Situated halfway between the Black Sea and the Carpathian Mountains in south-eastern Romania, Bucharest is the country’s capital city and its most significant industrial and economic centre. Previously dubbed ‘Paris of the Balkans’, the city is home to a fascinating mix of architecturally interesting structures from neo-classical buildings, Byzantine churches and traditional Wallachian buildings to the ultra-Communist buildings of the Ceaucescu era.

Perhaps not the ideal destination for a family holiday, Bucharest offers a restricted selection of attractions suitable for children. Parents with children in the their mid to late teens will get by with the city’s museums and popular historic sights while younger children will enjoy parks and gardens such as Herastrau Park and Bucharest Zoo and seasonal activities such as ice skating.

New Years Day: the first day of the New Year is celebrated with the same enthusiasm by residents of Bucharest as it is anywhere in the world that follows the Gregorian calendar. Locals get together with family and friends, reflect on the year gone by and make resolutions for the year ahead.

The line between Bucharest’s places of cultural interest and locations that would make it on to a list of ‘must-see’ places is fairly blurred and many of the city’s most interesting places sit comfortably under either heading. Museums, palaces, churches and monuments are all represented with the highlight perhaps being the Casa Poporului or Palace of the Parliament, as it is otherwise known.

Bucharest is served by the Henri Coanda International Airport, a single terminal facility that maintains connections with a large number of domestic and international destinations. In the latter category, there are flights to London Heathrow, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome-Fiumicino, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, New York-JFK, Frankfurt and a host of other major cities. The airport is a hub for national carrier TAROM who service the bulk of international flights.

Banks: 09:00 to 13:00, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Saturday
Museums: opening/closing times vary, check with specific venues.
Business Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday