelisse One HotelStr Popa Lazar No 10Hotel-
Opera HotelStr. Brezoianu nr. 37Hotel-
Orange Apartment23rd, Balcescu blvd.Apartment70
Ramada Park Hotel3-5 Poligrafiei AvenueHotel-
Razvan HotelNo 159 Calarasilor Str.Hotel83
Rembrandt Hotel11 Smardan StHotel-
RomPromo Plus AccommodationMendeleev str. 17 - 5th fl. - apt 35 - Bucharest 0Apartment93
Suter Inn HotelAleea Suter no.3Hotel83
Tempo HotelArmand Calinescu 19Hotel-
The Funky Chicken HostelStr. Gen. Berthelot 63 Sector 1Hostel80
The Midland Youth HostelStr Biserica Amzei, nr 22 Apt 3, Sector 1Hostel84
Trianon HotelStr. Cobalcescu Grigore, nr 9Hotel100
Venezia Hotel2 Pompiliu Eliade StHotel97
Victoria Apartment23 Bulevardul Regina ElisabetaApartment97
Vila 11Strada Institutul Medico Militar Nr.11Guesthouse77
Vila GabrielaStr.Margaritarului 18, Vila A 104 Otopeni, Judet IlfovGuesthouse86
Villa Helga Youth HostelBusolei 7AHostel59
YMCA Universitaria HostelStr. Silvestru 33, sect. 2, BucharestHostel85
Accommodation CazareCalea Grivitei 123Hostel58
Alex Villa HostelAvram Iancu Street, no5Hostel64
Class Hotel30A Garlei Street 1st DistrictHotel-
Relax Comfort Suites Hotel22 Nicolae Balcescu Bulevard , sector 1Hotel-
Hostel TinaOdobesti 2B Street Mansion N3B, 9th Floor No 38 (interphone 38 C)Hostel98
DidahouseStrada Albinelor nr. 32 Bloc 32 Scara 4 Etaj 2 Ap.62 Sector 4Apartment76
Charter Airport Hotel Bucharest1D, Drumul Odall StreetHotel60
Prince ResidenceStrada Principatele Unite nr. 42 sector 4Apartment80
Finitconsult Apartments4 Emil Garleanu StreetApartment-
Studio AmzeiMendeleev str 17Apartment96
2 Open Rooms AmzeiBiserica Amzei street 27Apartment92
Dacia RRT Hotel19th Matei Basarab 3rd districtHotel-
Dalin HotelBd. Marasesti 70-72Hotel-
AVIS HotelB-dul Aerogarii nr 10Hotel100
Zava Boutique HotelStrada Stefan Mihaileanu 21 District 2Hotel80
Rin Grand Hotel7D Vitan Bârzesti StrHotel100
Comfort Rin ResortCalea Bucurestilor 255 A OtopeniHotel-
Prince Park ResidenceStr. Principatele Unite 38-40Apartment-
Vila Arte78, Vasile Lascar Street Bucharest 2Guesthouse-
Doors HostelOlimpului Street No 13,Hostel90
CarpatiNo. 16, Matei Millo StreetHotel-
Elizeu HotelElizeu Street 11/13 Sector 1Hotel100
Horoscop HotelDimitrie Cantemir, Nr 2 District 4Hotel-
Hotel CantemirDimitrie Cantemir 13AHotel-
Regim HotelierStr.Magheru Gheorghe General Nr.32-36Apartment-
Tache HostelStr. Madrid nr 6Hostel84
Wonderland HostelColtei nr 48 BucharestHostel80
Alia Accommodation Bucharest18 Bulevardul Nicolae BalcescuGuesthouse-
Studio MagheruBld Magheru, 20Apartment96
Miramont HostelSTRADA MORILOR NR 25 B Sector 3 , Timpuri NoiHostel72
Tripoli HotelStada Hagiului 10Hotel79
A&A Accommodation91-93, Calea Victoriei sector 1Guesthouse-
RIN Central55 Traian St.Hotel-
Le Boutique Hotel Moxa129 Calea Victoriei crossroads 4 Mihail Moxa Str.Hotel-
RIN Grand7D Vitan-Barzesti Str,Hotel-
Hotel Green Forum-BucharestStr. Pictor Barbu Iscovescu 19, Sector 1 Str. Pictor Barbu Iscovescu 19, Sector 1Hotel-
Unirii ResidenceCuza Voda 40-42Hotel-
Victoriei ResidenceMaltopol 22Hotel-
Hotel Casa Victor-BucharestStr. Emanoil Porumbaru nr. 44, Sector 1Hotel-
Green Frog HostelStr. G-ral Dona nr.11Hostel91
Byzanthin HostelDoctor Caracas Constantin no.22 streetHostel79
Hotel Tranzzit-BucharestStr. Lipova, Nr 24Hotel-
Hemingway Residence HotelStr. Mantuleasa, 31 sect.2Hotel-
Phoenicia Express Hotel441- 443 Odai Street, DristricHotel-
Michelangelo BucharestStr. Henri Coanda Nr.25, Sector 1Hotel-
Tecadra HotelStrada Erou Iancu Nicolae 67AHotel-
Amphitryon HotelStr. Ardeleni nr 2-4 sect.2Hotel-
Kretan Hostel84 Stirbei-Voda Street, sector1Hostel91
Confort Traian HotelStr. Traian 55A sector 3Hotel-
Best Western Plus Mari Vila-BucharestBalta Doamnei nr 44-50 Sector 3Hotel-

Mid-Range

Upscale

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Work

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Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Romania's country code is +40. To dial to other countries from Romania, dial 00 and then the international number usually without the first 0.
Public phones work well and are available in all areas. You must purchase a phonecard from a kiosk to use them. When dialing within Romania, dial 0 + three digit area code + six digit telephone. The main providers of mobile telephones are Vodafone, Orange, Cosmote and Zapp.

Post

Posta Romana is the national postal service of Romania. Postal services are generally very affordable, reliable and reasonably fast. Post boxes are red and can be found near the post offices, along the street or in main train stations. Post offices can be found in even the smallest towns and the opening hours are generally Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 6:00pm and Saturday 8:00am to 12:00, closed on Sunday. You can buy stamps here or at kiosks. Prices for international mail start at around €0.55 and takes at least 3-5 days to countries within Europe. It's slightly cheaper and faster for domestic mail to be send. Intercontinental post is slightly more expensive but takes much longer. For more expensive but faster services you can also try international courier companies like TNT, DHL or UPS.

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates
  • Latitude: 44.447924
  • Longitude: 26.097879

Contributors

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Bucharest Travel Helpers

  • Focus_on_travel

    I live in Bucharest, I love it, I would best describe it as an European capital, that has all the things a tourist might be interested in: a rich history, a mix of arhitecture, a lively night life, quite a few shopping venues, the accessibility from/to other parts of the world is also very good and people are friendly. I would love to see Bucharest receiving more and more tourists, because it has many things to offer. I will give only few examples: the House of Parliament - the second largest building in the world, the Village Museum - an open-air museum showing houses from all over Romania, old center of Bucharest - with its narrow streets, and lovely arhitecture, the Arch of Triumph and the Kiseleff Avenue - our Champs Elysees - testifying why Bucharest was called the ''Little Paris''. Bucharest is also a green city, with several parks/gardens, the most famous being the Garden of Cismigiu, Herastrau Park and Botanical Garden. Other specific features are the orthodox churches, which are numerous, very beautiful and worth to be visited, because religion was always a part of our history, culture, and people's soul. Nightlife consists in many pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs, discos, one of the best place to enjoy this variety is Lipscani or the Old Center of Bucharest. Once there, you will meet a happy crowd, which celebrates the joy of life, maybe some birthday/name day, but there is also a reason for hapiness because Romanian people have a particular way to cope with the good or bad things happening in their lives.

    Ask Focus_on_travel a question about Bucharest

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