As the largest city of Romania, with a population of over 2 million inhabitants, Bucharest is full of green areas, parks and lakes such as: Herastrau Park, Cişmigiu Garden, Carol Park, Bordei Park, Icon’s and Ioanid Parks; the main hydrographic artery that runs through Bucharest is Dambovita river.
Although many areas of Bucharest were demolished in the Communist period, to make way for the monocolor neighborhoods that had the same architecture, it still retains the old charm that attracted tourists after the First World War (1914-1918), when it was called “Little Paris” due to the brightness of its cultural life and its social atmosphere and thanks to its architecture, it was becoming one of the most beautiful European capitals.
If you will be extending your stay for more days, you might as well check out our landmarks. Feel free to get inspired by this Wiki page, but the easiest way to see as much as you can is through the Bucharest City Tour.
Below you have a sneak peek of what Bucharest has to offer:
The Palace of Parliament
The world’s second largest building was built as a palace for Nicolae Ceauşescu, who was overthrown and executed before it was completed.
Herăstrău Park
Is a large park on the northern side of Bucharest, around Lake Herăstrău, one of the lakes formed by the Colentina River. The park is divided into two zones: a rustic or natural zone (the Village Museum), which is left more or less undisturbed, and a public/”active” domain with open areas for recreation activities.
Romanian National Opera
The Bucharest National Opera is one of the national opera and ballet companies of Romania. It is situated in a historical building in Bucharest, raised in 1953, near the Cotroceni neighborhood. The first opera performed there was Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades on 9 January 1954; the first ballet was Coppélia, the following night. Its auditorium has 952 seats, but occasionally concerts are held in the Yellow Foyer with a maximum of 200 seats. The company presented 182 performances in 2009 (up from 146 in 2006). At the beginning of each season, a free show is held in open air to promote opera and the artists, “Promenada Operei”. Their annual season runs September–June.
Cișmigiu Gardens
The Cișmigiu Gardens are a public park near the center of Bucharest, spanning areas on all sides of an artificial lake. The gardens’ creation was an important moment in the history of Bucharest. They form the oldest and, at 17 hectares, the largest park in city’s central area.
Old City Center
Bucharest’s Old Town is a mix of history, local culture and life style, a trendy entertainment district and favorite hangout for the locals.
AFI Palace Bucharest Mega Mall
It’s the biggest shopping mall from Bucharest. It is located in the central-western part of the city, between the city center and two of the largest residential districts, Militari and Drumul Taberei.
National Museum of Natural History “Grigore Antipa”
The Museum was established on November 3rd 1834, at the initiative of the brother of the King Alexandru Ghica, the Great Count Mihalache Ghica, who donated important collections, including Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins, rock and mineral, fossils, mollusk, fish, birds and mammals collections, as well as works of art. Although it was first conceived as a natural history cabinet, the museum became a mixed institution, harboring antiquities, old paintings and natural curiosities.
National Village Museum “Dimitrie Gusti”
The Village Museum (Muzeul Satului in Romanian) is an open-air ethnographic museum located in the Herăstrău Park (Bucharest, Romania), showcasing traditional Romanian village life. The museum extends to over 100,000 m2, and contains 272 authentic peasant farms and houses from all over Romania. It was created in 1936 by Dimitrie Gusti, Victor Ion Popa, and Henri H. Stahl.
Arch of Triumph
The first, wooden, triumphal arch was built hurriedly, after Romania gained its independence (1878), so that the victorious troops could march under it. Another temporary arch was built on the same site, in 1922, after World War I, which was demolished in 1935 to make way for the current triumphal arch, which was inaugurated in September 1936. The current arch has a height of 27 metres and was built after the plans of the architect Petre Antonescu. It has as its foundation a 25 x 11.50 metres rectangle.Nowadays, military parades are held beneath the arch each 1 December, with the occasion of Romania’s national holiday.
Romanian Athenaeum
The Romanian Athenaeum is a concert hall in the center of Bucharest, Romania and a landmark of the Romanian capital city. Opened in 1888, the ornate, domed, circular building is the city’s main concert hall and home of the “George Enescu” Philharmonic and of the George Enescu annual international music festival.
Palace of Justice Bucharest
The Palace of Justice, located in Bucharest, was built between 1890 and 1895. Located on the banks of the Dâmboviţa River, it houses the Bucharest Court of Appeal and the Sector 5 Court. Its last major restoration was between 2003 and 2006. The Palace has 690 rooms with a total area of 33,235 m2 (357,740 sq ft)
National Arena Bucharest
The National Arena is a football stadium in Bucharest, Romania, in the Lia Manoliu National Sports Complex. It is replacing the former National Stadium, which was completed in 1953. It was built for the Romania national football team, therefore is hosting its games, as well as the Romanian Cup Final and the Romanian Supercup. The 2012 UEFA Europa League Final was held at the new stadium. This was the first final of a major European football club competition hosted by Romania
