Tourism guide

Romania has the majestic castles, medieval towns, great hiking and wildlife, and cheap skiing of much of the 'undiscovered' former Eastern Bloc. You'll be floored at how different it is, but you'll almost certainly see signs that it's chasing the dreams of the rest of the West.
Horse-drawn carts jostle for space against fast cars whose drivers are talking money on mobile phones; farm workers watch The Apprentice on satellite in their medieval farmhouses. No longer the weird kid of Europe it was under Ceausescu's despotic tutelage, Romania is now making new friends and passed the entrance exams for NATO and the European Union with flying colors.

Bucharest Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life (which in the 1900s earned its nickname of "Little Paris"), Bucharest, Romania's largest city and capital, is today a bustling metropolis. Bucharest is laden with historical charm - from the streets of the Old City Centre, which are slowly being restored, to the grand architecture of the Royal Palace and the lush green of Cismigiu Park. The city also claims a large number of museums, art galleries, exquisite Orthodox churches and unique architectural sites.
Bucharest's buzzing cultural scene - 37 museums, 22 theatres, concert halls, opera house, 18 art galleries, jazz clubs and hip nightclubs - will certainly keep you busy. Every two years, Bucharest is host to the George Enescu International Festival, a prestigious cultural event named after the famous Romanian musician and composer. Renowned orchestras, conductors and soloists perform at the Romanian Athenaeum, a hall with acoustics comparable to Milan's La Scala.

Transportation Bucharest boasts the largest transport network in Romania, and one of the largest in Europe. The Bucharest transport network is made up of a metro network and a surface transport network. Although there are multiple connection points, the two systems operate independently of each other, are run by different organisations (the metro is run by Metrorex and the surface transport network by RATB) and use separate ticketing systems, often making transfer between the systems difficult. Due to this, the two transport systems were unified in January 2007, and the Bucharest Metropolitan Transport Board established and a single ticketing system.

Hotels Restaurants Nightlife Attractions Transportation Map

Tipping & Etiquette
Usual, most European behavior is acceptable: don't spit at lunch or don't fart, don't whistle in church neither inside buildings. And if you plan to come back someplace, always tip. Romanian waiters are paid very low, as the owners expect them to get tipped. Try to tip the taxi drivers, the hair cutter, and the valets at the hotel. Not much but any tip would make your stay far more pleasant. Try to eat at busy restaurants opposed to the fancy-named ones, as the prices and quality of the food can be bad (both of them at once). Try to eat where locals do, you will not be disappointed.

Smoking: Almost everyone smokes in Romania, so be warned: very few places have no-smoking areas.

Sundays and religious holidays: Be aware some Romanians are very traditional in their beliefs and therefore utmost respect should be paid at all times.

Homosexuality: I don't mean to scare but due to Romania's traditional beliefs homosexuality is not welcomed publicly and was only made legal in 2001.

Taxis: As in all cities some try and rip off tourists. Most are OK in Bucharest, but there are those that will try and con you by not using the meter, so check it's on and starts at zero when you enter the cab. They may also try to tell you that they have no change for big notes, so try and carry small denominations.

Late at night: Try not to walk alone late at night, especially in poorly-lit parts.

Petty crime: Pick pocketing is not uncommon, especially on public transport. Make sure you keep bags in front of you and be aware of your surroundings; don't keep valuables in outer accessible pockets.