What to visit
1. The Village Museum (Muzeul Satului)
Location: Soseaua Kisellef 28 -30
The Village Museum was established in 1936 and it contains over 300 wooden houses, windmills and churches from all over the country. Many of the buildings are originals which were brought here in pieces and reassembled. The oldest houses date as far back as the 17C. Because of this the museum is organized as a real village, with clusters of houses being linked by winding paths. It is located by a lake and a big park. This makes for a pleasant stroll especially during the summer. Sometimes the museum hosts crafts fairs and folk music and dance festivals.
2. The Parliament Palace/The House of the People (Palatul Parlamentului/Casa Poporului)
Open 10:00-16:00 (last tour 15:30).
Location: Calea 13 Septembrie 1, intrarea A3
Phone/Fax: (+4) 021 311 36 11
Metro station: Izvor
Requirements: ID
Known as the biggest, most expensive administrative building in the world, The House of the People hosts the Romanian parliament. The construction started in 1980 during the communist era. The structure combines elements and motifs from multiple sources, in an eclectic neoclassical architectural style. The building is constructed almost entirely of materials of Romanian origin. Estimates of the materials used include one million cubic meters of marble from Transylvania. Even though the building triggers mixed feeling amongst the Romanians because of its legacy, it’s a historic monument and it’s worth visiting.
3. The Old Town and the Old Court Church (Biserica Curtea Veche)
Address: Str. Franceza 33
The oldest part of Bucharest lies around The Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche) at the end of Str. Franceza. Archaeologists believe that this area was inhabited long before the 14th century because of pieces found here. But this area’s time of glory came in the 15th century when the reigning prince of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler built his fortress here. A museum was founded in 1972 when the archaeological diggings revealed the remains of the fortress.
The Old Court Church is the oldest church in Bucharest. Its building started in 1558 during the reign of Mircea Ciobanul (Prince Mircea the Shepherd) and was finished by his son in 1591. The church was built in the Wallachian architectural style of the 16th century. The exterior decoration is made of brick stripes alternating with plaster stripes. You can admire the beautiful frescoes, some dating from the 16th century.
4. Calea Victorie
Calea Victoriei (Victory Road) is one of Bucharest’s most charming streets. It was built as a main road in 1692 under orders from Constantin Brancoveanu who needed a road to link his palace at Mogosoaia with the Old Court. In the beginning the street was known as Podul Mogosoaia – Mogosoaia Bridge – because it was paved with wood. In 1878 after the Romanian War of Independence the street’s name became Calea Victoriei.
Between the two world wars Calea Victoriei became one of the most fashionable streets. Following this avenue from Piata Natiunilor Unite to Piata Victoriei you’ll find some of the most beautiful buildings in Bucharest. Among these are Stavropoleos Church – on Str. Stavropoleous, few second away from Calea Victoriei, the National Savings Bank or CEC building, the Art Deco Telephone Palace, the Cretulescu Church, the Central University Library, the Romanian Atheneum, the Royal Palace which today houses the National Art Museum and the Cantacuzino Palace.
Where to eat
1. Manuc’s Inn (Hanul lui Manuc)
http://www.hanulluimanuc.ro/
Address: Str Franceza 64
Price: Moderate
Manuc’s Inn is the best preserved of Bucharest’s old inns. It was built around 1808 to shelter travelling merchants. The inn is also one of Bucharest’s historical buildings. Manuc’s Inn functions as a hotel-restaurant and winecellar and server Romanian specialities.
2. Caru’ cu bere
http://www.carucubere.ro/en/
Price: Moderate
Caru’ cu Bere, a true living legend and one of the oldest breweries of Bucharest, was opened for the first time in 1879 in the old inn of Zlatari. Today, Caru’ cu Bere plans to revive a tradition. Moreover, whatever happens here will be a wide action to promote a true culture of beer. Upstairs, in the brewery, the unique recipe of the house’s beer together with a menu of traditional dishes will revive the memory of old tastes.
3. La mama
http://www.lamama.ro/
Price: Cheap
La Mama is one of the most popular restaurants in Bucharest, serving Romanian food. The name (if you didn’t guess already) means Mamma’s and it tries to suggest that the dishes are intended to be what a Romanian mom would cook. The food is good, nothing out of the ordinary, the regular menu that one can find in a restaurant with Romanian cuisine. But what makes this one so popular is the fact that the prices are low and the portions are big so no matter what you order it’s likely you’ll have a fulfilling meal 🙂
- Barbu Vacarescu 3 (junction with Stefan cel Mare Blvd) Tel: 021 212 40 86 or 0723 292 863
- Delea Veche 51 (junction with Calea Calarasi) Tel: 021 320 52 13 or 0723 292 846
- Episcopiei 9 (close to Romanian Atheneum) Tel 021 312 97 97 or 0721 LA MAMA (52 62 62)
- Splaiul Independentei 210 (inside Galeria Orhideea commercial center) Tel: 021 220 33 95 and 0724 505 605
4. Terasa Doamnei
http://www.terasadoamnei.ro/indexen.html
Price: moderate
Terasa Doamnei has a great location in downtown Bucharest right across the National Bank. They have a huge terrace, a nice place to eat outside during the summer time. I guess their idea is to have to place resemble a country inn and that’s why they have live birds running around the tables. They have live traditional music for dinner.