Bucharest

Introduction

River view Bucharest

© AAY

Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania with over 2 million inhabitants. 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.

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.

Sights and Activities

Palace of the Parliament

The palace

© 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.

King Michael I Park

King Michael I Park, formerly known as Herastrau Park is a large park on the northern side of Bucharest, around Lake Herastrau. One of the main attractions inside the park is the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum, which is an open-air museum that features numerous traditional houses from all over Romania.

Therme Bucuresti

Therme Bucuresti is a modern outdoor-indoor pool and spa complex near Bucharest, in Balotesti village. There are regular free buses that connect the city with the complex. It has 3 main areas: Galaxy which caters to kids and families, The Palm which mainly caters to adults, and Elysium where many of the different saunas are located. Guests buying a ticket for Galaxy are only allowed access here, while guests with tickets for The Palm have access to both, and Elysium customers can visit any of the three areas of the complex.

Unirii Fountains

Unirii Fountains refers to 44 synchronized water fountains located in Unirii Square. They were recently renovated and now they can 'dance' on the rhythm of music and offer light and water shows.

Events and Festivals

• Easter Gifts National Arts and Crafts Fair (April) - 100 artisans offer numerous treasures for purchase, such as embroidered carpets, wooden crafts and beautiful painted eggs. Craft demonstrations and folk dance performances also entertain and educate in traditional Romanian life. Address: Museum of the Romanian Peasant
• Bucharest International Film Festival (End of March) - This festival of art cinema is the first and only competition festival of experimental film in Romania. It encourages emerging films and discovers and promotes young talented filmmakers. Prizes are given for the best films.
• EUROPAfest (May) - Live quality music takes over Bucharest in May for two weeks as 300 musicians from 45 worldwide countries gather to perform. A huge variety of concerts host the Jazz, Blues, Pop and Classic music, and there are also Jam sessions and workshops guided by international specialists. It opens on Europe's Day and ends with the EUROPAfest Gala. It's an exciting evening with the best artists from the festival performing.
• Jeunesses International Music Competition (End of May) - This large music competition discovers and promotes young talent. There are competitions in piano, flute, clarinet, violin and composition which take it in turns annually. 2013 will be the piano competition with a competition jury made up of international experts.
• Old Bucharest Festival (The month of May) - The city returns to the 19th Century as locals parade through the town in period costume and drive horse drawn carriages. Music and food of the area is abundant, and a market of traditional arts and crafts is set up. There are also outdoor concerts of Romantic music to see too!
• GayFest (May/June) - The annual Gay Pride Festival lasts for nearly a week and features various lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender cultural events, such as film screenings, exhibitions, theatre, parties and parades.
• "D'Ale Bucurestilor" Street Music Festival (June) - Against the beautiful backdrop of Bucharest's cobbled streets and Belle Epoque buildings, Romanian folk and medieval music are performed - the sound of the troubadours are brought back to the Old Town! Address: Historic Centre
• Craftsmen's Fair ("Targul Mesterilor Populari") (June/July) - This fair takes place in one of Europe's biggest and oldest outdoor museums. There are free workshops in traditional glass-blowing, pottery mouldings, textile weaving and embroidery, wood carving, rug weaving and egg painting. Craftsmen from all over the country come to Bucharest to share their skills in these workshops. Address: Village Museum, Hours: 9:00am - 8:00pm
• George Enescu Music Festival (September (biennial)) - Romania's most famous composer, George Enescu (1881-1955), is celebrated every two years with festivals and a competition in his name. Throughout the festivities, there are events in City Square including concerts from music academies, recitals and movie screenings. Address: Concerts are held at the Palace Grand Hall, Bucharest National Opera House, Palace Small Hall and the Ateneul Român.
• Autumn Fair (October) - The patron saint, Saint Demeter, is celebrated through a Romanian wedding celebration with traditional dress, music and food, church services and a fair selling local handicrafts. Address: Village Museum
• Winter Gifts Arts & Crafts Fair (December) - Christmas shopping can be done at the Winter Gifts Festival as over 150 local artists present their work which make ideal unique gifts. Address: The Museum of the Romanian Peasant
• Spotlight Festival (April) - Taking place on Calea Victoriei, the festival gathers each year a large audience. It usually features interesting light installations and projections as well as light shows.

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.

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. Now, the low-cost airlines fly also into Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP/LROP) . Aurel Vlaicu Airport (Baneasa) is used now just for private jets and charters.
Numerous airlines serve these airports, from many European destinations (Paris, Rome, Vienna, Warsaw, London, Berlin etc.) 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.
Main low-cost carriers flying into Henri Coandă International Airport are Wizz Air, Blue Air, and Ryanair.

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. You can buy tickets from the ticket booth or at the ticket machines located inside the airport station.
• 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

The city’s entrances from the north (the E60 road coming from Braşov and the A3 highway from Ploieşti), west (the A1 highway from Piteşti), east (the A2 highway from Constanţa), south (the E20 road from Giurgiu) and the avenues in the city center are very crowded, especially at rush hours. Right in the city center, just across the University, a major underground parking place opened in 2014. Unfortunately, although modern and safe, finding the entrance may prove to be a little tricky. Among that, an even bigger parking place (with 5 levels) is located near the Unirii Square, behind the Unirii Mall, which is also near the center area and only 10 minutes away (by foot) from the old town's center. Also note that driving on some of the secondary streets might prove to be a bit bumpy, due to only relatively good condition of these roads. If you can, avoid any driving on the Pantelimon Boulevard, since there are several ongoing major repairs in the area.

By Bus

You can check timetables for many destinations online. There are quite a few bus station in the city: Băneasa (located in the northern part of town), Obor (east), Filaret (south), Rahova (southwest), Militari (west), Griviţa (northwest) as well as many other smaller stations. Buses and minibuses from Chişinău (10 hours) arrive mostly at Filaret bus station. Buses from Istanbul (12-14 hours) arrive at multiple stations along Viilor road. The only daily bus from Sofia (7 hours) stops near Tineretului subway station. Buses from Varna (5-6 hours) usually stop downtown. Buses from Athens (16-20 hours) arrive at stations along Viilor road. Buses for routes from Western Europe usually arrive at Rahova bus station. Also check out Eurolines for options further afield.

Getting Around

By Car

Daco Rent a Car and Europcar are both available in the city and at the airport. Other local rental companies can be found throughout the city. The average starting price for a day's rental (small car) is about €20.

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.

The easiest option for the tourist is probably the Activ card, which costs 3.7 lei at any RATB point of sale (including the airport) and can be loaded with pay-as-you-go credit and a variety of passes (daily to monthly). You can read the pay as you go and subscription tariffs online. The Activ card can no longer be used for the Metro (subway) system since 2014.

When entering a vehicle or subway station, you need to validate your ticket. Simply hold the card on the orange reader until you hear a short beep and the green LED lights up. If you get a red light and a long beep (validation failed), simply try again.

One card can be used to pay for more than one person (pay-as-you-go only for the second and subsequent people). In order to validate the card for additional people, simply press the button "2", and then present the card a second time. In order to check the number of people the card has been validated for, and the remaining balance on the card, press "1" before presenting the card.

The metro, which has four lines (M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5) and covers the city quite extensively, is usually a cheap and easy way to get around even though there are surprisingly few stops in the city center, since the system was originally built to transport workers and commuters from outlying neighborhoods through the city to peripheral industrial areas. If you're staying outside the city center, or even if you want to travel within it, the Metro can be a very fast and convenient way of getting around, avoiding the traffic jams and crowds that frequently characterize surface transport. The network is frequent, fairly comfortable, reliable, and easy to use.

Line M1 starts in the eastern part of the city and then goes downtown on a circular route, passing by the main train station Gara de Nord and meeting up with the M2 line (which runs north-south) at Piaţa Unirii and Piaţa Victoriei stations. Line M3 links the western and eastern parts of the city. The central section on the M3 between Eroilor - Nicolae Grigorescu is shared with M1 and trains from both lines run in tandem having the terminus displayed at the front of the cab. Line M4 is shorter than the other lines and connects Gara de Nord 2 to Straulesti station. Even though Gara de Nord and Gara de Nord 2 are in close proximity, transferring between the two is taxed as a separate trip. The only platform to platform link between M4 and M1 is at Basarab station. Line M5 is the newest line of the network and it connects Raul Doamnei (Drumul Taberei neighborhood) with the Eroilor station. When the line will be finished (it's still under construction at the moment) it will end at Pantelimon station, after intersecting with M2 at Universitate and M1 at Piata Iancului.

Bucharest has a very complex network of buses, trams, and trolleybuses which is, at first glance, fairly confusing to the tourist. This is not because of any inconsistencies within the network, but rather due to the intricate web of hundreds of bus, tram and trolleybus routes found in the city. Once you know your way around the network, however, public surface transport can be a very good way of getting around since there is a bus, tram or trolleybus stop virtually everywhere in the city. The vehicles are usually very frequent, although they can still get terribly crowded at peak hours.

Make sure you know when to get off - even though in most vehicles the following stops are announced and displayed on a screen, these displays can be unreliable. If you are uncertain if a stop is the one you want, you can always ask your fellow travelers.

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.

Eat

• Bistro Jariștea, Str. Henri Coanda 5, ☎ +40 21 6505000. 10:00-02:00. Stylish bistro with Romanian specialties, including game and a varied selection of wines. Friendly staff, reservations not always necessary.
• Cafeanua Actorilor. Actors' Cafe, strada Batişte (located at the National Theater). Attracts a lot of Americans, because of good food, and the U.S. Embassy and Intercontinental are right across the street. The salads, especially the one called "Act II" is a meal all by itself. Service tends to be excruciatingly slow, driving away many locals
• Casa di David, Soseaua Nordului nr. 7-9, ☎ +40 21 232 47 15. Opened in 2005, it is a hangout of the city's nouveau riche. It comes complete with German car ads at the entrance and an extensive wine list. Food (Italian inspired) and ambience are OK, but portions are small and prices are far above average for Bucharest. A 3-course meal for two with local wine will set you back over 400 Lei.
• Casa Iancului, No.2 Sarafineşti str.. The menu is limited to typical Romanian cuisine. Dishes are based on chicken, fish, pork, game and venison. Casa Iancului boasts an extensive selection of wines and has a professional sommelier.
• Cuptorul cu lemne, B-dul Pache Protopopescu nr. 63, ☎ +40 21 2522414. A nice pizza place with a nice outdoor summer garden and a relaxed atmosphere (the restaurant also houses a caricature club). Low prices. Tends to be very crowded during weekends.
• Jariștea, Strada George Georgescu 50-52 (near the crossroad of Regina Maria Blvd. and Libertăţii Blvd), ☎ +40 021 335 33 38, e-mail: [email protected]. M-Su 11:00am-last customer. Beautiful historically themed restaurant, live traditional music, old Romanian specialties. but always check the bill thoroughly. Reservations are compulsory
• Nor Sky Casual Restaurant, Strada Barbu Văcărescu 201, București 077190, ☎ +4 0310 056 056, e-mail: [email protected]. Tu-Su: 10:00-24:00, M: 12:00 - 24:00. Located on the 36th floor of the Sky Tower building in Floreasca (right next to Promenada Mall), Nor Sky Casual Restaurant offers a fantastic view over the city.

Drink

• 1974 Niște Domni și Fiii.
• Absintherie Sixtină (Sixtine Absintheria), Covaci 6, 1st floor, ☎ +40 21 3103566. Classic style bar with reasonable prices. The absinthe is served with a slow drip fountain.
• Beer O'Clock, Gabroveni 4 and Villacrosse passage (near Police Department). Bar with several types of Belgian, Czech and Slovak beer. edit
• Camera din Față. Cafe / tea house.
• Curtea berarilor (The Brewers Court), Selari 9-11, ☎ +40 723 279620. Pub in old center having mostly Timişoreana beer. +phone=40 21 3137532
• Ganesha Cafe.
• Green Hours, Calea Victoriei 120, ☎ +40 722 234356, +40 788 452485. A quiet club which often hosts jazz concerts.
• Interbelic, Intrarea Selari 1A (near Lipscani), ☎ +40 722 681618. 17:00-last. Cocktail bar; fine spirits, great nights. medium.
• La Motoare, Bd. Nicolae Bălcescu nr. 2 (on the roof of the National Theater, Universitate Square), ☎ +40 213 158508. An outdoor pub offering great views over the city. Mostly frequented by university students. Rock music and movies in the evening
• Linea /Closer to the moon, Strada Lipscani 17, București 030167 (on the rooftop of Magazinul Victoria), ☎ +40 757 824 298. A rooftop bar and restaurant famous for its views of Bucharest Old Town
• Infinitea, Strada Doctor Grigore Romniceanu 7 Etaj 1, București 050574, ☎ +40 723 175 300. A lovely teahouse, located in an old house in Cotroceni. It also has an outdoor gardern.

Sleep

• All4rent Accommodation, 2 Stirbei Voda Street (near Royal Palace), ☎ +40 723 824 996, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. Apartments in downtown Bucharest. €30.
• Apartamente Regim Hotelier Bucuresti (Apartamente Termen Scurt Bucuresti), Strada Academiei 4, Bucuresti, ☎ +40 740 011 345, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. Short term apartments in the city center. €40.
• Camping Casa Alba (Camping White House), Aleea Privighetorilor 1-3 (at the edge of Băneasa Forest, 1 km N of Băneasa Airport, 12 km N of city centre), ☎ +40 21 361 7730. Space for up to 80 caravans or 120 tents, running water, showers, toilets, kitchen. Next to Casa Alba restaurant.
• Butterfly Villa Hostel, Str. Ştirbei Vodă 96 (entrance from Str. C.Stahi), ☎ +40 21 314 7595, +40 74 172 1169, e-mail: [email protected]. Clean hostel 1 km from train station in the centre of sector 1. Bed-sheets, breakfast and internet is included the price. Airport pick-up, excursions and laundry-service. From €12/night.
• East Hostel, Bvd Hristo Botev 11 (200 m from Universitate Metro), ☎ +40 737 293 494, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 24/24, check-out: 11:00. Free breakfast, free pasta daily at 19:00, fast Wi-Fi, A/C at night, thick comfy mattresses and quality pillows and duvets, lavish bathrooms. From €9/night.
• Midland Hostel, Str Biserica Amzei no 22 (near Piata Romana Metro), ☎ +40 21 314 5323, e-mail: [email protected]. Central, breakfast included, free internet. from €8/night.
• Vila Gabriela, Str. Mărgăritarului 18, Vila A 104, Otopeni (off Hwy 1, one km S of Otopeni Airport), ☎ +40 21 236 2053, e-mail: [email protected]. Big house managed by a friendly couple, Carmina and Vlad. Carmina can speak English, French and Italian. The rooms are clean and welcoming. B&B double room (shared toilet) €25/night; en suite €35.
• X Hostel Bucharest, Str. Balcesti, 9 (off Calea Calarasi, 200 m NE of Piata Unirii), ☎ +40 21 367 4912, e-mail: [email protected]. Party hostel & pub. Free strong wireless connection, hotel standard rooms as well as large cheaper dorms, mainly air conditioned. From €6/night.
• Zen Tribe Hostel, Strada Radu de la Afumați 12B, București 020667 (The black gate with the electronic coded lock), ☎ +40 762 211 522 (mobile). Check-in: 15:00-22:00, check-out: 05:00-10:00. Clean and spacious hostel. Relaxed atmosphere, very friendly owner and guests with social common spaces. Comfortable beds, great showers and good location. No laundry service. From €9/night.
• Carpaţi, str. Matei Millo nr. 16 (1 km west of Universitate Metro), ☎ +40 21 315 0140, fax: +40 21 312 1857, e-mail: [email protected]. One-star. Small, affordable rooms in a clean and welcoming atmosphere. €40-85/night.
• Hotel Andy, 2 Witting St, district 1 (Turn right as you exit station), ☎ +40 21 300 3050, e-mail: [email protected]. 3 star, small rooms, some street noise, couldn't be closer to Gara de Nord Station. From €48/night.
• Domino, Str.Basarabilor nr.10 (5 km S of centre off Hwy 5), ☎ +40 2 1685 4504, fax: +40 21 629 1307, e-mail: [email protected]. 2-star, gets very mixed reviews. single 70 lei, double 100 lei, triple 130 lei.
• Hello Hotels, Calea Grivitei 143, district 1, ☎ +40 372 121 800, e-mail: [email protected]. Great location for budget travellers. €33/night.
• Hotel Basarab Bucuresti, Str. Fluviului nr 23, district 1 (On SW side of Gara de Nord Railway Station), ☎ +40 727 438 132. Very convenient for station, travellers have found it grubby and smelly. €25/night.
• Angelo Airport Hotel Bucharest (Vienna House), 283 Calea Bucurestilor (On Hwy 1, 300 m from Otopeni / Henri Coanda Airport), ☎ +40 21 203 6500, fax: +40 21 203 6510. Good stay & fly option, hotel offers shuttle bus to terminal, you hardly need it. from €95/night.
• Ambasador, 8 Bvd General Gheorghe Magheru (on main Bvd 1 km S of Piata Victoriei), ☎ +40 21 315 9080, fax: +40 21 312 3595, e-mail: [email protected]. 3-star in Art Deco slab, with restaurant. Single from €50, double from €60/night, breakfast included. |
• Alia Accommodation Bucharest, 18 Nicolae Balcescu, ☎ +40 745 500 676, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. Serviced apartments in the city center at the University Square. Metro and buses just outside the building. €30-65/night.
• Capitol, Calea Victoriei 29 (off Bvd Regina Elisabeta, 200 m west of Universitate Metro), ☎ +40 21 315 8030, fax: +40 21 312 4169. Comfortable, 100-year-old three-star hotel with big rooms and enormous bathrooms. €55-75/night.
• Casa Victor, Str. Emanoil Porumbaru nr. 44 (2 blocks W of Bvd Aviatorilor, 200 m S of Aviatorilor Metro station), ☎ +40 21 222 5723, fax: +40 21 222 9436, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-out: 11:00. 3-star hotel with restaurant, pool & spa. €55-140/night.
• Class Hotel, 30A Garlei St. (off Hwy 1 near Baneasa Airport, 10 km north of centre), ☎ +40 372 135 700. On Baneasa lakeside, 4-star hotel with restaurant, pool, spa & gym. €60.
• Crowne Plaza, Bvd Poligrafiei nr. 1 (10 km N of centre), ☎ +40 21 224 0034, fax: +40 21 318 1302. Business hotel close to Romexpo grounds. from €80/night.
• Dalin Hotel, 70 Bvd Marasesti (500 m S of Piata Unirii), ☎ +40 21 335 5541. 3-star place with bar & restaurant. €50-60/night.
• Ibis Gara de Nord, Calea Grivitei nr. 143, ☎ +40 21 300 9100. Reliable budget chain 100 m from railway station. from €45/night.
• K+K Hotel Elisabeta, Str. Slanic 26 (off Bvd Carol 1), ☎ +40 21 302 9280, fax: +40 21 311 8632, e-mail: [email protected]. Central, close to University, business quarter, city centre & Cismigiu Gardens.
• Le Boutique Hotel Moxa, 4 Mihail Moxa St (corner of 129 Calea Victoriei), ☎ +40 21 650 5555, e-mail: [email protected]. Four-star hotel, centrally located. €80-110/night.
• NH Bucharest, Bulevardul Mircea Voda, 21, ☎ +40 21-300 0545. Modern 4-star hotel in the business district. Bedrooms are cosy and comfortable with a modern twist. Rooms from €65/night.
• Novotel, Calea Victoriei nr. 37B (Metro Universitate), ☎ +40 21 308 8500. Reliable 4-star choice. The facade is what's left of the former National Theatre. From €60/night.
• Ramada Majestic, Calea Victoriei nr. 38-40 (Metro Universitate), ☎ +40 21 310 2772, e-mail: [email protected]. Handy for University. €80-180/night.
• Rin Airport Hotel, Calea Bucurestilor 255A Otopeni (On Hwy 1 near Bucharest main airport, Otopeni), ☎ +40 21 350 4110, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Provides spacious rooms with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and free access to its spa area.
• Rin Central, Str Traian 55, ☎ +40 21 308 3153, e-mail: [email protected]. 4* hotel near city centre. €60/night.
• Hotel Siqua, Calea Plevnei nr. 59A (near Opera), ☎ +40 21 319 5160, e-mail: [email protected]. With Italian restaurant, conference facilities. from €75/night (tax and breakfast included).
• Hotel Corvaris, Soseaua Oltenitei 125 (15 km SE of centre on Hwy 4), ☎ +40 21 332 5146, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean, handy for motorists. from €50/night.
• Carol Parc Hotel, Str. Aleea Suter 23-25, ☎ +40 21-336 3377. Boutique hotel looking onto Carol Park.
• El Greco, str. Jean Louis Calderon nr. 16, ☎ +40 21 315 8141, fax: +40 21 315 8898, e-mail: [email protected]. Central location, near to the commercial and university area.
• Epoque, 17C Intrarea Aurora 010213 (off Strada Ionel Perlea), ☎ +40 21 312 3232, e-mail: [email protected]. 5-star all-suites hotel in a quiet location just west of Cișmigiu Gardens.
• Europa Royale, Str Franceza 60 (off Piata Unirii), ☎ +40 21 319 1798, e-mail: [email protected]. A four-star hotel in the Old Town.
• Athénée Palace Hilton, str. Episcopiei nr. 1-3, ☎ +40 21 303 3777, fax: +40 21 315 2121, e-mail: [email protected]. 5-star Hilton near Atheneum. Nice coffee shop, pretty garden terrace in summer.
• Sheraton, Calea Dorobanţilor nr. 5-7 (corner of Bvd Dacia), ☎ +40 21 201 5000, fax: +40 21 201 1888. Upscale hotel near Plata Romana, with casino & restaurants including Benihana Japanese Steakhouse.
• Intercontinental, Blvd. Nicolae Bălcescu nr. 4, ☎ +40 21 310 2020. Central 5-star high-rise block, with restaurant and swimming pool.
• JW Marriott Bucharest Grand, Calea 13 Septembrie nr. 90, ☎ +40 21 403 0000, e-mail: [email protected]. Large hotel behind the Parliament building. 4 restaurants, bar, spa & sauna.
• Opera, str. Actor Ion Brezoianu nr. 37, ☎ +40 21 312 4010, e-mail: [email protected]. 3-star near University €35/night.
• Phoenicia Grand Hotel, 87 Bvd Aerogarii, ☎ +40 21 300 0888, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Upmarket place with 4 restaurants, bar, night-club, spa and gym. Very close to Baneasa Airport at north edge of Bucharest, with main airport Otopeni another 15 km north.
• Parliament, Strada Izvor nr. 106, ☎ +40 21 411 9990, e-mail: [email protected]. Designer hotel, looking onto Parliament building.
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Calea Victoriei No. 63-81 (1 km from centre), ☎ +40 21 311 9000, fax: +40 21 601 3625, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Upmarket place with indoor & outdoor pools, 5 restaurants and 4 bars. €100-150/night.
• Rin Grand Hotel, Sos Vitan Barzesti 7D (10 km south of centre looking onto Lake Vacaresti), ☎ +40 31 106 1111, e-mail: [email protected]. Stylish place edge of town with restaurant and piano bar. 24-hour fitness centre with indoor pool, a whirlpool and saunas. Also with beauty salon, conference and banquet facilities, and free parking.

Learn

• University of Bucharest
• National University of Music, Bucharest
• Bucharest University of Economic Studies

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet cafes exist in most cities and towns. The number of internet cafes seems to be declining in bigger cities recently because of cheap availability of computers and the rising living standard here. Wifi is widely available in University areas, airports, public squares, parks, cafes, hotels and restaurants. Pay-as-you-go Wifi is also available in many venues. If uncertain, look for plazas near the Town Hall, large parks or other important buildings. Most (if not all) McDonald's restaurants and Starbucks in Romania have Wifi access and so do most 3-star (and higher) hotels.

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.

There are five networks - four GSM/3G (Orange Romania, Vodafone, Cosmote and DigiMobil) and one CDMA (Zapp). Orange and Vodafone have almost full national coverage (98-99% of the surface of the country), while the newly-merged Cosmote+Zapp are expanding quickly. Tariffs are average for the European Union (€0.08-0.30/min, €0.04 per SMS). Both pre-paid cards and subscriptions are available, and special options for discounted international calls exist with some pricing plans. Roaming is available but is, like in most of the EU, rather expensive. Pre-paid cards or recharge codes can be bought in almost every shop, either rural or urban.

On prepaid SIMs you can activate extra options ("extraopţiune") starting from €5 (+ 24% VAT) in total = RON27-32, with a validity period of 30 days, containing thousands (200 -3,000) of minutes and SMSs within the same network and up to 100 minutes outside the network, including most European Union fixed land-line networks and two or three mobile networks.

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 slightly more expensive but faster and more reliable services you can also try international courier companies like TNT, DHL, FedEx or UPS.

External Links

• Official Governmental Website
• Bucharest at Romaniatourism.com