Bucharest

Bucharest surprises as Romania's energetic capital where Belle Époque architecture along tree-lined boulevards earned it the "Little Paris" nickname before communism and earthquakes scarred its elegance, Ceaușescu's colossal Palace of Parliament dominates skylines as the world's heaviest building (verified by Guinness), and the revitalized Old Town (Lipscani) buzzes with ruin bars, outdoor terraces, and live music until dawn. This Balkan metropolis (population 1.8 million city, 2.2 million metro) wears contrasts proudly—French-style Calea Victoriei boulevard lined with crumbling Belle Époque mansions awaiting restoration, communist-era apartment blocks beside surviving Art Nouveau gems, and Orthodox churches with golden domes squeezed between modern shopping malls and glass towers. The Palace of Parliament (standard tours cost around $20 / 87 lei and must be booked by phone/email, not online) overwhelms with staggering scale—1,100 rooms across 12 stories, 365,000 m² of floor space making it the world's second-largest administrative building after the Pentagon, 3,500 tons of crystal chandeliers, 700,000 tons of steel and bronze, and 1 million cubic meters of marble quarried from Romania—guided 45-minute tours reveal Ceaușescu's megalomaniacal vision and luxurious Parliament chambers.

Yet Bucharest's charm hides in its gritty details: Revolution Square where 1989 uprising toppled communism (bullet holes still visible on buildings), Cișmigiu Gardens' romantic lake where couples row boats, Calea Victoriei's eclectic mix of royal palaces, communist department store Magazinul Bucuresti, and indie bookshops like Carturesti Carusel occupying beautifully-restored 19th-century bank building with six-floor spiral displays. The Old Town (Centrul Vechi) transformed from post-communist decrepit abandonment into hip epicenter—cobblestone Lipscani pedestrian street throngs with outdoor terraces, Manuc's Inn (1808) preserves Ottoman caravanserai atmosphere, and Control Club, Expirat, and other venues host Romania's underground music scene. Museums span Village Museum's 300+ authentic peasant houses transplanted from rural Romania preserving folk architecture, National Art Museum's Romanian and European masters in former Royal Palace, and Peasant Museum's folk costumes and icons.

The food scene celebrates Romanian comfort food—mici (grilled minced meat rolls), sarmale (cabbage rolls stuffed with pork and rice), mămăligă polenta, ciorbă sour soups, and cozonac sweet bread at Easter—while Caru' cu Bere's Art Nouveau interior with stained glass and painted ceilings serves traditional fare with live folk music since 1879. Nightlife rivals Budapest's—cheap beer ($2.36–$3.53 / 10 lei–15 lei pints), palinca fruit brandy shots, clubs open until 06:00, and terasa (terrace) culture means outdoor drinking year-round with plastic-enclosed heated terraces in winter. Herastrau Park and lakes offer rowing and cycling, while Therme Bucharest, one of Europe's largest wellness complexes with tropical plants and wave pools, sits about 20-25 km north of the centre.

Day trips reach Dracula's Bran Castle and Râșnov fortress near Brașov (2.5-3 hours), medieval Brașov and Sighișoara, or Snagov Monastery on lake island. Visit April-June or September-October for comfortable 15-25°C (59-77°F) weather, though summer heat reaches 30-35°C (86-95°F). With dirt-cheap prices making $35–$59 / 153 lei–255 lei/day budgets realistic (meals $9.42–$19 / 41 lei–82 lei, beer $2.36 / 10 lei, hotels $35–$94 / 153 lei–408 lei), English widely spoken by younger generation, gritty authenticity where nothing feels polished or tourist-ready, and zero pretension where locals happily help lost visitors, Bucharest delivers raw Eastern European energy, communist-legacy fascination, surprising Belle Époque elegance beneath the grime, and Romania's capital character that grew from little Paris to communist experiment to chaotic modern city finding its identity.