Overview to Bucharest: Travel Guide and Tourist Information

  Bucharest: Old and New

Bucharest is an intriguing mishmash of a place. Having survived various wildly different eras, it’s now a collage of antiquity, war, communist relics and development.; which makes it perfect for travelers ready to spend some time unearthing this complex - and rewarding - city.

A good place to start is towards the south of the city center, with Parliament Palace and the nearby Plaza Unirii. The Palace (the second biggest building in the world) is a true communist behemoth and the most obvious trace of Ceausescu’s regime.

Head towards the Old Quarter around Strada Lipscani and the vibe changes dramatically. From geometric buildings you’ll soon hit a romantic hive of cobbled, labyrinthine streets and medieval architecture – the reason Bucharest was once known as the ‘Paris of the East’.

Further North, things change again. The art-nouveau Athenee Palace sits alongside the neoclassic Romanian Atheneum, which is the base of an acclaimed Philharmonic Orchestra. Opposite these, the Royal Palace houses a National Art Museum replete with El Grecos and Rembrandts.

The Zambaccian Museum also has plenty for art lovers, offering a slew of Romanian art and works by Matisse and Picasso. On a similar note, the Museum of Contemporary Art and, for a change of pace, the Museum of the Romanian Peasant, are both fascinating.

If you like your culture alive and kicking, Bucharest has a nightlife scene that’s just as eclectic as its architecture. The sounds of the city embrace hip-hop, rock and even the odd bit of Balkan fiddling. Venues are dotted throughout the city, although the best bars tend to be in the Old Quarter.

Somewhere between your daytime dawdling and your nighttime drinking, you’ll find the enchanting heart of Bucharest. It’s dynamic, haphazard, and thriving...and any city-tripping backpacker's delight.

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