Woman sitting on a terrace in Bucharest
In Bucharest you can find yourself face to face with constructions that inevitably remind us of the former soviet bloc.
At that very moment, you can also see mansions that make you understand that before World War II it was known as "the Paris of the East".
Today, it's a vibrant capital looking to the future without forgetting the past.
DAY 1
10:00 a.m. The best way to start the day is to go to the emblematic **old town of the city (Centrul Vechi)**. Not in vain, there they are made 90% of the photos you have seen of Bucharest in guides and reports.
To avoid the inevitable crowds, it is best to go in the morning, when it is practically empty and you can enjoy without stress the basilica and the palace of Curtea Veche _(French 25) _ , where Vlad Tepes , who inspired the character of dracula raised a citadel.
Bucharest Old Town (Centrul Vechi)
Here you will also see the wonderful Stavropoleos Orthodox Church at number 4 of the street of the same name.
It is worth taking time to stroll through its winding streets and stop before buildings as wonderful as the palace that houses the headquarters of the CEC (the Romanian National Bank), the National History Museum or just a few meters further, the choral temple , a synagogue that had to be restored after the war and is still active.
If constructivism is your thing, the center also houses a gem from 1935 at 5 Doamnei Street: you can't miss it, on its darkened façade, you can read in big letters “ Technoimport ”.
1:00 p.m. Without leaving the old town, it is worth stopping at the Carousel bookstore: The building was originally a bank headquarters and, after having gone through different uses and renovations, it has ended up being converted into one of the emblematic bookstores of the city (and also, probably, one of the most Instagrammed, thanks to its balustrade and stairs).
Carusel Bookstore: an emblem of the city
2:00 p.m. The restaurant and brewery Caru' Cu Bere _(Stavropoleos 5) _ is one of the institutions of the city : opened in the 19th century, it is famous both for its spectacular gothic interior as for its beer and its traditional cuisine.
Although traditional Romanian gastronomy is characterized by knuckle, sausages and grilled meat , vegetarians will not be disappointed thanks to the inclusion of dishes such as polenta with boletus.
The temple of meat (and polenta for vegetarians)
4:00 p.m. After regaining strength, it's time to approach the uniri square, where we immediately discover another typical urban landscape of Bucharest: the one with the big buildings built during communism that now shine on their rooftops with large lights announcing products made in the USA.
5:00 p.m. With strength already recovered, it is convenient to approach the Palace of Parliament who ordered to build Ceaușescu.
It is the second largest administrative building in the world (the first is the Pentagon) and to build it – it has an area of 340,000 m2- the dictator ordered the demolition of the houses in the area.
Its inhabitants were displaced to other areas of the city and hardly any trace remains of the buildings that were part of the urban landscape of the old town.
Bucharest Parliament Palace
We recommend that book in advance a guided tour inside . If you run out of your reservation (this year visits are limited by the Romanian presidency of the European Union) you can always go to the National Museum of Contemporary Art, which is inside the Palace: in addition to going to the romanian art , you can enjoy the view from the cafeteria terrace.
7:00 p.m. After the visit to the museum, a short walk through Izvor serves to rest: the park not only offers one of the best views of the palace , but it is also one of the busiest parks in the city thanks to its strategic position in the heart of the city.
Izvor Park in Bucharest
8:00 p.m. To end the day, nothing better than ** Noa ** _(Victorei 26) _, a restaurant in fusion cuisine that Wednesday, Friday and Saturday also acts as a club **(it is advisable to reserve a table) **.
DAY 2
10:00 a.m. To start the day nothing like approaching the Piata Universitatii : Just a few meters away, the Bucharest of the 70s, which was ahead of its time (represented by the Intercontinental Hotel and the National Theater) and the more classic (the Grand Hotel Boulevard or the Army Palace ) .
Intercontinental Hotel in Bucharest
11:00 a.m. From the square, you can take the metro – cheap, safe and fast - to the north of the city to visit the Ceaușescu's Mansion _(Primăverii Boulevard 50) _.
They have kept the house as it was when the couple fled from Bucharest . The private pool, the gold taps, the greenhouse, the spa... a visit to understand the current situation of the country.
Ceau?escu Mansion
2:00 p.m. After visiting the house, we recommend a walk through the Michael I Park and eat at any of the restaurants in the area before heading down the Primaverii Boulevard: Although the route can be done by metro, it is a good idea to walk along the avenue and admire the great number of nineteenth-century palaces that are both along the boulevard and in the adjacent streets.
Some are completely restored, but even those that still reflect the traces of the war, the earthquake of 1977 or the revolution of 1989, They give an idea of the luxury and greatness that the city once knew.
To regain strength in victory square, nothing like a coffee with an éclair in French Revolution : They have so many flavors that it will be difficult for you to eat just one.
Mihai I Park, in Bucharest
4:00 p.m. One of the key places in Bucharest is the Revolution Square : from the balcony of what is now an administrative building gave Ceaușescu's last speech as President of Romania , and that is where the monument now stands that commemorates the victims of the revolution of 89 . The Romanians familiarly know it as "the potato", because of the shape it has.
Just a few meters further is the impressive Romanian Athenaeum , one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, and the once Royal Palace , now converted into an art gallery: the National Art's Museum . This not only houses some of the works of the most important Romanian artists, but also has a wing dedicated to European art with paintings by El Greco, Picasso or Matisse, among others.
The luxury hotel that keeps an old sweet shop (and current essential restaurant in Bucharest)
6:00 p.m. A good way to end the day is to go to a performance in the Bucharest National Opera _(70-72 Mihail Kogălniceanu Boulevard) _.
Although there are numerous theaters in the city, this one, built in the 1950s, It has a spectacular interior.
To end the night, you can return to the center to have dinner at Capsa House _ (Calea Victorei 36) _: what began as a French-style sweet shop in 1852 ended up becoming a one of the most famous restaurants in the city and, over time, also in a luxury hotel.
Although he has specialized in traditional Romanian gastronomy, their main course are still sweets.
If you prefer vegetarian cuisine, then come to Aubergine _(Smârdan 33) _ and when you finish don't stop walking through the less traveled streets of the old town or to cross the passage Macca-Vilacrosse with its golden glass arcades: it will surely leave you with a good farewell memory... and desire to return.
Galleries Macca-Vilacrosse