Discover Bucharest
Hotels, halal food, prayer spaces, things to do, and itineraries in Bucharest.
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Must-see attractions in Bucharest
From headline landmarks and heritage icons to parks, waterfronts, and major museums, discover 29 standout sights to build into your time in the city.
Located between the Transylvanian Mountains and the Black Sea, Bucharest is mistakenly an overlooked tourist destination. Its true beauty hidden behind old communal buildings requires tourists to dig deeper into the city’s colourful history and culture to discover the famous ‘Little Paris’. With a steady pace of development underway, Bucharest has become a busy metropolis and the center of all economic and social life in Romania. Wide boulevards lined with luscious trees, cafes, bars, shopping plazas and wide parks have lifted Bucharest out of the old times and made it come to the standards expected of a European capital. Rejoining the EU in
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Muslim travel planner
Plan a Muslim-friendly trip in Bucharest
Halal restaurants in Bucharest
Bucharest’s food scene is part of the city experience. Choose from 23 restaurants and food districts with location notes and planning tips.
bucharestPOEM
POEM is a very flashy restaurant in Bucharest that has highly trained chefs for serving International food. The quality of food is exceptional and the way dishes are served, can double your appetite! The atmosphere of the dining halls is very comfortable and elegant with candles lit on each table and the etiquettes of fine dining are obvious with the dexterity of hall decorations and paintings. With most of Bucharest’s elite dining here, make sure you have booked a reservation before hand.
bucharestBalthazar Restaurant
The best attribute about Balthazar is its interior. Set in a restored villa, the restaurant oozes class and has a very classical and elegant look to it. The varieties of French food available are immense and each is served with a look and taste of its own. Staff is exceptionally well trained and commendable service accompanies great food. All in all, Balthazar should be your first preference if French food is on your list.
bucharestJariştea
Set in an old historical setting, the Jaristea is a very well inspired restaurant which takes its cues form old Bucharest. The theme, the food and the service all seem to date back to the olden times when Bucharest was small and flourished because of its heritage. Seating arrangement is done very thoughtfully with most tables in an enclosed cubicle for a private and luxurious dinner time with live music. Traditional Romanian specialties are cooked in old species and make the diners have a feel of the beautiful city in its olden times. Reservations are compulsory.
bucharestCity Grill
If you are off for lunch, City Grill for steaks is the best place in town. A very light and friendly atmosphere awaits you with the best steaks that are spiced and grilled to perfection. City Grill may be a little pricy but you are guaranteed to leave the place completely satisfied. The meal is presented very professionally with exotic drinks that are made especially at the Grill with herb toppings.
bucharestCasa di David
A place labeled for the ‘nouveau riche’, Casa di David come up to the expectations of all that visit it. Famous for its ambiance and Italian inspired food, the restaurant is always full of people trying out new varieties that the chefs create for the guests. Servings are small to entice your taste buds and try out more dishes. Make sure you take a good look at the wine list because each is exquisite and it’s hard to pick one!
bucharestCasa Doina
Among the aristocratic embassies in the northern part of the city, Casa Doina has developed a unique aura and a class of its own. With the most sophisticated clientele as guests, Doina has given a very glamorous look to the 18th century villa it’s located in with high ceilings and well lit dining halls. The green summer garden is a special favorite for many guests, during the warm months, who enjoy socializing as part of dinner time. The menu is full of delicacies that one can experiment with or order their all time favorite.
Bucharest masjids and Muslim travel
Landmark masjids and prayer-aware notes for visitors planning salah, family movement, and halal-friendly days.
Romanians Convert to Islam Association
Address: Str. Lugoj Nr. 20, Sector 1, Bucharest Phone: (+40)-766.732.716 Fax: (+40) 31 425 49 12
Muslim Association of Romania
Address: Str. Maior Sofran Nr.11, Bucharest, Romania Phone: 004-0723170710 Fax: 004-0241657739
Mosqa Turkie
Address: Str. Constantin Manescu, Nr. 4- Sector 5
Islamic cultural centre Semiluna
Address: 9mai nr10 bl10A nr3 sector 6 Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania 07000 Phone: +4021-2219732 Fax: +4021 2219732
Where to stay in Bucharest
Choose where to stay by trip style, from landmark luxury and family bases to central, airport, and neighborhood-led stays.
bucharestNovotel Hotel
Standing stark against the communal atmosphere of the old Romania is this modern glass building hotel. Novotel has a reputation throughout the city for the most helpful and friendly staff that doesn’t hold back advice about how to explore Bucharest. Novotel has 258 rooms all of which are spacious, thoughtfully decorated and are pleasing to the eye. Bathrooms are laid out separately for joint use. Breakfast at Novotel is a big affair that comes with a price tag and includes a scrumptious buffet and a wide selection of juices and champagne. Room rates start from 310 Euros.
bucharestLido Hotel
Lido Hotel is a kind of accommodation one would be most expecting in Bucharest. Operational since 1930, Lido is a grand hotel that has aged with the city hand in hand. All 119 rooms have a comfortable yet ancient feeling to them and are colored in pale soothing tones. They have all the amenities like AC, TV, minibar and hair dryers. One of the most attractive features of the rooms, as rated by tourists, is the small balcony overlooking the great city rising to life. Room rates start from 240 Euros; however, Lido is tourist friendly and offers discounts on advance booking.
bucharestK+K Hotel Elisabeta
The only moderate thing about this hotel is its location. Hotel Elisabeta is a luxurious accommodation that offers a wide variety of services and facilities to please its guests. Set in the heart of the city, the hotel is a rich combination of taste, color and style with its high standard rooms, lobby and dining areas. The staff at K+K knows how to satisfy its guests which good advice and excellent customer service. There are 67 units in the building that are equipped with all amenities and have a price tag of 274 Euros per night.
bucharestHotel Capsa
Perhaps the most auspicious and classy hotel in Bucharest, Capsa has its ties to famous political figures and leaders of history because it was inaugurated in 1852 and has since been a special favorite for recognized people. Capsa welcomes you with an unmatched aura of authority with crystal chandeliers, marble staircases and a wide lobby. It has 61 rooms all of which are spacious and decorated tastefully with wall tapestries, high ceilings and lush carpets. Room rates start at 230 Euros excluding breakfast, but discounts are offered regularly.
bucharestAthenee Palace Hilton
One of the most famous 5 start hotels in Bucharest, the Athenee Palace has an array of activities and entertainment on their cards for u. Just minutes away from cafes, museums and theaters, the hotel is a top choice for most business executives and the high budget travelers. The rooms offer all amenities along with internet access and exceptional room service. Additional facilities: sauna, warm pool and Jacuzzi, gym, beauty center, casino, 3 restaurants and bar. Address: 1-3 Episcopiei St., District, 1010292 Phone: +40 213 033 777
History and today in Bucharest
Read the city today, its history, residents, culture, and character before planning your route.
When to go?
Bucharest is a city of extreme temperatures; therefore it is most advisable that one should visit in either May or September.
City Information
Fast Facts
• Location: Bucharest is located in the southeastern part of Romania on the bank of the famous River Dambovita. Its location is strategic as, being the 6th largest city in the European Union; it is an industrial and transportation hub for Eastern Europe. • Dialing codes: +40(international code), 21(area code) • Emergency: Police, Ambulance, Fire fighters, 112 • Airport Enquiry: Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport +40 21 204 1200 Bucharest Baneasa International Airport +40 21 2320020 • Population: 2 million in the City proper and 2.4 million in the urban areas. • Density: 8,510/km2 • Language: The official language of the city is Romanian however, the urban elite prefer speaking English. In other small parts of the city, Chinese, Arabic, French and Spanish are also spoken well by the natives and previous immigrants to Romania. • Time Zone: UTC+2, April to October UTC+3 • Annual Rainfall: 530mm • Highest summer temperature: 40 degrees • Lowest winter temperature: -6 degrees • Exchange rates: Lei (code: RON)
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Public Holidays
1st January: New Year’s Day 2nd January: Second Day celebration of New Year 4th April: Orthodox Easter 1st May: Labor Day 23rd May: Pentcost 15th August: Dormition of the Virgin Mary 1st December: National Day 25th December: Christmas 26th December: Second Day of Christmas
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Annual Temperature
Month Min Temp ° Max Temp ° January: -6 0 February: -5 3 March: 0 9 April: 6 18 May: 11 24 June: 15 28 July: 17 30 August: 16 30 September: 13 26 October: 8 18 November: 4 10 December: -3 3
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Bucharest Residents
Romanians are ranked as one of the friendliest people in the world. They are recognized as cheerful, fun loving, warm, hospitable and witty. These characteristics explain the tremendous nightlife that Bucharest has in the form of bars and night clubs. However, the rich history that the country is tied to has led the locals to have a strong belief in ethics, culture and traditional values. Bucharest has also bred great sportsmen, artists and heroes of the likes of Constantin Brancusi, Angela Gheorghiu, Nadia Comaneci and Eugen Ionesco to name a few. Bucharest has a growing population of youth and teens that is well educated and urbanized. It is these people who are the future for Bucharest and will carve its way for higher ranks among tourism and economics.
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Bucharest Today
Located between the Transylvanian Mountains and the Black Sea, Bucharest is mistakenly an overlooked tourist destination. Its true beauty hidden behind old communal buildings requires tourists to dig deeper into the city’s colourful history and culture to discover the famous ‘Little Paris’. With a steady pace of development underway, Bucharest has become a busy metropolis and the center of all economic and social life in Romania. Wide boulevards lined with luscious trees, cafes, bars, shopping plazas and wide parks have lifted Bucharest out of the old times and made it come to the standards expected of a European capital. Rejoining the EU in 2007 has initiated a number of development projects in the city to further increase tourism and boost the economy.
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Bucharest History
Romanian legend narrates vivid accounts of a shepherd named ‘Burr’ (joy) after whom Bucharest was named. The shepherd was famous for the wine he sold from the city’s vineyards and the melodious tunes he played on his flute. He created a small settlement which was later named Bucharest. In the early years, Bucharest had French styled buildings and houses which were later remodeled in the 19th century. With good architecture and infrastructure, the city had become a commercial center for trading and development until it was taken over by the communists. Several years down the road the only reminder of the communist regime is the “House of People” now known as the Palace of Parliament. The House was built magnificently with locally produced materials over an area that stands second largest in the world after the Pentagon. Over the years post Independence War (1877), Bucharest underwent many changes in its infrastructure. Electric systems were installed in major buildings; roads like the Podul Mogosoaiei were widened. The first cinema was built along with theaters and art schools. However, the Second World War had a devastating effect on the infrastructure of the city and reformation had to start anew.
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Shopping in Bucharest
Explore 26 shopping stops, from malls, markets, and book bazaars to fashion streets and souvenir finds.
bucharestThomas Antiques
A beautiful antique shop in Bucharest standing tall for 25 years is Thomas Antiques that has a huge collection of antique jewels, ornaments, furniture, books, watches and decorative items. With the popularity of antique collections on the rise, these pieces fetch a good price for their quality and the depiction of Romanian history. Tourists with the right taste for antiques throng Thomas’ for it’s uniquely designed collectable. Address: Str. Covaci 19 (Lipscani area) Phone: +4 0752 440 818
bucharestCaresse
Men’s fashion apparel are designed with utmost care and attention is paid to small details at Caresse. This shop is well renowned around the city for its cut, colors and styles and it is committed to prove that fashion extends to men as well. With high quality clothes, the price tag is also substantial.
bucharestCellini
Nothing like some glitz and glamour to go with your stylish clothes, Cellini offers the best jewelry designs in town. The quality of gold, variety of cuts and the authenticity of designs are like no other jeweler in Bucharest. If you wish to attend some glamorous parties while in Bucharest, take your pick at Cellini.
bucharestHanul cu Teia
Spur your appetite for antiques with the quality auctions organized here at good prices. The antique collection at Hanul is vast with all sorts of ornaments and artifacts that are in demand with locals and tourists as souvenirs. Piano and violin concerts are also held in the house to entertain guests and to keep a light atmosphere during auctions.
bucharestDIKA
Excellent collection of ready to wear summer clothes that stand out from all others! DIKA prides itself for the new designs that it introduces to the market for skirts, shirts and casual dresses. The clothes are high in demand with the youth of the city because of stylish cuts and vibrant summery colors. Clothes collection is said to be Greek style.
Signature sights in Bucharest
A curated pick of the city's standout sights, led by the strongest editorial recommendations.
Festivals and events in Bucharest
Plan around 29 festival seasons, public events, Ramadan/Eid periods, book fairs, art cycles, and winter food activity.
bucharestROMMEDICA
To promote medical research and development in Bucharest, the ROMMEDICA is held at the Romexpo. It exhibits the latest technology and processes in medicine that has found way into Europe. To stay abreast with international standards and cutting edge technology, most doctors and hospital representatives attend the expo.
bucharestTourism National Fair
Bucharest is still in its early stages of development to be one of Europe’s fast paced capitals. However with these conferences and the steady development that is taking place within the city and in Romania at large, travel operators, locals and tourism agencies are promoting Bucharest as a vacation spot. The tourism fair is a gathering of all institutions that are involved in facilitating tourists and helping them have a good time in Romania.
bucharestRokolectiv
Romanian music fans gather at the Rokolectiv each year to listen to unique collections of electronic compositions. The event is hosted by Romania in the spring to give a chance to bands and individual singers to perform in concerts and gigs that are held around the city. Due to their popularity, concerts go on all night in places like The Ark and MNAC. Phone: +40 (0) 752 218 555
bucharestConstruct Expo – Ambient
The aim of this convention is to provide you with the necessary amenities to make your homes more comfortable and to decorate them in style. Construct expo houses stalls for decorative items, furnisher and fittings, floor coverings, doors and windows, hardware and carpentry. This event has particular importance for Bucharest because of the steady change that is being executed in the construction plans of the city, moving it away from gray stone communal buildings to high rise glass scrapers.
bucharestB-EST International Film Festival
Marking the beginning of spring, the B-EST International Film Festival is an extravagant event full of glamour and style. It showcases the best films and actors of the years and holds the reputation of being one of the biggest social gatherings in Bucharest. Nominations are made for the best documentaries and films and international winners from the Cannes and Venice awards are given special mentions. Phone: +40 212 312 858
Bucharest tours and experiences
Heritage walks, food crawls, coastal trips, museum circuits, family days, and guided ideas for an easier day out.
bucharestBucharest by night + dinner
A very adventurous guided tour, Bucharest by night will take you for a fun filled city exploration spree in the bright nightlights. You will visit monuments like the Palace of Parliament, Village Museum, Royal Palace, Triumph Arch and the Old District. The tour operators are well versed with Romanian and English and have good knowledge of the places’ history to enlighten you. The tour ends with a relaxing dinner at one of the most famous restaurants like Club Dracula or Carul cu bere where people mingle and a light chatter about the eventful day is the topic of discussion. Price for a single persons’ tour is as high as 185 Euro but with a group of people it falls to 70 Euro.
bucharestRomadria Confort - Travel Agencies
This travel agency in Bucharest offers extensive tours all around Bucharest and one can chose form a variety of tours depending on what they want to see the most in the city. The following is the address of the agency together with the tours it offers.
bucharestTours by Locals
Tours by locals is a tour operator that specializes in providing private tours all around Bucharest with a local as your guide. The tour starts at 10am at your hotel and ends at 6pm at your doorstep. In the 8 hour duration the tour takes you around, The Village Museum, The Patriarchy Church, The Parliament Palace, The Revolution Square, The Romanian Atheneum, The Stavropoleos Church, The Old Princely Court, Sutu Palace (Bucharest Museum). A City of Contrasts Through Time- A variation of the whole day tour is this 3 hour tour in which special emphasis is paid to the architecture of the monuments and how they had been in the past and the significance they hold today. Other tour operators functioning in Bucharest are as follows
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Bucharest travel guide sections
Focused sections for articles, directories, maps, and trip planning.
