A city that elegantly combines the old and new, modern Bucharest is a city of extreme contrasts. One could find a 300-year-old church, a modern steel-and-glass structure and a communist regime building right next to each other, justifying the name "The Big Mix". Bucharest offers some great attractions, excellent value Bucharest hotels, and has created for itself a sophisticated and trendy atmosphere that is quite typical of European capitals. The city has also been working on many modernisation projects, which will continue in the years to come.
The city of Bucharest is famous for its beautiful and broad tree-lined boulevards, its magnificent Belle Époque architecture and a fondness for high life that earned it the nickname of "Little Paris".
According to an old Romanian legend, the city was founded alongside the Dambovita River by Bucur, a shepherd, whose name means "joy". Bucur dazzled people with his flute playing, and hearty wine from local vineyards made him popular with the traders, who eventually gave his name to the city. The city was the site of the court of Prince Vlad Tepes, who reportedly was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula in the fifteenth century. At the close of the seventeenth century, Bucharest became the capital of Walachia and in 1862 the city was named the capital of Romania. We offer a wide selection of hotels in Bucharest, perfect for travellers on any budget!
The city was remodelled at the end of the nineteenth century by French architects, creating neoclassical buildings and beautiful parks which are ideal for exploring on a Bucharest tour. Bucharest even has its own Arc de Triomphe located in the mansion district on the stylish Soseaua Kiseleff Avenue, which is longer than Paris' Champs-Elysees! Book your Bucharest tour to see all that this city has to offer!
Because of its rich history, there is a lot to see and do in Bucharest, with charming streets near the Old City Centre that is undergoing a restoration, the grand architectural style of the Royal Palace and lush gardens at Cismigiu Park. There are several museums, galleries of art, magnificent architecture and jewel-like Orthodox churches. The legacy of Nicolae Ceausescu, the Parliament Palace (formerly known as the People's Palace), is the second largest building in the world, after the Pentagon in the US. Covering 3.76 million sq ft of space, the building is proof of the dictator's megalomaniac vision. You can take a tour in Bucharest to learn more about these sites and discover the city like a local.
In order to help you explore the city, there are a number of great value Bucharest hotels to stay in whilst on your Bucharest holiday. Located throughout various parts of the city, many of the hotels in Bucharest offer amenities and facilities you well above what might be expected for the cost. You can also use our Bucharest map to choose your hotel in Bucharest based on its location.
Bucharest has a bustling cultural scene, with 22 concert halls, 37 museums, 18 art galleries, an opera house, jazz clubs and many hip nightclubs as well. The city hosts the George Enescu International Festival every two years in honour of the noted Romanian composer and musician. This festival is a celebrated cultural event of the city and features performances by famous orchestras, soloists and conductors at the Romanian Athenaeum, where the acoustics are comparable to the La Scala in Milan.
The city is dotted with many lakes - Lake Tei, Lake Floreasca and Lake Colentina, which stretch across the city. The Colentina River flows through the city and into the Dâmboviţa River. Bucharest also has an artificial lake called Lake Cişmigiu located in the middle of the Cişmigiu Gardens. Created in 1847 on the plans of Carl F. W. Meyer, a German architect, the gardens serve as a popular recreational site in the city centre. The Cişmigiu Gardens are a favourite with many famed poets and writers.
Apart from the Cişmigiu Gardens, the city has many other parks and gardens, such as the Botanical Gardens and Herăstrău Park. The Botanical Gardens in Bucharest used to be the pleasure park of the royal family, and are now the largest in Romania, with over 10000 specimens of plants, many of which are exotic. Herăstrău Park is an immense public park, which is located in the northern part of the city. The Village Museum is also situated here and well a visit on your tour in Bucharest and surroundings.
Being locally based, we know all there is to know about Bucharest! Check out our recommended hotels in Bucharest and tours in Bucharest and let us help you plan your ideal Bucharest holiday. Also, we can help you to plan a Romania holiday, because we know all the most interesting areas and sightseeing spots in our country.
Meet your local connection in Bucharest, Romania- Roxana Ionescu & the team of Travel Biz! We are proud to be apart of whl.travel, and are passionate about sharing our destination with travellers. Bucharest is a city rich in history, with unique customs and traditions that are still practiced today. We are fond of working with people, interacting with different cultures and going above and beyond to provide the best service.
