Berlitz Pocket Guide Bucharest (Travel Guide eBook)
By Berlitz
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About this ebook
Berlitz Pocket Guide Bucharest
The world-renowned pocket travel guide by Berlitz, now with a free bilingual dictionary.
Part of our UEFA Euro 2020 guidebook series. If you're planning to visit the National Arena in Bucharest to watch Euro 2020 matches, then this pocket guidebook provides all the information you need to make the most of your trip, from ready-made itineraries to help you explore the city when you're not at the game, to essential advice about getting around.
Compact, concise and packed full of essential information about where to go and what to do, this is an ideal on-the-move guide for exploring Bucharest. From top tourist attractions like the Casa Poporului, the Peasant Museum and Herastrau Park, to cultural gems, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Atheneum and the elegant architecture of the Old Town, plan your perfect trip with this practical, all-in-one travel guide.
Features of this travel guide to Bucharest
- Inspirational itineraries: discover the best destinations, sights and excursions, highlighted with stunning photography
- Historical and cultural insights: delve into the city's rich history and culture, and learn all about its people, art and traditions
- Practical full-colour map: with every major sight and listing highlighted, the full-colour maps make on-the-ground navigation easy
- Key tips and essential information: from transport to tipping, we've got you covered
- Dictionary: quick-reference bilingual language guide to help you with vocabulary
- Covers: The Old Town; Along Calea Victoriei; Aviatorilor and Herastrau Park; Cotroceni to Cismigiu; Civic Centre; The Outskirts of the City and Excursions
Get the most out of your trip with: Berlitz Phrase Book & Dictionary Romanian
About Berlitz: Berlitz draws on years of travel and language expertise to bring you a wide range of travel and language products, including travel guides, maps, phrase books, language-learning courses, dictionaries and kids' language products.
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Berlitz Pocket Guide Bucharest (Travel Guide eBook) - Berlitz
How To Use This E-Book
Getting Around the e-Book
This Pocket Guide e-book is designed to give you inspiration and planning advice for your visit to Bucharest, and is also the perfect on-the-ground companion for your trip.
The guide begins with our selection of Top 10 Attractions, plus a Perfect Itinerary feature to help you plan unmissable experiences. The Introduction and History chapters paint a vivid cultural portrait of Bucharest, and the Where to Go chapter gives a complete guide to all the sights worth visiting. You will find ideas for activities in the What to Do section, while the Eating Out chapter describes the local cuisine and gives listings of the best restaurants. The Travel Tips offer practical information to help you plan your trip. Finally, there are carefully selected hotel listings.
In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.
Maps
All key attractions and sights in Bucharest are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map], tap once to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.
Images
You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of Bucharest. Simply double-tap an image to see it in full-screen.
About Berlitz Pocket Guides
The Berlitz story began in 1877 when Maximilian Berlitz devised his revolutionary method of language learning. More than 130 years later, Berlitz is a household name, famed not only for language schools but also as a provider of best-selling language and travel guides.
Our wide-ranging travel products – printed travel guides and phrase books, as well as apps and ebooks – offer all the information you need for a perfect trip, and are regularly updated by our team of expert local authors. Their practical emphasis means they are perfect for use on the ground. Wherever you’re going – whether it’s on a short break, the trip of a lifetime, a cruise or a business trip – we offer the ideal guide for your needs.
Our Berlitz Pocket Guides are the perfect choice if you need reliable, concise information in a handy format. We provide amazing value for money – these guides may be small, but they are packed with information. No wonder they have sold more than 45 million copies worldwide.
© 2020 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd
Table of Contents
Bucharest’s Top 10 Attractions
Top Attraction #1
Top Attraction #2
Top Attraction #3
Top Attraction #4
Top Attraction #5
Top Attraction #6
Top Attraction #7
Top Attraction #8
Top Attraction #9
Top Attraction #10
A Perfect Day in Bucharest
Introduction
Geography
Contemporary Bucharest and its people
Climate
Bucharest’s Attractions
Prominent Romanians
A Brief History
Thracians and Dacians
The Roman Years
Slavs, Magyars and the Age of Invasion
The Middle Ages: The Formation & Consolidation of the Principalities
Vlad the Impaler
17th and 18th Centuries
19th Century: Independence
Early 20th Century: World War I and Unification
Between the Wars
World War II
The Communist Takeover and Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej
1965–89: Nicolae Ceauşescu
The Revolution and the Fall of Ceauşescu
Romania Since 1989
Historical Landmarks
Where To Go
Piața Universității and the Old Town
Piața Universității
Magheru
Old Town
The Civic Centre
Piaţa Unirii
Palace of Parliament
Patriarchal Hill
The Hidden Monasteries
Old Jewish District
Along Calea Victoriei
From the river to Piaţa Revoluţiei
Piaţa Revoluţiei
Towards Piaţa Victoriei
Aviatorilor and Herăstrău Park
The Museums of Piaţa Victoriei
Towards Herăstrău
The Spring Palace
Herăstrău Park
The Village Museum
Cotroceni to Cismigiu
The Presidential Palace
Eroilor
Cismigiu
Bucharest’s Outskirts
Therme
Snagov
Mogoșoaia Palace
Excursions from Bucharest
Pitești and Curtea de Argeș
Sinaia
Braşov
Constanța
What To Do
Sports
Football
Swimming
Cycling
Golf
Skiing
Hiking
Shopping
What to Buy
Food and Drink
Entertainment
Opera, Classical Music and Ballet
Theatre
Cinema
Rock and Pop
Traditional Music
Clubs and Bars
Children’s Bucharest
Calendar of Events
Eating Out
Where to Eat
When to Eat
Popular Dishes
Starters (antreuri)
Meat Dishes
Fish
Bread
Dessert
Vegetarians and Vegans
What to Drink
Wine (Vin)
Cider (Cidru)
Spirits (Tarie)
Coffee (Cafea)
Reading the Menu
To Help You Order…
Restaurants
Piața Universității and the Old Town
The Civic Centre
Calea Victoriei
Aviatorilor and Herăstrău Park
Cotroceni and Cismigiu
A–Z Travel Tips
A
Accommodation
Airport
B
Budgeting for Your Trip
C
Car Hire
Climate
Clothing
Crime and Safety
D
Driving
E
Electricity
Embassies and Consulates
Emergencies
G
Getting There
Guides and Tours
H
Health and Medical Care
L
Language
Left Luggage
LGBTQ Travellers
M
Maps
Media
Money
O
Opening Times
P
Police
Post Offices
Public Holidays
R
Religion
T
Telephones
Time Zones
Tipping
Toilets
Tourist Information
Transport
Travellers with Disabilities
V
Visas and Entry Requirements
W
Websites
Y
Youth Hostels
Recommended Hotels
Piața Universității and the Old Town
The Civic Centre
Calea Victoriei
Aviatorilor and Herăstrău Park
Cotroceni and Cismigiu
Dictionary
English–Romanian
Romanian–English
Bucharest’s Top 10 Attractions
Top Attraction #1
iStock
Parliament
Take a tour of one of the largest buildings in the world. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #2
Shutterstock
Spring Palace
The former residence of Nicolae Ceaușescu, preserved as a study in extravagant kitsch. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #3
iStock
Village Museum
Discover the diverse architecture of the Romanian countryside. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #4
Shutterstock
Therme
Relax at the largest thermal bath complex in Central and Eastern Europe. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #5
iStock
Herăstrău Park
Take a boat trip on the lake at the centre of this gorgeous green oasis. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #6
iStock
Caru cu Bere
Eat fine Romanian food in sumptuous surroundings. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #7
iStock
Stavropoleos Church
Find peaceful respite from the busy Old Town in this exquisitely decorated 18th-century church. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #8
iStock
Ateneul Român
Grab tickets for a concert at Romania’s finest music venue. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #9
iStock
Piața Unirii
Watch the spectacular dancing fountains. For more information, click here.
Top Attraction #10
Getty Images
Cotroceni Palace
Admire the exquisite taste of Queen Marie, Romania’s English queen. For more information, click here.
A Perfect Day in Bucharest
9.00am
Breakfast
Have breakfast on the terrace of the Amsterdam Grand Cafe, in the shadow of the national bank in heart of Bucharest’s bustling Old Town.
10.00am
Old Town
Wander the streets of the Old Town and admire the eclectic architecture before the lunchtime crowds descend on the area.
11.00am
Parliament
Take the guided tour of Romania’s largest building, making sure you grab some perfect shots of the city centre from the balcony.
12.30pm
Caru cu Bere
Try some traditional Romanian food in this historic restaurant (for more information, click here) – the interior is a must-see.
1.30pm
Calea Victoriei
Stroll along the city’s finest street, taking in the sights of the 1989 revolution and the many historical buildings, including the former Royal Palace, as well as browsing its high-end shops.
2.30pm
Village Museum
Explore the many houses, churches, windmills and farm buildings that showcase the inventive spirit of the Romanian people, and pick up some handmade, traditional crafts in the museum shop.
4.00pm
Spring Palace
Remain aghast at the kitsch opulence in which Romania’s communist leaders lived while the rest of the country went hungry.
6.00pm
A concert at the Ateneul Român
See one of Europe’s finest orchestras, the George Enescu Philharmonic, perform at one of the continent’s most lavish concert halls.
8.30pm
Finish the day with dinner at Romania’s best restaurant (for more information, click here), before heading to Piața Unirii to watch the spectacular dancing fountains.
Introduction
Bucharest’s locals love nothing more than teasing visitors from other parts of Romania, and will often do so by declaring – with tongue only partly in cheek – that the capital is the country’s only city. ‘Everything else is just a big village’, they say. And they are at least partially right. With an official population of just under 2 million (and an unofficial population which is far higher), Bucharest is four times larger than any other city in the country, and – in what remains a highly-centralised state – the focal point of Romanian politics, business, culture, religion and sport. For the visitor, it is an often bewildering mix of the Western and the Oriental, the modern and the traditional. This city of extremes, where state-of-the-art Teslas must navigate potholed roads, will frustrate and delight in equal measure. Badly administered for decades it creaks and often appears on the verge of collapsing entirely, but has enough charm and attractions to make it an appealing destination for all but the most jaded traveller.
Geography
Historically, Romania was divided into three principalities: Wallachia, the area north of the Danube; Transylvania (or Ardeal), west of the Carpathians; and Moldavia in the north, the eastern part of which is today the Republic of Moldova. Largely flat and with few natural landmarks, set in the heart of the great Wallachian plain about 60km (37 miles) north of the Danube, the extent of Bucharest’s urban sprawl is visible from miles away: long before your plane lands at Henri Coanda International Airport. It will immediately strike you as a surprisingly green city: large parks and public gardens abound, although during the hot summer this matters little as its streets can be dusty and suffocating. Divided somewhat arbitrarily into six sectors (numbered, clockwise, from 1 to 6), Bucharest lacks a real centre or focal point.
Basarab Overpass.
iStock
Contemporary Bucharest and its people
During Romania’s communist period it was a privilege to live in Bucharest. A buletin de Bucuresti, which conferred residence rights on those lucky enough to possess one, became a sought-after item, so much so that in the 1970s a comedy film was made about one man’s Kafka-esque quest to procure such a document. These days, anyone can move to the capital, and each year thousands do. A vast new business district in the northern Pipera district has seen innumerable skyscrapers spring up over the past decade to house the international companies that employ the country’s most talented young people. As such, Bucharest remains a magnet for Romanians in search of fame and fortune, even though it must now compete with the attraction of emigration. Locals are far friendlier (at least to foreigners) than other Romanians would have you believe and everyone – and we mean everyone – under the age of 40 will speak at least a smattering of English. Most are fluent.
Religion
The overwhelming majority of the Romanian population, around 87 percent, is Orthodox Christian. In Bucharest the percentage is probably close to 100 percent. There is a significant Catholic minority in Transylvania, especially among the Hungarian population, while Protestants also make up a significant minority amongst the Saxon population of Transylvania. The current president, Klaus Iohannis, is Lutheran. Faith amongst Bucharest’s locals is strong; note how many Romanians ostentatiously cross themselves while passing a church on a bus, or tram. This faith is particularly visible at Easter, when it can appear that the entire city descends on its many churches for midnight Mass. Most are forced to listen to the service outside, as the churches are full. For the visitor, Easter is a wonderful opportunity to see just how devout Romanians have remained, despite the attempts of the communist regime to erode the influence of the church. It’s a genuinely collective cultural experience you will not forget.
Climate
In keeping with the ‘land of extremes’ theme, Bucharest has uncomfortably hot summers and very cold winters, with little in between. Temperatures in July and August often top 35°C 95°F and in winter can stay below freezing for weeks, sometimes even months, on end. Snow regularly covers the ground for long periods, but locals are a hardy bunch: the city does not grind to a halt at the first dusting of the white stuff. If you are looking for a white Christmas, Bucharest is a decent place to come. May and June are traditionally very wet, but the downpours – while violent and often capable of flooding streets in just a few minutes – never last too long.
Downtown Bucharest in the snow.
iStock
Bucharest’s Attractions
Not a particularly old city – it was founded only in the mid-15th century – Bucharest nevertheless packs a historical punch. The 1989 revolution usually takes top billing and numerous tours now take visitors around the sights of that brief but bloody conflict, when forces loyal to the dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu fought with those who wished to depose him. While the communist regime flattened much of the old city to make way for Ceaușescu’s megalomaniac vision of a new city for a new, communist man – of which the enormous parliament building is the most prominent legacy and the city’s most visited attraction – enough of old Bucharest remains to paint a picture of the city that was lost under the bulldozers of the 1980s. Art Deco apartment blocks and elegant Parisian-style villas line central streets, while the beautiful Orthodox churches of various eras provide respite from the bustle of the modern city. Bucharest’s nightlife is sensational, and for many people it is the city’s main selling point, flying in as they do from across Europe and the Middle East for hedonistic party weekends. Therme, Europe’s finest and most extensive thermal bath complex, just north of the city, has become a weekend destination in its own right.
Old Court Church.
iStock
Prominent Romanians
It is perhaps fitting that Bucharest’s finest house, on the