48 hours in Bucharest – Weekend Edition
Bucharest In Less Than 48 Words
Bucharest is Romania’s capital, and is an oft-misunderstood city. Its landscape is a strange mélange – neo-Classical buildings, French palaces, medieval churches, Ceauşescu housing blocks, and 21st century offices. The city has some of Romania’s best museums, and promises to be a trip back in time.
Palace of the Parliament (Photo by Hans Põldoja)
First 24 Hours
Arrive at the historic city of Bucharest via the Henri Coandă International Airport, which is the city’s busiest international airport. It is located 16.5 kilometers northwest of the city center. From there, you can catch a train at the airport train station, which will take you directly to the Gara de Nord station near the city center. You can also take a bus to the same route. You can also opt to hire a private taxi that will take you through the DN1 motorway route.
Bucharest is a surprisingly compact city, and most of its attractions can be reached just by walking. But remember to keep an eye out for stray dogs which are abundant in its streets. You may also opt to take a train at its four-line metro system. Since the city does not have its own tourist office, you will have to learn about exploring the city by yourself. You can also get tips about travel and transport from the Bucharest In Your Pocket guide (website).
CHECK IN: Get the much-needed rest at Bucharest’s hotels
After reaching the city you may arrange accommodation at Bucharest’s excellent hotels. Here are some of the best options:
- Radisson Blu Hotel (Calea Victoriei 63-81 Sector 1, +40 21 31 19 000, website) – has excellent facilities, efficient and helpful staff, plus spacious and beautiful rooms
- Novotel Bucharest City Center (37B Calea Victorei|Sector 1, +4021 3088500, website) – is located conveniently near the shopping and sightseeing areas and has professional and friendly staff
- Rembrandt Hotel (11 Smardan St. Sector 3, +40 21 313 93 15, website) – offers a convenient traveler location, as well as excellent service and facilities
- Hotel Marshal (Strada Emanoil Bacaloglu, +40 31 405 57 15, website) – has spacious and clean rooms with a four-star rating
- K+K Hotel Elisabeta (Slanic Street 2, +40-21 3029 280, website) – has a convenient sightseeing location, offers a pick up car service, and has attentive staff
CISMIGIU GARDENS: Unwind in a park
You can start off your 48 hour visit to Bucharest by heading to the Cişmigiu Gardens (Regina Elisabeta Boulevard 050025). It is a very popular public park located near the city center. Spread through a vast area of 17 hectares, it is the largest park in Bucharest and is best known perhaps for the artificial lake in its middle. The lake is an ideal place to paddle in during summer and skate in during winter. Inside, you’ll also see the Writers’ Rotunda, a circular memorial laden with 12 busts of some of the finest Romanian writers. Another is the Monument of French Heroes, dedicated to the French soldiers who fought in the World War I Romanian campaign.
Take a boat ride at Cişmigiu Gardens (Photo by Gabriel)
Outside, continue down to the nearby Ştirbei Vodă Street at the park’s other entrance, where you’ll see the Creţulescu Palace. It is an impressive building, and functions as the headquarters of the UNESCO European Center for Higher Education.
REVOLUTION SQUARE: Go on a historical sightseeing tour
From the Ştirbei Vodă Street, you will arrive at the Piaţa Revoluţiei, otherwise known as the Revolution Square. It is a historic area famous as the site of the 1989 Romanian Revolution. Near its middle, you will see a statue of Iuliu Maniu, a noted Romanian politician. The square is also the location of the Romanian Athenaeum (str. Franklin nr. 1-3, +40 21 315 2567), a concert hall that regularly sees performances by the “George Enescu” Philharmonic. The building is a landmark in itself, with a neo-Classical architecturay style and a domed, circular structure.
The statue of Iuliu Maniu at Revolution Square (Photo from Google images)
You can see the National Museum of Art of Romania (49-53, Calea Victoriei, 70101, 021-314 81 19, email) right at the square. Inside, you can find a rich collection of medieval and Romanian art. The museum is open from Wednesdays to Sundays between 10 am and 6 pm, and tickets will cost 15 LEI. You can opt for a guided tour, which will cost 150 LEI per hour.
Another attraction in the square is the Memorial of Rebirth, dedicated to the victims of the 1989 Romanian Revolution. It covers a 600-square meter plaza, with a 25-meter tall marble column in the middle. Nearby is the University of Bucharest, one of the foremost institutes for higher learning in the city.
CURTEA VECHE: Visit the home of the “Dracula”
Ruins of Curtea Veche (Photo from Google image)
At the Revolution Square, you can turn right to Calea Victoriei, then left to Stavropoleos Street, after which you will arrive at Bucharest’s historic quarter. There, you will find the Curtea Veche (Str Franceza), a 15th century palace known for being the residence of Vlad III Dracula. He was a former prince who inspired the name of the vampire in the novel “Dracula” by Bram Stoker. The site is mostly in ruins, but the area around it is filled with bars, antique shops, and art galleries.
DINNER TIME: Discover Bucharest’s restaurants
Conclude your first day in Bucharest by tasting the delicacies of the superb restaurants you will see all over the city. Here are some of the most popular, especially among tourists:
- Caru cu Bere (Str. Stavropoleos 3, 021 313 75 60, website) – features a show of professional dancers, with excellent ambience and courteous waiters
- Mandragora (Mendeleev 29, 21/319-7592, website) – has a classy and modern ambience with a bar, and offers French cuisine with an interesting twist (recommended dishes are the beef capraccio with beet and the breast of duck in Guinness ale)
- Trattoria Il Calcio (118-120, Calea Floreasca, 0728 639 906, website) – offers an excellent Italian cuisine, with its delicious dishes at very reasonable prices
- Carturesti Tea & Books (13 Pictor Verona, 021 317 34 59, website) – is popular for its tea drinks – what you must not miss is the mint lemonade
- Chocolat (12A Victoriei St, 021 314 92 45, website) – serves delicious chocolate courses along with its French/Italian menu of salad, pasta, and soups.
Next 24 Hours
PALACE OF THE PARLIAMENT: Visit the largest civilian administrative building in the world
It is better to start your next 24 hours in Bucharest by visiting the Palace of the Parliament (1 Calea 13 Septembrie 050726). With more than 1,100 rooms spread out in its 12 floors, this center of government is, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is the largest civilian administrative building in the world. Not to mention that it is also the heaviest and the most expensive of its type. You can arrange a guided tour in the building. Inside you will also find the National Museum of Contemporary Art, located in a glass wing of the parliament. It is open from Wednesdays to Sundays between 10 am and 6 pm.
NATIONAL THEATER: Watch some Romanian plays
Don’t forget to visit the National Theater (2 Nicolae Balcescu Boulevard 010051, 314 71 71, email). It hosts local and foreign plays written by classical and contemporary Romanian playwrights, as well as grand theater shows and TV shows. You may have to book tickets there in advance, preferably two weeks before. Even without advance booking you may get a ticket if you are lucky. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm, and on Mondays between 10 am and 4 pm.
National Theater (Photo by Panoramas)
HERASTRAU PARK: Let’s go for a stroll
Relax by heading to the Herăstrău Park (Soseaua Nordului, Bucuresti), a park built around the Lake Herăstrău. It covers an area of 1.1 square kilometers, and is divided into two zones: a natural zone and a public domain. The former is only used for sightseeing, while the latter is open for recreational activities. Try a leisurely stroll through its gardens and monuments, a cruise on its lake via a small rental boat, or ride a bicycle through the terrain. You can also find fine restaurants and fancy terraces all over the area.
NIGHTLIFE: Indulge in Bucharest’s vibrant nightlife scene
You can also have a taste of the vibrant nightlife of Bucharest’s many bars and clubs. Some of the best options are the following:
- Avantgarde (Str. Luigi Cazzavilan 2, 021 314 13 74) – has an interior designed like a Russian spaceship, with futuristic ambience
- Basilicum Pub (B-dul Schitu Mogureanu 16, 021 315 47 93) – drop by for its location, cocktails, and Basilica-like architecture
- Club Sugar (Str. Batietei 11, 00 40 1 9320 0622) – Very expensive but glamorous: the club is designed in a Renaissance-era style with statues on the dance floor, while the DJs mixes include techno, house, and Euro-pop
- English Bar (Athenee Palace Hilton, 1-3 Episcopiei St, 40-(0)-21-303-3777, website) – is a cozy, old-fashioned English Bar in the Athenee Palace Hilton, with efficient service and decent cocktails
- Kristal Glam Club (J.S. Bach nr 2, Sector 2, 0040 21231 2136, website) – a spacious night club that caters to an international audience, and is a contender for the title of the city’s best night club
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