Sights
Palace of the Parliament (Palatul Parlamentului)
The second-largest administrative building in the world (after the Pentagon) is Ceaușescu's megalomaniacal masterpiece — and Romania's burdensome legacy. 1,100 rooms, 12 floors, 365,000 m² of usable space, one million cubic meters of marble. An entire historic district was razed for its construction: 30,000 people were relocated, churches and monasteries demolished. The tour (mandatory, 40 RON) lasts one hour and shows only a fraction of the building — but this fraction is enough to grasp the madness. Book online in advance!
Piața Revoluției (Revolution Square)
The most historically significant square in Romania. Here, on December 21, 1989, Ceaușescu gave his last speech from the balcony of the Central Committee — and the crowd began to boo. Two days later, he fled by helicopter from the roof. The bullet holes in the surrounding buildings are still partially visible. Here also stand the Romanian Athenaeum (Ateneul Român), a neoclassical concert hall of enchanting beauty, and the National Art Museum in the former Royal Palace.
Centrul Vechi (Old Town)
The historic Old Town around Lipscani Street is Bucharest's liveliest district. Under the Ottomans, this was the trade center, named after the merchants from Leipzig (Lipscani = Leipzigers). Today: a maze of cobblestone alleys with bars, restaurants, clubs, and restored facades. During the day for strolling, in the evening for partying. Highlights: Hanul lui Manuc (historic inn, 1808), Stavropoleos Church (1724, exquisite Brâncoveanu style), and the CEC Palace (Savings Bank Palace, a Belle Époque gem).
Muzeul Satului (Village Museum)
One of the best open-air museums in Europe: 300 original buildings from all Romanian regions — farmhouses, churches, windmills, watermills — have been relocated here and set up in the vast Herăstrău Park by the lake. A walk through 200 years of Romanian village culture in a green oasis in the middle of the city. Admission: 15 RON. Plan at least 2 hours.
Romanian Athenaeum (Ateneul Român)
The most beautiful building in Bucharest — and one of the most beautiful concert halls in Europe. Built in 1888 through public donations (the phrase "Give a Leu for the Athenaeum" is legendary), it houses the Bucharest Philharmonic. The dome with the 360° fresco of Romanian history is breathtaking. Concert tickets from 20 RON — one of the greatest bargains in the European cultural scene.
