Known for its wide,
tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Epoque buildings
and a reputation for the high life, Romania's capital
was once known as the "Little Paris."
Romanian legend has
it that the city of Bucharest was founded by a shepherd
named "Bucur", whose name means "joy". His flute playing
reportedly dazzled the locals and his hearty wine
from nearby vineyards endeared him to the local traders,
who gave his name to the place.
Remodeled, in the late 19th century, by French and
French-trained architects Bucharest even features
a Triumphal Arch on the elegant Soseaua Kiseleff,
a boulevard longer that Paris' famed Champs-Elysees.
Communist rule interrupted Bucharest's cosmopolitan
days. Many years after the overthrown of the communist
regime, the "House of the People" — the world's
second largest building after the US Pentagon —
reminds Romanians of the communist years. Only Romanian
materials and products were used — local marble,
cherry and walnut paneling, crystal chandeliers, specially
commissioned hand-woven tapestries, carpets and draperies
— to build what supposed to be the headquarters
of Romania's last communist leader. Now renamed the
Palace of Parliament, this magnificent building of
1,000 rooms reflects the work of the country's best
architects and artisans.
Bucharest is one of the few cities in east-central
Europe with gambling. Many 18th and 19th Century palaces
and mansions now house elegant beaux-arts casinos,
where guests can play blackjack, poker, craps, roulette,
baccarat and other games of chance, dine on sumptuous
buffets and dance all the night to live music.
Today, Bucharest — the capital and largest city
of Romania — is experiencing renewed vigor.
The city reflects an interesting heritage of mixed
cultures: the old Romanian aristocracy educated in
France, the German King Carol I, and the communist
society.
Bucharest — Fast Facts Location: Southern Romania (region: Wallachia)
Size:
City of Bucharest — 88 sq. miles (228 sq. km)
Bucharest Metropolitan area — 587 sq. miles
(1521 sq. km) Elevation: 190-295 ft. (55-90 m) Population: 2.1 million (2002) Inhabited since: 500 BC First documented: 1459 AD
Airports OTOPENI International Airport — 12 miles
from downtown Domestic Flights:
Scheduled daily flights to / from Romania's main cities. International flights:
scheduled flights to / from main cities in Europe,
North America and Asia. Otopeni Airport Information:
Telephone 021 - 230 00 22 or 230 00 42 or 204 10 00 Public transportation from Otopeni airport to downtown: Bus #783
Departs every half hour from the arrivals terminal
Fare: the equivalent in Romanian currency (Lei) of
about $1.25 U.S. Tickets can be purchased from the
driver. Shuttle Bus
$5.00 to $10.00 (shuttle busses can accommodate 6
to 40 passengers). Sky Services
From arrivals hall, offers 24 hour shuttle bus and
limousine transfer as well as 3 to 6 hours city tours.
Telephone: 021 - 204 10 02
Fax: 021 - 201 48 40 Taxi — $20.00 (average), prices vary. Limousine — $30.00 (average).
More information about transportation from the airport
to downtown Bucharest: http://www.otp-airport.ro
BANEASA Airport — 6 miles from downtown Domestic flights:
Scheduled daily flights to / from Romania's main cities International flights:
Scheduled flights to/ from Ukraine and the Republic
of Moldova Baneasa Airport Information:
Telephone 021 - 232 00 20 or 232 00 22 Public transportation from Otopeni airport to downtown: Bus #131 to downtown Bucharest Bus #205 to the main train station (Gara de
Nord) Taxi — $10.00 (average)
Train stations North Train Station (Gara de Nord)
Piata Garii de Nord (3 miles from downtown)
All international and most InterCity / long distance
domestic routes.
Daily connections to / from Romania's main cities.
Daily connections to / from Europe's main cities.
Telephone: 9521 Train ticket reservation offices: Agentia CFR
Bucuresti 1, Str. Domnita Anastasia 10-14
Telephone: 021 - 313 26 44 or 314 55 28 Agentia de Voiaj
Calea Grivitei 139, near North Train Station (Gara
de Nord) Bucuresti 3, Bd. I. C. Bratianu 44 bis
Telephone: 021 - 311 08 57
Public Transportation
Bucharest has a complex city transit system, which
combines buses, trolleybuses, trams and subways. The
transit system virtually covers all areas of the city.
It tends to be crowded during peak hours (6:00 AM
to 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM).
There are five Maxi-Taxi routes connecting downtown
with the main tourist attractions. Maxi-Taxis are
8-10 seats (white) vans that can be hailed like regular
taxis. Tickets cost the equivalent of $0.40 and can
be bought on board.
For more information on public transportation in Bucharest
please visit www.ratb.ro
International Bus Companies
serving Bucharest ATLASSIB
Scheduled service to Germany, Italy, France, Sweden.
Telephone: 021 - 330 79 80 / Website: atlassib.ro DOUBLE T
Scheduled service to Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland,
Greece.
Telephone: 021 313 36 42 / E-mail: doublet@fx.ro EUROLINES TOURING
Scheduled service to Germany with connections to any
country in Europe.
Telephone: 021 - 230 03 70 ANESIS
Scheduled service to Greece.
Telephone: 021 - 330 91 76 MURAT
Daily service to Istanbul,Turkey.
Telephone: 021 - 638 39 92 TOROS
Daily service to Istanbul, Turkey.
Telephone: 021 - 223 18 98
Accommodations 5-star Hotels (luxury)
Intercontinental, Athenee Palace-Hilton, Marriott,
Crowne Plaza 4-star Hotels (upscale)
Bucuresti, Constinental, Lebada, Lido, Majestic, Sofitel 3-star Hotels (mid-scale)
Bulevard, Best Western Parc, Bucharest Airport, Capitol,
Caro, Central, Dalin, Helvetia, Ibis, Minerva, Sport 2-star Hotels (mid-scale)
Astoria, Banat, Batistei, Floreasca, Hanul lui Manuc,
Triumf 1-star Hotels (budget)
Bucegi, Carpati, Cerna, Marna, Muntenia, Turist Hostels
Elvis, Vila Helga, Vila 11 Hostel, Pensiunea Rogati Apartment Rentals (short term)
Romantic Travel, Adrian Accommodation, B & B Apartments,
Rominvest, RomVISION, UNID, Terra Camping
Baneasa
Main attractions
Bucharest has 37 museums, 22 theaters, opera houses
and concert halls, 18 art galleries, lots of libraries
and bookstores. Sights: Architecture of the Historic Center:
Calea Victoriei, Piata Palatului, Bulevardul Bratianu,
Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta, Strada Lispcani, Piata
Romana, Piata Victoriei, Bulevardul Aviatorilor, Soseaua
Kiseleff, Bulevardul Dacia, Muzeul Satului (Village
Museum), Catedrala Patriarhala, Cismigiu (Park).
For suggested walks through Bucharest please visit
Bucharest — City Walks section in the on-line
travel guide at romaniaguide.com
Museums The National Art Museum in
Bucharest offers a collection of 70,000 works divided
into two major sections. Its "National Gallery" features
the work of major Romanian artists, including Brancusi,
Grigorescu, Amman and Andrescu, while its "World Gallery"
presents works by Western masters such as Rembrandt,
Rubens, El Greco, Renoir and Cezanne.
Bucharest's Village Museum of Folk Art, about one
square mile in size, is a fascinating outdoor museum
that displays more than 300 wooden and stone buildings
that reflect the history and diversity of Romania's
rural architecture and design from all regions of
the country.
The History Museum of Romania, housed in what was
once Bucharest's main post office, presents a collection
of artifacts adn jewelry that date from prehistoric
to modern times.
Among other noteworthy museums in Bucharest are the
Romanian Peasant Museum, with its collection of folkloric
agricultural tools, household appliances, fabrics
and apparel, The Museum of Art Collections, which
presents major works by Romanian and foreign artists
from a number of private collections, The Natural
History Museum, The George Enescu Museum in memory
of the famed Romanian composer (1881-1995), and the
Astronomic Observatory.
Major museums in Bucharest include: National Museum
of Art, Art Collections Museum, Museum of the City
if Bucharest, National History Museum, Cotroceni Palace
Museum, City Museum of Astronomy, National Military
Museum, Minovici Museum of Ancient Western Arts, Village
Museum, Museum of the Romanian Peasant, Natural History
Museum, Museum of the Romanian Music, History Museum
of the Jewish Comunity, Museum of the Armenian Community.
Arts / Shows
National Philharmonic, Opera House, Opereta House,
National Drama Theater, Marionette Theater, Nottara
Drama Theater, Odeon Drama, Jewish Theater, National
Circus House.
Nearby Attractions
Herastrau Park
Baneasa Forest and Zoo
Day Trips Snagov Lake and Snagov Monastery, the burilal
place of Wallachia's ruler Vlad the Impaler (20 miles) Clock Museum in Ploiesti (45 miles) City of Ruse in Bulgaria (50 miles) Peles Castle in Sinaia (70 miles) Monastery Curtea de Arges (85 miles) Bran (Dracula) Castle in Bran ( 95 miles)
Local Cuisine
"Ciorba de Burta" (Tripe Soup)
"Mititei" (The "Wee Ones") &38212; small skinless
grilled sausages (made of a mix of minced pork, lamb
and beef and spices.)
Shopping Handicrafts
Artizanat, Strada Academiei 25
Artizanat, Strada Anastasie Simu 6
Covorul, Bd. Unirii 13
Eva, Bd. Magheru 9
Miorita, Strada Ion Campineanu 18
Romarta, Bd. Unirii 8
Romartizana, Calea Victoriei 18-20
UniversalCoop, Calea Victoriei 16-20 Antiques
A A Antiques, Strada Quinet 4
Craii de Curtea Veche, Strada Covaci 14
Da Vinci, Calea Victoriei 118
Galateea, Calea Victoriei 134
Galeria Djaburov, Strada Popa Tatu 28
Galeria de Arta Dorobanti, Strada Tudor Stefan 13
Hanul cu Tei, Strada Lipscani 63
Palas Antiques, Calea Victoriei 100
Quasar Antiques, Calea Victoriei 63-81 China / Crystal
Sticerom, Strada Selari 9-11
Camina, Piata Romana 9
Leu, Bd. Unirii 11
Annual Events
May: Bucharest of the Old
June: National Craftsmen's Show
July: Bucharest of the Old
September: George Enescu Music Festival (every two
years)
Useful Telephone Numbers (area
code: 021)
Ambulance
961 or 976
City Hall
315 01 10 or 315 48 13
Hospital
230 06 10 or 314 27 74
Dentist
210 41 90 or 315 75 82
Local & County Archives
634 75 30 or 315 25 03
Police
955
Flight times from Major Cities
in Europe
to Bucharest (hours: minutes)
City / Flight Time
Amsterdam / 2:30
Athens / 1:10
Berlin / 2:15
Belgrade / 0:50
Bruxelles / 2:50
Budapest / 1:00
Frankfurt / 1:45
Istanbul / 0:55
Kiew / 2:30
London / 2:55
Milan / 2:00
Moskow / 2:40
Paris / 2:40
Prague / 2:15
Rome / 2:30
Sofia / 0:45
Tel Aviv / 3:00
Vienna / 1:15
Warsaw / 2:20
Zurich / 2:10
Distance and travel time from
Bucharest
to the main cities in Romania:
City / Distance (miles) / Flight time / Approx. driving
time / Express train travel time
Brasov / 107 / N/A / 2:30 / 2:20
Cluj / 270 / 0:50 / 6:30 / 7:30
Constanta / 166 / 0:35 / 2:50 / 2:55
Iasi / 269 / 1:00 / 6:30 / 6:45
Oradea / 365 / 1:10 / 7:30 / 11:15
Satu Mare / 378 / 1:10 / 8:30 / 14:30
Sibiu / 174 / 0:45 / 3:30 / 6:15
Suceava / 282 / 1:05 / 6:30 / 6:30
Targu Jiu / 179 / N/A / 4:00 / 5:45
Tulcea / 174 / 0:40 / 3:30 / 5:30
Timisoara / 347 / 1:10 / 7:30 / 6:30
