Travel Guide Bucharest

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Dominic Barnett
6 years ago
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Travel Guide 02 02 03 04 04 Quick view Travel etiquette Health Phone calls & Internet 05 05 07 08 09 Getting

1 Travel Guide Quick view Travel etiquette Health Phone calls & Internet Getting around Top 10 sights Shopping in Restaurants Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels Fotolia LH.com/travelguide 01/12

2 02 Quick view Brief overview Once feted as the Paris of the East, saw some tough times during WWII and the Communist years that followed, but the revolution of 1989 opened up the city to the outside world, and EU investment projects are restoring parts of this historic city to their original splendour. architecture can span centuries in a single block, with 18th-century churches and palaces pressed up against Communist-era towers and modern shopping centres. Although many give the city just a few days en route to Transylvania, is dotted with gorgeous parks, cool cafés and fascinating museums charting every aspect of s sometimes troubled path through history. Visit in spring to see the city parks at their finest and escape the heat and humidity of high summer. General Information Country overview There aren't many countries in Europe where farmers still drive horse-drawn wagons and covered markets dominate over shopping malls, but then isn't quite like other places. While other Eastern Bloc members have seen their cities spruced up and populated with boutique hotels, international restaurants and quaint attractions, this traditional country still clings to its dog-eared charm. Yes, you'll find the usual smattering of resort towns clustered around the Black Sea Coast, but outside the tourism hotspots dances to the same rhythm it's tapped out for a hundred years. Geography is bordered to the north and east by Moldova and Ukraine, the southeast by the Black Sea, the south by Bulgaria, the southwest by Serbia and in the west by Hungary. The country is divided into four geographical areas. Transylvania (a belt of Alpine massifs and forests) and Moldavia compose the northern half of the country, which is divided down the middle by the north-south strip of the Carpathian Mountains. These comprise of 14 mountain ranges above 2,000m (6,560ft) with Moldoveanu Peak at 2,544m (8,300ft) the highest point. The terrain around here is a mix of extinct volcanic cones, lunar plains, thick forests and glacial lakes perfect for hiking, cycling and adrenaline sports. South of the east-west line of the Carpathians lies the flat Danube plain of Wallachia with the capital, its border with Bulgaria being defined by the course of the Danube. The Danube Delta, the best-preserved of its kind in Europe and a haven for wildlife, is a biosphere reserve and a biodiversity World Heritage Site. s other major rivers include the Olt, the Siret and the Mures. 's coastline runs for nearly 200 km (120 miles) along the Black Sea, incorporating the port of Constanta and the Danube Delta. General knowledge Key facts Population: Population Density (per sq km): 91 LH.com/travelguide 02/12

3 03 Capital:. Language n is the official language. Some Hungarian and German are spoken in border areas, while French and English are spoken by those connected with the tourist industry. Currency New Leu (RON; symbol (plural) Lei) = 100 bani. Notes are in denominations of Lei500, 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of Bani50, 10, 5 and 1. (Old notes were in denominations of Lei1,000,000, 500,000, 100,000, 50,000 and 10,000 and coins in denominations of Lei5,000, 1,000, 500 and 100.) Electricity 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the two-pin type. General business opening hours Mon-Fri Public holidays Below are listed Public Holidays for the January December 2019 period Anul nou (New Year s Day): 1 and 2 January 2018 Paştele (Orthodox Easter): 8 and 9 April 2018 Ziua muncii (Labour Day): 1 May 2018 Doua Zi de Rusalii (Orthodox Whitsun): 27 and 28 June 2018 Adormirea Maicii Domnului (Assumption Day): 15 August 2018 Ziua Sfantul Andrei (St. Andrew s Day): 30 November 2018 Ziua Naţională (Republic Day): 1 December 2018 Crăciunul (Christmas): 25 and 26 December Anul nou (New Year s Day): 1 and 2 January 2019 Paştele (Orthodox Easter): 28 and 29 April 2019 Ziua muncii (Labour Day): 1 May 2019 Doua Zi de Rusalii (Orthodox Whitsun): 16 and 17 June 2019 Adormirea Maicii Domnului (Assumption Day): 15 August 2019 Ziua Sfantul Andrei (St. Andrew s Day): 30 November 2019 Ziua Naţională (Republic Day): 1 December 2019 Crăciunul (Christmas): 25 and 26 December 2019 All information subject to change. Travel etiquette How to fit in Social Conventions A handshake is the most common form of greeting, but n men may kiss a woman's hand when being introduced. Mr or Mrs should be used when greeting someone for the first time. Visitors should follow normal European courtesies on social occasions. Dress tends to be rather conservative but casual wear is suitable. Beachwear should not be worn away from the beach or poolside. If visiting a home, a small wrapped gift should be given to the host, such as flowers or chocolates (to women only), wine or liquor. Flowers should be given as a gift in LH.com/travelguide 03/12

4 04 odd numbers only. Many ns are smokers and gifts of Western cigarettes are greatly appreciated. Other well-appreciated gifts include toiletries. Photography Military installations should not be photographed. Some tourist attractions require visitors to pay a fee (sometimes hefty) for taking photographs. Smoking The n government bans smoking in every public place, but, as in many countries in Eastern Europe, smokers have little respect for non-smokers and for smoking laws. Smoking is forbidden on planes, on buses and on some trains. Luxury hotels have designated no-smoking floors but very few restaurants have no-smoking sections. Health Health Main emergency number: 112 Food & Drink Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe, may cause abdominal upsets; bottled water is available. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Other Risks Hepatitis C and tuberculosis occur and hepatitis B is endemic. Stray dogs may carry the tick-borne African typhus disease and rabies is also present. If bitten, seek medical advice without delay. There have been confirmed outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in the Danube Delta, Transylvania and. The n authorities have taken measures to contain the outbreaks and no human infections or deaths have been reported. In 2012, several cases of the West Nile Virus were reported by the n National Institute of Health, and travellers to the Danube Delta are recommended to wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers and to apply insect repellent. Contractual physician of Lufthansa Dr. Enayati, Wargha Centrul Medical Unirea Str. Ion Ionescu de la Brad 5b Bukarest sect 1 Tel Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it bear the cost of any treatment. Phone calls & Internet Phone calls & Internet Telephone Country code: +40 LH.com/travelguide 04/12

5 05 Mobile telephony and Internet Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-eu state do not benefit from the new arrangement. Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended. Getting around Getting around Public Transport has an efficient integrated mass transit system, operated by Regia Autonomă de Transport Bucureşti (RATB; tel: ; Between 5am and midnight, you can access every quarter of the city via metro trains, buses, trolleybuses and trams. Buy tickets from RATB street kiosks and metro stations, and remember to punch the ticket when you board buses and trolleybuses. Taxis Unofficial cabs in have a poor reputation for overcharging, including those waiting outside the arrivals hall at the airport. Be wary of taxis hanging around outside big hotels and tourist sights; it s better to call ahead for a cab from a reliable radio-taxi firm. Reputable cab companies include Cobalsescu (tel: ; and Meridien (tel: ; A tip of up to 10% is customary. Top 10 sights Top 10 sights in Palace of Parliament You can t miss the vast Palace of Parliament, said to be the world s second largest building. A lavish pet project of Nicolae Ceaușescu, this vast state edifice began life in 1984, but it was never finished, despite the construction of 3,100 rooms. Tours offer fascinating insights into the mindset of the times. Strada Izvor Tel: Daily Museum of the History of The gorgeous setting for this intriguing municipal museum in a lavish palace from the 1830s would justify the entry fee all by itself. Inside, you can view old photos, costumes and belongings that offer a glimpse of the lifestyles of both the nobility and the poor in the city in its historic heyday. Bulevardul Ion C. Brătianu 2 LH.com/travelguide 05/12

6 06 Tel: Wed-Sun n Athenaeum The best way to see inside s grand neoclassical concert hall is to attend a performance by the resident Filarmonica George Enescu. The acoustics are stunning, and the opulent interior, with its vast gilded ceiling, will whisk you away to s belle époque. Strada Benjamin Franklin Tel: Tours by arrangement Cișmigiu Gardens s favourite green space sprawls around the shores of an artificial lake to the west of the centre. The park is dotted with sculptures, national monuments and elegant formal gardens, providing plenty of peaceful places to picnic. Bulevardul Schitu Măgureanu 17 Mon-Sat Sun National Museum of Art of s greatest artists are honoured in this stately museum set in the former Royal Palace. The grand building is almost as impressive as the extensive collection of artworks inside, which includes the art collection amassed by the n royal family. Calea Victoriei Tel: Wed-Sun (May-Sep) Wed-Sun (Oct-Apr) Village Museum Set in peaceful surroundings on the shore of Lake Herăstrău, this open-air museum pulls together rescued village buildings from across. Covering everything from churches and peasant houses to windmills, it s probably the most family-friendly attraction in the city. Șoseaua Pavel Dimitrievici Kiseleff Tel: Daily Jewish History Museum LH.com/travelguide 06/12

7 07 This though-provoking museum, housed in the graceful Tailor s Synagogue, tells the story of s Jewish population and the devastating events of WWII. Moving displays recall great Jewish achievements as well as the horrors of the Holocaust. Str. Mamulari Tel: Mon-Thurs Fri and Sun Museum of the n Peasant See how the other half lived in this fascinating museum documenting the customs, costumes and lifestyles of the peasants of in the days before Communism. Dotted around the compound are restored churches and houses and a fading collection of Communist artworks. Șoseaua Pavel Dimitrievici Kiseleff Tel: Tues-Sun Stavropoleos Monastery A tiny piece of n history, tucked away on a busy city street, this handsome Orthodox monastery was constructed in The interior is a treasure house of murals, icons and wood carvings, and the courtyard is stacked with ancient tombs. Strada Stavropoleos Daily Piața Revoluției Ringed by extravagant architecture, s Revolution Square is dotted with monuments recalling s painful escape from Soviet rule. The former Central Committee of the Communist Party building was where Nicolae Ceaușescu gave his final speech before the Iron Curtain came crashing down. Piaţa Revoluţiei Shopping in Shopping in Key Areas isn t quite up there with Paris or Milan, but there are still plenty of glitzy fashion stores and boutiques along Bulevardul Magheru and Calea Victoriei that recall the city s heyday as the Paris of the East. Markets used to depend on its city markets in Communist times, but shopping LH.com/travelguide 07/12

8 08 malls and supermarkets are increasingly stealing the limelight. Good produce markets live on though, including the modernised Piata Obor market on Strada Câmpul Moşilor. The city s favourite flea market sprawls along Strada Mihai Bravu every weekend. Shopping Centres Shopping centres are springing up across, bringing the usual mix of local franchises and international brands. Popular options for downtown shoppers include Unirea (Piaţa Unirii), Banaesa Shopping City (Şoseaua - Ploieşti) and the Mall (Calea Vitan). Restaurants Restaurants in Hearty n stews and Ottoman-inspired kebabs dominate menus in the n capital. There s an old-fashioned feel to many of the city s restaurants,but a new wave of restaurants are breaking the mould and offering innovative modern n cooking in stylish modern surroundings. Casa Vernescu Achingly glamorous, Casa Vernescu serves up three restaurants, a club, a lounge bar and a cigar room, all tucked inside a grand baroque mansion. Calea Victoriei Tel: Price: Expensive Casa Doina Set in an atmospheric 18th-century villa, this traditional n restaurant is a prime spot for a romantic candlelit dinner, particularly if you manage to secure a table on the terrace. Șoseaua Pavel Dimitrievici Kiseleff Tel: Price: Expensive Caru' Cu Bere With a wood-panelled dining room that wouldn t look out of place at Hogwarts, this atmospheric beer hall offers superior n cooking and tasty home-brewed ales. Strada Stavropoleos Tel: Price: Moderate St. George The menu at this wholesome Hungarian restaurant is dominated by hearty stews and casseroles, served in a nostalgic wood-panelled dining room or out on the LH.com/travelguide 08/12

9 09 terrace. Strada Franceză 44 Tel: Price: Moderate La Mama True to its name, this pocket-friendly eatery serves home-style n cooking, just like mama used to make, with branches dotted around the city. Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta 11 (u.a.) Tel: Price: Cheap Nightlife Nightlife in Nightlife in is concentrated in the Old Town, where every second building seems to be a bar, café or club. Drinking options range from nostalgic beer halls toedgy cocktail bars and razzle-dazzle nightclubs with in-house cigar rooms. For a more sophisticated night out, head to the Opera or take in a concert at the n Athenaeum. The Vintage Pub There s always a lively crowd in this downtown watering hole, close to the thick of things in the Old City. Strada Smârdan 43 Tel: Bamboo Chinese lions, mirrors and purple neon set the scene in this ritzy nightclub, where the glam set gather after hours. Strada Tuzla 50 Tel: Fratelli There s a definite luxe feel at this dance bar in north ; attention is focused on the central bar and the bottle-flipping antics of the bar staff. Strada Glodeni 1-3 Tel: LH.com/travelguide 09/12

10 10 Fire Club No-nonsense rock and roll is the mainstay at this popular rock club, where drinkers care more about the music than the dress code. Strada Gabroveni 12 Tel National Opera House The city s most prestigious cultural institution, with an impressive programme of classical ballet and opera. Bulevardul Mihail Kogălniceanu Tel: Calendar of events Calendar of events International Experimental Film Festival - BIFF Established in 2005 to celebrate art house cinema, this fesitval uncovers new talents and promotes young filmmakers already known both domestically and internationally. March - April 2018 b-iff.ro/ Venue: Various venues Rokolectiv Three-day celebration of electronic music. April Venue: Various venues EUROPAfest Since 1993, EUROPAfest has been organized every year in and is the only European festival to combine four different genres of music in one event. The week-long international music festival includes the International Jazz Competition as well as an enticing cocktail of blues and pop concerts, jazz competitions, workshops, master-classes, café festivals and jam sessions. Three hundred musicians are brought together from over 40 countries representing a wide range of music styles. The aim of the festival is to create a unique event in Europe and an enriching experience for the audience. With 90% of the performers being non-national, the festival is not only an opportunity to indulge in musical LH.com/travelguide 10/12

11 11 excellence but also a way to meet new cultures. May Venue: Major concert halls, cafes Street Music Festival The Street Music Festival, known as "D'Ale Bucurestilor", takes place in 's Old Town and showcases n folk and medieval music against a backdrop of cobbled streets and Belle Epoque buildings. June 2018 Venue: Historic Centre Craftsmen's Fair Traditional crafts-making fair. July 2018 Venue: Village Museum Georges Enescu International Festival Classical music concert. September Venue: Various venues National Theatre Festival An event celebrating the best of theatre. October Venue: Various venues Hotels Hotels in Big international chains have come to, raising the bar for the city s hotel scene.service standards can still be variable, but new boutique hotels are blossoming across the city, providing a welcome alternative to the generic business-class places. Athenee Palace Hilton A city landmark since 1914, the Athenee scores top marks for location, décor, service and style. Strada Episcopiei Category: Expensive LH.com/travelguide 11/12

12 12 Tel Rembrandt Hotel Boutique touches and a prime location opposite the National Bank lure legions of travellers to this stylish small hotel in the historic centre; book well ahead. Strada Smârdan 11 Tel: Category: Moderate Casa Capsa Hotel Spacious, wood-panelled rooms conjure up a hint of the 1930s at this inviting small hotel, set behind a grand facade near University. Calea Victoriei 36 Tel: Category: Moderate Hotel Tempo A top choice for comfortable rooms and above-average service in a handy location just north of the centre. Strada Armand Călinescu Tel: Category: Cheap LH.com/travelguide 12/12

Travel Guide Cluj-Napoca

Travel Guide Cluj-Napoca Travel Guide 02 02 03 04 Quick view Travel etiquette Health 04 05 07 07 Phone calls & Internet Top 10 sights Shopping in Restaurants 08 09 11 Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels Getty Images/Moment Open