Where to go if you want to get to know Bucharest and Romania
- Village Museum muzeul-satului.ro/en/, for an impression of traditional building styles around Romania
- People’s house, which is the Palace of Parliament. This enormous building was built by Ceausescu from only Romanian materials and is the largest existing building in Europe (world wide only trumped by the Pentagon). A visit to this site requires a booking in advance and you will have to bring your passport along when you go. For more information: http://cic.cdep.ro/en/visiting/opening-hours-and-tariffs
- Romanian Atheneum and around, as well as the Old City have a diverse scape of architecture and buildings such as churches, palaces blended with the more Communist buildings.
- Cotroceni Palace is the house of the president. http://www.muzeulcotroceni.ro/index_eng.html It is a lovely and elegant palace. The Botanical gardens are close by and can be nicely combined with a visit to this Palace
A more general website to find more information on what to do to uncover Romanian history and culture: https://www.uncover-romania.com/attractions/history-culture/landmarks/romanian-atheneum/
Food and drinks
- Basically going into the old town when weather permits (not too hot) is the best way to find a place for a drink. Our personal favourites in the old city are: Bar Van Gogh, Hotel Rembrandt’s Cafe Klein, Freddo, Bruno’s winebar, Pura Vida (Little Bucharest Old Town Hostel). The inner garden of Hanu Lui Manuc is also very nice, so is the inner garden of Crama Domneascu, offering views of the ancient Roman site.
Dutch uitsmijter @Van Gogh 
- As an alternative to the old town, we suggest the parks of Bucharest. The best park to get also the opportunity to have a drink and / or some food is the Herastrau Park. In this park the most famous places are: Casa di David, Hardrock Cafe, Beraria H (the largest beer barn in the city, probably in the country), Biutiful by the Lake, Bonton Palace
- Restaurant wise there is one all-time favourite: The Artist. http://theartist.ro/ We just love that spoon tasting! Its entrance is easily overlooked, so look carefully.
- Dianei 4, great cocktails and (local) beers, food is also good though
Dianei 4 exterior 
Dianei 4 interior - Simbio, for a garden based lunch or breakfast
- Kane, one of our latest discoveries, close to the stadium of Dynamo Bucharest. Great food and ditto cocktails
- Aubergine: A little gem in the Old City, in particular good for vegetarian food
- Fabrica de Bere Buna, a great selection of beers. Serves other drinks and bar snacks, as well as some food
- Upstairs Rooftop: Around the corner from The Artist is a nice place to hang out for a drink and enjoy the sunset
- Noa Restoclub on Calea Victoriei, this place is close to Novotel and does good food
- Excalibur, medieval style, bring out the beers and the big plates of meat and chips
- Osho, good for steaks
- Zexe, traditional Romanian food
- Dristor kebab, needs no further explanation…. Other than that Simona says whatever you do, have the Shaorma with everything. (and that is the way they spell it..)
Dristor Kebap, Simona’s favourite place for a (midnight) snack
Nightclubs and bars
- Fratelli Social Club
- Boa Club (Park Herastrau)
- Bordello (old city)
- Club Bamboo
- Embassy
- Interbelic
- Nomad Skybar (old city)
For the shopaholics
- Baneasa shopping centre (on the route to the airport)
- Afi Cotroceni
- There also is plenty of shopping possible in the city centre and other (smaller) shopping malls.
- One particular nice (book and gifts) shop in the Old City: Carturesti Carusel
Carturesti Carusel
