"The Paris of the East," as Bucharest, Romania has been called, is an urban, sophisticated center located on the southeastern edge of the Romanian Plain on the banks of the Dambrovita River, a tributary of the Danube. The metropolitan area, that includes several smaller suburban cities, has a population of over two and one half millions, nearly ten percent of the population of Romania. Like Rome, to which it has been compared, Bucharest boasts of seven hills within the city proper. The climate is temperate, with warm, dry summers and cold winters.

 

 

History

A city of eclectic architecture, Baroque, Roman, Communist-modern and traditional, Bucharest dates to the mid- fifteenth century. The city was the capital of the Wallachian monarchy, the most famous member of which was "Vlad the Impaler," later imortalized in Bram Stoker's "Dracula." Vlad Tepes' castle in the city is being restored.

 

Art & Museums

There are a number of natural lakes in the city, but the artifical Lake Cismigiu is the location of the Cismigiu Gardens, the center of much of the recreational activity of the populace. Parks and park-like settings abound, including Herastrau Park and the Botanical Gardens, home to more than 10,000 plant species, many of them exotic.
A variety of museums are open, including exhibits of Native Romanian culture.

 

Nightlife

The City Center has many good restaurants and nightclubs. Some of the area fine restaurants feature wild game; venison, wild boar, bear and game birds, served in a variety of styles. Locally produced wines and brandies are favored, but spirits from around the world are readily available.

 

How to get

Taxis and public transportation making getting around Bucharest a simple matter. Signage is Romanian, but the language is close to ancient Latin and as such is easily translated by anyone with a smattering of any of the other Romance languages; French, Italian, Spanish and Portugese. A local driver-tour guide may be arranged through the hotel concierge or apartment manager. Though a little more costly, it is still an economical way to see the city and all it has to offer.