Bucharest is a city in the throes of change. It might not be one of the powerhouse capitals of Europe, but history on a grand scale has played out here.
Whose palace?
The Palace of Parliament aroused much controversy during its planning and construction. In order to make room for its bulk – it’s the second largest administrative building in the world, just behind the Pentagon – 30,000 people were moved and a number of buildings demolished.
Ceausescu called it ‘The People’s Palace’ but the vast edifice, including a nuclear bunker, was never finished.
You can see the building that resulted only by guided tour, booked in advance. Head for Primaverii Street and you can also visit the former palace of the Ceausescu family, once known as The Golden Palace due to the lavish decoration on show.
Country life in the city
If you venture out of Bucharest into rural Romania, you’ll see that the rustic way of life is alive and well. If you don’t, however, you can still get a flavor of it at the National Village Museum. Consisting of 300 buildings and situated next to Lake Herastrau, here you’ll see constructions dating back to the 17th century, folk art, windmills and wooden churches.
A garden city
The Cismigiu Gardens are the green heart and soul of Bucharest, offering wonderful respite in the warm summer months. Plants and trees from around the world make this a lush haven, a place designed in the mid-19th century by the German landscaper Carl Meyer. You’ll find a boating lake, a Roman garden, busts of the great and good and a memorial to French troops.
Pretzels aplenty
Bucharest is a great city to eat out in. It’s affordable, unpretentious and is not yet prey to food fads or trends. You’ll find pretzels everywhere – called ‘covrig’ in Romanian – both on street corners and in stores. In addition to traditional styles you’ll also find some crazier concoctions containing sausages, apples or chocolate.
One of the city’s most popular restaurants – with locals and tourists alike – is Caru’ cu Bere on Strada Stavropoleos. Behind the grand entrance you’ll enter a restaurant that opened its doors in 1879 and still prides itself on its classic dishes. If you’re here in winter you’ll be glad of the bean soup with smoked pork, served in a bowl made of bread, followed by the ‘sausage showcase’, pork knuckle with horseradish or Moldavian stew.
Keen on tradition but also moving forward into the new century, Bucharest is a city at a crossroads in time. Make the most of your visit with car rental in Bucharest and strike out to explore Transylvania too.
Want to find more things to see and do in the Romanian capital? Check out our Travel Guide to Bucharest.