Bucharest doesn’t yet have a reputation equal to its beauty and culture; but, as it grows in popularity, we think it’s only a matter of time.
The city remains relatively unspoilt – bar a few touristy streets in the old town. It’s packed with amazing architecture, green spaces and diverse history. It definitely deserves more than 24 hours, but if you’re passing through on your way to Transylvania the following is what we crammed in.
Late afternoon – Old Town
Stroll round the very walkable old town. Due to the Neo Classical and Baroque style, it’s often called the Paris of the East, it certainly has an equivalent grandeur without the hype and crowds.
The main drag is touristy with cheap bars, and a red light vibe at night, but it feels safe and is easily avoided. The rest is beautifully unspoilt. Our highlights were: Cărturești Carusel a bookshop in an incredible 19th century building; the Church of Stavropoleos Monastery with intricately carved columns, an icon filled dome and an atmospheric courtyard; and Hanuc cu Tei the Linden Tree Inn a 1833 trading street now filled with galleries and designer shops. There’s a huge choice of impressive buildings. Our tip – look up at the domes and if its’ floodlit, it’s worth a closer look.
Evening – Caru cu bere
Caru cu bere is an iconic 140 year old beer hall and a tourist trap. We hate tourist traps, but trust us on this one. Romanians also hang out in Caru cu bere and the atmosphere is magic. The historic beer hall has original tiles, a painted gothic interior and balcony areas, it feels like a film set. The food is fine, but the main draw is the dancing which begins with sparkly professional couples and fast becomes a joyous free for all.
Morning – The Palace of the Parliament
The gargantuan Palace of the Parliament dominates the Bucharest skyline. It’s the heaviest building in the world, the second largest administrative centre (after the Pentagon) and covers a whopping 330,000 square metres with over 3000 rooms. It was Nicolae Ceauşescu’s blatantly opulent creation begun in 1984 and at immense cost and sacrifice for the Romanians. A huge section of Bucharest Old Town was levelled and the death toll of workers is still debated. Admission is by tour only – you need to pre-book, arrive early and take your passport.
Lunch – Hanu lui Manuc
Hanu lui Manuc or Manuc’s Inn is the oldest operating Inn in Bucharest dating back to 1808. It’s a little touristy, but the building is beautiful and if you don’t want to eat, you can wander round the balconied courtyard. Make sure you also check out St Antony’s Church across the road – the oldest church in Bucharest.
Afternoon – Revolution Square
After lunch you can explore more of Bucharest’s old town or explore Revolution Square – a 15 minute walk. As a key location in Romania’s history, its home to many significant buildings and monuments including: the former Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party which witnessed the rise and fall of Ceauşescu. The exquisitely beautiful Romanian Atheneum – Bucharest’s concert hall; the National Museum of Art is housed in the former Royal Palace; and the centre piece – The Memorial of Rebirth honouring the victims of the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Our favourite is The Union of Romanian Architects Building which began life as a 19th century heritage building and now forms the base of an eclectic skyscraper. Historical, forwarding thinking and fun – it represents Bucharest in a nutshell.