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Bucharest - Wikitravel
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Euro 2020
Bucharest is one of the hosting cities for one of the biggest events in soccer—the UEFA Euro 2020. See more information here.
Bucharest (Romanian: București) is Romania's capital and largest city, as well as the most important industrial and commercial center of the country. With 2 million inhabitants in the city proper and more than 2.4 million in the urban area, Bucharest is one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe, the largest city between Berlin and Istanbul.
Bucharest is the 5th largest city in the European Union by population within city limits, after Berlin, Madrid, Rome, and Paris.
Bucharest is the primary entry point into Romania. Bucharest is a booming city with many large infrastructure projects changing the old face of the city. Known in the past as "The Little Paris," Bucharest has changed a lot lately, and today it has become a very interesting mix of old and new that has little to do with its initial reputation. Finding a 300 year old church, a steel-and-glass office building and Communist-era apartment blocks next to one another is a common sight. Bucharest offers some excellent attractions, and has, in recent years, cultivated a sophisticated, trendy, and modern sensibility that many have come to expect from a European capital. Bucharest has been undergoing major construction and modernization works in recent years, such as the Basarab Overpass and the National Arena. Bucharest has benefited from an economic boom along with the EU grants that have helped rebuild neglected parts of the city, such as the historic Lipscani area.
The official language is Romanian, a Romance language which claims to be the closest currently-spoken relative to Ancient Latin; but which contains around 20% of loan words from Slavonic languages. Most younger educated people will speak English very well indeed; and the drawback of this will be that they will certainly NOT want you to try your Romanian, to the point of pointing your inefficiency out! Also, they will likely be proficient in one or more second Romance languages; most educated people born before about 1970 will speak French, Spanish or Italian reasonably well. The Roma people speak their native Romany, as well as Romanian, and sometimes English as well. Beyond that, as in any major city, there will be a smattering of other languages like Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, Hungarian. Contrary to popular belief, Russian is not spoken in Romania. Despite being part of the Eastern Bloc, use of Russian was and is frowned upon. The only exception to this are in the small Lipovan communities in Dobruja.
Bucharest, owing to its position in the Romanian Plain, has a humid continental climate with cold winters, hot summers and moderate rainfall (640 milimeters on average). Winters are damp, snowy and very cold (for the city's latitude). It actually gets colder in Bucharest than it does in Reykjavik, Stockholm and Dublin which are all located at very high latitudes. Night temperatures in January are around -5°C (23°F) and day temperatures are usually between 2°C (35°F) and 5°C (42°F). However, it may feel much colder as the average humidity is 88%. There isn't much activity during those months as most locals choose to stay home to avoid the cold. When cold waves from Siberia hit southern Romania, the mercury can dip as low as -15°C (5°F) and in rare cases below -20°C (-6°F). The last case of this happening was in January 2017 when Bucharest recorded a low of -24°C (-12°F), 8 degrees sigh from the record low of -32°C (-26°F). Snow is also the main type of precipitation during these months of the year. The city has on average 31 days of snowy weather from November to April.
Spring comes late in Bucharest as March is still really cold and snowy. April has warmer days but there very large variations between day and night as the average high is 18°C (64°F) but the average low is 4°C (40°F). April also has 1 snowy day on average and temperatures do drop below zero 2-3 times in the month. May is considered to be the best time to visit (along with September) as it has pleasant weather with warm days and cool nights.
Summer lasts from June to August and it's characterised by hot days and cool nights. There are large variations in temperature between day and night. While during the day they can get above 30°C (86°F) in the afternoon, they drop down to 15°C (59°F) during the night. Hot waves coming from the south can push the mercury above 35°C (95°F) occasionally but the city feels much hotter due to the presence of concrete, trapping the heat. The record high is 42°C (108°F). During August many of the citizens leave the city to go on holiday. Some head to Greece or Turkey while others choose closer destinations like the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria or Romania. Many also head to Constanta during the weekends.
The first weeks of September can still be hot (30°C+) but the latter part of the month is pleasant. When October rolls around, nights start to get chilly, around 5°C (42°F), and days are at around 18°C (64°F). November is when cold really begins to settle and it is also when the city gets its first coat of snow.
Bucharest has reasonable connections with most European capitals and with the largest cities in Romania, but it can be difficult to find a direct flight to Bucharest from outside of Europe or the Middle East.
The city is also reached by a large number of low-costs flights, mainly from destinations in Italy and Spain as well as from some major cities in Germany, France, the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Hungary, Turkey, Austria, Israel etc.
All scheduled flights, including those operated by low cost airlines, land at Henri Coandă International Airport (IATA: OTP) [1], located in Otopeni, 18 km north of downtown. Henri Coanda airport is often referred to as Otopeni on airline bookings, because of its location . The airport, built in 1968, underwent a massive modernization effort since the late 90's and is set to be further enlarged. It is the main hub for the Romanian flag carrier Tarom [2]. All concessions inside the airport (shops, cafes, restaurants) are extremely expensive (everything is about twice more expensive than in the city). The one exception is a grocery store (Carrefour) with prices similar to the prices in the city. It is in the basement of the arrival area where the buses are located. Avoid exchanging money in the airport, exchange rates are 10-15% worse than what you would find in the city - you are advised to use an ATM in the lobby for immediate needs and exchange money downtown.
The smaller Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (IATA: BBU) [3] was used for commercial flights as early as the 1920s and became a low cost hub in its final years. From March 25th 2012 it is no longer used by passenger airlines. It's located inside the city, in Băneasa, about 4-6 km to the city center and is set to become a sort of business airport.
There are several options to get from Henri Coandă airport to Bucharest:
Bus
Express bus 783 goes from the airport to downtown Bucharest (Starting with December 2nd 2023, the 783 line was replaced with line 100, which is even faster, having less stops). It runs approximately every 20 minutes, daily, including weekends and holidays (every 40 minutes during the night). Timetable for departures from Henri Coandă Airport to the city center is available here: [4]
Expect the trip with bus 783 to be about 40 minutes long (from Piaţa Unirii to the airport) or even longer during rush hour traffic. At night the bus can be much quicker, making the journey is 20 to 30 minutes.Buses that operate the line are modern with stop announcement system which however might stuck in the middle of the route(April 2016).If however you want to avoid all the route until Uniri, simply disembark at Victory Square where you can take the metro(M1,M2).
Express bus 780 links the airport with the main train station, Bucuresti Nord (Gara de Nord). It runs approximately every 40 minutes, daily (including weekends and holidays) from 5.30AM to 11PM.
When taking the 780 bus from Gara de Nord train station to Otopeni airport, note carefully that Gara de Nord is not the end of the bus route, hence, the 780 buses that pass Gara de Nord actually run in two directions. Therefore, at Gara de Nord, to catch the 780 that takes you to Otopeni airport, you need to catch it from the 780 bus-stop that requires crossing a road, i.e. not the 780 bus stop that is directly outside the Nord station. Best to ask locals where the correct bus stop is.
Lowest price option for any of these express buses is 8.60 lei (two rides uploaded on a Multiplu card)(August 2018).
Cards can only be purchased from the booth in front of either the Arrivals(daily from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.) or Departures terminals (respectively on the return trip from ticket booths in stations along their route), they can't be bought from the driver. A 'to and fro' ticket (without "Activ" card) from Airport to city center and back costs 8.6 Lei, which is also cheap. (NOTE: The normal transport passes do not work on these Express buses No. 780 & No. 783). As of April 2012, there is a ticket machine in front of the Arrivals terminal in service 24 hours a day. Remember to always validate your ticket on boarding the bus, these two bus lines are a prime target for ticket inspectors.One 'Activ Card' costs 3.70 Lei (about $1.25). To ride the bus you will also need to add value to your card (add 7 Lei for two trips from / to the airport or 3.50 Lei for one trip). For two persons who plan to use Trams and buses inside the city simply add 50 Lei when you buy the card and use it accordingly. After you validate in the touch screen of the bus simply press number 2 in the validating machine and revalidate for the second person(April 2016). The bus is far superior to the train in terms of both time and cost.
Train
There is a direct train to Bucuresti Nord station.
Tickets can be bought inside the train station (arrival Terminal) CFR ticket counter; price is 4 lei. The total duration of the trip from airport to the Gara de Nord is approximately 20 minutes. From Gara de Nord you can take public transport (metro and buses) or you can depart by train towards other cities in Romania. The service runs approximately once every 30 minutes. Timetable for Henri Coandă Express is available here: [5]
Taxi
Update 8/28/2019: Continue to use caution with the taxis in the arrival hall. The ticketing system has been impacted by recent changes to which taxis are allowed at the airport, and as such, expect long queues. Often, the ticketing machines are unable to match with any available taxis. If matched with a taxi, do not hand over the receipt - this is your only document of the taxi and must be retained in the event of a dispute or other complication. Taxi drivers will attempt to keep the ticket. Also beware of any driver who forces you to put small carry-on sized luggage in the trunk/boot. Separating tourist from their luggage for no reason should always be a red flag. Uber may be unavailable FROM the airport, but is very easy and affordable TO the airport and around town. Highly recommend avoiding taxis whenever possible.
In the past taking a taxi from Bucharest Henri Coanda airport was a hazardous experience, as indicated in the text below - there was a long running scam with tourists. However, please note that this has now been resolved through the introduction of the ticketing system where taxi customers should get a ticket from the booths as coming out of the arrivals hall. Once you have a ticket wait for the taxi with your number on the side to arrive outside and after that the fare should be as per the meter (usually 1.39 lei per kilometre, around 30 lei to the centre of Bucharest - very cheap indeed). The issues below are still concern outside hotels and main shopping areas and especially Gara de Nord railway station - but only usual caution is required at the airport now - i.e just ensure the driver has the meter on, and don't negotiate a fixed price.
Be extremely careful when taking a taxi from the airport to the centre, and avoid it if possible. Even official taxi drivers will likely try and extort some extra money out of you if you don't speak the language and seem clueless enough. Taxi scams are one of the most common crimes in Bucharest, so think twice before delivering yourself to the mercy of an unknown driver. Common tricks are:
- You get offered a ride for 20 lei, cheaper than a normal taxi. Once driving, it's suddenly 20 lei per kilometer.
- You are driven to a remote forsaken place and have to pay up if you want to be driven to your destination.
- You are promised a ride for 50 lei, which sounds pretty normal, but then 'taxes' for another 50 lei are added, and if you want a receipt it's suddenly another 50 lei.
- The second before setting off, another man jumps in the car, and together with the driver, threatens you out of your money one way or another.
- With excuses like "it's after midnight" or "this is a private taxi" or "delivery to a hotel has a special price" a taxi driver may ask you for 50 lei for a route that normally costs under 10 lei.
Should you end up in a situation like this, where the car is driving and the doors are locked and your luggage is in the trunk, then the only way out is to buy your way out through bargaining and lots of yelling back and forth. When lucky you might be able to settle for 120 lei with the driver, but 200 lei or more is not unheard of, especially when you end up having to pay a 'personal escort' of multiple people.
The safest way to get a low cost taxi - Dacia Logan(1.39 lei/km) or premium taxi - Mercedes-Benz (up to 3.49 lei/km) is to order one using the electronic touch-screen kiosks on the Arrivals level (after you claim your luggage and exit). This will provide you with a printed ticket (which you should be sure to keep) for a specific taxi which will arrive within minutes. Just wait outside for it , show the ticket and keep the ticket for complaining if you have "surprises". Never let the ticket to the driver. Check nonetheless the rate before getting in (it should be written on the taxi's doors) and also check that the meter is turned on. With a normal-rate taxi the ride to the city center should cost only €10 (30-50 LEI) and for premium taxis should not exceed €20 (80-90 LEI).
Most taxis take only cash. Ask before you get in if you want to pay by card or SMS. All genuine taxis are marked in a clear way with the word "TAXI" on top in a light-bar as well as a car number. They’re not all necessarily yellow but a lot of them are. The vast majority of taxi rides are safe, economical ways of getting around town when it’s either too far or else you’re tired or have been drinking. The drivers are professionals and get you where you want to go at a set rate and all goes well.
Bucharest taxi companies worth trying include Meridian (021 9444), Cristaxi (021 9466) and Cobalcescu (021 9451). While English may be spoken, do not rely on it. As such, it is worth downloading a taxi app before leaving home. There are two recommend: Star Taxi and Clever Taxi. Both apps offer cheap and reliable taxis from a wide range of Bucharest taxi companies.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES accept the offer of the people near arrivals terminal who ask you if you want a taxi or offer to carry your luggage.
You can Pre-Book your Taxi to avoid last minute stress, you can book online a taxi between 30 days and 1 hour in advance. They have also minivans for 8+1 passengers like Mercedes Vito, Fiat Scudo and Renault Traffic. For credit card payment in the car, meet and great, wifi in the cars, car rental with driver at your disposal, kids taxi, drivers speak english, fix rates for all transfers you can use Taxi Bucharest ,Bucharest Driver , Kiwitaxi , Bucharest Transfers , Bucharest Limo , Marius Taxi.
You can rent your private driver for a fix price. The driver will wait for you in the airport with your name written on an banner.
Unlike the normal taxi services, you know from the start how much you are going to pay for your trip and you will never have "surprises".
Private Taxis and Buses - BucharestTransfer
You can book or rent a private taxi for a fixed price up to 4 passengers / car, but you also can order a minibus or a 50-seats bus. The driver will wait for you in the airport.
Non-shared transfers are also available - endowed with a regular license issued by the competent local authority, regular permit and insurance for the transport of peoples as provided by law - and can be pre-booked on-line:
Elegance Taxi and Taxi Bucuresti offers a Mercedes E-Class transfers for up to 4 passengers for €20 from OTP to the city, pay online or to the driver, by card or cash.
Unlike the normal taxi services, you know from the start how much you are going to pay for your ride and you will never have "surprises".
Uber
Uber is a safe and effective way to get from the airport to Bucharest proper. The total cost hovers around RON40 as of June 2019 and the ride is just over 20 minutes. The driver will pick you up in the International Arrivals Parking Area just across the street from the main terminal (where others are getting picked up curbside) on the upper level.
Buses are a good option to get to Bucharest if coming from Moldova, Turkey, Greece and to some extent Bulgaria, given the low frequency and speeds of trains between these countries and Romania.
If you're willing to make extremely long bus rides it's also possible to get to Bucharest from a large number of cities in Western and South-Western Europe; these lines are operated by Eurolines[6] and their local affiliate Atlassib[7].
The city has several bus terminals: Băneasa (located in the northern part of town), Obor (east), Filaret (south), Rahova (south-west), Militari (west), Griviţa (north-west) as well as many other smaller stations.
Buses and minibuses from Chişinău (seven-eight buses every day, about 10 hours travel time, tickets around €15) arrive mostly at Filaret bus station (linked to downtown by tramway 7 and bus 232);
Buses from Istanbul (three-four buses per day, 12-14 hours travel time, tickets around €45) arrive at multiple stations along Viilor road (linked to downtown by tramway 32 from the northern end and tramway 7 from the southern end);
The only daily bus from Sofia (7 hours travel time, €18) stops near Tineretului subway station (one station away from city center);
Buses from Varna (one or two buses daily only between late May-early September, 5-6 hours travel time, tickets around €30) usually stop in various squares in downtown;
Buses from Athens (several times per week, 16-20 hours travel time, tickets around €60) arrive at stations along Viilor road;
Transfer buses for routes from Western Europe usually arrive at Rahova bus station (tramway 32 links it with the city center);
Bucharest also has bus connections to a vast number of cities in Romania. They're a convenient choice primarily when coming from places from which railways are under repair (like Constanţa and the Black Sea resorts) or too indirect (like Sibiu).
Timetables for most domestic routes and several international ones are available on [8].
All international trains and most long distance internal trains arrive at Gara de Nord (Northern) station, located quite near of the city center, to which it is linked by subway and several buses, trolley, and tramway lines. Trains from Chişinău depart at 16:35 and arrive in Bucharest Gara de Nord at 06:00 the next day, costing 494 Moldovan leu for tickets purchased on the day itself, or 600 leu in advance.
Some trains to and from the Black Sea Coast use either Gara de Est-Obor (Eastern) station, or Băneasa station, as well as the main Gara de Nord station (most of the trains). Currently the route between Bucharest and Constanţa, the main city in the Black Sea area, has been modernised and the trip duration was lowered to 2:30 hours on direct trains. Following further modernisation expected to finish in 2012 the duration is expected to get to 2:10-2:15 hours.
The other three smaller stations (Basarab, Progresul and Republica) are used exclusively for local and regional trains.
The timetables for domestic routes are available here: [9].
Do not use any exchange services around the train station: they offer about 30-50 percent below the actual exchange rate--use an ATM instead or walk a few blocks to get a much better rate, then take the subway system, which is reasonably priced (~1 euro for 2 uses, as of January 2013) and has clearly marked maps and schedules.
Watch out for the shady private taxi services and avoid taking taxis near the stations as they are often rogue operators who may take advantage of less prudent tourists. You should know that near the stations all of them will try to cheat you and you will have to be both vigilant and lucky to avoid being ripped off. Always look to see if the cab driver starts the meter and alert him by saying "aparatul" (ah-pah-RA-tool) while pointing at the meter. There will be drivers offering rides - be extremely wary. It is recommended to ride only with drivers who use the meter and have the general tariff (currently 1,39 lei/km, January 2013). The tariff is written on the front doors of the car. Never accept bargains and other offers, they are usually more than double than the route is worth.
The city’s entrances from the north (the E60 road coming from Braşov), west (the A1 highway from Piteşti), east (the A2 (Sun) highway from Constanţa), south (the E20 road from Giurgiu) and the avenues in the city center are very crowded, especially at rush hours. Inside the city there are few parking spaces and some of the secondary streets are in bad condition.
Bucharest has one of the most extensive systems of public transport in Europe, even though it can sometimes be confusing and crowded.
Note that most of the neighborhoods and urban areas are known and called using the name of the nearest Metro station. The other well-known areas without Metro stations are Dorobanţi in the Northeast, Rahova and Ferentari in Southwest (best avoided) and Lipscani - the old city centre situated between Unirii and Universitate Square.
The metro, which has four lines (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5) and covers the city quite extensively, is usually a cheap (6 lei for 2 trips, 25 lei for 10 trips and 80 lei for a monthly pass) 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 traveling to your destination, avoiding the traffic jams and crowds that frequently characterize surface transport.
The network is arguably frequent and fairly comfortable, reliable and easy-to-use. Surprisingly for some, it is by far the safest way to travel through the city. Since 2002, Bucharest Metro has embarked on a comprehensive modernization plan, including the replacement of old train-sets with state-of-the-art Bombardier Transportation trains and the renovation of stations and tracks in collaboration with Alstom.
Line M1 starts in the eastern part of the city and then goes through the 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 a short shuttle line starting from Gara de Nord 2 going to Parc Bazilescu in Bucureştii Noi neighborhood (as of 2011). 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. M4 line is planned to eventually link the city with its airports. The M5 line links the western hub Eroilor to the Drumul Taberei residential neighborhood, and will eventually link to the eastern neighborhood of Pantelimon.
Maps of the subway can be found on the Metrorex official site [10].
Bucharest has a very complex network of buses, trams, and trolleybuses which is, at first glance, fairly confusing to the tourists. 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 trolley bus stop virtually everywhere in this city. The vehicles are usually very frequent, although they can also get crowded at peak hours.
All stations for public transport are signalized with a small white plate and red writing with the station's name and the number of all the other buses and trolleys that stop there. They include the night buses, which contain an "N" before their number.
Make sure you know the stop you're getting off at - even though in most trolleybuses and in some modern buses and trams, the following stops are announced automatically and displayed on a screen inside the vehicle. Note that the audio volume announcement in the older trolleybuses can be quite low, although the buses work fine. If you are uncertain if a stop is the one you want, you can always ask your fellow travelers.
The ticketing system uses contactless smart cards, called Activ cards [11]. Once bought (you will need some ID to do that) the cards can be loaded with various ticketing options, including some that allow usage on both the subway and surface networks. To validate the card after entering a vehicle (or subway station) hold it still in front of the validating device (an orange box with a small LCD screen) until you hear a short beep (The LCD will show "Calatorie Placuta" = Have a nice trip). If you hear a long beep followed by the message "Repetati validarea la acelasi validator" = "Repeat the validation on the same machine" or any other message, please validate the card again. It is very common in this system to give errors very often, so it is recommended to be sure that you have paid for your trip. If you want to be sure that you have paid, press button 1 and hold the card near the validator, it will mention the amount left and for how many passengers it was validated. To validate it for more than one passenger (this is available only for electronic wallets not for daily/weekly/monthly passes), you have to press the button no. 2 and hold the card near the validator. For any other additional traveler, you have to press 2 again and receive the message "Calatorie Placuta" for each passenger. The paper tickets valid for one ride on one route are not available anymore (they were removed starting in May 2011). Be warned that you cannot buy tickets/cards in the vehicles and if caught by an inspector (controlor) you could be fined 50 lei. Some buses still use the old system of paper tickets, essentially a strip of paper that needs to be validated inside the bus. Be sure to validate your ticket according to instructions displayed on ticket booths, enforcers will take advantage of even the slightest mistake made by visitors unfamiliar with the system as an opportunity to extort heavy bribes by raising the fine above 50 lei and threatening to report to the police. A ticket is valid only on the bus/tram/trolley where it was validated. If you change the bus/tram/trolley, you have to validate again the card. Also, the ticket is valid only for one trip with the transport vehicle from one end to the other. However, in Bucharest most of the buses and trolleys will have one end (usually downtown, where there is no space for creating proper "end of the line" stops) without any distinct stop, so you will not be aware that you have to validate again, being liable to receive a fine.
For this reason, is better to buy a daily (8 RON = 1.8 Euro) or weekly pass (17 RON = 4 Euro) for your trips in Bucharest, because the pass will not require any validation. The prices are very small compared with the travel options available (buses, night buses, trams, and trolleys), so the pass will help you to have a trip without any headaches.
Starting with July 2011, the night buses are also available. They will run between 23:00 to 01:00, every 30 minutes, 1:00 to 5:00, every 1 hour, and 5:00 to 6:00, every 30 minutes.
Car rental in the Pache Protopopescu Street or Europcar are all at the city and airport. You can find all international car rental companies (Avis, Hertz, Europecar, Ascar, TOP Rent a Car, etc.) at the Otopeni Airport. You can find local car rental companies also ( Inchirieri Auto Otopeni )
Some even offer free delivery to the airport. The average price for a day rental is about €20 for the cheapest car.
There are a lot of taxi companies in Bucharest and you'll easily find a cab here. But be aware! Don't take any independent cab drivers, but use only the services of big taxi companies. Cars from these companies have the rates displayed on the door. Each door used to contain an initial "sitting" fee (between 1.6 to 3 lei), a per km fee (1.4 to 3.6 lei) and per hour fee. However, taxis now display a single number which is both the initial "sitting fee" and the per km fee. The per hour fee is not listed, but should be around ten times the per km fee. Independent have significantly higher fees (up to ten times the average!) If a taxi does not display these prices on the door it is best not to take it and find another, as you'll probably be charged a rate five to ten times higher than usual. Also, it should be noted that some taxis now have a low "nighttime rate" listed in a large font with an expensive daytime rate listed in a small font. So, read carefully and remember that noapte means night. And you should insist the driver starts the meter, and pay the sum displayed on it. If you are traveling outside the city limits (say to or from the airport) prices per km and per hour are often doubled, or an extra 10-15 lei is added to the fare. Be wary of taking taxis from places where a lot of tourists pass through, especially from Gara de Nord. Many of these taxis may be operated by con men. Tourists being asked to pay large sums to recover their luggage from the trunk or even muggings after taxi rides are not unheard of. It is not necessary to take a taxi from the front of the queue in Romania, in fact it is usually safer to take the last taxi there. Always stick with the large safer companies, these include Speed Taxi, Meridian, Taxi 2000, National Taxi, Cobalcescu and Dartex. Avoid Cris Taxi, Leone, Titan, Street, Decebal and Aresenal, these are often criminals. Also be careful to read the side of the taxi closely, there is not a trend of less reputable companies copying the logo of trusted companies (for instance Street copies the logo of Speed).
Uber and Bolt are cheap, widespread and legal. They operate around the city, including to and from the airport.
Parliament Palace - In the center of Bucharest, near Piaţa Unirii (Union Plazza), the tourist can see the largest parliament building in the world, formerly named "Casa Poporului" (People's House). The building, which was built in 1984 by Nicolae Ceauşescu, spans 12 stories, 3100 rooms and covers over 330,000 sq m. 1/9 of Bucharest was reconstructed to accommodate this magnificent massive building and its surroundings. There are 30-45 minute tours every half hour which lead through the building's vast collection of marble rooms and culminates in an impressive view from Nicolae Ceauşescu's balcony. The marble and all the original decorations are 100% from Romania. There are different Tours ranging in price from 35 RON (18 RON for students, proof required) up to 55 RON (taking photos is another 30 RON). You have to show your passport or national ID card to buy a ticket. The basic tour includes the halls and the balcony, worthwhile is the terrace addition (10 RON) for the wonderful view from the top of the building. The basement addition on the other hand is not worth the extra 10 RON. They only show two rooms containing airducts, no additional facts and it lasts only 5 minutes! The tourist entrance is on the north side of the building.
Old center (Lipscani) - A part of the city's historical heart was not demolished by Nicolae Ceauşescu. The area (stretching approximatively between the Dâmboviţa river to the south, Calea Victoriei to the west, Calea Moşilor to the east and Regina Elisabeta boulevard to the north) today contains an assortment of middle 19th century buildings, ruins of the Wallachian princes' medieval court, churches, bank headquarters, a few hotels, clubs, restaurants and shops. Narrow cobblestoned streets retain the names of the ancient guilds that resided on them. The area was mostly renovated and is now a place of gathering for the young generation of the city.
Revolution Square (Piaţa Revoluţiei) - Site of part of the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Centrally located, it is not a long walk from the other squares, Gara de Nord, or the Parliament Palace. There is a tall monument in the center of the square in memory of those who died during the revolution.
The Arch of Triumph (Arcul de Triumf). - Situated in the norhern part of the city, close to Herăstrău Park. The current arch was inagurated in 1936, but on the same site other arches stood starting with 1878.
Romanian Atheneum - A beautiful building situated near Revolution Square (Piaţa Revoluţiei) is home of the George Enescu Philarmonic. If you have the time, visit the interior of the building as well, as it holds a fresco that depicts scenes of the Romanian history. The building was inagurated in 1888.
WWII American Memorial - Small memorial dedicated in 2007. Located in the eastern area of the Kiseleff Park (Parcul Kiseleff). It is visible on the western side of the Bulevardul Aviatonlor between the "Institutul de Istorie Nicolae Iorga al Academiei" and Strada Ion Mincu.
Village Museum –an original open air museum created in 1934, it currently has around 300 traditional buildings (including churches, workshops, mills etc.) plus furniture, pottery, clothing gathered from villages in every region of the country in an effort to showcase the traditional way of life of the Romanians. Occasionally hosts folkloric and traditional crafts festivals. Entry fee 10 Lei for an adult, 5 Lei for student, closes at 9PM in the summer. Şoseaua Kiseleff, 28-30.
Museum of the Romanian Peasant[12], also dedicated to the traditional way of life, it focuses mainly on traditional interior decoration, tools, clothing and artifacts. Again, it sometimes hosts folkloric and traditional crafts festivals. Very interesting, touching exhibit about one's grandma. With hidden rooms to surprise you. Has a quite decent cafe, a notable museum shop, and a Cărtureşti bookstore. Entry 6ron for adult, 3ron for student. Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr. 3
Art Museum, in the building of the former Royal Palace, has collections of ancient, modern and contemporary Romanian art as well as exhibitions of rare European art dating as early as the 14th century. Calea Victoriei, nr. 49-53
Museum of Art Collections, recently reopened, as an art museum is second only to the museum in the former palace, especially (but not exclusively) for the works of Romanian artists. Calea Victoriei, nr. 111
National Museum of Contemporary Art[13] Recently opened inside a converted wing of the Palace of the Parliament, in what had been the private apartments of Ceauşescu, the museum features fresh exhibitions from Romania's burgeoning art scene.
“Curtea Veche” (Old Court) Museum –the ruins of the crown palace of the Wallachian princes, some parts dating as early as the 16th century. It’s around an earlier fortification located in this same place that Bucharest began to develop.Strada Franceză, nr. 25-31
Cotroceni Palace Museum –has collections of objects that belonged to the former Romanian royal family. Today it is also the residence of the Romanian presidents.Bd. Geniului, nr. 1
National History Museum -located in a neoclassical late 19th century building, has exhibits documenting the evolution of society on Romania’s territory from the Paleolithic until today, a replica of Trajan’s Column in Rome and a very interesting numismatics collection. It is undergoing some remodeling and only two exhibitions are open to the public as of June 2009. Calea Victoriei, nr. 12
Bucharest History Museum –situated in the Şuţu Palace, built in 1834, has collections related to the development of Bucharest from a small 14th century fortress into Romania’s capital.Bd. I.C. Brătianu, nr. 2
Military History Museum –has collections of weapons dating since the prehistoric times and permanent exhibitions dedicated to important military events, including the Romanian revolution of 1989, as well as an outdoor exhibit of relatively modern weaponry, including cannons, tanks, helicopters etc.Strada M. Vulcănescu, nr. 125-127
Jewish Community History Museum –documenting the life of this community in the region since ancient times, through the Holocaust, and beyond. Includes quite a good art collection. Strada Mămulari, nr. 3
“Grigore Antipa” Natural History Museum –has over 300.000 exhibits illustrating the transformations of Earth and the evolution of species. Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr. 1
Geology Museum –has a large collection of minerals, rocks and fossils.Şoseaua Kiseleff, nr. 2
“Dimitrie Leonida” Technology Museum –is set to be relocated in a wing of the Palace of the Parliament
Aviation Museum –open-air display of various types of aircraft.Otopeni airport
Railways Museum–rarely opened.Calea Griviţei, nr. 139B
Firefighters Museum –likewise.Bd. Ferdinand, nr. 33
Future Museum[14] Future Museum, a newly established platform based on a system of open call commissions. All artists and curators based in Romania and Moldova are invited to submit project proposals which will be selected by an international board. The ethos of the museum is a belief in unexplored concepts, uncharted intentions, unknown phenomena, undiscovered schemes and unprecedented theories. Ion Ghica, nr. 11
There are also a number of smaller museums, housing private collections, notably the “D. Minovici" Western European Arts Museum located in a beautiful eclectic villa (strada N. Minovici, nr.3) and numerous memorial houses dedicated to various literary, scientifical and political personalities.
Curtea Veche (Old Court) Church –built around 1559, used to be the coronation church of the Wallachian princes.Near Piata Unirii.
Patriarchal Cathedral (1658) and Mitropoliei Palace (1708) –the residence of the Orthodox Patriarch, sort of a small Romanian Vatican.Located on the hill overlooking Piata Unirii.
Stavropoleos Church –built in the early 18th century, has some stunning decorative sculpture and amazing frescoes. A little jewel. In the old center area.
Colţea Church – (1702) it’s the first church in Bucharest built in the Brancovenesc style. Near Piaţa Universităţii.
Sfântu Gheorghe Nou (New St. George) Church –dating from the 18th century, houses the tombs of the princes Constantin Brâncoveanu and Ion Mavrocordat. At half way between Piaţa Universităţii and Piaţa Unirii.
Kretzulescu Church –another interesting example of the Brancovenesc style (1722). On the left side of the National Art Museum.
Plumbuita Monastery –built in the last half of the 16th century, it once housed the first printing house in the region (1582); today has a religious objects museum and a large park. Relatively far from the city center, on Şoseaua Colentina.
Oţetari Church - The Oţetari Church is a very discreet, yet spiritual place, giving some religious comfort in the centre of the city. It's name actually means "cruet", because of the initial destination of the street it is situated on. It was built in the 18th Century and it features a number of interesting paintings and stained glasses [15]. Close to the Rosetti Square, National Theatrer and the Spiru Haret National College.
There are two free weekly guides published in Bucharest featuring all the events of the week, as well as listing the addresses of most restaurants, clubs, pubs, bars, cinemas etc. in the city. One is Şapte Seri (Seven nights), the other 24-FUN. They have small sections in English available.
A walking tour is always the best solution for getting accustomed with a new city. You can find free guided walking tours of the city centre, this being an option for budget travelers, youth and backpackers. Usually, you have to book the tours, but in the high season there are tours organized every day, rain or sun.
There are also paid tours to be found, in this case booking being necessary at all times.
Many of the neighborhoods north and east of the city center are of equal architectural interest to the center, far less heavily touristed, but equally safe for just wandering.
From Monarchy to Communism: How monarchy, World Wars and modern era shaped Bucharest as a city of contrasts and how we managed to switch from being a monarchy to a communist regime.
You can rent a bicycle for two hours without cost in the northwestern corner of Kiseleff Park ("Parqul Kiseleff") and use it to cycle in nearby beautiful Herastrau Park. Bring your passport.
Cişmigiu Garden is a lovely small park located in the very centre of Bucharest. It's the oldest in the city (designed 1845-1860). Has boat rental in summer, ice skating in winter time, a reasonable restaurant and several bars.
Lake in Cismigiu park
Herăstrău Park (the largest of several parks around man-made lakes on the Colentina River running through the city’s north and east side) houses the Village Museum, an open-air theater, various sports grounds, something like an amusement park and numerous restaurants and clubs. Has boat rental and boat-trips in summer.
The Botanical Gardens, established in 1884 near Cotroceni Palace, displays a variety of plants from all over the world, including an indoor tropical plants exhibition. Small entry fee.
Carol Park (designed in 1906), a quiet oasis not so far from Piata Unirii, has an open-air theater replicating a Roman arena and another construction replicating a medieval fortress. It houses the tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as an infamous mausoleum built for the Communist nomenclature.
Tineretului Park, just one subway station south of Piaţa Unirii, has a large indoor arena (Sala Polivalenta) used for various concerts, sporting events, exhibitions etc., an amusement park for children, boat-rental, several restaurants and bars.
Titan Park (also known as I.O.R. Park), a green oasis amongst Communist era high rise apartment buildings in the eastern part of the city (Titan subway station), has a charming wooden church as well as several lake-side clubs.
Bury the Hatchet[16] is an Axe throwing activity in Bucharest. Strada Gabroveni 14 (inside Mojo, downstairs).
Bucharest Shooting Club[17] offers shooting with AK47 Kalashnikov, shotguns, sniper rifles & more. Available for non-licensed shooters. Piata Sf. Gheorghe (office address) Bucharest.
Opera Naţională (National Opera), Bulevardul Mihail Kogălniceanu nr. 70-72 (Eroilor area), ☎ +40 21 314 6980 (fax: +40 21 310 2660), [x]. 5-64 lei.
Filarmonica George Enescu (George Enescu Philharmonic), Strada B. Franklin nr. 1-3 (Revoluţiei square), ☎ +40 21 315 2567 (fax: +40 21 312 2983), [x]. Housed in the Romanian Athenæum, a city landmark
Teatrul Naţional de Operetă Ion Dacian (Ion Dacian National Operetta Theater), Bulevardul Nicolae Bălcescu nr.2 (near University square), ☎ +40 21 315 1502, [x].
Cinemateca Română, strada Eforie nr. 2 (near the old quarter), ☎ +40 21 3130483. A branch of the National Film Archives, screens mostly classic movies
Noul cinematograf al regizorului roman (Romanian director's new cinema), strada Intrarea Monetăriei nr. 3 (at the Romanian Peasant Museum), ☎ +40 21 317 9660 (fax: +40 21 312 9875), [x]. Art films and documentaries selected by major Romanian directors10 lei.
Eurocinema, strada Johann Gutenberg nr. 19 (near Izvor bridge), ☎ +40 21 315 8165 (fax: +40 21 3121962). Th-Su at 8pm. Plays mainly independent European movies10 lei.
Europa, Calea Moşilor nr. 127 (at the start of Moşilor road), ☎ +40 21 314 2714. Plays relatively recent European movies
Elvira Popescu, Bulevardul Dacia nr. 77 (at the French Institute), ☎ +40 21 210 0224, [x]. Mostly French movies
Cinema City, Bulevardul Vasile Milea nr. 4 (in the AFI Palace mall), ☎ +40 21 407 0000, [x]. Largest multiplex in the city (21 screens, including one IMAX)17-32 lei.
Holywood Multiplex, Calea Vitan nr. 55-59 (in the Bucharest Mall), ☎ +40 21 327 7020, [x]. First multiplex to open, has 10 screens22-35 lei.
Movieplex, Bulevardul Timişoara nr. 26 (in the Plaza Romania mall), ☎ +40 21 43 10000 (fax: +4021 4078333), [x]. Located in the western part of Bucharest, has 11 screens15-45 lei.
Light Cinemas, Şoseaua Progresului nr. 151-171 (in the Liberty Center mall), ☎ +40 21 369 9740 ([email protected]), [x]. Located in the south-western part of the city, has 7 screens15-33 lei.
Patria, Bulevardul Gh. Magheru nr. 12-14 (between Universităţii and Romană squares), ☎ +40 21 316 9266. A large (over 1,000 seats) 1930s cinema located along the city's main avenue
Scala, Bulevardul Gh. Magheru nr. 2-4 (between Universităţii and Romană squares), ☎ +40 21 316 6708. Another large older cinema located in the downtown
CinemaPro, strada Ion Ghica nr. 3 (near Universităţii square), ☎ +40 31 824 1360 ([email protected]), [x]. 14-24 lei.
Obviously, if you don't speak Romanian you are at a liability in terms of seeing live theater, but Bucharest is a first-rate theater city, with a caliber of theater comparable to other European capitals. Keep your eye out for a production of a classic play you already know: the quality of acting will certainly make it worth your while. Among the city's most notable theaters are the National Theatre, Teatrul Bulandra (two stages in two different locations in Central Bucharest), and the Odeon, but there are a good half dozen others that range from good to excellent.
Major brand-name shops and upscale boutiques are concentrated along the main boulevard from Piaţa Romană to Piaţa Unirii and on the small streets adjacent to this boulevard, but also on Calea Victoriei, on Calea Dorobanţilor (the part between Blvd. Iancu de Hunedoara and Piaţa Dorobanţilor) or on Calea Moşilor's section between Blvd. Carol I and Piaţa Obor.
Book stores with a good supply of English language books are difficult to find in Bucharest but there are a few places mainly situated in the center.
Anthony Frost English Bookshop, Calea Victorei, Nr. 45, Sector 1, Bucharest, Romania (The bookstore near the Art Museum. Walk down the right side of the large building just to the left of a very old church. The bookstore is near the back.), ☎ 0040213115138 ([email protected]). is a recently-opened English language bookstore. Lots of reasonably-priced books and a comics (mostly manga) section.
Bastilia, excellent bookshop (with nice cafe at top) located in newly renovated building right at Piaţa Romană.
Cărtureşti, str Arthur Verona nr.13, tel 4021 3173459 (0721518351, 0788758408) [24] - A few blocks south of Piaţa Romană on the east side of Bd. Magheru. The store is set back the street and has a small park in front of it. Wide range of merchandise, but can be overpriced.
Cărtureşti Carusel - str Lipscani 55, newly opened in a former palace, even grander than the already impressive Cărtureşti on str Arthur Verona.
Dalles - situated near Piaţa Universităţii (University square)
Nautilus[25] is an English language bookstore near the Kiseleff Park, mostly with fantasy and science fiction books.
Thomas Antiques, Str. Covaci 19 (Lipscani area), ☎ +40 752 440 818, [x]. Beautiful antique shop. With a large collection of antiques and where it is possible to have a drink in this unique atmosphere.(44.430325,26.102702)
Tow truck 24, Str. Elev Nicolae Popovici nr. 1, ☎ +40 762 447 208, [x]. Roadside assistance 24 of 24
Leonidas Universitate (Belgian Chocolate), Strada Doamnei 27, [x]. Mon-Fri: 10:00 - 20:00 Sat: 11:00 - 15:00. A well-known chocolate store, for those who have a sweet tooth. Its location is very close to the historical old center. They also serve Ben & Jerry's Ice cream.
Obor Market (Piața Obor), (East of Obor metro). The city's largest public market, covering several city blocks and with many other working-class shops around it. Mostly, but not exclusively food. Modernized in the 2010s, but still has a lot of character.(44.450779,26.130387)
Escape Room Bucuresti (911 Escape Room), (Middle of Bucharest Piata Unirii), [x]. If you want to have fun in the middle of the town escaping outting your mind at work escaping from a room with your friends 911 escape room is the place to go(44.41993,26.0976163)
Zestre, [x]. Local clothing, accessories and jewelry brand that combines traditional hand-made Romanian motifs with urban garments and wooden jewelry.
Cercul Militar Naţional (Palace of the National Military Circle)
Prices usually go anywhere from €5-7 to €30-40 for high-end dining for a single person menu consisting of a meal (most places offer €5-7 Euros menus that include an Entree, Main Dish and Dessert or a Drink) and a soft drink.
The most popular fast-food is undoubtedly Shaorma, with hundreds of places selling it in almost every Square, Mall or street crossroads. Objectively, the most popular places with Romanians are Dristor Kebap, Calif or Dines.
Caru' cu bere, Stavropoleos str. No. 5, ☎ +40 726 282 373, [x]. One of the most famous places to eat in the old city centre, it is situated in a wonderful building, with an extraordinary architecture. Present in Bucharest from 1879. Known for their home-made beer. The food is amazing and the decor is a work of art. Make a reservation beforehand (specially during the rush hours). They have quite a good and cheap 3 course lunch menu (only during the lunch hours on weekdays). Particularly good value is a lunch deal for seniors - available on weekdays before 1pm. This includes a beer which is very welcome because though food prices are reasonable, drinks are expensive (eg glass of wine 5 euro; 400 ml fraught beer also 5 euro).
Cercul Militar National (Strada Constantin Mile 1). The Palace of the National Military Circle was built in 1911 using French neoclassical style. The restaurant and the terrace are open to the public for affordable prices.(44°26'06.2,26°05'48.8)
Casa di David, (Șoseaua Nordului 7-9), ☎ +40 21 232 4715, [x]. Opened in 2005, it is a hangout of the city's newly wealthy. It comes complete with a German car ads at the entrance and an extensive wine list. Food (Italian inspired) and ambiance are at best good, 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. *<eat name="GRAM Bistro" alt="" address="Soseaua Nicolae Titulescu 4-8" phone="+40 723 333 509" url="http://www.grambistro.ro" lat="44.452441" long="26.079896" price="8-15€/person"> A bistro with an urban cuisine using fresh ingredients, homemade drinks and dishes, Romanian craft products & epicurious recipes. Located in Bucharest's uptown.
Locanta Jaristea, strada George Georgescu 50 - 52 (near the crossroad of Regina Maria Blvd. and Libertăţii Blvd), ☎ +40 21 335 3338 ([email protected]), [x]. M-Su 11AM -last customer. Beautiful historically themed restaurant, live traditional music, old Romanian specialties... but always check the bill thoroughly. Reservations are compulsory.
La Mama, 6 outlets around Bucharest, Barbu Văcărescu 3, Delea Veche 51, Episcopiei 9, and Carrefour Orhideea being the largest ones, ☎ +40-21-2124086, [x]. Good for simple dishes like steaks and chicken wings, stews not recommended. Prices are a bit over the top, given the quality. Real amount of food 2-3 times less than stated in the menu.
Muse Bistro and Cafe (Fusion Cuisine), Strada Paris 17, Bucureşti (Behind Victoria Palace), ☎ +4 0740 123 455, [x]. A small bistro that serves fusion cuisine with strong Mediterranean and French influences. They use locally grown and organic ingredients. Perfect for a quick break. The Village Museum, as well as the museum of the Romanian Peasant are within walking distance.8-15€/person. (44.454868,26.088534)
Taj Restaurant (Calea 13 Septembrie, 127-131,), Sector 5, Bucureşti (Near Marriott hotel), ☎ 410.18.20, [x]. 12.00 - 24.00. Good Indian restaurant near Marriott hotel, especially for vegetarians. Little pricey.
The Harp Irish Pub & Restaurant (Calea Bibescu Voda, 1,), Sector 4, Bucureşti (Unirii Square), ☎ 0735.554.455, [x]. 10.00 - 02.00. Beautiful Irish themed restaurant, live music from Thu to Sat, good Irish and traditional food.
Trattoria Buongioro, Str Franceza 52, ☎ 0733 11.04.64, [x]. 8.00 - 00.00. Trattoria Buongiorno has multiple locations, all in the Bucharest city center.
Il Bocconcino (pizza popesti leordeni), Str Miraslau 26, ☎ 0771 209 036, [x]. 11:00 - 23:00. Mediterranean restaurant. We make the best pizza in town!average.
Bucharest Pub Crawl, [x]. The only regular Pub Crawl in Bucharest: 9 euro get you 5 shots and entry in 5 pubs/clubs and a great night out! Meet at 10pm in Piata Roma in the old town every Tuesday and Thursday to see first hand the amazing nightlife of Bucharest.
Absintherie Sixtină (Sixtine Absintheria), Covaci 6, 1st floor, ☎ 021 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), ☎ +40 735 187 013, [x]. Bar with several types of Belgian, Czech and Slovak beer.
Curtea Berarilor (The Brewers Court), Selari 9-11, ☎ +40 21 313 7532, [x]. Pub in old center having mostly Timişoreana beer.
Green Hours, Calea Victoriei 120, ☎ +40 751 772 275. A quiet club which often hosts jazz concerts.
Interbelic, Intrarea Selari 1A (near Lipscani), ☎ +40722681618, [x]. 17:00-last. Cocktail bar; fine spirits, great nights.medium.
La Motoare, Bulevardul Nicolae Bălcescu 2 (on the roof of the National Theater, Universitate Square), ☎ +40213158508. An outdoor pub offering great views over the city. Mostly frequented by university students. Rock music and movies in the evening. It is temporarily closed for renovation.
Club Downtown, Mendeleev 32 st, ☎ +40 724 751 351, [x]. 21:00-last client. With a history of more then 12 years, Downtown is the place to party on every night of the week, with dancers and live DJ. It is situated in the very heart of the city, near 'Piata Romana'. With theme parties on Fridays and Saturdays and great atmosphere on every night of the week, you have to pay a visit. Prices are very fair, the staff is very friendly.
The Vintage Pub, Str. Smardan 43 (in The Old City Center), ☎ +40 743 797 173 ([email protected]), [x]. The place to be in Bucharest's Old Center. Great place to meet people and not very expensive.
Bamboo, Str. Ramuri Tei 39 (in Tei Park), ☎ +40 72 213 2283 ([email protected]), [x]. It's the largest club in Bucharest. Upmarket and expensive.
Cafe Hazard, Baraţiei (coming from Unirii towards University, take your first right after the fornetti store and then your first left), ☎ +40 72 770 0107. 3PM-5AM. A rock bar, with a great atmosphere, open thinking, great beer and people.
Club A, (near University Square), ☎ +40 21 313 5592, [x]. 6PM - 6AM. The first and oldest club in Bucharest, with nearly 40 years tradition (this means amazingly much for a city where most clubs are less than 5 years old). Since the beginning, it was and remains a student pub and club, with an unpretentious but welcoming atmosphere, good music and low prices. Like many clubs in Bucharest, be mindful that the bouncers can be overly aggressive to patrons at times.
Control Club, Str. Academiei nr.19 (go to Victoria Passage coming from University square), ☎ +40 73 392 7861, [x]. 3PM-5AM. Best alternative/indie club with a lot of live shows and good music.
Expat Pub, Str. Blanari, nr. 21, ☎ +40 072xpatpub (+40.729.728.782) ([email protected]), [x]. Open Tue - Sun: 7PM-7AM. Cocktail Bar / Pub located into the old city part of Bucharest. Your Home away from Home. Friendly staff. Classic and forgotten cocktails prepared and served like in the good ol' times. Themed nights. Home of Expats living in Bucharest
Expirat, Str. Constantin Istrati 1, ☎ +40733974728 ([email protected]), [x]. Lively club in an industrial heritage building (old brick-walled factory) with a high-end soundsystem and ample outdoor seating. Themed nights, very expat-friendly, great cocktails and very reasonable prices.
Fire Club, (near Lipscani), ☎ +40 21 312 7019, [x]. The most well known rock and metal club in Bucharest. By day a pub and outdoor cafe.
Fratelli, Str. Nicolae Golescu 5, ☎ +40 73 103 6222, +40 72 185 0030, ([email protected]), [x].
Kulturhaus, Str. Sf. Vineri nr.4, ☎ +40 21 3135592, [x]. 10PM-5AM. A club with a German concept – ”the culture house” – a place where all sort of cultural events (such as live music concerts, art exhibitions, film projections) take place. Kulturhaus is very cheap – no entry fee (except for music concerts) and low prices – it is the cheapest club in town – maybe this is why the place is crowded every Friday and Saturday night until 05:00.
Queen’s Club, E-4, Str. Mihai Bravu 32, ☎ +40 72 275 4293, ([email protected]), [x]. Open 11PM-5AM, Thu 9PM-5AM, Sun 8PM-5AM. May be closed Mon, Tue, Wed.. Like Gay clubs the world over, this place has become tremendously popular with a hetero set fed up with the meat market atmosphere at so many of the city’s other locations. That, together with superb music, makes this an essential stop for hedonists of all persuasions. Shake it. It can become quite crowded so watch yourself."Entry 20.00 lei, but that includes 10.00 lei worth of drinks at the bar.
Underworld, Str. Colţei, nr. 48 (go to Colţei street coming from the Rosetti Square, near University), [x]. The only punk-rock oriented pub in Bucharest. It also has a small concert hall, a fusball table, board games, dedicated evenings, etc.
Secret Massage & Club, Str. Lamaitei, nr. 14, [x]. Great atmosphere and drinks with beautiful Romanian girls.
Player Club, 1 Montreal Square (on Kiseleff Avenue in front Herastrau Park), ☎ +40 720 734 734 ([email protected]), [x]. Night Club & Pool with unique daytime clubbing in Bucharest
VIP Obsession Massage, 16 Unirii Blvd (between Unirii Square and Ceausescu Palace), ☎ +40 755 141 868 ([email protected]), [x]. NON STOP. Night Club & Massage - for special moments in Bucharest
Bucharest is home to the leading gay community in Romania, the city being a lot more lenient towards LGBT couples than any other Romanian places. Romania is just starting to get accustomed to LGBT individuals, as being gay was criminalized during the Communist Era (1947-1989) and people still have a shallow and intolerant understanding of the matter.
Usually the worst thing that can happen is to be frowned upon or at most being made fun of, but during the day it is extremely rare. It is advisable to keep interactions between gay couple at a minimum at night.
There is currently one gay club in Bucharest: the Q Club (ex Queens, located on Carol I boulevard, corner with Latin street).
Camping Băneasa/Casa Alba, Aleea Privighetorilor 1-3 (at the edge of the Băneasa Forest, close to the Băneasa Airport), [x]. Space for up to 80 caravans or 120 tents, running water, showers, toilets, kitchen. It is the only camping site in Bucharest proper. Note that it is quite far from the center of the city, and, during rush hour, it may take well over 1 hour to reach downtown.
X Hostel Bucharest, Balcesti street, number 9, ☎ +40213674912 ([email protected]), [x]. X Hostel Bucharest. Central and safe hostel operating in Europe with this brand in other cities since 2008. Pub on site, all air-conditioned rooms, twin and double private rooms with bathroom, daily events. Lockers for each guests, multinational and multilingual staff. Bitcoin ATM machine. We have one of Europe`s only Axe Throwing arenas url="http://www.axesbucharest.com" from €8.
Little Bucharest Old Town Hostel, Smardan street, number 15, 2nd floor, ☎ +40786055287 ([email protected]), [x]. Little Bucharest Old Town Hostel. Located in the pedestrian old town city center – Little Bucharest has been designed especially for backpackers and young travelers, active, vibrant people who want to be part of the action-packed downtown area. The building in which it's located has a long history; a neoclassical style edifice, it’s been built in 1902 and for most of its time standing it hosted banks. Right across the street you in fact will find the National Bank of Romania.from €8.
Peaches Hostel, 52 Orzari Street, ☎ +40761 971 967 ([email protected]), [x]. Peaches Hostel. Newly renovated house. Cosy outdoor green terrace with barbecue area. Exterior chill out zone with sofas and hammocks. Very close to the National Stadium and easy reach of city centre.from €8.
East Hostel, Bvd Hristo Botev 11 (University subway station, exit), ☎ +40 73 729 3493 ([email protected]), [x]. checkin: 24/24; checkout: 11 a.m.. Brand-new hostel in Lipscani Quarter. Free breakfast, free pasta daily at 7 p.m., fast wi-fi connection throughout, A/C at night, thick comfy mattresses and quality pillows and duvets, lavish bathrooms.From €9/night.
Explorers Hostel, Str. Luigi Cazzavillan 21, ☎ +40 21 310 6971, +40 767 330 505 ([email protected]), [x]. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 11:00. Great boutique hostel, centrally located and also close to the train station. Free breakfast,free internet,free air conditioning. Bike renting,city tours on bike and laundry-service are available for good prices.from €7/night.
The Funky Chicken Hostel, Str. Gen. Berthelot 63, ☎ +40 21 312 1425 ([email protected]), [x]. Close to Gara de Nord (10 min) and the main squares. Simple place for one night, but a bit dirty and uncomfortable for a longer stay.Around €10/night.
Hostel Tina, Odobesti 2B Street, Bloc N3B, 9th Floor, nr. 38. (Buzzer 38 C), District 3 (3 stops from the centre and 6 stops from the railway station Gara de Nord, 10 min from Dristor metro station), [x]. Cosy two room house, hot breakfast, bed linen and towels are included in price. Free coffee, tea, use of computer printer, all rooms have free wifi. Clean and safe hostel. Will send driver and car for €22. Tourist information is provided.1 private room with queen bed €28, and one shared room 4 beds €14/bed. (44.4174,26.1506)
The Midland Youth Hostel, Str Biserica Amzei no 22, ☎ +40 21 314 5323 ([email protected]), [x]. Central, breakfast included, free internet.from €8/night.
Vila Gabriela, Str. Mărgăritarului 18, Vila A 104, Otopeni, judeţul Ilfov (just outside Bucharest on the way to the international airport), ☎ +40 21 236 2053 ([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.Double room €25/night (you can pay in euro) with a shared toilet. If you want the best room, you'll also get your own toilet for €35/night. Breakfast is included..
Crazy Duck Hostel Bucharest, Strada Stirbei Voda, 130, ☎ +40744648022 ([email protected]), [x]. . Free welcome drink & free map of Bucharest. Excellent downtown location, close to Central Railway Station and Old Town. Perfect for groups and single travelers - all rooms and dorms with private bathroom. Good WIFI, nice recreation area, garden terrace for summer. Excellent kitchen area. hubfrom €8.
Central Guesthouse Bucharest, 7 strada Balcesti, ☎ +40 763 339 032 ([email protected]), [x]. Very central and private. Self check-in property with few clean and safe rooms. Free fast wifi, air-conditioning, all private bathrooms, cctv.€25-€45/night.
Loft City, 118 Calea Floreasca, ☎ +40 743 872 210 ([email protected]), [x]. Set in the heart of Floreasca/Primaverii residential area this cozy studio offers you a true city feeling.€25-€35/night.
Cameliei, Strada Cameliei, nr. 37, ☎ +40 78 877 6456, [x]. €25-€31/night.
Carpaţi, str. Matei Millo nr. 16, ☎ +40 21 315 0140 ([email protected], fax: +40 21 312 1857), [x]. Located in one of the oldest parts of Bucharest, directly between Calea Victoriei and Grădina Cişmigiu. 15 min walk to the University metro station. Small, affordable rooms in a clean and welcoming atmosphere.€40-€85/night.
Little Bucharest Apartments – Amazing central penthouse in Bucharest with park view, Bulevardul Mihail Kogălniceanu, Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania (the bus and tram station is right in front of the building, connecting you with all the areas of the city. The metro is 7 minutes walking.), ☎ +40786055287 ([email protected], fax: +40786055287), [x]. The boulevard sits between two lovely parks, being an old neighborhood of Bucharest, close to the Law School and the Palace of Parliament.from $139/night.
angelo Airporthotel Bucharest, 283 Calea Bucurestilor (hotel offers complimentary airport shuttle), ☎ +40 21 20 36500 ([email protected], fax: ++40 21 20 36510), [x]. Located within 300 meters of Henri Coanda International Airportfrom €95/night.
ApartHomes, George Valentin Bibescu Street 33, ☎ +4021-232-0406, [x]. €49-€79/night.
Capitol, Calea Victoriei 29, ☎ +4021315 80 30 (fax: +4021312 41 69), [x]. Comfortable, though admittedly not quite hassle-free, 100-year-old three-star hotel with big rooms and enormous bathrooms, near Cercul Militar. €55-€75/night.
Casa Victor, Str. Emanoil Porumbaru nr. 44 (on a quiet side street parallel to B-dul Aviatorilor a few blocks north of Parcul Kiseleff and a few blocks south of the Aviatorilor metro station), ☎ +4021 222 57 23 or 222 96 26 ([email protected], fax: +4021 222 94 36), [x]. checkout: 11:00AM. €55-€140/night.
Crowne Plaza, B-dul Poligrafiei nr. 1, ☎ +4021 224 00 34 (fax: +4021 318 13 02), [x]. from €80/night.
Dalin Center Hotel, Sos. Ştefan Cel Mare 33A, ☎ +4021-211-0070, [x]. Dalin Center Hotel is a new hotel, with a particular interior design and modern facilities. €49-€59/night.
Grand Boutique Hotel, Str. Negustori nr. 1B, ☎ +4031 425 62 30 ([email protected], fax: +4034 581 52 56), [x]. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. from €65/night. (44.43420,26.10865)
Ibis-Nord, Calea Grivitei nr. 143, ☎ 40(021)''4011011 ([email protected], fax: 40(021)3009098), [x]. from €45/night.
K+K Hotel Elisabeta, Str. Slanic 26, ☎ +40-21-3029 280 ([email protected], fax: +40-21-3118 632), [x]. Located in the centre. From here you can easily reach the University, business quarter, city center as well as the famous Cismigiu Gardens.
Le Boutique Hotel Moxa, 4 Mihail Moxa Street, ☎ +4021'' 6505555 ([email protected]), [x]. Four star hotel, centrally located. €80-€110/night.
NH Bucharest, Bulevardul Mircea Voda, 21, ☎ +40.21.3000545, [x]. Modern 4 star hotel located in the heart of the business district. Bedrooms are cosy and comfortable with a modern twist.Rooms from 50€.
Hotel Siqua, Calea Plevnei nr. 59A (near Opera), ☎ +4021 3195160 ([email protected]), [x]. from €75/night (tax and breakfast included).
Rin Central, Str Traian 55 (near Unirii Square), ☎ +4021 308 3153 (fax: +40318173039), [x]. RIN Central Hotel is the perfect choice for those willing to visit the historical, commercial and tourist center of Bucharest. €55-€75/night.
Hotel Suter Inn, Aleea Suter nr. 3 (5' from Parliament Palace), ☎ 004021'' 3373939 ([email protected], fax: 00 4021 3371133), [x]. checkin: 12:00; checkout: 10:00. Three-star hotel near Carol Park, the Palace of Parliament and Autogara Filaret.€35-52/night. (44.41798,26.09268)
Alia Accommodation, Blvd. Balcescu nr 18, ☎ +4 0745 500 676, [x]. From €30/night.
Rin Airport Hotel, 255A Calea Bucurestilor (hotel offers complimentary airport shuttle), ☎ +40 31 404 56 39 (fax: 031 817 30 39), [x]. Located within 600 meters of Henri Coanda Otopeni Airportfrom €39/night.
Carol Parc Hotel, Str. Aleea Suter 23-25, ☎ +40-21-3363377, [x]. Boutique hotel near the Carol park, it has a great view of the city.
Epoque, Intrarea Aurora 17C, ☎ 40-21-3123232 ([email protected]), [x]. Boutique hotel at the end of a quiet street just west of Cișmigiu Gardens.
Hilton-Athénée Palace, str. Episcopiei nr. 1-3, ☎ 40(021)'' 303 3777 ([email protected], fax: 40(021) 3152121), [x]. Typical 5 star Hilton, nice coffee shop, in the summer pretty garden terrasse (at the moment under renovation), near Atheneum.
Howard Johnson Grand Plaza, Calea Dorobanţilor nr. 5-7, ☎ +4021'' 2015000 (mailto:[email protected], fax: +4021 2011888), [x]. New hotel near Plata Romana, with expensive restaurants (Benihana) and Casino inside.
Intercontinental, Blvd. Nicolae Bălcescu nr. 4, ☎ 4021''310202 (fax: 4021 3120486), [x]. Partly newly renovated, still renovation in progress, large rooms with balconies directly in the city center, friendly staff, good club floor and excellent club lounge in 22nd floor. Since the new German general manager a good place again.
JW Marriott Bucharest Grand, Calea 13 Septembrie nr. 90, ☎ +40 21 4030000 ([email protected], fax: +40 21 403000), [x]. Large hotel behind the Parliament building. All typical amenities, not ultra central, but still centrally located.
Opera, str. Brezoianu nr. 37, ☎ +40 21 3124855 ([email protected], fax: 00 4021 3124858), [x].
Parliament, strada Izvor nr. 106, ☎ +40 21 411 9990 ([email protected]), [x]. designer hotel,close to Marriott and Parliament building
Phoenicia Grand Hotel, strada Alexandru Serbanescu 87, ☎ +40 21 3000888 ([email protected]), [x]. checkin: 14.00; checkout: 12.00. Deluxe hotel, in the north area of the town
Radisson Blu Hotel, Calea Victoriei No. 63-81, ☎ +40 21 311 9000 ([email protected], fax: +40 21 601 3625), [x]. checkin: 15:00; checkout: 12:00. Recently nominated as the Global Hotel of the Year 2010, this hotel is a landmark of great architecture and design. Almost permanently no.1 on Trip Advisor.€100-150.
Rin Grand Hotel, str. Vitan Barzesti 7D, ☎ +40 311061111 ([email protected]), [x]. checkin: 14.00; checkout: 12.00. One of the biggest hotels in Bucharest.
Mercure Bucharest City Center, Str.George Enescu 15 - 17A (url=), ([email protected], fax: 031.817.30.39). The first Mercure hotel in Romania, opened in 2014.
Buses are safe, but use your common sense, and put your things in internal pockets, just to be 100% sure.
If you choose to take a regular taxi rather than using an app such as Uber or Bolt, be aware that some of these taxis may be operated by con men waiting for an unsuspecting victim. This is especially true for taxis around Gara de Nord where their associates actively try to lure you into such cars. If possible, avoid taking cabs from Gara de Nord unless you are familiar with the taxi operators there. One rule of thumb is to go with older taxi drivers, since they will be more cautious and only try to get a bit extra out of you if they scam you, unlike young drivers who will claim a trip costs 3-5 times as much as it should, may claim the meter does not work, and may try intimidation tactics to make you pay.
Prostitution is illegal as is soliciting. Be very mindful of this and do not accept any offers, especially from intermediaries that "know a place"(pimps,taxi drivers,etc.) because the girls are most often coerced and if you get caught you will be charged with a crime related to human trafficking which usually ends in a prison sentence. This also applies to the numerous erotic massage parlors that have opened in recent years.
Be very careful of unsolicited offers of help by passersby, even if they have good English. In particular if a stranger offers to accompany you to your hostel or hotel in a taxi to show you the way, decline immediately. They are often working in tandem with unlicensed taxi drivers who will attempt to scam you, drop you at incorrect (and remote) locations while demanding exorbitant payment, or who will simply steal your luggage. A common scam is for a stranger to tell you that a place is not safe, and to direct you to an official "government" or "student" taxi, that is driven by an accomplice. They will then drive you a remote location, and demand high sums of money, possibly threatening you with violence if you don't comply.
Be also careful when boarding or leaving trains. Scamsters have been known to impersonate other passengers, and enter couchettes or sleeping booths on trains while the occupant politely waits outside, and then steal from luggage. When requesting assistance on boarding trains, deal only with the conductor and if anyone asks you for information, demand to see ID.
Although statistically, Bucharest is one of the safer capitals in Europe, violence is not an uncommon sight in certain areas, towards locals or towards foreign looking men (minorities, out of place individuals, etc.) Nightclubs and bars, where heavy drinking occurs regularly, are especially prone to this, particularly those playing ethnic music. However, just avoiding any conflict, particularly with people who have the air of "owning the place" or a mafioso look would reduce your chances to almost zero.
In the past, Bucharest had a stray dog problem. These days however, it is far more likely that you won't see any dogs whatsoever on a trip to the city. There are no longer roaming packs or problems with being bit. As you get into the countryside, particularly with cyclists, dogs may assert themselves to protect their territory. Simply getting off your bicycle and walking will cause the dogs to give up the "game".
Like most other big cities, walking around at night isn't safe in some parts of the city like Pantelimon, Ferentari, Giulesti, and the Gara de Nord area. If you must travel into these neighbourhoods, it's safer to take a taxi.
In the event that you do get caught in a police raid, do not attempt to bribe your way out of it with so many of them around as you might get into serious trouble. Police are more inclined to take bribes from locals than from foreigners so do not contribute to this phenomenon that has been plaguing this country for so many years. Police corruption has been vigorously fought in the past years, and it is not as generalized as it used to be in the 1990s. It's always better to walk on boulevards and avoid alleys and backstreets.
The crime rate is low, but a traveler must always be cautious. Violent attacks are very low, but if attacked just yell, "Ajutor!". It is very difficult for anyone to get away with violent crime because as everything is packed so closely together, any loud noise will attract attention. This is truly a city that doesn't sleep. You'll find people out and around at all hours in most parts of the city. Police men are pretty friendly and most of the younger ones speak English, so you can ask directions. In the event that you do need to report a crime to the police, do not hesitate and proceed to the nearest police station. They will often help you to the best of their ability.
One must be careful as a pedestrian. Drivers can be inconsiderate. Don't assume a car will stop for you at a red light or cross walk. However, unlike some European countries, drivers are supposed to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. You do have the right of way as a pedestrian.
Those with allergies may find Bucharest annoying in that it is both hot and very dusty in the summer, with temperatures easily exceeding 30 C in July and August, so bring whatever you might need to stay comfortable. Please note that during the summer, sun strokes and heat strokes can be very dangerous.
Pharmacies are usually open between 9 AM and 6 PM, but some will stay open through the night. In Romania, there are relatively few over-the-counter drugs available, but pharmacists are allowed to dispense limited quantities of some prescription drugs (such as pain relief medicine) for what they see as immediate needs. Bucharest has 6 designated emergency hospitals and a modern ambulance service, plus a large number of additional public and private hospitals, clinics, and dental practices.
Urology Clinic Power V8, Strada Garii de Nord nr.6-8, Bucharest, Romania (2 minutes walking from the Gara de Nord subway station.), ☎ +40737418970 ([email protected]), [x].
This can be a small issue for any traveler going to Bucharest. If you want to wash your clothes there are these "curatatories" that you'll find everywhere (dry cleaners) and a couple of laundromats. The cost to launder your clothes in one of these "curatatories" is pretty high (around 4 euros for a t-shirt), so the laundromat is the only solution (about 2 euros for a washing machine). There are three laundromats. Two are located in student campuses, one near Timpuri Noi, and one in the Crangasi area. The other one is located at Piata Unirii, behind the Horoscop Hotel and in front of the private clinic MedLife. One of the laundromats, WASHescu also has a convenient delivery service that operates in the evening and brings fresh laundry to your location anywhere in Bucharest:
WASHescu, Strada Cristian Pascal Nr. 25 - 27, Belvedere A3 - A4, Bucharest, Romania (9 minutes walking from the Crangasi subway station, easy to find on Google Maps), ☎ +40733392443 ([email protected]), [x]. The laundromat is inside a student dorm but visible and easily accessible from the street. It has wifi, A/C and all staff is English speaking. Here you can get a complete service: wash, dry and iron. WASHescu is also the only laundromat that offers a delivery service from and to your home or hotel room starting from 5.5 euro/laundry bag. Access the WASHescu Delivery English website from the main link above.2 euros/washing machine with detergent included and 1.7 euros extra for a complete dry cycle.
Cleaning Company In Bucharest, Strada Vintila Mihailescu Nr.16, Bucharest, Romania (at home/office.), ☎ +0766.293.639 ([email protected]), [x]. 1 euros/mp.
Easywash Laundromat Concept, Bulevardul Gheorghe Sincai nr.16, Bucharest, Romania (the subway station is very close of the building, connecting you with all the areas of the city.), ☎ +40726022047 ([email protected]), [x]. The laundromat is inside a student dorm. 2 euros/washing machine.
Fourwood Laundry, Calea Serban Voda nr.18-20, Bucharest, Romania (Take the Subway to Piata Unirii, behind the Horoscop Hotel, in front of the private clinic MedLife), ☎ +40768097748 ([email protected]), [x]. The laundromat consists of washing machines, dryers and iron with free Wi-Fi.
United States of America, 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, 015118, Bucharest, ☎ +40 21 200-3300 ([email protected], fax: +40 21 200-3442), [x].
Venezuela, Str. Pictor Mirea nr. 18, Sector 1, 011396, Bucharest, ☎ +40 21 222 58 74 ([email protected], fax: +40 21 222 50 73).
Snagov is a small town 20 km north of Bucharest, and a quick escape from the city for many locals, with its big lake and beaches. Visit the small monastery on the island in the middle of the lake, where the grave of Vlad III lies (better known as Dracula or Vlad The Impaler). (Note that the route from the highway to the monastery is not very well signposted and quite hard to get to, and you will need to cross a pedestrian bridge)
Mogoşoaia is yet another small town close to Bucharest (5 km), featuring a large late 17th century palace in the unique Brâncovenesc style.
Târgovişte is located 78 km North-West of Romania's capital city and is easily accessible by train bus or minibus. It was the capital city of the South part of nowadays Romania called Wallachia or Romanians Country between early 15th century and 1714. The main attractions of the city are the open-air museum "Princely Court", in fact, the remains of this medieval princely court from Targoviste from where the famous Vlad Țepeș (Dracula) ruled the country, the former Military Base were Ceauşescu spent his last days from 22end to 25th of December 1989 when he was trialed, convicted and executed in the same spot, and over 20 churches built most in the 17th and 18th century but few even as old as the 15th century.
Buşteni get a trip to our small town from the Prahova Valley by train, take the Gondola lift and see the Omu mountain, The Babele or the famous Natural-Made Sphinx.
Sinaia is easily seen as a day trip from Bucharest (taking the train is the recommended option). Do not miss the beautiful Peleş Castle.
Bucharest is one of the starting points for trips inside Romania. See the country article for longer trips.
Budapest is 16 hours on two daily overnight trains leaving at 13:00 ("Dacia") and 17:30 ("Ister"), seat costs about 50EUR, bed 70EUR as of Sep.2011.
Constanta is 3.5 hours away at a cost of 55 RON. Buses depart every 45 minutes during the summer and some buses offers WiFi-connection. The station is located near Gara de Nord at the intersection of Strada Mircea Vulcanescu & Bulevardul Dinicu Golescu.
Sofia is about 11 hours by Train. There is a Train leaving Gara de Nord at 23:15 for about 120RON for Seating and about 170RON for Courchette.
Istanbul is about 12 hours by Bus. There are several (direct) buses leaving every day, operated by Toros, Murat, Oz Ortadogu and Star. Tickets can be purchased for about 160RON one-way. In the summer months there is also a direct overnight train to Istanbul.
This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
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