After trips to Eastern Europe such as Prague or Budapest have become more and more popular in recent years, Bucharest is now also attracting more and more travellers. And rightly so: there are many interesting places in #bucharest that are worth a visit. Renowned Parisian architects also designed (admittedly a long time ago) many buildings in Bucharest following the example of the French capital. If you haven't seen this unusual city yet, now is the time to go!
Bucharest is located on the southern edge of Romania, very close to the Bulgarian border. The city is well connected by train to other parts of the country, which makes Bucharest a great base for day trips and discovering a little more of #romania.
Transportation
Fortunately, the Bucharest Metro is very easy to understand. There are only a few lines and a lot of time between stops.
But you should keep that in mind:
- You can't buy a single ticket from a ticket machine. You have to buy a ticket with at least two rides.
- There is an arrow on one side of your ticket, but you should put the card with the other side in the ticket machine first.
Places of Interest
Arc de Triomphe
Not without reason Bucharest is called the little Paris of Eastern Europe. Close to the Herăstrău park and the Arcul der Triumf bus stop is the Arc de Triomphe, which is modelled on the Parisian model.
In 1878, a temporary wooden building was erected in honour of the triumph in the First World War. In 1922, this temporary structure was replaced by another temporary structure in wood and stucco. It was not until 1935 that the present triumphal arch was erected and inaugurated on the national holiday on 1 December 1936.
Old Town of Bucharest
Bucharest's old town is truly unique: you will find picturesque magnificent buildings right next to prefabricated concrete slabs and modern skyscrapers. By the way, the historic old town has been almost completely restored. Bucharest does not need to fear comparison with Paris.
Carturesti Carusel
If you like sipping coffee and reading a book, then you shouldn't miss the bookshop Cărturești Carusel in the old town! With 6 floors, the bookshop holds over 10,000 books and much more, including games, crockery and a café!
Revolution Square
The place where the communist dictatorship came to an end in 1989 and the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown is definitely worth a visit with its central location and important political significance.
Romanian Athenaeum
The Romanian Athenaeum is one of the most beautiful buildings in Bucharest. Not only does it captivate with its mix of architectural styles, including Gothic and Neoclassicism, but it is also known for its great concert evenings thanks to its grandiose acoustics.
National Museum of Art & Royal Palace
Diagonally opposite the Romanian Athenaeum, on Revolution Square is the National Museum of Art.
The former royal palace now houses works of art from various eras and valuable international and national art collections, where the royal family once resided. You can learn about Romania's communist past through the exhibits of state art.
Therme Bucuresti
Do you want to hide from bad weather or just relax? North of the airport you will find the thermal spa București, where you can lie under palm trees or have a cocktail at the pool bar.
Palace of Parliament
The Palace of Parliament in Bucharest is a building of superlatives that almost plunged Romania into national bankruptcy. With 5,100 rooms, the palace is about 65,000 m² in size. Whether building materials or furniture, only the best and most expensive materials have been used to satisfy the more dictatorial former president Nicolae Ceaușescus Ironically, the building was initially called "Casa Poporului", meaning "House of the People". The fact that 40,000 apartments, churches and synagogues had to be destroyed or relocated for the construction only played a minor role. The only important thing was that the palace had to be huge and that the streets and the view within the city could be centred directly on the palace.
You can find these and many other exciting sights as well as great places to eat and drink in our city guide for Bucharest! There are of course many more great spots, but we don't want to give away everything!
