Top 5 Bucharest Sights to See

Piatas, Blvd. Unirii & The People’s Palace

If you’ve been here a while or a just arriving, there are a mixture of “things to do” in Bucharest that will keep you happy and occupied just once, or many times over. Take the time to get out of your car or just plain walk around and see what you can see. Take a walk down Magheru Blvd. that “connects” the majority of the piatas. For the first time in many years, Romanians have discovered the secret of landscaping! Beautiful flowers and fresh cut grass line the sidewalks along Piata Victoriei, Piata Romana and Piata Universitate. Continue your walk all the way down to Piata Unirea where you can walk down the fountain-lined Blvd. Unirii, straight up to the People’s Palace. While seasoned expats will use the Palace more as a “point of reference” for directions, it still remains the TOP tourist attraction in Bucharest, as it is the largest government administration building in the World, second only to the Pentagon in the US. Go see it, however before you book a tour, check out the virtual tours on Google Earth. Walking up the boulevard is something nice to do on a warm spring day or cool summers’ eve. A lot of trees and a lot of photo opportunities, from the fountains to the unending blocks of “white-collar” communist era buildings.

Cismigiu Gardens

Bucharest Expat knows that Romania-Insider type travelers and expats are always on the lookout for affordable, worthwhile “things to do”. Recently a post was sent out on our facebook account to our 1,000 friends about how great a walk through this park is. So the votes are now in, people do love the way Cismigiu Park Bucharest (Parcul Cismigiu) has “grown” and been cleaned up. The walkways are amazing, the water feature are “picturesque” and its spread out and shaded enough to make for pleasant walks. We found that the best time to go is dusk, just before the sun begins to set. It stays a little cooler of course, you bypass most of the crowds, its not late at night so the stray dogs are sleeping and have yet to arrive, and the pathways are very well lit when the sun does eventually disappear.

Once you’ve strolled through the park, you can stop for a bag of popcorn at one of the little stands for a mere 1/2 the price of the cinemas, you can rent about for a while and “pedal” around the little lake (two thumbs up on this one) or stop off at restaurant Monte Carlo for some romanian food on the terrace… at a great price. Great way to get some photos and spend a few hours of your time. Cismigiu Park Bucharest built in 1847 is one of the oldest, if not the oldest park formed in the central Bucharest area. It is also one of the largest, at 17 hectares, so finding a parking spot around its street-front borders typically is not an issue on weekdays.

While wandering around, take a look at the circular group of statues referred to as the Rotonda Scriitorilor, featured twelve famous Romanian writers.

Village Museum

Well the name says it all… this is the Village Museum, or the Museum of Villages. Located near Herestrau, the village museum is a collection of dozens traditional and historic “real life” Romanian homes and “communities”. Created in 1936 and restored, renewed, and maintained throughout the years, the village museum is a must see for a quick travel through time of traditional Romanian life. Covering nearly 15 hectares (37 acres) you will be spending quite a bit of time here, so plan accordingly. Check the weather as you would for any open-air museum. Bring your camera and take  many photos for your portfolio, but be advised, some of the homes remain “closed” as is the norm with the work ethic in Bucharest. Despite this, the Village Museum is a must see for the Bucharest Insider, and a definite Top 5. Adult tickets are 6 ron and children 3 ron. The Village Museum hours between November 1st and March 15th: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 17:00 (closed Mondays). March 15th to November 1st: Tues to Sun, 9:00 to 19:00; Mon 10:00 to 18:00.

“Old Town” Lipscani

Lipscani, Lipscani, Lipscani…. you’ve probably heard the name repeated over and over as “the place to be” for sightseeing during the day, or for “letting loose” during the night. Lipscani is currently under going the last of its renovations, which up to this point have been successfully created with the partnership of a major Spanish construction and development company. Situated adjacent to the city center, Lipscani is accessible via the metro stops at either Unirea or Universitate.

The appearance of Lipscani is what one would imagine a stereotypical European Village to be, with quaint alleyways (most of Lipscani is pedestrian traffic only) and small shops that are reminiscent of days gone by as well as the literal meaning of the name itself; traders who brought their wares from Western Europe.

In Lipscani you’ll find a wide selection of bars and cafes (and one too many pubs) as well as some excellent dining options, and of course a wealth of photo opportunities. If you hurry before the renovation are “complete” you’ll be able to check out the cool sub-basements exposed underneath the walkways, particularly in front of the National Bank building.

So all in all if you are looking for the very best in Bucharest Life, check out the Lipscani district and enjoy this resurrected treasure that was nearly destroyed during communist times!

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