• Weather

  The weather in Bucharest is one of extremes, with hot summers and cold winters. There are several months best for traveling to Bucharest and May is one of them. The temperature this time of year hovers between 10°C and 23°C. The rainy season in Bucharest begins in the spring, with steady and frequent rains until the summer months, when they become more intermittent but also stronger and more intense. There is low rainfall during May, averaging 71cm. For more information on the climate in Romania and in Bucharest please refer to http://www.romaniatourism.com/climate.html.




• Contemporary city

  The city has grown rapidly, doubling its size since World War II. The earliest city lay on rising ground on the left bank of the Dimbovita river. This rural town was replaced beginning in the 1860s by an elegant capital with French-inspired architecture, reason for which it was known as the "Paris of the Balkans".




• Economy

  Under Communist rule many small factories were nationalized and merged into large state-run enterprises. Since 1950 many new industries have been established, including electronics, machine tools, clothing, furniture, mechanical engineering, and the manufacture of farm equipment. Bucharest also has many food processing factories. After the political changes in 1989, high-tech industries appeared and a number of foreign companies established offices and production centres in Bucharest: IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, HP, Siemens, Schneider, Bosch Rexroth, Rockwell, Orange, Vodafone, mainly related to ITC, Telco and automation.




• Education and culture

  

  The first Romanian higher education institution was opened in Bucharest in 1694 (the Saint Sava Academy), and in 1864 the University was established; today there are 21 higher education institutes with nearly 100,000 students in the capital. Based in Bucharest are the Patriarchate of the Romanian Orthodox Church (f. 1952), the Romanian Academy (f. 1867), two national libraries, 40 museums, 230 churches(several of the city's churches, Eastern Orthodox in style, dating from the 18th century) , an Opera House, an Operetta Theatre, two symphony orchestras, another 20 theatres. The Parliament Palace, which was built on dictator Ceausescu's orders between 1984-1989, is the second largest building in the world with its 265,000 sq.m. after the Pentagon in Washington (which has an area of 604,000 sq.m.). It is worth visiting the Village Museum (1936), in which specimens of traditional village architecture have been gathered from all parts of the country. Bucharest also has parks, open spaces and stadiums for sporting events. The town is crossed by the beautiful Colentina lake chain and the Dambovita river.




• History

  

  The town was first mentioned in a document in 1495 as residence of the ruler of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler, known also as Dracula). But the settlement has an older history, going back to the 14th century. The founding of Bucharest is traditionally ascribed to a sheppard named Bucur whose name literarily means "joy", but no record of the city exists prior to the late Middle Ages. Attacks by Tatars and Turks restricted its growth before the 17th century. Between the 17th - 19th (begining with 1698) centuries it was the capital of Wallachia - Southern Province - and in 1862 it became the capital of Romania. The population increased in number from 122,000 (1859) to 639,000 (1930) to 1,452,000 (1966). The town held a dominant position in the national context similarly to the position held by Budapest in Hungary, Vienna in Austria or Paris in France. Heavy fighting near the Palace Square during the revolution that ousted the Ceausescu regime in December 1989 caused damage to prominent landmarks, including the Royal Palace.

• Old centre

  Perhaps the city's unique charm can be best observed in the area known as Lipscani, which consists of a jumble of streets between Calea Victoriei, Bratianu Avenue, Regina Elisabeta Avenue and the Dambovita River. A once-glamorous residential area, the old city centre is now slowly being refashioned into an upscale neighborhood.
  
  

  Today contains an assortment of middle 19th century buildings, ruins of the Wallachian princes' medieval court, churches, bank headquarters, a few hotels, clubs, restaurants, art galleries, antique shops and coffeehouses.
  
  On a beautiful day, you can stroll down the narrow cobblestone streets and imagine the shopkeepers outside near their stores, encouraging people to buy their merchandise and negotiating prices with them. Don't forget to stop by Hanul cu Tei, which is a rectangular courtyard between Strada Lipscani and Strada Blanari, home to an array of art and antiques shops.

• 

  Parliament Palace

  Built by Communist Party leader, Nicolae Ceausescu, the colossal Parliament Palace (formerly known as the People's Palace) is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. It took 20,000 workers and 700 architects to build. The palace boasts 12 stories, 1,100 rooms, a 328-ft-long lobby and four underground levels, including an enormous nuclear bunker.
  
  When construction started in 1984, the dictator intended it to be the headquarters of his government. Today, it houses Romania's Parliament and serves as an international conference centre. Built and furnished exclusively with Romanian materials, the building reflects the work of the country's best artisans. A guided tour takes visitors through a small section of dazzling rooms, huge halls and quarters used by the Senate (when not in session). The interior is a luxurious display of crystal chandeliers, mosaics, oak paneling, marble, gold leaf, stained-glass windows and floors covered in rich carpets.
  
  Interesting facts:
        - It is the world's second-largest office building in surface (after the Pentagon) and the third largest in volume            (after Cape Canaveral in the U.S. and the Great Pyramid in Egypt)
        - The crystal chandelier in the Human Rights Hall (Sala Drepturilor Omului) weighs 2.5 tons
        - Some of the chandeliers have as many as 7,000 light bulbs

• 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 centre of the square in memory of those who died during the revolution and also an equestrian statue of King Carol I.
  
  On the far side of the square stands the former Royal Palace, now home to the National Art Museum, the stunning Romanian Athenaeum and the historic Athenee Palace Hotel. At the south end of the square, you can visit the small, but beautiful, Kretzulescu Church.

• The Arch of Triumph (Arcul de Triumf)

  The Arch of Triumph is a triumphal arch located in the northern part of Bucharest, on the Kiseleff Road. The first, wooden, triumphal arch was built hurriedly, after Romania gained its independence (1878), so that the victorious troops could march under it. Another temporary arch was built on the same site, in 1922, after World War I, which was demolished in 1935 to make way for the current triumphal arch, which was inaugurated in September 1936. The current arch has a height of 27 meters and was built after the plans of the architect Petre Antonescu. It has as its foundation a 25 x 11.50 meters rectangle. The sculptures decorating the structure were created by leading Romanian artists, including Ion Jalea, Constantin Medrea and Constantin Baraschi.
• 

  House of the Free Press (Casa Presei Libere)

  An impressive edifice standing somewhat menacingly at the entrance to the capital, Casa Scanteii (as it is still universally known) was designed by architect Horia Maicu and completed in 1956, one year after the strikingly similar Palace of Science and Culture in Warsaw, Poland. Originally housing almost all of the capital's printing presses and newsrooms, it carries out today the same function, with the addition of the Bucharest Stock Exchange in the southern wing.

• Cotroceni Palace Museum

  • Address: Geniului Avenue, no. 1
  • Tel: (021) 317.31.07 / (021) 430.44.85
  • Admission charge (Identity document required at entrance; Guided tours are available in English)
  • Note: Guests are received by appointment only; please call for reservations.
  Has collections of objects that belonged to the former Romanian royal family. The Oriental Hall, the Norwegian Hall and the Queen’s Chamber are almost unchanged from the original design and are worth visiting. Very important collection of medieval art also can be seen here. The new wing, built in 1977, serves as the seat of the Romanian Presidency.

• Village Museum

  • Address: Kiseleff Avenue, no. 28-30
  • Tel: (021) 317.91.03
  • E-mail:contact@muzeul-satului.ro
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Open: Monday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  Founded by royal decree in 1936, this fascinating outdoor museum, the largest in Europe, covers some 30 acres on the shores of Lake Herastrau in Herestrau Park. It features a collection of 50 buildings representing the history and design of Romania's rural architecture. Steep-roofed peasant homes, thatched barns, log cabins, churches and watermills plus furniture, pottery, clothing gathered from all regions of the country were carefully taken apart, shipped to the museum and rebuilt in order to recreate the village setting. Throughout the year, the Village Museum hosts special events where you will have a chance to witness folk artisans demonstrating traditional skills in weaving, pottery and other crafts. Folk arts and crafts are available at the museum gift shop.

• Museum of the Romanian Peasant

  • Address: Şoseaua Kiseleff, no. 3
  • Tel: +4021 317 96 61
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Web site: http://www.muzeultaranuluiroman.ro/home.html
  Opened in 1906, the museum features the richest folk art collection in Romania, with over 90,000 artifacts that trace the colorful and diverse cultural life of the Romanian people. The Pottery Collection includes some 18,000 items, representative of the most important pottery centres in the country. The oldest ceramic item found in the museum bears the inscription 1746. Equally impressive, the Costume Collection comprises almost 20,000 traditional folk costumes, some dating from the beginning of the 19th century, giving visitors insight into the styles and traditions of the Romanian peasants.
  
  The displays dip into all aspects of life in the Romanian countryside. Exhibits of agricultural tools, carpets, icons, furniture, photographs and films build up a complete picture of Romanian folk culture. In one of the galleries, you can see a wooden church and in another, a wooden peasant house. Four more wooden churches stand in the outdoor museum area. In 1996, the museum was named European Museum of the Year. Visitors can buy regional handcrafts and textiles in the museum's extensive gift shop.
• 

  National Art Museum

  • Address: Calea Victoriei, no. 49-53
  • Tel: +4021 313 30 30
  • Admission charge: Yes
  Romania's leading art museum was founded in 1948 to house the former Royal Collection, which included Romanian and European art dating from the 15th to the 20th century. Located in the neoclassical former Royal Bucharest - The Art Museum Palace, set amid a wealth of historic buildings such as the Romanian Athenaeum, Kretzulescu Church and the Hotel Athenee Palace-Hilton, the museum currently exhibits over 100,000 works divided into two major sections. Its National Gallery features the works of major Romanian artists, including Grigorescu, Aman and Andreescu. There is also a roomful of early Brancusi sculpture, such as you won't find anywhere else, demonstrating how he left his master, Rodin, behind in a more advanced form of expression. The European Gallery, comprising some 15 rooms, displays little-known art gems from the likes of El Greco, Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir, Breughels (father and son) Cezanne and Rubens. If you only have time to visit one gallery, make it the Romanian one. It is the most complete collection of Romanian works of art in the country and quite possibly, the world.

• National Museum of Contemporary Art

  • Address: Izvor Street no. 2-4, wing E4 (entrance from Calea 13 Septembrie)
  • Tel: +4021 318 91 37 / Fax: +4021 318 91 38
  • Email: info@mnac.ro; medialab@mnac.ro
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Open: Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Web site: http://www.mnac.ro
  Bucharest's newest museum, the MNAC, as it is often called by museum-goers, displays works of Romania's contemporary artists as well as many temporary exhibits by international artists. The museum is housed in a wing of the Palace of Parliament, the space which would have served as Nicolae and Ileana Ceausescu's private apartment (where just the bathroom occupied 680 square feet, while the adjoining boudoir was three times that size).

• Old Princely Court Museum

  • Address: Franceză Street, no. 25-31
  • Tel: +4021 314 03 75
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Open: Monday to Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  The Old Court Museum was established in 1972 when an archaeological dig revealed the remains of the fortress, along with Dacian pottery and Roman coins, evidence of Bucharest's earliest inhabitants. The oldest document attesting to the city's origin under the name of Bucuresti (Bucharest) was discovered here. It was issued on September 20, 1459 and signed by Prince Vlad Tepes.

• National History Museum

  • Address: Calea Victoriei, no. 12
  • Tel: +4021 315 82 07 int. 1008 / Fax: +4021 311 33 56
  • Admission charge: Yes. Free entry every 26th of the month.
  • Open: Wednesday to Sunday, Summer: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Winter: 9:00 AM - 5 PM
  • Web site: http://www.mnir.ro
  Housed in a 1900s neoclassical building that once served as the city's main post office, the museum offers a great introduction to the exciting history of Romania. Spread throughout 41 rooms, the exhibits recount the country's development from prehistoric times to the 20th century. The highlight is the National Treasury Hall where visitors can enjoy a dazzling display of some 3,000 gold items, including jewelry and valuable Neolithic artifacts.
  
  Among the displays are the 12 pieces of the 4th century Pietroasele Treasure Collection. First presented at the 1867 World's Fair in Paris, it was considered the most valuable treasure collection in the world (the tomb of Tutankamon had not yet been discovered). One year later, the collection was displayed at the Second Annual International Exhibition in London and in 1872, at the International Exhibition in Vienna.
• 

  Bucharest History Museum

  • Address: I.C. Brătianu Avenue, no. 2
  • Tel: +4021 315 68 58 / Fax: +4021 310 25 62
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Open: Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  Housed in the neoclassical Sutu Palace(1834), the museum features some 300,000 artifacts, from coins, books, maps, engravings, paintings, arms and furniture to old traditional costumes.
  
  Among the most valuable exhibits are the document attesting for the first time the name of the city of Bucharest, issued by Vlad Tepes in 1459, and a sword set in precious stones that belonged to Prince Constantin Brancoveanu (1688-1714).

• National Military Museum

  • Address: M. Vulcănescu Street, no. 125-127
  • Tel: +4021 638 76 30
  • Email: director@muzeulmilitar.ro
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Open: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Closed on Mondays.
  Founded in 1972, the museum illustrates the most important battles for independence and freedom in Romanian history. The museum features collections of Oriental and Occidental weapons, Romanian and foreign uniforms, military medals and awards, trophies, artillery, canons and airplanes as well as a library of historical military documents.
  
  The centerpiece is the 1989 Revolution exhibit, displaying mainly personal belongings donated by families of soldiers and civilians killed during the upheaval.

• Jewish Community History Museum

  • Address: Mămulari Street, no. 3
  • Tel: +4021 311 08 70
  • Free admission
  • Open: Monday to Wednesday & Friday to Sunday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM; Thursday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Web site: http://www.romanianjewish.org/en/fedrom_08_01.html
  Housed in the magnificently preserved Great Synagogue (1850) in the city's historically Jewish neighborhood, this museum traces the history of Romania's Jewish population. The displays include a collection of books written, published, illustrated or translated by Romanian Jews; a small collection of paintings of and by Romanian Jews (many of the same artists' works hang in the National Museum of Art) and memorabilia from Jewish theatres including the State Jewish Theatre. The museum also contains a large collection of Jewish ritual objects from Romania, collected by Rabbi Moses Rosen (1912-1994), the late Chief Rabbi of the Romanian Jewry.
• 

  “Grigore Antipa” Natural History Museum

  • Address: Kiseleff Road, no. 1.
  • Tel: +4021 312 88 63
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Note: The museum is currently closed for renovations. It is scheduled to reopen in April 2011.
  • Web site: http://www.antipa.ro
  This museum is the largest natural history museum in Romania, housing collections of reptiles, fish, birds and mammals. More than 300,000 artifacts and specimens are on display, including a dinosaur fossil. A whole floor is dedicated to sea life and features examples of whales, dolphins and seals. The museum also contains a beautiful butterfly collection.

• National Geological Museum

  • Address: Kiseleff Road, no. 2
  • Tel: +4021 212 89 52
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Open: Monday to Sunday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  Impressive collections of minerals and quartz formations specific to the area are found here, including a well-presented geological structure of Romania.

• Aviation Museum

  • Address: Bucuresti-Ploiesti Road, Km. 10.5
  • Tel: +4021 319 40 00 ext. 0566 / Fax: +4021 318 54 63
  • Web site: http://www.roaf.ro
  Open-air display of various types of aircraft at the Otopeni airport.

• Railways Museum

  • Address: Calea Griviţei, no. 139B
  • Tel: +4021 222 75 20
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Open: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  Several engines and wagons are on display in the open-air section of the museum. Inside, you can find an 1869 Morse telegraph, memorabilia, turn-of-the-century pictures and some age-old Romanian railway uniforms

• Firefighters Museum

  • Address: Ferdinand Avenue, no. 33
  • Tel: +4021 252 28 84
  • Admission charge: Yes
  • Open: Monday to Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday - only for preannounced groups visits
  Rarely opened.
• 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 (N. Minovici street, no.3) and numerous memorial houses dedicated to various literary, scientifical and political personalities.

• Old Princely Court & Church ("Curtea Veche")

  • Address: Franceza Street, no. 25-31 (near Piata Unirii)
  • Tel: (021) 314.03.75
  At the centre of the historic area are the remains of the Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche), built in the 15th century by Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad Dracula. According to local lore, Vlad kept his prisoners in dungeons which commenced beneath the Princely Court and extended under the city. All that remains today are a few walls, arches, tombstones and a Corinthian column.
  
  The Old Court Museum was established in 1972 when an archaeological dig revealed the remains of the fortress, along with Dacian pottery and Roman coins, evidence of Bucharest's earliest inhabitants. The oldest document attesting to the city's origin under the name of Bucuresti (Bucharest) was discovered here. It was issued on September 20, 1459 and signed by Prince Vlad Tepes.
  
  Next to the palace stands the Old Court Church (Biserica Curtea Veche), dating from 1559 and considered the oldest in Bucharest. For two centuries, the church served as coronation ground for Romanian princes. Some of the original 16th century frescoes have been preserved.
• 

  Patriarchal Church (1658) and Metropolitan Palace (1708)

  • Address: Dealul Mitropoliei Alley
  The residence of the Orthodox Patriarch, sort of a small Romanian Vatican. Located on the Mitropoliei hill, overlooking Unirii Square.

• The Stavropoleos Church

  • Address: Stavropoleos Street no.4
  Built in the early 18th century, has stunning decorative sculptures and amazing frescoes. A little jewel located in the old centre area.

• Coltea Church

  • Address: I.C. Bratianu Avenue no.1, district 3
  Dating from 1702, it is the first church in Bucharest built in the Brancovenesc style. Near University Square.

• New St. George Church

  • Address: I.C. Bratianu Avenue no.1, district 3
  Dating from the 18th century, houses the tombs of the princes Constantin Brancoveanu and Ion Mavrocordat. At half way between University Square and Unirii Square.

• Kretzulescu Church

  • Address: Calea Victoriei, no. 45 A
  Nestled amid the other historical buildings in Revolution Square, this small red-brick Orthodox church was built in 1722 by the great chancellor Iordache Kretzulescu and his wife, Safta (a daughter of Constantin Brancoveanu) in the Brancovenesti architectural style. The interior frescoes were executed around 1860 by the famous Romanian painter Gheorghe Tattarescu.

• Plumbuita Monastery

  • Address: Plumbuita Street no. 58
  Plumbuita Monastery is an Orthodox monastery for monks, dedicated to the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, located in Colentina district of Bucharest, on a small hill on the right bank of the Colentina River.
  
  The name Plumbuita (approx. The Leaded) was given by locals, because for a long time the church has been covered with lead sheets. A legend says that the name comes from the fact that Matei Basarab, in need of cannon balls during a battle, ordered to melt the lead on the roof of the monastery.

• Otetari Church

  • Address: Otetari Street no. 4 (close to the Rosetti Square, National Theatre and the Spiru Haret National College)
  The Otetari 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.

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 and can be found also online, at:

• http://www.sapteseri.ro (English version)
• http://bucuresti.24fun.ro/

• Parks

Bucharest is skirted by numerous lakes and woods - agreable places of recreation - in which one may see a number of monuments in the traditional Romanian architectural style.

• Cismigiu Garden

  Designed in 1845 by the German landscape architect Carl Meyer, the garden opened to the public in 1860. The name, Cismigiu, comes from the Turkish cismea, meaning "public fountain." More than 30,000 trees and plants were brought from the Romanian mountains, while exotic plants were imported from the botanical gardens in Vienna. Cismigiu is Bucharest's oldest park and a great place to stroll and enjoy a break from the hectic city. Set amid green lush lawns and winding paths, the park offers a lake with rowboat rentals, a beer garden, a playground for children, a chess area for amateurs and plenty of park benches for relaxing and people-watching.
• 

  Herastrau Park

  Spread over some 400 acres, from the Arch of Triumph to the Baneasa Bridge, the park is home to numerous attractions, including a boat rental complex, tennis courts, and a rather old-fashioned fairground. In the summertime, many terraces open up on the shores of the lake. For an overview of the park, take a ride around the lake on the ferry or rent your own boat. The park is also home to the Village Museum. The area surrounding the park holds even greater treasures. The streets between Mircea Eliade Avenue and Kiseleff Road contain extraordinarily beautiful houses in architectural styles ranging from 19th century neoclassical to 20th century art nouveau and modern luxury villas. This is where Bucharest's elite once lived - and still do today.

• The Botanical Garden

  Opened in 1891, the garden features over 5,000 varieties of plants from Romania and around the world. The garden also encompasses a beautiful building in the Brancovenesc architectural style, housing the Botanical Garden Museum. Here, you can peruse manuscripts, old botanical research devices and a collection of artifacts made of vegetal materials. Locals treat the gardens as a park, and on warm afternoons, you may see more young lovers than plants. The huge greenhouses are open Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun, 9am - 1pm.

• Carol Park

  This large park is one of the most beautiful in the city and contains a massive monument that once housed the remains of Gheorge Gheorgiu Dej, as well as the eternal flame that marks the grave of the Unknown Soldier. Designed by French landscape architect Eduard Redont in 1900s, the park offers pleasant walks down tree-lined paths, a good view of central Bucharest (from the monument) and plenty of photo opportunities. In summertime, the park's Arenele Romane is the stage for open-air concerts.

• Tineretului Park

  Located just one subway station south of Unirii Square, it has a large multipurpose building (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 the I.O.R. Park, a green oasis amongst Communist era high rise apartment buildings in the eastern part of the city (Titan subway station), the park has a charming wooden church as well as several lake-side clubs.
• Concert Venues
• 

  National Opera

  • Address: Mihail Kogalniceanu Avenue no. 70-72 (Eroilor area)
  • Tel: +4021 314 69 80 / Fax: +4021 310 26 60
  • Web site: http://my.operanb.ro
  The city's artistic life stood up to its Parisian nickname in the 1930s and today, is as vibrant as ever. The Opera House, completed in 1953, is worth visiting, not only for its brilliant performances but also for the lavish interior design. The world-renowned Romanian Opera performs in Romanian as well as Italian and German. You will be able to enjoy the classic repertoire - Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, Mozart -, innovative staging, lavish costumes, seasoned performers and choreographers. The Romanian National Ballet also performs in this theatre. Performances are held Wednesday through Sunday evenings, except during July and August.

• George Enescu Philharmonic

  • Address: Benjamin Franklin Street no. 1-3 (Revolution Square)
  • Tel: +4021 315 25 67 / Fax: +4021 312 29 83
  Renowned worldwide for its outstanding acoustics, the Romanian Athenaeum is the home of the Romanian George Enescu Philharmonic. Famous artists and conductors have performed here throughout the years. Among them: Erich Kleiber, Sergiu Celibidache, Ionel Perlea, Herbert von Karajan, Dinu Lipatti, Arthur Rubinstein, Pablo Casals and Yehudi Menuhin.

• Ion Dacian National Operetta Theater

  • Address: Nicolae Balcescu Avenue no.2 (near University Square)
  • Tel: +4021 315 15 02
  Comic plots, extravagant staging, lavish costumes, high caliber singers and orchestra are all part of the charm of the light, frothy performances at the Ion Dacian Operetta.
• Cinema

Most films are screened in their original language with Romanian subtitles; some animation features and children's movies are dubbed in Romanian.

• Romanian Cinema

  • Address: Eforie Street no. 2 (near the old quarter)
  • Tel: +4021 313 04 83
  A branch of the National Film Archives, screens mostly classic movies .

• Romanian director's new cinema

  • Address: Intrarea Monetariei Street no. 3 (at the Romanian Peasant Museum)
  • Tel: +4021 317 96 60 / Fax: +4021 312 98 75
  Art films and documentaries selected by major Romanian directors 10 lei.

• Eurocinema

  • Address: Johann Gutenberg Street no. 19 (near Izvor bridge)
  • Tel: +4021 315 81 65
  Plays mainly independent European movies. Fair price.

• Europa

  • Address: Calea Mosilor no. 127 (at the start of Mosilor road)
  • Tel: +4021 314 27 14
  Plays relatively recent European movies

• Elvira Popescu

  • Address: Dacia Avenue no. 77 (at the French Institute)
  • Tel: +4021 210 02 24
  Mostly French movies

• Cinema City

  • Address: Vasile Milea Avenue no. 4 (in the AFI Palace mall)
  • Tel: +4021 407 00 00
  Largest multiplex in the city (21 screens, including one IMAX) 17-32 lei.

• Holywood Multiplex

  • Address: Calea Vitan no. 55-59 (in the Bucharest Mall)
  • Tel: +4021 327 70 20
  First multiplex to open, has 10 screens 22-35 lei

• Movieplex

  • Address: Timisoara Avenue no. 26 (in the Plaza Romania mall)
  • Tel: +4021 431 00 00 / Fax:+4021 407 83 33
  Located in the western part of Bucharest, has 11 screens 15-45 lei.

• Light Cinemas

  • Address: Progresului Road no. 151-171 (in the Liberty Centre mall)
  • Tel: +4021 369 97 40
  • Email: contact@lightcinemas.ro
  Located in the south-western part of the city, the cinema has 7 screens. Price may vary between 15 and 33 romanian lei.

• Patria

  • Address: Gh. Magheru Avenue no. 12-14 (between Universităţii and Romana squares)
  • Tel: +4021 316 92 66
  A large (over 1000 seats) 1930s cinema located along the city's main avenue

• Scala

  • Address: Gh. Magheru Avenue no. 2-4 (between Universităţii and Romana squares)
  • Tel: +4021 316 67 08
  Another large older cinema located downtown

• CinemaPro

  • Address: Ion Ghica Street no. 3 (near Universităţii square)
  • Tel: +4031 824 13 60
  • Email: office@cinemapro.ro
  Fair price: 14 to 24 romanian lei.
• Bank headquarters

Major brand-name shops and upscale boutiques are concentrated along the main boulevard from Romana Square to Unirii Square and on the small streets adjacent to this boulevard, but also on Calea Victoriei, on Calea Dorobantilor (the part between Iancu de Hunedoara Avenue and Dorobantilor Square) or on Calea Mosilor's section between Carol I Avenue and Obor Square.



• Book Stores

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 centre.

• Carturesti

  • Address: Arthur Verona Street no.13
  • Tel: +4021 317 34 59 / +40721 518 351, +40788 758 408
  Directions: a few blocks south of Roman Square on the east side of Magheru Avenue. The store is set back the street and has a small park in front of it.

• Nautilus

  • Address: Arhitect Ion Mincu Street no. 17, district 1
  • Tel: +4021 222 50 30 / Fax: +4021 223 00 37
  • Email: nautilus@nautilus.ro
  An English language bookstore near the Kiseleff Park, mostly with fantasy and science fiction books.

• Anthony Frost English Bookshop

  • Address: Calea Victorei, no. 45, district 1 (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.)
  • Tel: +4021 311 51 38
  • Email: vald@librariaengleza.ro
  This is a recently-opened English language bookstore. Lots of reasonably-priced books and a comics (mostly manga) section can be found at Anthony Frost.

• Dalles

  • Address: Nicolae Balcescu Avenue no. 18, district 1 (near University Square)
  • Tel: +4021 317 88 82

• Diverta

  • Address: Can be found in almost every shopping mall. See shopping malls, or the Diverta online website for more information.
  • Tel: +40724 377 395 (customer service for online purchasing)
  • Web site: http://www.dol.ro
  The biggest chain of libraries in Romania. It has in every location a department with English/German/French books. Books can also be purchased online at the Diverta web site limked above.
• Clubbing

• Control Club

  • Address: Academiei Street no.19 (Go to Victoria Passage coming from University Square)
  • Tel: +40733 927 861
  • Open: 3:00PM-5:00AM
  Best alternative/indie club in Bucharest with a lot of live shows and good music.

• Cafe Hazard

  • Address: Baratiei Street(coming from Unirii towards University Square, take your first right after the Fornetti store and then your first left.)
  • Tel: +40727 700 107
  • Open: 3:00PM-5:00AM
  A rock bar, with a great atmosphere open thinking, great beer and great people

• Club A

  • Address: Blanari Street no. 14, district 3 (near University Square)
  • Tel/Fax: +4021 316 16 67
  • Email: contact@cluba.ro
  • Open: 6:00PM-6:00AM
  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.

• Fire Club

  • Address: Gabroveni Street no. 12, district 3 (near Lipscani)
  • Tel: +4021 312 70 19
  The most well known rock and metal club in Bucharest. By day a pub and outdoor café.

• Expirat/OtherSide

  • Address: Lipscani Street no. 5 / Brezoianu Street no. 4
  • Tel: +4073 EXPIRAT
  • Email: office@expirat.org
  • Web site: http://www.expirat.org/
  Very lively and popular club, divided in two sections - Expirat, the old club with rock/dance/hiphop music, and its newer offspring, the OtherSide, where DJs spin electronica. Themed nights, very expat-friendly, great cocktails and very reasonable prices.

• Bamboo

  • Address: Ramuri Tei Street no. 39 (in Tei Park)
  • Tel: +40722 132 283
  • Email: contact@bamboosportingclub.ro
  It's the largest club in Bucharest. Upmarket and expensive.

• The Office

  • Address: Tache Ionescu Street no. 2 (in the Roman Square area)
  • Tel: +4021 211 67 48
  • Email: contact@theoffice.ro

• Fratelli

  • Address: Nicolae Golescu Street no. 5
  • Tel: +4021 311 66 76
  • Email: office@fratelli.ro
  • Web site: http://www.fratelli.ro/

• Underworld

  • Address: Colţei Street, no. 48 (Go to Colţei street coming from the Rosetti Square, near the University Square.)
  • Tel: +40729 199 393
  • Web site: http://www.underworld-club.ro/
  The only punk-rock oriented pub in Bucharest. It also has a small concert hall, a fusball table, board games, dedicated evenings, etc.
• Shopping
• Major brand-name shops and upscale boutiques are concentrated along the main boulevard from Romana Square to Unirii Square and on the small streets adjacent to this boulevard, but also on Calea Victoriei, on Calea Dorobanţilor (the part between Iancu de Hunedoara Avenue and Dorobantilor Square) or on Calea Moşilor's section between Carol I Avenue and Obor Square.
• Shopping Malls

In the past years numerous modern shopping centres have sprung up in the city )and even more are in construction), the best known being:

• Bucharest Mall

  • Address: Calea Vitan no. 55-59
  • Tel: +4021 327 67 00 / Fax: +4021 320 92 09
  • Email:office@bucurestimall.com.ro
  The first shopping mall in Bucharest, since 1999.

• Plaza Romania

  • Address: Timisoara Avenue no. 26
  • Tel: +4021 407 84 75 / Fax: +4021 319 50 51
  • Email: office@anchorgrup.ro
  • Web site: http://www.plazaromania.ro

• Unirea Shopping Centre

  • Address: Unirii Square
  • Tel: +4021 303 03 07
  • Email: office@unireashop.ro

• Baneasa Shopping City

  • Address: Bucuresti-Ploiesti Road no.42D
  • Tel: +4021 305 71 95
  • Web Site: http://www.baneasashoppingcity.ro
  Opened in April 2008

• AFI Palace Cotroceni

  • Address: Vasile Milea Avenue, No 4, 6th district
  • Tel: +4031 425 75 10.

More shopping malls in Bucharest and its surrounding area are being currently constructed or in the planning stages of being constructed

• Eat

• Caru' cu bere (The Beer Cart)

  • Address: Stavropoleos Street no. 5
  • Tel: +4021 313 75 60
  One of the most famous places to eat in the old city centre, it is situated in a traditional building, where each object has its own story. The architecture, the mural paintings, the stained glasses and the carved cross-beams are distinctive elements of the beerhouse. The old time party spirit is still present in these days, the atmosphere reminding of Bucharest's exuberance from the 20th century beginnings. Along with the beer made after a secret original recipe, "Caru' cu bere" is also famous for the tastiest culinary recipes.

• La Mama

  • Address: 6 locations in Bucharest: Barbu Vacarescu Street no. 3, Delea Veche Street no. 51, Episcopiei Street no. 9 and Carrefour Orhideea being the largest ones
  • Tel: +4021 212 40 86
  A favorite amongst locals, focusing on traditional Romanian food. Reasonable prices and the standard by which most locals would grade restaurants.

• Jaristea

  • Address: George Georgescu Street no. 50 - 52 (near the crossroad of Regina Maria Avenue and Libertatii Avenue)
  • Tel: +4021 335 33 38
  Beautiful historically themed restaurant, live traditional music, old Romanian specialties. Reservations are compulsory.

• Terasa Doamnei

  • Address: Doamnei Street no. 9 – very central, near Univerity Square.
  • Tel: +4021 314 64 81
  Romanian music, entertainment and dishes.

• Piccolo Mondo

  • Address: Clucerului Street no. 9, near Victory Square
  • Tel: +4021 202.93.64
  Very good, nice atmosphere, a little pricey.

• Osho

  • Address: Primaverii Avenue no. 19-21
  • Tel: +4021 568 30 32.
  It has the best beef steaks in town.

• POEM Restaurant

  • Address: Suter Str. 23-25 (in the Carol park area)
  • Tel: +4021 336 33 77
  Bucharest's most exclusive restaurant, in the famously elegant atmosphere. Excellent international chefs, but very pricey.

• The Actor's Cafe

  • Address: Batistei Street (located at the National Theater)
  • Tel: 0721 900 842
  Attracts a lot of Americans, due to its good food. 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.

• Red Lion Cafe

  • Address: Academiei Street no. 1A (in the University Square area)
  • Tel: +4021 315 15 26
  Nice atmosphere, budget prices, very good pizza.

• City Grill

  • Address:7 locations in Bucharest
  • Tel: 021 314 24 89 (Location: 12, Lipscani Street)
  A chain of steak restaurants, usually frequented by locals during the lunch break. One of the few places in Bucharest selling natural grape juice. Prices slightly higher than average, but with larger portions than average.

• Casa di David

  • Address: Nordului Road no. 7-9
  • Tel: +4021 232 47 15
  Opened in 2003, it is a hangout of the city's nouveau riche. Lovely location in a park by the lakeside. Since the spring of 2003, Casa di David has been synonymous with the finest eating experiences and efficient service. Expensive by local standards, it serves internationally inspired dishes (Asian, Mediterranean, North African) and ambience is at best good. The place is a very good choice for an anniversary or an important business dinner in Bucharest as long as you're not on a tight budget.

• Rossetya

  • Address: Dimitrie Bolintineanu Street no. 9
  • Tel: +4031 805 91 99
  Classic style restaurant with prices a bit higher than average, but with a very neat and cultivated atmosphere, outstandingly friendly English-speaking personnel, high quality food.

• Silviu's restaurant

  • Address: Louis Pasteur Street no. 44 (Cotroceni area)
  • Tel:+4021 410 91 84
  • Open: 11 AM to 1 AM
  Unique location, excellent cuisine, outstanding service, near Bucharest Opera House and Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

• Taj Indian Restaurant

  • Address: 13 Septembrie Avenue no. 127-131 (near Marriott hotel)
  • Tel: +4021 410 18 20
  • Open: 12 PM - 12 AM
  Indian restaurant that has won the prize for "the best Indian restaurant in Bucharest" in the years 2009 and 2010. A good place especially for vegetarians, somewhat expensive.
• Drink

• Lipscani Area

  A wide and nice selections of cafes and pubs in Lipscani area – the old part of the city, in the very centre. This area is still under renovation.

• Becker Brau

  • Address: Turturelelor Street, no 11 (near Alba Iulia Square)
  • Tel: +4021 335 56 50
  German beer and foods. Beer is brewed on the premises, making it one of the few microbreweries in town.

• Piranha

  • Address: Splaiul Independentei, no 313 (Regie, one of the student campuses in Bucharest, next to the Polytechnic University)
  • Tel: +4021 315 91 29
  A large pub, with a huge outdoor terrace in the middle of a wooded area, featuring a small collection of exotic animals. One of the few outdoor places where the summer heat is actually bearable. A favorite amongst students, with amazingly low prices. However, quite crowded and sometimes noisy.

• Caru' cu bere

  • Address: Stavropoleos Street, no 3-5 (in the Historical Centre area, next to the National History Museum)
  • Tel:+4021 313 75 60
  • Email: rezervari@carucubere.ro
  The city's best known and oldest pub (opened in 1879), a magnificent late 19th century setting - looks more like a museum. Prices are a bit high, service is friendly, however a little bit noisy.

• La Motoare

  • Address: (on the roof of the National Theater, University Square)
  • Tel: +4021 315 85 08
  An outdoor pub on the roof of the National Theater, offering great views over the city. Mostly frequented by university students. Rock music and movies in the evening

• Interbelic (Interbelic Cocktail Bar)

  • Address: Selari Entrance no. 1A (near Lipscani)
  • Tel: +40722 681 618
  Best cocktail bar in Bucharest, fine spirits, great nights medium.