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Bucharest
Bucharest is Romania's capital and largest city, as well as the most important industrial and commercial center of the country. With its 2 million inhabitants in the city proper and more than 2.4 million in the urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Eastern Europe, and 6th largest in the EU.
Districts
Bucharest is divided in 6 official districts (sector, plural sectoare), numbered from 1 to 6, each has its own mayor and council. They are counted clockwise, starting from Piata Unirii. An unofficial district system is in far wider use, as people refer to places by using the neighborhood they are located in (cartier, cartiere). Neighborhoods cover the entirety of the city, both slums and rich suburbs. A neighborhood may cover 200.000 persons (such as Balta Alba) or 1.000 persons (such as Primaverii).
Understand
Bucharest is usually the entry point for most people into Romania. On the other hand, the city itself isn't particularly appealing to all tourists, and it is usually a matter of personal taste whether visitors like it or not. Some people adore it and think it really has a special feel to it, others feel uncomfortable due to the grey Communist-era buildings and lack of charm or tourist attractions. Yet again, others believe the urban myths about crime, homelessness and poverty, even though these are only what they state to be - myths. Bucharest offers some excellent attractions, and increasingly has the sophisticated, trendy and modern edge to it that defines a European capital. If you're in the region, it would be negligent to not visit it, even if just for the curiosity of seeing such a paradoxical city.
Language
The official (and native) language is Romanian. Most educated people born after about 1970 will speak reasonably good English; most educated people born before about 1970 will speak reasonably good French. The Gypsies speak their native Romany, as well as Romanian, and sometimes English. Other than that, you'll find some people who know German and Italian. Beyond that, as in any major city, there will be a smattering of other languages.
Climate
Bucharest has, like most of Romania, a temperate-continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. This region of Romania gets all four seasons, although spring is brief and falls mainly in April. The average high daily temperature in summer is about 28ºC and in winter about 0ºC. It can get really hot and dry during the summer (40ºC) and really cold during the winter (-20ºC). Best time to visit is April through June, September through October and early December.
Time
Bucharest is in the Eastern European time zone (UTC+2, UTC+3 from April to October).
Get in
By air
Connections
Bucharest has reasonable connections with most European capitals and with the largest cities in Romania, but it can be difficult to find a direct flight to Bucharest from outside of Europe. Starting June 2007, Delta Air Lines will open a direct service between Bucharest and New York city ( JFK airport).
Discount air companies have been operating flights to Bucharest since 2004,...
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Hotels in Bucharest
| | Confort Traian  |
Score 6.45 from 28 reviews | | 55 Traian St. |  |
| Hotel Confort situated near by the Market Traian, on street Traian No. 55 and located less than 5 minutes distance from UNIREA SQUARE.
The restaurant of the hotel, situated at the semi-basement offers you starting from the entrance door a sensation of comfort and privacy. This can also be seen when studying the menu, continuing with the highly qualified service and ending with the excellent food and the music. ... more | | |
| | Duke Hotel |
Score 8 from 9 reviews | | 33 Dacia bvd., District 1 | |
| HOTEL DUKE is situated on Dacia Bvd. when going to the Canadian Embassy.
You can reach us from Henri Coanda International Airport by taking the bus 783. ... more | | |
 | Hotel Est |
Score 6.575 from 41 reviews | | Pantelimon Street No. 23, Sector 2 | |
| The hotel has a car park for up to 15 cars. ... more | | |
 | Tulip Inn Bucharest City Hotel  |
Score 8.4 from 208 reviews | | Nerva Traian Street No. 3A | |
| The 3 meeting rooms, reminiscent of the famous Dutch painters Van Gogh and Rembrandt, are equipped with up-to-date technology for seminars, video-conferences or any kind of business meeting. ... more | | |
 | Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest  |
Score 4.5 from 1 reviews | | Episcopiei 1-3 | |
| The hotel is just 40 minutes drive from Henri Coanda International Airport and includes 11 meeting rooms for 2 to 350 people, a business centre and an executive lounge. ... more | | |
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| | | More hotels in Bucharest |
| Saxon Path in Transylvania - Harman and Prejmer |
4 hours |
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Tour highlights include the Harman stronghold built by the Saxons, with circular walls within, where a Romanesque church restored in the Gothic style is still standing. Conceived in the architectural style of the time, the church has a 50 meter high tower surrounded by four small towers, a sign that Harman had the right to judge legal matters and apply the death penalty. The stronghold has seven square bastions where the villagers could find shelter during the sieges. Though besieged 47 times during the history it never surrendered.
The tour continues with the peasant-fortified complex from Prejmer, the most representative construction of its type in Transylvania.
The fortress was built in 1427 for protection against the Turks. The chronicles relate that in 500 years of existence the fortress was besieged 50 times. The peasant fortress of Prejmer is an intriguing medieval monument, characteristic for this kind of Transylvanian architecture. Because of the Turkish attacks the inhabitants were fortifying the churches, the most solid buildings at that time, transforming them into real fortresses, a very interesting thing if you think of their cultural and spiritual function.
At Prejmer the extremely powerful walls reach 14 meters in height and are 5 - 6 meters thick. The access to the building is made through an arched passage with a length of 30 meters, fortified with two rows of gates. Cleverly made, the second gate had the function to stop the attackers who passed through the main gate. The second gate was closed and the attackers were trapped inside.
The church, in the shape of a Latin cross, was built in gothic style. Especially valuable on the inside is the altar with panels and the organ from 1803.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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| Morning Tour of Brasov and Bran |
4 hours |
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Tour highlights include a Brasov city tour, one of the most important towns of the area during the middle ages. Here you will visit the Black Church, the largest gothic building in South Eastern Europe, which houses a collection of unique oriental carpets. You will also visit St. Nicholas church and the First Romanian School in Transylvania.
Then drive on to Bran to visit the castle known as Dracula Castle - built in the 14th century on a 60 meter high rock by the merchants of Brasov, in order to protect the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. After a hunt for Dracula's souvenirs in the local market drive back to Brasov.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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