20/1/2011
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Bucharest (Bucuresti)
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To book your perfect holiday
or Bucharest City Break
we recommend:
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Bucharest |
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British Airways Heathrow - Bucharest Otopeni 3 x Daily; direct service Tarom Heathrow - Bucharest Otopeni Daily direct service Wizz Air Luton - Bucharest Baneasa 2 x Daily; direct service Several daily connecting flights incl. KLM, Czech, Malev, Lufthansa, Austrian, Alitalia Many UK regional departures Domestic flights by Tarom to Timisoara, Cluj, Iasi, Târgu Mures, Sibiu Baia Mare, Satu Mare, Oradea. Arad and Suceava Regional flights with variosus airlines to Budapest, Sofia, Chisinau, Istanbul Rail services from Bucharest Nord including sleeper services to Timisoara, Cluj, Baia Mare, Sighetu Marmatiei, Bistrita, Piatra Neamt, Suceava & Vatra Dornei Sleeper services also to Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Sofia, Istanbul, Belgrade & Chisinau Airport - City Transfer: 90-120 mins Can be booked in advance Alternative: airport bus to Piata Unirii Stop Press: bus and rail link from Bucharest Otopeni via Otopeni Village to Bucharest Nord has been suspended; There are still airport buses to Piata Victoriei, Piata Unirii and Gara de Nord |
Bucharest "Paris of the East"
Spend a couple of days soaking up the excitement of this frenetic capital - go on a shopping spree, take in a show or dine in a fashionable restaurant with the elegant people of the city that is attempting to reclaim its former title of 'Paris of the East'.
Romania's capital never sleeps - it is a cosmopolitan, cultured city with an active cafe society, elegant restaurants, theatre and opera, and leafy parks such as Cismigiu Gardens or Herastrau Park, ideal for escaping the heat of the summer. You will find broad avenues and former palaces, historic, ancient churches tucked away in side streets, antique shops, delicatessens, chic boutiques, new shopping malls and some exceptional museums such as the Village Museum, National Art Museum and the
Museum of the Romanian Peasant.
Large parts of Bucharest were bulldozed by the communists and replaced by non-descript concrete apartment and office blocks, particular during the later years when Ceausescu used the 1977 earthquake as an excuse, followed by his insane obsession with creating his grandiose Civic Centre incorporating the "Bulevard of Socialist Victory" (Bulevardul Unirii) and his "Palace of the People" (Palace of Parliament). This was all inspired by visits to North Korea and China. The old houses along many boulevards such as Splaiul Unirii, Sos.Stefan cel Mare, Sos. Mihai Bravu, Calea Mosilor were demolished and replaced with ugly apartments blocks. The process usually started with buildings being allowed to fall into disrepair and this was used as an excuse for them being condemned. The process was repeated in many formerly attractive towns sich as Craiova, Pitesti, Ploiesti and Piatra Neamt. Ceausescu accelerated the process in the 1980s with the full scale bulldozing of the Uranus and Vacaresti Districts including the significant 18th century Vacaresti Monasteries. Nevertheless, it has preserved a surprising amount of interesting architecture, particularly along Calea Victoriei, and in the churches, villas and mansions that have survived in the fascinating maze of streets and avenues peripheral to the main thoroughfare.
Spend a couple of days soaking up the excitement of this frenetic capital - go on a shopping spree, take in a show or dine in a fashionable restaurant with the elegant people of the city that is attempting to reclaim its former title of 'Paris of the East'.
Romania's capital never sleeps - it is a cosmopolitan, cultured city with an active cafe society, elegant restaurants, theatre and opera, and leafy parks such as Cismigiu Gardens or Herastrau Park, ideal for escaping the heat of the summer. You will find broad avenues and former palaces, historic, ancient churches tucked away in side streets, antique shops, delicatessens, chic boutiques, new shopping malls and some exceptional museums such as the Village Museum, National Art Museum and the
Museum of the Romanian Peasant.
Large parts of Bucharest were bulldozed by the communists and replaced by non-descript concrete apartment and office blocks, particular during the later years when Ceausescu used the 1977 earthquake as an excuse, followed by his insane obsession with creating his grandiose Civic Centre incorporating the "Bulevard of Socialist Victory" (Bulevardul Unirii) and his "Palace of the People" (Palace of Parliament). This was all inspired by visits to North Korea and China. The old houses along many boulevards such as Splaiul Unirii, Sos.Stefan cel Mare, Sos. Mihai Bravu, Calea Mosilor were demolished and replaced with ugly apartments blocks. The process usually started with buildings being allowed to fall into disrepair and this was used as an excuse for them being condemned. The process was repeated in many formerly attractive towns sich as Craiova, Pitesti, Ploiesti and Piatra Neamt. Ceausescu accelerated the process in the 1980s with the full scale bulldozing of the Uranus and Vacaresti Districts including the significant 18th century Vacaresti Monasteries. Nevertheless, it has preserved a surprising amount of interesting architecture, particularly along Calea Victoriei, and in the churches, villas and mansions that have survived in the fascinating maze of streets and avenues peripheral to the main thoroughfare.
Beds - Beds - Beds - Beds - Beds - Beds - Beds - Beds - Beds - Beds - Beds
Our personal recommendations for the best accommodation in and around Bucharest
Luxury 5-star hotels to family run guesthouses
.
Bucharest is a relatively compact city. The main sights of the Calea Victoriei and the Curtea Veche, and shopping along Magheru and Balcescu Boulevards are all within easy walking distance Piata Unirii and the Palace of Parliament require a little more perseverence. Taxis are inexpensive though the driving may be hair-raising at times. Only use licenced cabs.
Public transport is frequent, cheap and efficient. RATB operates buses, trolleybuses, trams and a metro system. Tickets and day "travel cards" are available from newspaper stands near main stops. There are buses from the airport to the city centre and Piata Unirii (please watch out for pickpockets on this service).
The metro connects the main Gara de Nord station with the city centre and the suburbs while tram routes radiate out of the city and along an inner ring with hubs at Piata Unirii, Gara de Nord and near the Intercontinental Hotel. There are metro stations at main squares such as Unirii, Universitatii, Victoriei and Romana. Modern trolleybuses operate into town from several suburbs displaying constant information such as position and route interchanges.
New Airport Link: A direct link from OTOPENI (town) direct to Bucharest Nord railway station has recently been inaugurated. Tickets are vaialble in the main airport complex at Bucharest Otopeni. This comprises a bus transfer to Otopeni town (15-20 minutes depending on traffic), then a local train into Bucharest Nord (30-40 minutes)
For transport route maps and further information please check the RATB website: Bucharest Public Transport (RATB)
HistoricTram in Bucharest
Click for a larger
version of the Metro map
* M1: Pantelimon (Peak Hours Only) - Republica -Dristor-Piata Unirii-Dristor
* M2: Pipera-Piata Unirii-IMGB 2
* M3: Industriilor- Eroilor ( - Piata Unirii-Pantelimon) - in most cases you will need to change trains at Eroilor
* M4: Gara de Nord-1 Mai
M1 is particularly confusing since it loops back on itself at Dristor. It is easy to board a train in the wrong direstion as both may be going to Dristor! Extensions are planned including an eventual link to Baneasa and Otopeni airports. There is also a light rail service (41) connecting the western suburbs: Piata Presei - Crângasi (M1) - Armata Poporului (M3) Ghencea, and an infrequent rail service to Snagov. Maps of the Metro are available in newsagents together with A-Z style street maps for the city which include all bus, tram and trolleybus routes. Please click below for further information:
Map of Bucharest Metro
Bucharest Metro Information (Metrorex)
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