Bucharest Travel Guide
The Romanian capital of Bucharest has many interesting attractions and picturesque countryside to explore. The city area is known for its impressive wide streets, with many trees and grand Belle Époque buildings. In the 1930s, Bucharest was referred to as the 'Paris of the East' with spectacular historic architecture and beautiful churches however earthquakes and WWII destroyed much of the city's beauty.
In 1980 Nikolai Ceausescu, Romania's heartless dictator, had approximately 7,000 homes and 26 historic churches demolished to make way for the new civic centre, which was supposed to be the biggest in the world but came in second to the Pentagon in the United States. The 12 storey palace of parliament is still an impressive structure that is the focal point of the city today. With over 3,100 ornately deigned rooms, it is an interesting attraction to explore.
Tourist Attractions Around Bucharest
Much of the city was renovated and transformed in the late 19th century, and today features large neoclassical designs and grand green parklands inspired by French-trained architects. The old city centre is now being restored to its former beauty.
With an opera house, concert halls, over 35 museums, more than 20 theatres and some 18 art galleries, Bucharest has an impressive cultural scene. The city also hosts an international festival every two years named after the famous Romanian composer and musician George Enescu. Many world-renowned orchestras, conductors and soloists come to perform at the event, held in the impressive Romanian Athenaeum which boasts fantastic acoustics that are comparable to Milan's La Scala.
Transportation Around Bucharest
Getting to Bucharest is easiest by air, with many airlines flying daily to and from most major European cities. The journey from London takes approximately three hours, and two hours from many other Western European cities. Travelling by train is an option but takes much more time with the trip from London to Bucharest taking some 46 hours - not advised unless you're planning to stop and visit other European cities along the way.
Bucharest is considered to be a safe city however crimes against tourists do occur in the form of pick-pocketing, robberies and confidence scams. Be alert and careful of people claiming to be in a position of authority and asking to see a passport and your wallet. Pick-pockets have been known to hang around the city's train stations, using a decoy to distract a tourist while their valuables are stolen. For these reasons, it is strongly advised to take out travel insurance for you and your family before leaving home.
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